Health Policy Commons^™

Representation And Recommendations: Participation Of People Who Use Drugs In Un-Level Policy-Making, Lily Knudsen

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Although participation in health policy-making is a popular topic in the literature and a stated priority of the United Nations, very little research has been published examining the full spectrum of participation by people who use drugs (PWUD) at the UN level. This study aims to describe and evaluate this participation through a combination of a literature review that looks at academic sources, UN publications, and publications by organizations of PWUD, and a series of interviews with representatives of organizations of PWUD who have participated in UN level policy-making.

Data collected demonstrates that there is no comprehensive system for the …

Vaccine Hesitancy Within Nevada Counties, June 2021, Kelliann Beavers, Madison Frazee-Bench, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet highlights estimated rates of vaccine hesitancy, vaccination rates, the index of social vulnerability, and the level of concern for 17 Nevada counties as of June, 2021. The data are reported in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) estimates.

Cdc Social Vulnerability Index (Svi): Nevada Counties, Vanessa Booth, Ally M. Beckwith, Kelliann Beavers, William E. Brown Jr.

Demography

This fact sheet highlights how Nevada counties rank on the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) as defined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ASTDR). Socially vulnerable populations are often disproportionately harmed during public health emergencies such as natural disasters and infectious disease outbreaks. The Geospatial Research, Analysis, and Services Program (GRASP) created the CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index (CDC/ATSDR SCI) to help public health officials and emergency response planners meet community health needs during response and recovery efforts (ATSDR, 2020).

How Did Homelessness Change During The Great Recession And Recovery?, Jenny Schuetz, Matthew Ring

Policy Briefs and Reports

Job losses from the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated housing insecurity among low-income renters over the past year. Federal, state, and local policymakers have created temporary measures to help reduce displacement among people who have lost their jobs, but there is considerable uncertainty about what will happen when these temporary measures end. To gain insight into how homelessness changes over macroeconomic cycles, we examine changes in homelessness rates from 2007 to 2020. Our analysis focuses on four metro areas that were particularly hard-hit by the foreclosure crisis: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Riverside. Overall homelessness rates declined in all metros …

The Case For Public Investment In Higher Pay For New York State Home Care Workers: Estimated Costs And Savings, Isaac Jabola-Carolus, Stephanie Luce, Ruth Milkman

Publications and Research

This report explores one potential solution to the mounting home care labor shortage in New York State: substantially raising wages for the state's home care workers. The analysis presents detailed projections, based on the best available data, of the economic effects of such an intervention, estimating the costs and benefits that would result. We find that public funding to raise home care wages would require significant resources, but those costs would be surpassed by the resulting savings, tax revenues, and economic spillover effects. The net economic gain would total at least $3.7 billion. Lifting wages would also help fill nearly …

Healthcare Protection Policies During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Lessons Towards The Implementation Of The New Egyptian Universal Health Insurance Law, Alaa Ghannam, Ayman Sebae

Faculty Journal Articles

On March 11th 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus a global pandemic. The spread of the virus in many countries has exceeded the capabilities of the traditional healthcare systems and has challenged government plans to contain it.

The COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Egypt at a time when the first steps in the implementation of the newly ratified law on social health insurance were taking place. Law number 2 for the year 2018 saw the first steps of its implementation in Port Said governorate. As the realisation of the law is proceeding in other governorates, the pandemic and …

Executive Summary- Social Protection In Egypt: Mitigating The Socio-Economic Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Vulnerable Employment, Dina Makram-Ebeid, Amr Adly, Nadine Sika, Hania M Sholkamy, Samer Atallah

Faculty Journal Articles

This is the executive summary of an interdisciplinary project between the fields of development economics, political economy, labor sociology, development anthropology and public health. It reviews the social protection available to vulnerable employees and their households in Egypt and suggests ways to adapt them in light of the COVID 19 pandemic. The research focuses on four areas a) employment security b) social assistance c) health insurance d) gendered mitigations. The project will map the impact of the crisis on vulnerable employees and their households and propose policy interventions to alleviate the socio-economic effects of the pandemic through the publication of …

Covid-19: Event Size Risk By Nevada County, January 2021, Olivia K. Cheche, Madison Frazee-Bench, Katie M. Gilbertson, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet presents data on Nevada counties, drawing from the Georgia Institute of Technology’s “COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool,” as of January 14th, 2021. Various risk scenarios are displayed based on event size for the rate of COVID-19 transmission in Nevada’s 17 counties.

Covid-19: Hospital Bed Capacity In Nevada Counties, January 2021, Marie A. Falcone, Madison Frazee-Bench, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This Fact Sheet presents data on hospital bed use during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada for the week of January 4 - 11, 2021. The data indicate the percentage of adult inpatient and intensive care unit (ICU) beds used in each hospital and clarify what percentage of those bed occupancies are COVID-19 patients. Information is available on 45 hospitals throughout Nevada located in the following counties: Clark, Nye, Douglas, Washoe, Churchill, Humboldt, Elko, and Carson. Other Nevada counties did not report relevant statistics, or the sample size was fewer than four.

Drug Treatment Providers In Nevada, Vanessa Booth, Peter Grema, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown

Health

This fact sheet reports data from Behavioral Health Nevada’s drug treatment provider database for May 2020. The data focuses on the number of drug treatment providers in Nevada counties and municipalities, how the facilities are funded, and if the facilities accept Medicaid. A breakdown of the number of clinics, the facilities that provide adult services, and the clinics that attain above standard ratings in Clark County are also provided.

Recent Trends In Heat-Related Mortality In The United States: An Update Through 2018, Scott C. Sheridan, P. Grady Dixon, Adam J. Kalkstein, Michael J. Allen

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

Much research has shown a general decrease in the negative health response to extreme heat events in recent decades. With a society that is growing older, and a climate that is warming, whether this trend can continue is an open question. Using eight additional years of mortality data, we extend our previous research to explore trends in heat-related mortality across the United States. For the period 1975–2018, we examined the mortality associated with extreme-heat-event days across the 107 largest metropolitan areas. Mortality response was assessed over a cumulative 10-day lag period following events that were defined using thresholds of the …

Prisons, Nursing Homes, And Medicaid: A Covid-19 Case Study In Health Injustice, Mary Crossley

Articles

The unevenly distributed pain and suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic present a remarkable case study. Considering why the coronavirus has devastated some groups more than others offers a concrete example of abstract concepts like “structural discrimination” and “institutional racism,” an example measured in lives lost, families shattered, and unremitting anxiety. This essay highlights the experiences of Black people and disabled people, and how societal choices have caused them to experience the brunt of the pandemic. It focuses on prisons and nursing homes—institutions that emerged as COVID-19 hotspots –and on the Medicaid program.

Black and disabled people are disproportionately represented in …

Introduction: The Future Of Global Health Governance, Elizabeth Weeks, Anish Patel

Scholarly Works

CONFERENCE: The Future of Global Health Governance

Hosted by the Dean Rusk International Law Center and the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law on January 25, 2021 in Athens, Georgia

When we began developing this topic last winter and early spring, the global pandemic in which we still find ourselves deeply entrenched, a year later, was just emerging. For many in the United States, including our former President, the threat seemed distant, even hypothetical.' Few imagined the devastating loss of life, health, economic security, home, family, companionship, and "normal" ways of life that we would come to experience over …

Teletherapy Use In Children’S Advocacy Centers: An Effective Solution Amidst The Covid-19 Pandemic, Camille T. Traczek

Student Publications

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected people’s lives in unprecedented ways. Concerns about social distancing have resulted in the cancellation of therapy and doctor’s appointments, leaving those with serious mental health issues without treatment. The need for social distancing amidst the pandemic has particularly affected children seeking treatment from Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs), many of whom have witnessed or experienced abuse. In order to treat children who cannot physically go to a center, many CACs have begun using teletherapy, which is the use of interactive, synchronous technology to provide counseling services. The Adams County Children’s Advocacy Center in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania has …

Planned Policy Action, Nicole T. Cesanek

Student Publications

Gettysburg College was built on the foundation of “doing great work,” not just for the betterment of ourselves and our education but also for others in the college and surrounding community. This project seeks to do precisely this, encourage everyone, including students, tourists, and community members, to do great work in benefiting others around them. It primarily consists of a comprehensive summary of the plans and actions required to create a community-wide tab collection bin to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). The project seeks to achieve two main goals: encourage people to collect and donate their aluminum can …

Child Injuries And The Timing Of Snap Benefits Receipt, Colleen Heflin, Irma Arteaga, Jean Felix Ndashimye, Matthew P. Rabbitt

Population Health Research Brief Series

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is an important federal resource that provides nutritional assistance to low-income families. Timing of SNAP benefits can reduce childhood injuries.

Who Pays For Gun Violence? You Do., Edda S. Fransdottir, Jeffrey A. Butts

Publications and Research

The total economic impact of gun violence is unknown. Studies focus on the direct and short-term expenses immediately following a shooting but often exclude the long-term and far-reaching effects of gun violence on the victim, their family, and their community. Available data vastly underestimate the full economic impact of firearm injuries in the United States, including the fact that taxpayers often get the bill.

Risky Business: Recognizing The Flaws Of Employer-Based Health Insurance During Covid-19, Austin Mcneill Brown, Mariah Brennan Nanni

Population Health Research Brief Series

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the flaws of the U.S.’s employer-based health insurance model. This brief discusses the implications of binding health insurance to employment during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Christine "Chris" Kyker Papers, 1946-2017, Chris Kyker

Center for Restoration Studies Archives, Manuscripts and Personal Papers Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

Leveraging The Power Of Mutual Aid, Coalitions, Leadership, And Advocacy During Covid-19, Daniela Domínguez, Dellanira García, David A. Martínez, Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga

Psychology

The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the norms, patterns, and power structures in the United States that privilege certain groups of people over others. This manuscript describes COVID-19 as an unprecedented catalyst for social transformation that underscores the need for multi-level and cross-sectoral solutions to address systemic changes to improve health equity for all. The authors propose that the American Psychological Association and its membership can initiate systemic change, in part, by: (a) supporting mutual aid organizations that prioritize the needs of vulnerable communities; (b) leveraging the efforts and strides APA psychologists have already made within the association, in …

Colon Cancer Care Of Hispanic People In California: Paradoxical Barrio Protections Seem Greatest Among Vulnerable Populations, Keren M. Escobar, Mollie Sivaram, Kevin M. Gorey, Isaac N. Luginaah, Sindu M. Kanjeekal, Frances C. Wright

Social Work Publications

Background: We examined paradoxical and barrio advantaging effects on cancer care among socioeconomically vulnerable Hispanic people in California. Methods: We secondarily analyzed a colon cancer cohort of 3,877 non-Hispanic white (NHW) and 735 Hispanic people treated between 1995 and 2005. A third of the cohort was selected from high poverty neighborhoods. Hispanic enclaves and Mexican American (MA) barrios were neighborhoods where 40% or more of the residents were Hispanic or MA. Key analyses were restricted to high poverty neighborhoods. Results: Hispanic people were more likely to receive chemotherapy (RR=1.18), especially men in Hispanic enclaves (RR=1.33) who were also advantaged on …

Adicción Como Un Hecho Político Económico: Un Análisis De Servicios De Atención De Abuso De Drogas Y Alcohol En Arica, Chile, Jack Steffy

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Research question – What is the current landscape of drug abuse in Chile and how has the state attempted to address this problem?

Objectives – The objectives of the paper were to characterize drug use patterns in Chile since 1994, revise drug abuse services, and offer possible improvements for the system of drug abuse treatment.

Background – Chile, despite being one of the most well economically-developed countries in South America, has some of the worst mental health indicators, one of these being drug abuse. Since 1994, use of alcohol and marihuana has increased, while use of cocaine products has remained …

Male Offenders Perspectives On Contextual And Proximal Events Associated With Incidents Of Domestic Violence, Sharon M. Aaron

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Domestic violence is a serious public health problem in the United States; one which has proven intractable to researchers working on theory development and on effective prevention interventions. Although much has been reported from the perspectives of battered women, there are few studies that examine the perspectives of male offenders. In particular, there has been a call for more research on contextual and proximal events associated with incidents of domestic violence from the male offenders’ perspective.

In this study, ten male offenders were interviewed to address this need. Interviews were analyzed using grounded theory method to identify themes in the …

Health On The Move: Health-Seeking Behavior Of Changpa Nomads In Ladakh, India, Maya Lubeck-Schricker

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The goal of this study is to understand the health-seeking behavior of Changpa nomads in the Changthang region of Ladakh, India including what health issues these communities face, what they do when they fall sick, any preventative health behavior they implement, as well as the health infrastructure available to them. Very little literature exists on the health seeking-behavior of people in South Asia in general, much less among nondominant lifestyles such as that of nomadic or semi-nomadic people. As such, this research hopes to move towards closing that knowledge gap by conducting and analyzing 26 in depth semi-structured interviews and …

Witchcraft In The Press, Norman Miller

Dartmouth Scholarship

Between 1960 and 2010, Professor Miller collected about 720 newspaper reports on witchcraft in East Africa from local sources. Reports for Malawi and Zambia were dropped from this analysis to establish a collection of 521 reports for Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. This database has yet to be fully analyzed, and is made available here for further research and publication in the understanding of witchcraft violence. The data may be sorted by date, country, press source, or by major topic using the Excel spreadsheet referenced below. Instructors in such organizations as police academies and NGOs concerned with violence against women may …

Eating Frequency And The Role Of Snacking On Body Weight Of Wic Preschool Children, Andrea Charvet

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to understand the influence of eating episodes and snack quality on body weight of children ages 3-4.9 years participating in the Broward County Special Supplementation Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).Additional objectives were to evaluate obesity risk factors and to examine the effect of childcare arrangements on body weight. Data was collected from 7 Broward County Health Department WIC clinics over 4 months via a researcher-administered questionnaire. Additional data was extracted from the WIC data system. BMI-for-age percentiles were used to categorize children by weight according to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) …

Policy Of Current Hospital Translation Services And Recommendations For Future Adjustments For Spanish-Speaking Patients, Isidora Rose Beach

Baker Scholar Projects

It is a seldom-discussed fact that English-speakers in America enjoy a quality of health care that is not necessarily afforded to non-native speakers receiving care at the same facilities. Policy regarding what is required of health institutions in terms of translation services is exceedingly vague, and implementation of this policy is inconsistent. This lack of guidance makes it possible for many patients needing interpreters to fall through the cracks. This project will examine current policy guiding interpretive services in the U.S., and will recommend more specific guidelines that would improve quality of care for limited English proficiency individuals. This project …

The Importance Of Medicaid For Children With Disabilities And Special Health Care Needs, 2017-2018 Cohort Of New Hampshire-Maine Leadership Education In Neurodevelopmental And Related Disabilities (Nh-Me Lend) Program Trainees.

Policy Analysis

Changes to Medicaid financing structure should be carefully considered because any change could have a potentially negative impact on children with disabilities and special health care needs (hereafter referred to as children with disabilities) and limit their access to critically needed health care services and community supports. Currently, Medicaid funding operates through a state and federal partnership, with the federal government providing 60% of funding on average. A cornerstone of Medicaid is the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) child health benefit. This program offers vital support services to children with disabilities, including early and periodic screenings, comprehensive …

Healthcare Coverage In The United States And New York Metropolitan Area, 2009 - 2015, Andrew S. Alger

Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies

Introduction: This study examines trends regarding health insurance coverage in the United States along lines of sex, race/ethnicity, place of birth, and poverty status between 2009 and 2015.

Methods: This study uses the American Community Survey PUMS (Public User Microdata Series) for the years 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015. These datasets were downloaded from the IPUMS USA website hosted by the University of Minnesota. The variables used in the study describe these populations in terms of sex, the four major race/ethnic groups (non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Latino, and Asian), being born either within the United States or abroad, and being …

Latina Immigrant Women & Children’S Well-Being & Access To Services After Detention, Laurie Cook Heffron, Josie V. Serrata, Gabriela Hurtado

Latino Public Policy

Since 2011, the United States has seen a dramatic increase in the arrival of Central American immigrant women and their children. During the last two years, the US government apprehended more than 100,000 immigrant families, primarily Central American women traveling with their children (US Dept. of Homeland Security, 2015). Evidence suggests that Central American women’s motivations to migrate and experiences during migration are often tied to violence (Cook Heffron, 2015; UN High Commissioner for Refugees, 2015), and yet their experiences after arriving in the US do not always support their rights, recovery or healing. In fact, Central American women and …