Digital Commons Network^™

Trauma Exposures Across The Life Course For Individuals Who Experience Incarceration, Maria Morrison

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. incarcerates more people than any other country in the world, with 2.2 million people currently behind bars, 60% of whom are people of color. At the same time, there is an unprecedented political consensus to develop strategies for reducing the incarcerated population and safely returning the majority of incarcerated individuals to society. While there has been a substantial research focus on the potential of this population to commit acts of violence post-release, this tells only half the story. This dissertation hopes to provide a more complete picture of the role of violence in the lives of individuals released …

The Cost Of Child Support: Policy Design And Father Identity, Lara Markovitz

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Child support policy is one of the key forces in the lives of families in the U.S., where 1 in 4 children and half of African American children live apart from their fathers (Carlson et al., 2017; Grall, 2020; U.S. Census Bureau, 2014). Most unmarried fathers of newborns express a strong desire and commitment to their children (Carlson & McLanahan, 2002; England & Edin, 2007). However, by the time their children turn five, fathers'; involvement (caregiving and time, provision of child support) diminishes greatly (Turner & Waller, 2017). This decrease in father involvement among low-income NRFs is thought to be …

Save The Date: An Analysis Of Interventions On Teen Dating Violence, Elizabeth Maestretti

Master's Projects and Capstones

Domestic violence or interpersonal violence (IPV) is a serious public health issue in the United States. IPV is commonly considered to be an issue that occurs in adult relationships. However, most victims of IPV first experience some form of IPV during adolescence, which is known as teen dating violence (TDV). In the United States, TDV impacts about 26% of female and 15% of male adolescents. In Southern California (Orange County) approximately two thirds of adolescents have experienced some form of TDV. This paper examined the literature on existing interventions and strategies which focused on TDV prevention at individual, interpersonal, community/organizational, …

Illegal Homeless Encampments In California: Using The Com-B Framework To Transform A Public Health Nuisance Into A New Housing Development Model, Desiree E. Orozco

Master's Projects and Capstones

California has the highest homeless population, with over 161,000 people experiencing homelessness. Despite approving a billion dollars in grants for the 2018-2019 budget, The 2021 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress revealed California had an increase of over 3,500 individuals staying in shelters between 2020-2021. The multi-faceted and multi-dimensional issues of homelessness and policies make it difficult to prevent individuals experiencing homelessness from living in illegal encampments. Therefore, the author proposes a multi-prong approach to homelessness in California grounded in theories of the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) and COM-B model and informed by housing first and permanent supportive housing practices. …

Behind Closed Doors: A Look Into Access To Supportive Resources And Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence (Ipv), Ashley Lauren Holloway

Master's Projects and Capstones

Introduction Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a preventable health disparity that remains an underrepresented health issue due to survivors' comfortability in reporting violence within their most intimate relationships; in addition to providers' comfortability in addressing intimate partner violence. The high prevalence of IPV-related incidents highlights the importance of early intervention to prevent victims from experiencing violence again and dying.

Methods A systematic review was conducted to look into intimate partner violence against women. Key words such as intimate partner violence or domestic violence, women, utilization of care services or services, socioecological model were searched through pubmed and other scholarly search …

Us Helping Us: The Evolution Of A Peer Support Group For Formerly Incarcerated People, Will Boles, Thad Tatum, Jarrod Wall, Lauren Nguyen, Alexandria Van Dall, Claire Mulhollem, Anna Sacks, Ashley Wennerstrom, Bruce Reilly, Anjali Niyogi

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Physical, psychological, and emotional trauma experienced while incarcerated influences subsequent mental health outcomes. Upon release, there is a fragmented landscape of mental health services and many of the existing services do not account for the root causes of challenges faced by formerly incarcerated people (FIP). To address the unmet social, psychological, behavioral, and emotional needs of FIP in Louisiana, the Formerly Incarcerated Peer Support (FIPS) Group developed a twelve-unit curriculum in 2019. Methods: We detail the evolution, development, and evaluation of the FIPS Group program. Additionally, we describe the community-driven process for developing the curriculum. Results: The FIPS Group …

Social And Demographic Disparities In The Adherence Of Chronic Hypertension Medication During Pregnancy, Elizabeth Nyamwange '23

External Student Research Opportunities

Occurring in approximately 6-8% of all pregnancies, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are one of the major causes of pregnancy-related maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although there are many low-cost medications that can adequately treat this condition, patient adherence to these medications can vary widely. The objective of this study was to assess adherence to anti-hypertensive medication by pregnant women and to identify the social and demographic factors associated with incomplete adherence. Using a cohort of 28,008 publicly-insured women who initiated anti-hypertensive treatment within the first 20 weeks of gestation, we assessed dosage within biweekly gestational intervals, created …

Prevalence And Predictors Of Polypharmacy In Adolescents Who Have Engaged In Sexually Abusive Behaviors, Rebecca Gilley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Polypharmacy, or the concurrent use of multiple medications, is associated with detrimental outcomes for patients and has gathered increasing attention within the scientific clinical literature. Pediatric populations warrant special consideration for the practice of polypharmacy, as medication effects are more pronounced in youth and adverse effects may have a lasting impact on development. This dissertation study examined psychotropic prescribing practices in a sample of adolescents who have engaged in sexually abusive behaviors, a subset of justice-involved youth who are at risk for polypharmacy. General prescribing trends were examined, and a principle components analysis involving variables associated with risk of polypharmacy …

A Systematic Review Up To 2018 Of Hiv And Associated Factors Among Criminal Justice-Involved (Cji) Black Sexual And Gender Minority Populations In The United States (Us), Russell Brewer, Santhoshini L Ramani, Aditya Khanna, Kayo Fujimoto, John A Schneider, Anna Hotton, Leo Wilton, Tania Escobedo, Nina T Harawa

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) and Black transgender women (BTW) are impacted by dual epidemics of HIV and incarceration. We advanced understanding of the relationship between criminal justice involvement, HIV, and other key HIV-related characteristics among these key populations in the US. We conducted a systematic review up to 2018 and 47 articles met the inclusion criteria of scientific publications involving quantitative findings of US-based HIV-related studies focused on criminal justice-involved (CJI) BMSM and BTW. Overall, there was a dearth of studies focused specifically on BTW. Criminal justice involvement was relatively high among BMSM and BTW and …

Final Evaluation Of La Door: Proposition 47 Grant Program, Melissa M Labriola, Danielle Sobol, Stephanie Brooks Holliday, Heather Sims

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The Los Angeles Diversion, Outreach, and Opportunities for Recovery program (LA DOOR) was designed by the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office (LACA) to provide a comprehensive, health-focused, preventative approach that proactively engages individuals at elevated risk of returning to LACA on a new misdemeanor offense related to substance use, mental illness, or homelessness. LA DOOR was funded through the grant program of Proposition 47. Programs funded through Proposition 47 are intended to serve individuals with a history of criminal justice involvement and mental health issues or substance use disorders and to offer mental health services, substance use disorder treatment, and …

Examining P3 And N2 Amplitudes Following Social Exclusion And Provocation In College Students With High And Low Narcissistic Traits, Kathleen Ramsey

Dissertations

Adults with narcissistic traits are prone to reacting aggressively following provocation due to elevations in emotional reactivity and perceived threat to their grandiose self-views. Prior studies have examined event-related potentials (ERPs) measures in college students with narcissistic traits in the context of risky decision making and facial emotion processing; however, no known studies have examined how those with narcissistic traits react to rejection and provocation at the neurophysiological level during an externally valid social rejection task (i.e., Cyberball). For the purposes of this study, it was predicted that participants with higher levels of narcissistic traits (both total narcissism and grandiose …

Bias In The Jury Box: The Sociological Determinants Of Jury Selection For Capital Cases In North Carolina, Alessandra Quattrocchi

Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Politics, Economics and World Affairs

An evaluation of four Wake County capital cases from 2014-2018 reveals the disparate effects that the jury selection process had on Black and female potential jurors and especially on Black female potential jurors. The requirement that capital jurors be willing and able to sentence death systematically excluded Blacks and females, with Black females excused for this reason at a rate over three times higher than White males. Black potential jurors not struck for death qualification were disproportionately excluded by prosecutorial peremptory strikes at a rate nearly two times greater than Whites. Final analyses conclude that Black females had significantly lower …

The Effect Of Transfer Of Care Protocol On The Rehospitalization Rates In Psychiatric Patients, Fernando Guillen Msn, Cnp, Pmhnp-Bc

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: The problem involved the transition of psychiatric care from long psychiatric hospitalizations to community-based psychiatric treatment which has developed into shorter inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations, which in turn has developed into a significantly higher number of individuals being readmitted within one year of inpatient discharge.

PICOT: In adult patients undergoing inpatient acute psychiatric care (P), how does the use of a transfer of care protocol (I), compared to current transfer of care practice (C), affect the rate of readmission within 30 days for inpatient acute psychiatric care (O), in 10 weeks?

Evidence: The evidence from an extensive literature review …

Virtual Behavioral Health Treatment Satisfaction And Outcomes Across Time, Mindy R. Waite, Sara Diab, James Adefisoye

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have major and long-lasting impacts on health care delivery and mental health. As health care shifted to telehealth, legislation was adjusted to expand telehealth allowances, creating a unique opportunity to elucidate outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess long-term patient and clinician satisfaction and outcomes with virtual behavioral health.

Methods: Data were obtained over 16 months from surveys to patients and clinicians receiving/providing virtual treatment. Outcomes data also were collected from medical records of adults receiving in-person and virtual behavioral health treatment. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Groups were compared using …

Trends In Cannabis-Related And Opioid-Related Hospitalization Rates In Maine, 2010-2020, Suzanne Mcmahon, Katherine Ahrens

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: Medical marijuana use became legal in the state of Maine in 1999, and recreational adult-use marijuana became legal in 2016. However, the rates of hospitalization related to marijuana (also known as cannabis) use have not been studied. We estimated trends in cannabis-related hospitalization rates in Maine based on rurality and descriptively compared these trends to opioid-related hospitalization rates during the past decade.

Methods: We obtained de-identified data of inpatient encounters for Maine residents between 2010 and 2020 from MaineHealth Data Organization. We then calculated age-standardized rates of cannabis-related and opioid-related hospitalizations overall and by rural-urban residence using International Classification …

Relationships Between Self-Efficacy, Participation In Prison Programs, And Perceived Ability To Live Crime Free Upon Release From Prison, Beret Ravenscroft

Nursing ETDs

This study examined the relationships between self-efficacy, participation in prison programs, and perceived ability to live crime free among male prisoners in state-operated New Mexico prisons. Among the 589 study participants, those who reported having received assistance in changing criminal attitudes agreed they would be able to live crime free at a rate 8% higher than those who did not (p = .029). Those who agreed that they are able to accomplish any task (p = .001) or who disagreed with feeling helpless to deal with problems (p = .001) also scored significantly higher in perceived ability …

Social Determinants Of Health In Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Patients In The United States: Clinician Perspective And Health Policy Implications, Vijay R. Nadipelli, Jean M. Elwing, Willie H. Oglesby, Karim El-Kersh

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Social determinants of health (SDoH) can impact the vulnerable pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) population, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Providers' understanding of SDoH at the point of care and their impact is unknown. We conducted semi-structured virtual interviews with US clinicians at 17 pulmonary hypertension (PH) centers and one patient advocate from the Pulmonary Hypertension Association. We sought participants' perspective on SDoH in PAH and their impact. Transcripts were developed and analyzed for key themes to assess potential policy implications. Participants served a large PAH population and demonstrated high awareness of SDoH and its impact on treatment and outcomes. They …

Treatment Disparities In Emergency Medical Services: The Influence Of Race/Ethnicity, Obesity, And English Proficiency, Jamie Kennel

Dissertations and Theses

Different treatment in healthcare settings provided to different social groups of people may lead to disparities in health, quality of life, and life span. Despite the critical role among healthcare services that Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provides disproportionately for marginalized communities, it remains unclear if and to what extent treatment disparities take place in the pre-hospital setting. Guided by the theoretical frameworks of social worth, aversive racism, and stigma, this study utilizes medical chart data from three different public and private datasets to investigate treatment disparities by Emergency Medical Service providers for racial minority, obese, and limited English proficiency patients. …

Using Community-Based Participatory Research To Assess The Needs Of Hiv-Related Services For Infected Individuals In Rural Communities, Elizabeth Brown, Charles Brown, Owen Johnson, Wendelyn Inman, Revlon Briggs, Wanda Burrell, Rosemary Theriot, Elizabeth Williams, Alexis Heaston

Public Health, Health Administration, and Health Sciences Faculty Research

HIV/AIDS remains a significant health concern in rural communities, which may also experience many disparate issues including reduced access to health services (Department of Health and Human Services, 2015). Community efforts should be increased to improve services to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), especially in rural communities. In the state of Tennessee, using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, a needs assessment was conducted to identify gaps, barriers, and strategies for improving HIV-related comprehensive care services for people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 26 rural counties. The paper describes the CBPR partnership and the needs assessment project that was conducted and …

Using Community-Based System Dynamics To Address Structural Racism In Community Health Improvement, Heidi L. Gullett, Gregory L. Brown, Robin S. Gotler, Kurt C. Stange, Peter S. Hovmand

Faculty Scholarship

Context: Structural racism is a profound determinant of health resulting in pervasive health inequities for people of color. Despite the recognition of structural racism as a complex, dynamic system, we lack a shared vision of the system that would enable identification of solutions for equitable systems transformation. Policy: Through a public health–led community health improvement planning process, a cross-sector consortium implemented community-based system dynamics to provide a systems science lens to guide efforts to eliminate structural racism. Implementation: In group model building sessions involving diverse stakeholders, community-based system dynamics was used to bring together cross-sector stakeholders to create causal loop …

Training Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (Sane) And Patient Advocates To Improve Utilization Of The Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission (Acvcc) Program For Sexual Assault Victims, Erica Starling

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Sexual assault is a nationwide problem that often goes unreported. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), every 68 seconds an American is sexually assaulted. One out of every six women has been a victim of sexual assault in their lifetime. Sexual violence has long-term effects on victims including post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideations and/or attempted suicide, substance use disorder, work and/or family life struggles, unplanned pregnancy, and/or sexually transmitted infections (STI).

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to improve the utilization of the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission Program (ACVCC) for victims …

Does Public Health Start Within Jails? A New Incentive For Reform Of Wisconsin's Bail System, Mahmood N. Abdellatif

Marquette Law Review

Wisconsin’s Milwaukee and Dane Counties are among many jurisdictions in the country employing modern bail reforms, specifically the Public Safety Assessment (PSA). Most of these jurisdictions adopted the PSA before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, but are increasingly relevant as the virus continues to derail public health measures. Through the intersection of detainees, correctional officers, judicial officials, attorneys, and visitors, millions of Americans filter in and out of correctional facilities on an annual basis. These facilities serve as a microcosm of society and breeding ground for mass infection. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified an existing need …

Gender-Based Violence In Pakistan And Public Health Measures: A Call To Action, Azza Sarfraz, Zouina Sarfraz, Muzna Sarfraz, Zul Qarnain

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

No abstract provided.

Pilot Mental Health Offender Program Improves Participant Outcomes And Lowers Costs In A Large Urban County, Colleen Bell, Mohsin Raza, David Kilcrease, Barbara L. Gracious

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

Mass incarceration, particularly of the mentally ill, continues to pervade our criminal justice system. Jails in many areas have become the largest mental health facilities, especially in large urban communities, despite increasing societal recognition that those with mental illness are not best served behind bars. Misdemeanors are an often-overlooked contributor to mass incarceration, and may be preventable for those with chronic severe mental illness.

Methods

This Northeast Florida pilot program, the Mental Health Offenders Program (MHOP), is based on the successful Miami Eleventh Circuit Court Criminal Mental Health Project. MHOP provided pretrial release from custody, through diversion with a …

Covid-19 And Mental Health Disparities In The Black American Population, Israel Taylor

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

The current COVID-19 pandemic has amplified health disparities that have long existed for minoritized groups in the United States. There have been disproportionate effects on the mental and physical health of the Black American population, specifically because of longstanding racial, social, and economic injustices. To fully understand the current state of Black mental health and the extent to which COVID-19 has impacted it, we examine historical examples of unjust mental health practices throughout generations. We then explore why depression, suicidality, and other mental illnesses may have a profound effect on a community that has been made vulnerable to socioeconomic shifts. …

Through The Cracks: The Disposition Of Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders In The Post-Asylum Era, Briana Tillman, Erin Smith, Alicia Cho, Colt Kennington, Alexandra Kreis

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

This paper aims to explore current disposition options for patients with psychosis in light of shifts toward community care and changes in mental healthcare funding in the post-asylum era and to propose systemic-level improvements based upon local successes. It evaluates critiques of long-term psychiatric care programs, claims of transinstitutionalization to incarceration, shelters, and emergency rooms, and programs initiated to address deinstitutionalization. The authors conclude that while Assertive Community Treatment, Partial Hospitalization Programs, intermediate-level care, and housing interventions can improve outcomes for many persons with psychotic illness, a significant portion of these patients would still be best served in long-term psychiatric …

Review Of Cannabis Use Among Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People, Julia Butt, Mandy Wilson, Jocelyn Jones, Simon Lenton

Journal of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

The health effects of cannabis use may not always be seen as a high priority for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. However, the impact of cannabis use on physical and mental health can have significant consequences. It is known that the use of high potency cannabis has increased over the last two decades, with a corresponding increased risk to health. In particular, young people are at increased risk of experiencing harms to mental health. Physical harms to health include effects on the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, an increased risk of cancer, and in-utero effects from maternal use. The review …

2022 Community Needs Assessment Of Klamath County Residential Services And Housing Needs, Karen Cellarius, Aliza Tuttle, Jennifer Blakeslee

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

The PSU Regional Research Institute for Human Services (RRI) was asked by Klamath Basin Behavioral Health (KBBH) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to conduct a community-wide needs assessment focusing on residential services and housing needs for populations that (1) Have behavioral health needs, and (2) Identify with a community experiencing inequities in access to health care resources.

The assessment was conducted in collaboration with KBBH and other community partners. Data sources included key informant interviews, written surveys of individuals impacted by mental health challenges and/or housing needs, and focus groups with representatives from underserved communities in Klamath County, Oregon. …

A Systematic Review Of Substance Use And Substance Use Disorder Research In Kenya, Florence Jaguga, Sarah Kanana Kiburi, Eunice Temet, Julius Barasa, Serah Karanja, Lizz Kinyua, Edith Kamaru Kwobah

Anaesthesiology, East Africa

Objectives: The burden of substance use in Kenya is significant. The objective of this study was to systematically summarize existing literature on substance use in Kenya, identify research gaps, and provide directions for future research.

Methods: This systematic review was conducted in line with the PRISMA guidelines. We conducted a search of 5 bibliographic databases (PubMed, PsychINFO, Web of Science, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Professionals (CINAHL) and Cochrane Library) from inception until 20 August 2020. In addition, we searched all the volumes of the official journal of the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol & Drug Abuse …

We Program Training Manual For Culturally Responsive School-Based Mental Health Practices, Staysha M. Veal

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

An abundance of evidence suggests that K–12 Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) students experience disparities in school-based mental health services and negative school-based outcomes due to racism, discrimination, and biases. Such experiences have deleterious impact on their mental health, academic functioning, and other pre- and post-matriculation outcomes. These dynamics can lead to poor academic functioning and adverse mental health outcomes which can include depression, anxiety, toxic stress, decreased self-worth and self-esteem, and psychological maladjustment. School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) providers that are trained to be culturally responsive are uniquely situated to mitigate these negative events and ensure that BIPOC students …