Digital Commons Network^™

2023-2024 Online Student Survey Of Priority Issues, Heather D. Flick

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The purpose of the 2023-2024 Online Student Survey is to provide research backed priorities for the incoming elected senate for the 2024-2025 academic year. Each year the survey is revised based on newly obtained knowledge from coursework as an FHSU Online student as well as past years survey results.

The survey intended to gain insight on what issues are priorities to Fort Hays State University (FHSU) Online students to allow the Online Student Government Association (OSGA) to focus on the most important issues FHSU Online students experience. This is an annual survey which has been evolving each year to best …

Evaluating Macro-Policy Attitudes About Abortion In The United States, Christopher Olds, Miriam Guadalupe Benavides-Ortega, Madison May Albers, Rocio Figueroa-Castro

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Prior research on public opinion demonstrates attitudes about major issues often shift/move together. In other words, public support for government involvement in domestic affairs across multiple policy areas can be indicative of the general policy sentiment or public mood at any given point in time. In exploring specific issue areas in isolation, researchers can assess whether change in opinion on an issue area is significantly linked to fluctuations in views about macroeconomic conditions. The current research project will contrast quarterly public support for government involvement in the issue area of abortion through vector autoregression time series techniques examining whether prior …

Adopting The Standard Medical Deduction Increased State Snap Enrollment And Benefits, Yuwei Zhang, Jun Li, Dongmei Zhu, Colleen Heflin

Population Health Research Brief Series

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a critical safety net program that helps reduce food insecurity among low-income households in the United States. However, many eligible households do not participate in SNAP due to burdensome administrative requirements. To make it easier for more older adults and people with disabilities to participate in SNAP, many states have adopted the Standard Medical Deduction (SMD) to simplify administrative requirements. This brief summarizes findings from a study that examined the associations between state SMD adoption and SNAP participation and benefits from 2004 to 2019.

Making College Worth It: Inequalities In Higher Education And How To Solve Them, Katharine Meyer

Brookings Scholar Lecture Series

Most students who graduate from college go on to earn higher wages, have more employment stability, and enjoy better health. While posted tuitions are high, a “high price, high aid” approach to college pricing means that the average cost of college has actually declined in recent years. Yet, public confidence in higher education is at an all-time low. What explains this tension? Who gains from going to college and who does not? What can colleges do to change perceptions about the value of a college education? This lecture by Brookings Institution scholar Katharine Meyer highlights trends in college enrollment and …

School-To-Prison Pipeline, Samuel S. Honas, April Terry

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Kindergarten through grade 12 schools are institutions where youth go to learn, grow, and sculpt their minds for their future. For some youth, schools do not present a warm and welcoming environment, and instead, respond in ways that create negative outcomes for certain youth. Factors like bullying, poor student-to-teacher interactions, and negative parental attachment can cause youth to have problems in school. Minority youth are also more likely to get in trouble in school for the same behaviors as their white counterparts. The school-to-prison pipeline is a pathway that begins in the school system that operates under the notion of …

How Much Does It Cost To Operate Tiny Home Villages For People Experiencing Homelessness, Celeste Benitez, Cooper Conway, Declan Maddern

School of Public Policy Capstones

Los Angeles is in a homelessness crisis. Millions of dollars are poured into preventing its causes and curtailing the increased medical costs and crime rates that stem from it. The solutions vary, but one new solution in the form of tiny home villages hopes to provide a cheap and effective way to get people experiencing homelessness off the streets.

In 2021, Los Angeles began opening tiny home villages, also referred to as cabin communities, for unhoused people during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are currently 11 tiny home villages in Los Angeles, operated in a joint effort between the government and …

Unlv Mental Health Initiatives: Unifying Through Innovation And Collaboration, The Lincy Institute, Unlv Practice, Behere Nv, Unlv Department Of Psychology

Lincy Institute Events

Nevada persistently ranks at or near the bottom in the country for overall access to mental health services despite the need (Mental Health America, 2015-2023). UNLV faculty are developing initiatives to change this unacceptable situation. The Lincy Institute, in partnership with UNLV PRACTICE, BeHERE Nevada, and researchers from the Department of Psychology, offered a community forum showcasing three mental health initiatives harnessing faculty collaboration and innovation to drive overdue changes in Nevada’s mental-health landscape. Following the presentations policymakers engaged in open discussion with UNLV presenters and the audience. The three main initiatives showcased in this forum …

Factors Affecting Volunteer Reluctance Through Scoutmasters’ Perspectives, Robert Michael Hoogerhyde

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

The Identification Of The Flower Thrips, Frankliniella Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Intercepted At U. S. Ports Of Entry, Thomas L. Skarlinsky Ii

Insecta Mundi

United States port of entry interception data revealed that Frankliniella Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) was the most frequently intercepted genus of Thripidae. No published identification resource for intercepted Frankliniella is available to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) port of entry entomology identifiers. A morphological review of intercepted species was conducted. A dichotomous key for the identification of intercepted slide mounted adult females was created. Morphological diagnosis, description of each species with their geographic region(s) of origin and frequency of interception is provided.

ZooBank registration. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:403B362E-9A7F-4385-A0F1-9DB87FE09AD2

Inequities In Chronic Stress Exposure At The Intersection Of Race, Gender, And Sexual Identity In A Nationally Representative Sample Of U.S. Adults, Jordan M. Lancaster, Efrain H. Chavez Martinez

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Background

Social inequity rooted in systemic oppression is robustly associated with mental and physical health; chronic stress is highlighted as a key mechanism. Limited research examining the association between sexual identity alone and C-reactive protein (CRP) – an upstream biological marker of chronic stress exposure – has yielded mixed results.

Purpose

To examine whether race/ethnicity, gender, and sexual identity interact to produce unequal levels of CRP.

Methods

Using cross-sectional data from the 2003-2010 waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we examined intersectional (self-reported race*gender*sexual identity) patterns in log-transformed CRP levels using a multivariable linear model among 10,885 …

Impact Of Official State Messaging On Covid-19 Infection And Death Rates In Five U.S. States, Barclay Randall Murphy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Navigating Murky Waters: State-Level Strategies For Wetland Preservation And Tile Drainage Regulation After Sackett V. Epa, Caleb M. Swanson

Honors Thesis

Wetlands are some of the world’s most valuable ecosystems, serving as provisioners of species habitat, carbon sequestration, flood mitigation, water quality purification, and other ecosystem services. Human development has resulted in substantial wetland loss the world over. In the 1970s, the United States Congress passed the Clean Water Act, giving the EPA broad authority over wetland protection. However, in the summer of 2023, the United States Supreme Court decided Sackett v. EPA, limiting the EPA’s jurisdiction over wetlands to those indistinguishably connected to generally recognized “Waters of the United States” and removing federal protection for millions of acres of wetlands, …

U.S. Government Agency Podcasts, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

Presents podcasts from U.S. Government agencies which can be discovered through the U.S. Government Publishing Office's Catalog of Government Publications. Agencies whose podcasts are presented include the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Peace Corps, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Government Accountability Office (GAO), National Park Service, Department of Justice, Federal Reserve System, and U.S. Naval War College.

Harnessing Rna Technology To Advance Therapeutic Vaccine Antigens Against Chagas Disease, Chiara Mancino, Jeroen Pollet, Assaf Zinger, Kathryn M Jones, Maria José Villar, Ana Carolina Leao, Rakesh Adhikari, Leroy Versteeg, Rakhi Tyagi Kundu, Ulrich Strych, Federica Giordano, Peter J Hotez, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Francesca Taraballi, Cristina Poveda

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Chagas disease (CD) (American trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi) is a parasitic disease endemic in 21 countries in South America, with increasing global spread. When administered late in the infection, the current antiparasitic drugs do not prevent the onset of cardiac illness leading to chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy. Therefore, new therapeutic vaccines or immunotherapies are under development using multiple platforms. In this study, we assessed the feasibility of developing an mRNA-based therapeutic CD vaccine targeting two known T. cruzi vaccine antigens (Tc24—a flagellar antigen and ASP-2—an amastigote antigen). We present the mRNA engineering steps, preparation, and stability of the lipid …

How Covid-19 Changed Us: Compassion, Leadership, And Policy, The Lincy Institute

Lincy Institute Events

Nevada was one of the hardest hit states during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past three years, researchers at The Lincy Institute and other institutions collected interviews from 80 Nevada leaders across sectors including elected officials, leaders in education, community organizations, government agencies, and the business community. Four years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, our communities continue to build a resilient and healthy Nevada. This forum discusses how the crisis prompted us to rethink how we lead and how we can prepare for future challenges. Following a presentation of the project and its deliverables, leaders across sectors discuss …

Kondisi Rumah Tidak Layak Huni (Rtlh) Di Indonesia, Putri I. Lumban Tobing, I Dewa Gede Karma Wisana

Jurnal Kebijakan Ekonomi

Urbanization in Indonesia is increasing population growth and demand for habitable housing, presenting challenges. This study assesses uninhabitable houses (RTLH) across regions and provinces, examining their relationship with drinking water, sanitation access, and regional and macroeconomic factors. Despite progress, significant gaps in access to improved water and sanitation persist. Using data from the Central Statistics Agency, findings show a slowed decline in RTLH from 2019 to 2021, with an increase in 2022, highlighting uneven development. The study also finds that higher education levels correlate with lower RTLH rates, while a larger informal labor force is linked to higher RTLH.

A Study Of How Leadership In A Nonprofit Organization Can Create A Positive Workplace Culture, Katrina Carol Coffman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Broken Promises: Prolonged Diminished Quality-Of-Life Among Liberian Ebola Survivors Half A Decade After The 2014-16 West African Outbreak, Jessi Hanson-Defusco, Decontee Davis, Meghana Bommareddy, Zainab Olaniyan

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak left thousands of Liberian survivors with severely diminished quality of life. Applying a social determinants framework, this mixed method study investigates to what extent Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors suffer long-haul psychosocial stress, diminished quality-of-life factors, and the impact of EVD-related service provisions on their ongoing healing. We present the results of a quantitative analysis survey of data collected from 19 Liberian EVD survivors in 2022 using snowball sampling. Additionally, a qualitative analysis of survivor statements helps triangulate key statistical findings and inform causal mechanisms. Survivors report experiencing 5.25 of a total of 7 ongoing stressors …

Evolution Of Telehealth-Its Impact On Palliative Care And Medication Management, Syed N Imam, Ursula K Braun, Mary A Garcia, Leanne K Jackson

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Palliative care plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for individuals facing serious illnesses, aiming to alleviate suffering and provide holistic support. With the advent of telehealth, there is a growing interest in leveraging technology to extend the reach and effectiveness of palliative care services. This article provides a comprehensive review of the evolution of telehealth, the current state of telemedicine in palliative care, and the role of telepharmacy and medication management. Herein we highlight the potential benefits, challenges, and future directions of palliative telemedicine. As the field continues to advance, the article proposes key considerations for …

Community Conversations, John S. Watson Institute For Urban Policy And Research, Barbara George Johnson, Karl Weiskopf

Center for Urban Policy Research

In the winter and spring of 2023, the John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research at Kean University, in partnership with New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus, under the leadership of the Honorable Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter, hosted a series of community conversations to bolster the statewide urban policy agenda on collaborative, evidence-informed solutions to prevent and reduce violence in urban centers and for all New Jerseyans.

These conversations were held at Kean University in Union Township and in four member cities of the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association (NJUMA): Atlantic City, Bridgeton, Camden, and Trenton. Additionally, we facilitated …

Voices, Stories And Experiences Of Black Women Phase Ii: Community Engagement Activity Report Informing The Establishment Of A Trenton-Based Maternal & Infant Health Innovation Center, John S. Watson Institute For Urban Policy And Research, Tirzah Spencer, Phd, Mph, Barbara George Johnson

Center for Urban Policy Research

As an extension of our 2022 study Voices, Stories and Experiences of Black Women (Phase 1), the John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research at Kean University’s Maternal and Child Health Equity Team was asked to share information about the planned Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center (MIHIC) with Trenton residents as a part of Nurture NJ’s community engagement efforts. The Team implemented the following community engagement activities: Communication: Community engagement through social media outreach and in-person outreach were used as approaches to inform Trenton residents about the MIHIC. Dissemination of Findings: Community cafés were designed to share …

Addressing Untimely Healthcare Access Of Veterans Receiving Care Through The Veteran Healthcare Administration (Vha), Frank Lunetta, Jamie Stern, Lila Mcnamee

School of Professional Studies

The Veteran Healthcare Administration (VHA) serves over nine million veterans (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2023). They are responsible for the health and well-being of veterans with service-connected disabilities (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2023). A major focus for the organization is to keep improving access for veterans, as the population continues to grow (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2023). In 2018, congress passed the MISSION Act in hopes of increasing access for veterans. The MISSION Act would expand private healthcare access for veterans through the Veteran Community Care Program (VCCP) (MISSION ACT, 2018). Despite the initial benefits of the program, the MISSION …

Contemporary Voter Suppression: Impact On The 2020 General Election, Tiffany Henley, Samuel Brown, Norou Diawara, Md Iqbal Hossain, Gregory Rivera

Ralph Bunche Journal of Public Affairs

none

The Need For States To Implement Trauma-Informed Care Policies, Teodora-Maria Uglean

School of Professional Studies

Currently, one of the biggest struggles of both the U.S. government and its population is the high percentage of youth and adults who have mental illness which causes several drawbacks where it concerns the economy, but also, one of the main leading causes of death, and incarceration. This research paper demonstrates the advantages of implementing trauma-informed care (TIC) policies at a state level for public organizations such as Social Care, Schools., and Criminal System Justice. TIC is a recent approach that focuses on addressing the impact of early traumatic experiences in an individual’s life.

Results: The results found in this …

“Making The Bed”: Challenging Ideologies Of Ownership, Nonlocality, And Romanticism In The Age Of The Anthropocene, Ainsley P. Foster

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

The current Age of the Anthropocene marks a recent and rapid transition into a period in climate history that is notably defined by human impact. Modern Western sentiments of grief, frustration, and romanticism as a result of the interplay between domestic and corporate spaces seem to culminate in an overall attitude of apathy and acceptance of the Age of the Anthropocene. Various art forms collaborate to create the current conversation of the causatory and reactionary relationship that humans have with the Anthropocene, offering interpretations of how individuals and corporations view ownership of and responsibilities to the environment. There is a …

Health And Healthcare: Designing For The Social Determinants Of Health And Blue Zones In North Nashville, Rebecca Tonguis, Honor Thomas, Olivia Hobbs

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Owned by North Nashville’s First Community Church, a now empty site in the Osage-North Fisk neighborhood of North Nashville has been identified as a potential site for a new location of The Store, in addition to a community-centric architectural development based on the social determinants of health and informed by the principles behind Blue Zones, the locations with the highest lifespans in the world. Opened by Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley, The Store is a free grocery store that “allow[s] people to shop for their basic needs in a way that protects dignity and fosters hope”, for which North Nashville …

Health Leadership Perspectives On Challenges To Providing & Expanding Withdrawal Management Capacity In Maine, Sarah Mclaughlin Mph

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

Currently, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (Maine DHHS) and the Cutler Institute’s Substance Use Research and Evaluation Team (SURE) are working together through the SUPPORT for ME Cooperative Agreement to monitor and assess Maine’s behavioral health system. As a part of this Cooperative Agreement, Maine DHHS and the SURE team have identified withdrawal management (WM) as an area of interest and have determined that more information is needed to understand the landscape of WM in Maine, especially as it pertains to non-opioid substances. Therefore, this project will involve collecting data through interviews with health care leadership from …

Qualitative Brief: Baseline Needs Assessment Treatment Experiences In Rural Vermont, Katie Rosingana Ba, Evelyn Ali Mph, Tyler Egeland Ba, Karen Pearson Mlis, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, C. Peasley-Miklus, J. Shaw

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

This qualitative data brief provides findings from the Vermont baseline needs assessment, conducted in collaboration with research staff at the University of Southern Maine's Catherine Cutler Institute, with the goal to identify current and future opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment needs and barriers in rural Vermont. This data brief aims to identify current and future addiction treatment needs and barriers in Vermont with direct input from practitioners, community partners, and people impacted personally by opioid use. Preceptions included in this data brief are informed by semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted with people with lived experience (PWLE) with OUD, as well as …

Western Maine Addiction And Recovery Initiative's Substance Misuse Prevention And Wellness Day: Year 2 Feedback Survey For Ohchs, Tyler Egeland Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

As part of the evaluation of the Western Maine Addiction Recovery Initiative’s (WMARI) HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program grant, staff from the Substance Use Research & Evaluation Unit, USM developed a survey to gather feedback from individuals who participated in the 2nd annual OHCHS Substance Use Prevention and Wellness Day. For more information, please contact Lindsey Smith at [email protected]

Go Beyond Compliance: Use Individualized Education Programs To Answer Strategic Questions And Improve Programs, Adrienne D. Woods, Marie C. Ireland, Kimberly Murphy, Hope Spark Lancaster

Speech-Language Pathology Faculty Publications

Purpose: The most significant document to ensure effective and compliant design, implementation, monitoring, and enforcement of a program of special education services in the United States is the Individualized Education Program (IEP). Although IEPs have been used to document procedural compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for individual students, IEPs also provide extensive data that can and should be used by a variety of stakeholders including speech-language pathologists (SLPs), school administrators, and state education agencies to design targeted professional development and collectively improve programs, processes, and outcomes in special education.

Method: We summarize existing literature on the …