Digital Commons Network^™

What Removal Causes Are Most Common For Children In Foster Care? Are There Discrepancies Across Age Groups?, Elise Woodliff

Social Work Theses - Archive

Although there has been recent focus on child welfare to prevent removals, little literature has examined reasons children are removed among diverse developmental stages. The present study explores the multifaceted demographics of children in the foster care system in order to recognize who is being affected by what removal causes. The purpose of this study is to better understand the foster care system to target interventions and screenings for children under eighteen years of age in the United States. Quantitative measures were used to analyze statistics that were made available through the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System. …

Peer-Led Mental Health Services On College Campuses: A Scoping Review, Anadja Tamofo

Social Work Theses - Archive

This scoping review explores peer-led mental health services on college campuses, focusing on virtual mental well-being support. It examines the implementation, effectiveness, and outcomes of these interventions, highlighting the pivotal role of peer supporters. The review identifies three key themes: the importance of structured implementation, the effectiveness of peer-led interventions in reducing stigma and improving outcomes, and the psychosocial benefits and challenges faced by peer supporters. Significant gaps remain in understanding how to train and support peer supporters effectively, especially in virtual environments. Addressing these gaps can enhance program sustainability, improve student well-being, and foster supportive campus environments.

Surveying The Policy Landscape Concerning Tgd Youth In Schools, Dustin Ward

Social Work Theses - Archive

Recently, there has been a precipitous rise in anti-TGD legislation across state legislatures, growing from 143 proposed bills in 2021 to 604 in 2023. This pronounced increase in TGD-restrictive legislation may exacerbate existing stressors experienced by TGD youth. This study uses Ecological Systems Theory as a framework to conceptualize how this legislation might worsen the emotional strain and related risks experienced by TGD youth. All proposed and enacted state policies from January 1st, 2023, to December 31st, 2023, impacting the school environments of TGD youth were collected, and the characteristics were categorized according to domain, policy instruments, consequences specified, and …

Boiling Behind Bars: Exploring The Hidden Toll Of Extreme Heat On Mental Health In Texas Prisons, Sandra K. Miller

Social Work Theses - Archive

The State of Texas supports the largest prison system in the US and held 132,859 people in 100 units scattered across the state as of December 2023. Approximately 70% of Texas prison beds are not air conditioned, despite the state’s reputation for dangerously hot, humid summers. The State has officially recorded temperatures inside Texas prison facilities as high as 120 degrees with heat index values of over 150. Although there is a growing body of research on the negative physiological and psychological consequences of extreme heat among the general public, little is known about the physical and emotional toll of …

Elevating Inclusion: Understanding The Employee Experience Of Latinx Immigrants In The Technology Industry, Angelica Coronel

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

In a time characterized by an increasingly diverse U.S. labor force, immigrants have emerged as a vital yet often overlooked segment. As the workforce landscape evolves and employers seek to expand their Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB) initiatives, understanding the unique challenges and perspectives of immigrant employees becomes crucial for fostering equity and inclusion in the workplace. The existing literature reveals a significant gap on workplace experiences of immigrant employees, particularly Latinx immigrants employed in the technology industry. Grounded in social identity theory, systems theory, and equity theory, this study adopts a phenomenological approach to understand how Latinx immigrant employees …

Balancing Acts: Navigating The Impact Of Working From Home On Women, Families And Beyond, Gayle Marie Hardison

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the world and continues to impact us four years later. One of the most significant impacts the pandemic had is on the way we work. To stop the spread of the virus and to safeguard the public, countries around the world issued stay-athome orders which required all but essential workers to stay at home beginning in March of 2020 in the United States and throughout the world. This transformed the way and where we worked and a large portion of the workforce which was able, began working from home or teleworking. What …

Body. Freedom. Choice: Creating Artwork In Post-Roe America, Erin Sedra

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

I knew from a young age that I never wanted children. Whenever I expressed my disinterest in motherhood, I was often met with bewilderment, disapproval, and hostility. The church I was raised in taught me that my value and worth as a woman directly correlated with the power of my birthing hips. This fundamentalist upbringing has significantly shaped my relationship with my femininity, my body, and my artwork. When I feel powerless, turning to my art gives me a sense of control and self-expression. This body of work began as a reaction to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and …

Community Resurrection: Qualitative Research Exploring Methods In Revitalizing Historic Districts Without Gentrification, Gayle Yvonne Green

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This qualitative study examines redevelopment and historic preservation in the Lincoln Street Historic District of Gary, Indiana. Established in 1906 by the United States Steel Corporation, Gary grew as a major industrial center before experiencing decades of disinvestment, abandonment, and renewed interest from commercial investors. Despite the district’s architectural and cultural significance, its historic structures and surrounding neighborhoods continue to face deterioration and redevelopment pressures.

Using a case study approach, this research explores the perspectives of seven residents and two business owners with longstanding ties to the district. Through interviews, participants identified resources needed to revitalize blighted and abandoned properties, …

Impacts Of State Needs-Based Aid On Residency (In-State) Enrollments, Scott Pohlson

Dissertations and Theses

The debate over the effectiveness of various methods of financial aid dates to the 1960s with continued uncertainty on the impacts it has on college enrollment (Hansen 1983). Previous studies noted that states are adopting various financial aid programs with some focused on the merit-based aid program which traditionally has benefited higher-academic achieving students who come from higher income families (McLendon, Tandberg, & Hillman 2014). Then there are other states that have focused more on increasing their state funding on lower-income families via needs-based aid programs (McLendon, Tandberg, & Hillman 2014). However, these studies have not focused on the relationship …

What Are We Waiting For? A Collection Of Poems And Essays About Family, Love, Loss, Time, And Hope, Right/Write To Heal, Skye Adams, D W, N L, D G, Jillian Foley, Madison Burke, Erica King, Becky Wurwarg

Justice Policy

This anthology is a collaboration with the Opportunity Scholars project and the Right/Write to Heal Initiative. The collection tells the stories of women and their families who have been impacted by incarceration in Maine and New York, the pathways that brought them to justice system involvement, and what inspires them to remain hopeful. These stories of family, love, loss, time, and hope were written by residents at the Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center and the Women’s Center at the Maine Correctional Center, and partners from New York who participated in a weekly creative writing project together. The authors and editors …

Becoming Bridge Citizens: Educating For Social Justice In Conflict-Affected Settings, Stella Mi Cheong Cheong, Rowena Azada-Palacios, Kamille Beye

Philosophy Department Faculty Publications

This study draws on empirical data to fine-tune the theoretical concept, ‘bridging civic identity’, which we propose as an educational aim in conflict-affected settings. We analyse interview data from Liberian respondents and North Korean migrants living in South Korea, using a conceptual framework based on the notions of ‘bridge citizens’ and agency. The analysis reveals the following: (1) that a high sense of agency is related to resourcefulness and fortitude, (2) that identifying oneself as a ‘bridge citizen’ is connected to recognising others as such, and (3) that concrete, large-scale aspirations of social justice for the larger community – and …

Umbrella Review As A Data Collection Tool: Towards Observation, Analysis, And Empirical Transformation Of Qualitative Drivers Describing Healthcare Workforce Shortage Factors Into Quantitative Data To Support Medical Education Interventions In A Global Challenge., Fabio Galli, Marco Grech

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

A healthcare workforce shortage of 18 million is expected by 2030, against a global demand of 80 million, and it is difficult to analyse and monitor the real drivers driving this personnel shortage on a global level. The transformation of qualitative data into quantitative data can be a strategy in this global challenge, that can implement the medical education intervention strategies.

Building Sustainable Community-Academic Partnerships While Implementing A Nutrition-Based Blackberry Garden Program At A Senior Center, Dawn Brewer, Annie Koempel, Abbey L. Moellering, Tammy Stephenson, Amy Kostelic, Julie Plasencia, Alexis Sheffield, Ben Guerrant, Alethia Price

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Due to limited access to and low consumption of fruits and vege- tables, older adults are at increased risk of worsening or developing chronic diseases. This paper describes a community-academic partnership that provides a sustainable source of blackberries to attendees of a rural senior center. Qualitative research evaluated the partnership following implementation of a blackberry program. Focus groups and interviews included partners from a senior cen- ter, Cooperative Extension Service, and a detention center. Main themes: group power dynamics influenced communication between research and community leadership teams; unexpected project barriers emerged; and community leadership team sug- gested strategies to promote …

“Because I Said So”: How National Leaders Use Rhetoric To Frame The Issues Of National Security And The War On Drugs, Saul Valle

History and Political Science | Senior Theses

In the preamble of the 2024 presidential election seasons in both the United States and Mexico, there has been an increase in aggressive outspoken expression by national leaders regarding how to best handle the issue of drugs and drug use across the Western hemisphere. These types of sweeping policies are often credited to President Richard Nixon, who on June 18th, 1971, initiated his “War on Drugs,” a global policy campaign intended to address the production, distribution, and consumption of the illicit drug trade. Existing scholarship on this topic has extensively analyzed the early years of the American war on drugs …

Changes In Criminal Thinking Among Homeless Veterans Receiving Housing First Services, Deirdra Robinson

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

Homelessness is a social problem that has plagued the United States for decades. as early as 1987, veterans were identified has making up a large proportion of people living unhoused. This dissertation is a retrospective exploratory, quantitative study exploring the relationship between criminal thinking and specific characteristics (mental health symptoms, social connectedness, perception of seriousness of legal issues, and housing) of veterans who received services from a Housing First program. Using Survival Mode Theory as a framework for organizing and understanding the context of the study, and the utility of the findings, this dissertation aimed at improving practice and theoretical …

Outpatient Fall Prevention In Ambulatory Adults 65 Years Old And Over, Dorothy L. Osborne-White

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background: In the United States (U.S.), falls are the leading cause of injury among adults 65 and over, resulting in 36 million falls yearly (Moreland et al., 2020). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2023), one in four older adults experiences a fall each year. Falls are the world's second most prominent cause of accidental deaths (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021). Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults (Moreland et al., 2020).

Methods: A quality improvement project that included a fall bundle was implemented in a primary clinic. A …

Cpaf In Focus Vol. 9 Perspective Unveiled, Michiko Karisa M. Buot, There Marie L. Quilnat, Johnnelda P. Cosef, Dhanicca Amor M. Domingo, Roxanne B. Bragais, Princess Dianne M. Lavarnez, Samantha Gerealdine G. De Los Santos, Evelie P. Serrano

IN FOCUS: Development & Governance

In this issue:

• Behind the Uno: The Many Hats Shaggy Wears, 3
• DIP Lab: Transforming Research to Policy in the AANR Sector, 7
• CPaf 2023 Highlights: International Conference on Governance & Development, 11
• Dean Weng: Grace under pressure Personified, 13
• C's of CPAf: Cultivating Camaraderie for a Common Purpose, 19
• A Life Well Lived: The Journey of CPAf First Professor Emeritus, 23
• CPAf's Finest, 27
• What's UP CPAf: About CPAf & its Featured Knowledge Products, 29

Political Prioritization For Digital Health And Health Equity Through Global Health Diplomacy, Vijay Kumar Chattu, Sujatha Alla, Bawa Singh

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

[Introduction] We have found the article "Digital health and health equity: How digital health can address healthcare disparities and improve access to quality care in Africa" published in the recent issue to be very relevant and interesting.¹ Qoseem et al have highlighted that there is a great need for continuous advocacy for strengthening the health systems through telehealth promotion and increasing access to healthcare services to achieve health equity.

Community Integration Experiences Of Formerly Homeless Persons With Serious Mental Illness (Smi) Housed In Washington Dc Using The Housing First Model, Gwendolyn Harter

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Two interventions which have been successful in housing and maintaining housing for individuals who have serious mental illness and are classified as chronically homeless are the Housing First Model and community integration. Currently existing models of community integration were created using dated information and definitions, created from a medical model and not a social framework. Therefore, this dissertation used a phenomenological approach to define community and whether, by that definition, the participants feel integrated into the community. This included the interviewees’ experiences with Pathways to Housing DC and transitioning from homeless to housings and the Housing First Model.

Outcomes from …

Land Use Policy Impact On Health Equity In Rural America Counties, Shayla Holmes

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This dissertation investigates the relationship between land use policies and health equity in rural American counties. Utilizing a qualitative case study approach, the research scrutinizes eight counties across four states, examining publicly available data such as census details, land use policy documents, community health reports, and planning documents. The study is guided by two main research questions: 1) Are there land use policies in rural America that align with the creation of health equitable communities? and 2) Do health equitable communities within rural America feature equity in housing stock? The results from the thematic coding and content analysis of ninety-six …

Child Welfare Social Workers: Socially Situated Bureaucrats At The Forefront Of Systemic Racism In Practice, Christina Lau

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Anti-Black racial bias in child welfare systems was explored in this qualitative study employing an anonymous online survey and virtual interviews with child welfare professionals from around the U.S. This applied research re-examined the persistent problem of racial disproportionality in child welfare intervention rates for Black children from underrepresented perspectives of social workers in the field. The research questions asked for participants’ observations of the mechanisms through which racial bias impacts families involved with child welfare systems, and what roles individual professionals take when striving to promote equity as street-level bureaucrats. Interpretive description methods were used to develop a conceptual …

Embedded Collaborative Intelligence Service Mechanism In Emergencies, Chen Wei, Chensheng Wu, Bingfeng Zhao, Qingtao Fan

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance]Faced with complex cross-domain emergencies, the barriers among intelligence resources, intelligence services and the rights and responsibilities within emergency management must be broken to generate embedded synergy, enhancing emergency management effectiveness. [Method/process]From the three perspectives of intelligence system guarantee, intelligence organization guarantee and early warning intelligence mechanism, this paper studies the basic guarantee, intelligence lack problem and realization path of cross-domain intelligence service emergencies based on the emergency management system and traditional intelligence collaborative service system. With embedded collaborative intelligence monitoring and collection systems and crisis early warning intelligence systems, an embedded collaborative intelligence service system framework is built. [Result/conclusion]Intelligence …

Effectiveness Of Harm Reduction And Narcan Education For Young Adults, Jason Bolfango

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Education on the Harm Reduction Model is an upstream preventative approach to addressing the opioid crisis and a strategic method to promote safety among young adults.

Should I Stay Or Should I Go? A City Manager In Times Of Transition, Patrick William Antonen

Dissertations and Theses

The public administration literature provides many assertions as to what causes a city manager to consider when to remain in their position or relocate to a new position. This study identified variables that impact the decisions to change cities. This research surveyed current city managers in northern Midwest states to explore which variables make a difference. The variables were categorized to include considerations about personal concerns, career motivations, and organizational contexts. Simple analysis suggests that a decision to change cities is very much influenced by the perceived dysfunction of the city council and political or interest groups that influence the …

Silence Is Not Golden: Exploring The Trade-Offs Between Transparency And Burden In Dirs Reporting, Katie Nelson

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the United States federal government's Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS), which is an instrument that is used during emergencies to gather information on what five communication avenues are not actively working at the time of the emergency or during the recovery process. The synthesis provides a framework for characteristics that cite the necessities for this study on DIRS. Examining DIRS will help us understand its strengths, limitations, and potential improvements. Evaluating the details of historical and global research on emergency communications are gathered. The analysis provides insights into DIRS's past, present, and future. Bring to light future …

Identifying Youth Appeals In Alcohol Alternative Social Media Content Through Framing, Melina Oneal

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Proposed regulations for alcohol advertising prevent beverage companies from targeting people under the legal drinking age. However, similar regulations for alcohol alternative beverages are less explored, which could allow alcohol alternative products to create awareness for alcoholic beverages among youth. Alcohol alternatives beverages, including no-alcohol and low-alcohol products, are increasing in popularity and can function as compliments to alcoholic products to decrease the total alcohol volume consumed or as substitutes for alcoholic products. Framing theory can be operationalized through the Content Appealing to Youth Index, an index of content elements found in research literature to be appealing to youth, to …

Climate Change, Policy Paralysis, And A Nuclear Waste Island? Exploring Perceptions Of Risk, Trust, And Community Agency In Navigating Uncertain Futures Facing Humboldt Bay's Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Site, Alexander Brown

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Climate and coastal hazards threaten the long-term viability of indefinite in-situ nuclear waste storage in the U.S., especially at vulnerable “stranded” sites like Humboldt Bay, California. The national policy framework is fundamentally incompatible with emergent climate realities and does not adequately accommodate uncertainty, localized hazard conditions, and the sociocultural and political dynamics that manifest in diverse and contested public arenas. I interviewed 21 community-experts working at the intersection of climate change and nuclear waste, and co-facilitated three scenario planning workshops to gather insights on how to responsibly manage Humboldt Bay’s nuclear waste in a climate-altered world. Qualitative findings indicate variation …

Speaking For The States: A Response To The Proposal Of Subnational Forest Federalization, Joseph White

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

Performance And Policy Indexes In Carbon Pricing Efficacy: A Cross-Country Analysis Of Policy Impact (2012-2020), Ke (Zoky) Zhou

Honors Theses

Climate change poses a significant threat to global ecosystems and human societies, driven largely by CO2 emissions from various economic activities. This macroeconomic cross-country study empirically assesses the effectiveness of carbon pricing in reducing CO2 emissions across three periods: 2012-2017, 2015-2019, and 2015-2020. Building on the foundational research by Best et al. (2020), the analysis extends to more recent data, capturing the evolving impacts of carbon pricing amid changing global economic and policy landscapes. A key advancement in this research is the creation and integration of two comprehensive indexes—a performance index and a policy index—constructed from 14 environmental performance or …

Responding To Hurricane Maria: The Role Of Mutual Aid Societies In Withstanding Federal Failures, Caitlin Bracken

Honors Theses

Through a combination of research and interviews, this paper unpacks the policies that expose colonialist realities and how Puerto Rican mutual aid societies engaged with those policies in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Policies and decisions such as cabotage law under the Jones Act; the quality of Puerto Rican bonds being triple-tax exempt; the inability to refinance or default on debt; the Insular Cases and other Supreme Court cases; and PROMESA, have established a colonial relationship with significant material and political consequences for Puerto Rico. These consequences were brought to light after Hurricane Maria, where the U.S.’s inadequate response resulted …