Digital Commons Network^™

Team Characteristics As Predictors Of Collaboration On Sexual Assault Response Teams (Sarts), Anna Wegrzyn

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs) are collaborative multidisciplinary groups designed to coordinate the response to sexual assault. SARTs were created through efforts to address issues related to sexual assault response, such as negative treatment of survivors by responders, low prosecution rates, and disorganized relationships among responders. The goal of SARTs is to improve cross-system collaboration in the response to sexual assault in communities. Although SARTs tend to have similar goals and foci, teams vary in the formal structures and the collaborative activities they adopt. Therefore, it is important to examine the characteristics of SARTs and how they relate to collaboration …

2016 - California Land Use And Management - A Resource Management Strategy Of The California Water Plan

Miscellaneous Documents and Reports

Land use planning and management cuts across many resource management strategies. More efficient and effective land use is linked to several resource management strategies including watershed, water use efficiency, groundwater quality, flood management, parks and recreation, climate change adaptive management and agricultural lands stewardship. Directly development away from agricultural lands permits multi-objective management of these lands for agricultural preservation, floodplain management, water quality, habitat conservation, and sustainable development. In addition, planning for more compact and sustainable communities, both urban and rural, will assist in reducing reliance on the state-s water supply, and result in more efficient use of California’s water …

Community Uprising: Counseling Interventions, Educational Strategies, And Advocacy Tools, Katherine M. Hermann-Turner, Karena J. Heyward, Carrie Lynn Bailey

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Ferguson riots, Baltimore uprising, marches on the White House… how can counselor educators incorporate crisis intervention training into curriculums, implement measures to prevent public unrest, and increase community resilience to avoid the violent repercussions of racial tensions? This article explores common precursors to racially charged unrest and provides a model for innovative counseling interventions, curriculum development, and advocacy based on the American Counseling Association (ACA) Disaster Impact and Recovery Model (2009). In addition, the authors provide specific course-based discussion questions to use as tools to foster perspective taking and increased understanding among student and practitioners.

Culture As Sustainability: The Case Study Of Govardhan Ecovillage And Vedic Culture In India, Danielle Lella Bartolone

Theses and Dissertations

This project investigates the relationship between sustainability and Vedic culture of India. The ethnographic research at Govardhan Ecovillage seeks to understand how sustainability is embedded in culture. I employ grounded theory for my research methodology which reveals three key themes explaining fundamental and interrelated dimensions of Vedic culture as sustainability.

Measurement Plan And Analytic Strategies For Evaluating The Mayor’S Action Plan For Neighborhood Safety. Map Evaluation Update Number 2., Jeffrey A. Butts, John Roman, Angela Silletti, Anthony Vega, Wogod Alawlaqi

Publications and Research

This is the second of six updates presenting interim findings from the evaluation of the NYC Mayor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety (MAP). As part of an evaluation of the New York City Mayor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety (MAP), the John Jay College Research and Evaluation Center was asked to create the measurement framework and analytic strategies to evaluate the MAP initiative. Using multiple data sources and onsite observations and interviews, the team aims to understand the relationship between the MAP efforts and the expected outcomes of those efforts.

Putting Research To Action: Integrating Collaborative Governance And Community-Engaged Research For Community Solar, Emily Prehoda, Richelle Winkler, Chelsea Schelly

Department of Social Sciences Publications

Community solar involves the installation of a solar electricity system that is built in one central location with the costs and benefits distributed across voluntary investors who choose to subscribe and receive credits based on the generated energy. Community solar is gaining attention because of its potential to increase access to renewable energy and to democratize energy governance. This paper reflects on community-engaged research experiences in two rural community case studies in Michigan, USA, focusing on obstacles that were experienced during the research process rather than empirical findings from the research. We highlight difficulties we experienced to help advance a …

Promoting Spiritual Wellness On A College Campus Through Community Based Participatory Research, Regina Idoate, Melissa Tibbits, Mark Gilbert, Michele Marie Desmarais, Christopher Fisher, Alicia Bower, Daniel J. Shipp, Joe Kaminski

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Advance Publication Archive

This case study describes an initiative to promote spiritual wellness on a public state college campus and demonstrates evidence of the effectiveness of taking a community-based approach. We employed the community readiness model to develop an initiative to promote spiritual wellness in a Midwestern state university. We recruited informants through purposeful sampling and conducted interviews, both pre- and post-initiative launch. Baseline data was used to inform initiative efforts. The community’s level of readiness to promote spiritual wellness increased from stage three, vague awareness, at baseline to stage six, initiation, at follow up. Although these findings are specific to our community, …

Intensive Archaeological Survey Of Calaveras Power Station, Bexar County, Texas, Nesta Anderson, Sheldon Smith

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

On behalf of CPS Energy, Pape-Dawson Engineers (Pape-Dawson) conducted an intensive archaeological survey of the Calaveras Power Station proposed improvement areas in east San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The property improvements will consist of a series of evaporation ponds, the location of which has not yet been determined. Vertical depths of impacts are anticipated to extend up to 20 feet (ft) (6 meters [m]) below the ground surface. The current project area comprises two tracts of land totaling approximately 228 acres (92 hectares [ha]).

As CPS Energy is a political subdivision of the state of Texas, compliance with the Antiquities …

Intensive Archaeological Survey Of The Proposed Saws Nwc Bulverde/1604 Sewer Extension Project, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, Virginia Moore, Shawn Marceaux

Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State

On behalf of Oden Hughes, Pape-Dawson conducted an intensive archaeological survey of the proposed NWC Bulverde/1604 Sewer Extension Project in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The project proposed to begin on the southwest side of Classen Road approximately 0.2 kilometers (km) (0.13 mile [mi]) east of its northern intersection with Bulverde Road. The proposed line would parallel Elm Waterhole Creek to the west and south approximately 0.8 km (0.5 mi). At this point, the line would cross Autry Pond Road in a southwestern direction eventually paralleling Bulverde Road to the intersection of Redland Road for a total length of approximately …

Increasing Access To Food: A Comprehensive Report On Food Supply Options, Ursp 666 (Commercial Revitalization), Logan Ashby, Chesley De Leon, Vegas Krane, Eric Mai, Shekinah Mitchell, Michael Nixon-Garrison, Gabriella Pino-Moreno, Elizabeth Roderick, Chloe Rote, Jeff Smith, Charlie Wilson, Will Wilson, Hunter Wood

Urban and Regional Studies and Planning Reports

Access to food is one of the most important aspects of a healthy, sustainable community. Grocery stores and other suppliers can serve as an economic anchor to provide social benefits to communities. Unfortunately, many communities do not have convenient and/or affordable access to grocery items, particularly fresh produce.

As part of Virginia Commonwealth University's Fall 2019 graduate course on Urban Commercial Revitalization, class members researched 13 retail and other food access options, which are described in this report. Each chapter covers a food access option and provides basic information that will be useful to individuals, organizations, or government agencies that …

The Waiting List: Addressing The Immediate And Long-Term Needs Of Victims Of Explosive Weapons In Syria., Hi

Global CWD Repository

This report looks at the challenges linked to the use of explosive weapons in the Syrian context for the provision of adequate immediate assistance and to plan for mid- to long-term assistance to the victims of explosive violence, to ensure their full recovery and inclusion into society. It is based on data and testimonies collected from humanitarian agencies, actors and patients across all areas of control in Syria. The testimony of Farah, a Syrian girl injured during the bombing of her school, and of her mother, is shared throughout the report to illustrate the challenges faced by victims.

The report …

Sa Climate Ready: A Pathway For Climate Action & Adaptation, Sa Climate Ready, Alfred Montoya

Sociology & Anthropology Faculty Research

San Antonio is one of the fasted growing cities in the nation. Every day, we are working to plan for and accommodate the estimated one million additional residents that will arrive in San Antonio by 2040. In much the same way, it’s our collective responsibility to prepare for a future that is projected to have hotter temperatures, longer droughts and more intense rain events, as a result of our changing climate. That is why working with the City Council, one of my first acts as your Mayor was to sign the Paris Climate Agreement.

Throughout the SA Climate Ready process, …

Promoting Spiritual Wellness On A College Campus Through Community Based Participatory Research, Regina Idoate, Melissa Tibbits, Mark Gilbert, Michele Marie Desmarais, Christopher M. Fisher, Alicia Bower, Daniel J. Shipp, Joe Kaminski

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This case study describes an initiative to promote spiritual wellness on a public state college campus and demonstrates evidence of the effectiveness of taking a community-based approach. We employed the community readiness model to develop an initiative to promote spiritual wellness in a Midwestern state university. We recruited informants through purposeful sampling and conducted interviews, both pre- and post-initiative launch. Baseline data was used to inform initiative efforts. The community’s level of readiness to promote spiritual wellness increased from stage three, vague awareness, at baseline to stage six, initiation, at follow up. Although these findings are specific to our community, …

Service-Learning Faculty Assessment: Report Of Results, 2018, Lynn E. Pelco, Katie Elliott, Katie Schifano

Division of Community Engagement Resources

In Spring 2018, the VCU Service-Learning Office sponsored an evaluation process that gathered feedback from faculty members who teach service-learning classes. The goal was to deepen understanding of the barriers faced by VCU’s service-learning faculty instructors and to solicit feedback about key strategies for overcoming these barriers. An independent research consultant conducted the evaluation in two phases: an online anonymous survey and a 30-minute phone interview. Eighty service-learning instructors completed the online survey, and a stratified sample of 18 instructors completed the telephone interviews. Findings indicated that both the online survey respondents and phone interview participants experienced similar supports and …

Containing The Jeremiad: Understanding Paradigms Of Anxiety In Global Climate Change Experience, Brian Glaser

English Faculty Articles and Research

This essay uses Bion’s concept of “containing” to read the psychological dynamics of jeremiads about global climate change, arguing that their structure reveals a strategy of communication that may be useful for more broadly raising awareness about this challenging state of the planet. More specifically, I argue that contemporary global climate change jeremiads have a structure that first elicits alarm and then moves to discuss solutions, and that this structure may be beneficial to those who are awakening to the reality of global climate change by rendering anxiety bearable and therefore open to purposive and creative response.

Promoting Environmental Justice Research And Practice For Social Workers In A Rural State: Methodology And Findings Of A Pilot Qualitative Study, Monika Leininger, Kirsten Havig

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Environmental justice work is an emerging field of practice that recognizes the interrelationship between social, economic, racial, gender, and environmental injustice and the impact social workers can have for policy and practice. Despite inclusion of environmental justice knowledge and practice as critical elements of ethical social work, little research exists on the topic in the professional knowledge base. Additionally, little research exists to date that specifically examines environmental justice knowledge and practice in a rural area. This pilot study examines awareness and knowledge of environmental justice issues and practice amongst licensed social workers in a rural western state using focus …

Contemporary Mental Health Care In Rural Areas: Challenges And Strategies, Whitney Cassity-Caywood

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Mental health care and illness prevention present distinct challenges in rural areas with limited resources. This paper examines rural-specific mental health care concerns and uses a public health prevention model to discuss the most current and prolific strategies to address these issues. The unique role of the social work profession in implementing these strategies is highlighted.

Conclusion: The Future Of Latina/O/X Communication Studies: A Plática With Senior Scholars, Bernadette Marie Calafell, Karma Chávez, Fernando Delgado, Lisa A. Flores, Michelle A. Holling, Darrel Wanzer-Serrano, Stacey K. Sowards, Angharad N. Valdivia

Critical Race and Ethnic Studies Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Health Implications Of Mixed-Income Communities: Mariposa, Denver, Co, Emily Miller

Faculty Scholarship

This site profle is part of a series that spotlights mixed-income community transformations that emphasize health and wellness in their strategic interventions. The Mixed-Income Strategic Alliance produced these profles to better understand the health implications of creating thriving and inclusive communities with a socioeconomically and racially diverse population. This site profle, which focuses on Mariposa, was developed through interviews with local stakeholders as well as a review of publicly-available and internal documents.

Combining The Iad And Ses Frameworks, Daniel H. Cole, Graham Epstein, Michael D. Mcginnis

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

A Region Recovers: Planning For Resilience After Superstorm Sandy, Donovan Finn, Divya Chandrasekhar, Yu Xiao

School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences Faculty Publications

2012’s Superstorm Sandy had a devastating impact on the New York City metropolitan region, including the suburban Long Island coast and the New Jersey shore. Given the size, density, complexity, and diversity of the region, many approaches have been used to address post-storm recovery. Planning has been central to these efforts. Using in-depth interviews with recovery stakeholders, this analysis of the planning responses to Sandy illustrates what an emergent model of resilient recovery planning looks like and highlights the kinds of resources and approaches that help facilitate this approach. We argue that preexisting planning capacity, strong political leadership, and nongovernmental …

The Role Of A Community Coach In Rural Food Councils In Six Midwestern States, Kaitlyn Tusha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: To quantitatively assess perceived coaching confidence of a community coach working with food councils, and to qualitatively determine perceived barriers and facilitators associated with coaching rural food councils.
Design: Two phases were implemented using a mixed methods study design with quantitative (scorecard) and qualitative (key informant interviews) methodologies.
Setting: Six rural, Midwestern states implementing Voices for Food.
Participants: Voices for Food community coaches (n=9) who coached rural food council(s).
Intervention: A component of the broader Voices for Food intervention.
Analysis: Quantitative scorecard data were analyzed with STATA by running paired ttests. Qualitative key information interview data were analyzed with …

The Hiv Seers Project: A Qualitative Analysis Of Program Facilitators’ Experience, Tiffany Chenneville, Kemesha Gabbidon, Hunter Drake

Psychology Faculty Publications

HIV-related stigma creates barriers to HIV testing, medication adherence, and retention in care. Guided by the principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR) and in collaboration with community health workers (CHWs), the Stigma-reduction through Education, Empowerment, and Research (SEERs) project was developed with and for youth living in Nakuru, Kenya to reduce HIV-related stigma. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the experiences of the CHWs serving as SEERs facilitators. To evaluate SEERs, 37 facilitators completed open-ended survey questions to gather their experiences and recommendations for future program implementation and sustainability. Participants’ mean age was 30.58 (standard deviation = …

Mapping Collective Action Structures And Activities In A Rural Age-Friendly Communities Initiative, Althea R. Pestine-Stevens

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Age-Friendly Communities (AFC) initiatives convene stakeholders across sectors and service areas throughout a community to work together to improve the social and built environments for older persons living in the community. While the AFC movement has been active internationally for thirteen years, little is known about the mechanisms that drive this work and its successes. This study aims to uncover some of the key collective action processes and structures that comprise AFC work in a rural county in New York State, through a collaboration theory framework and a social network analysis design.

Community Resilience: A Meta-Study Of International Development Rhetoric In Emerging Economies, Rachel Ann Haggard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Understood generally, community resilience is the ability of communities to adapt, absorb, mitigate, and recover from shocks and stressors in such a way that facilitates positive future outcomes and reduces overall vulnerability to future shocks and stressors (Adger, 2000; Norris, Stevens, Pfefferbaum, Wyche & Pfefferbaum, 2008; USAID, 2013; Walker et al., 2004). The core of this definition relates to sustainability and the capability of socio-ecological systems and communities to adapt and transform to both day to day fluctuations and stressors as well as major disasters (Milman & Short, 2008; Walker et al., 2004). This meta-study seeks to shed light on …

Constraints And Opportunities In Community-Led Food Justice Models, Teya Cuellar

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Non-profits that do community-led food justice work with lower income communities face particular constraints and opportunities. This study examined those constraints and opportunities through participant observation of one such organization and interviews with four other organizations. Findings include the diversity of definitions for “community-led,” assets that can help or constrain the organization, and diversity in defining “scaling up” their organization models and missions. The organizations that heavily focused on lower income consumers noted tensions with the board of the non- profit and lack of engagement of consumers. I conclude by critiquing using language such as “models,” “scaling up,” or “replicating” …

Designing For Community In Online Learning Settings, Jennifer R. Banas, Russell D. Wartalski

Health Sciences and Physical Education Faculty Publications

This chapter is for librarians seeking to improve learning outcomes among adult learners by fostering community in online courses. To help the reader learn how to do this, we make use of recognized community-focused frameworks and concepts, including communities of practice, dimensions of community, modes of belonging, levels of community, the community of inquiry model, and the expanded community of inquiry model.

Communities Towards Social Sustainability: A Case Study Of La'akea Permaculture Community And Lost Valley Education And Event Center, Richard Brett Olson

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

In this research, I explore social practices that members of two intentional communities identified as contributing positively to their experiences and the functioning of their communities. Specifically, I examined the social practices that deal with conflict resolution/prevention, the decision making processes of consensus and sociocracy, and how knowledge about these practices is shared within the ecovillage context. The intention is to present how community members develop and use these social practices to live together more harmoniously and authentically by utilizing activities and techniques to help mediate and resolve conflicts and make decisions collectively.

In order to investigate these questions I …

Through The Looking Glass: Viewing First-Year Composition Through The Lens Of Information Literacy, Alexandria Chisholm, Brett Spencer

Communications in Information Literacy

This paper presents a case study of how librarians can situate themselves as pedagogical partners by bringing their unique information literacy perspective and expertise to the programmatic assessment process. This report resulted from the Thun Library and the Penn State Berks Composition Program's collaboration to assess the institution’s first-year composition (FYC) course. From previous programmatic assessments of their students’ work, the faculty had a sense that students struggled with source use in their rhetoric but found it difficult to pinpoint students’ exact source issues. By adapting a rubric theoretically-grounded in the ACRL Framework to deconstruct the concept of source use …

We Gotta Work With What We Got: School And Community Factors That Contribute To Educational Resilience Among African American Students, Denae Bradley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how Black residents in the Mississippi Delta claim and deploy agency and resiliency in a rural community context entrenched in a legacy of oppression. Black, low-income communities are implicitly labeled non-resilient when macro-level community capitals and resiliency literature are applied. However, I find that resiliency is culturally distinctive and oftentimes detected in ritual, daily processes in Black communities. This thesis rejects dominant narratives that Black communities in Mississippi are only poor, backwards, and lacking. It questions the assumption that dominant institutions have created inescapable boundaries for Black people in this region and challenges the notion that the …