Digital Commons Network^™

The Psychosocial Impact Of Covid 19 On Children And Families: A Social Determinant Perspective, April Hightower

Integrated Studies

The present study examines COVID-19's negative impact on the lives of children and families. In the process disrupting the social determinants of health. In 2019, the virus swept the nation. As, a result, our education, which has students failing grades increasing by 70% (Lecher,2020), the lack of economic stability, which has many people without jobs (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Built environments, health and community efforts were disrupted (Healthy People.gov). A review of the available research literature collected by the CDC, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the World Health Organization, Child Abuse and Neglect (C.A.N), and many more explains said impact. The …

Alcoholism, Kathryn Haney

Integrated Studies

In today's society alcoholism is not viewed as a disease but rather an individual's moral shortcomings. While it may be a person's choice to start drinking, somewhere along the way it stops being their choice and becomes a disease that takes over their body. An alcoholic is far from a healthy person. Medical professionals can get ahead of this disease rather than treating it as symptoms arise through planned early interventions, active roles in rehabilitations, and reevaluation of requirements for a liver transplantation. Families can play an active role in a loved one's journey to sobriety by providing a positive …

The Mccracken County Public Library_ The Core Values Of A Public Library, Alaysia Hamilton

Integrated Studies

The McCracken County Public Library has played a part in the community revolution. During the social renaissance in Paducah, you can find the McCracken library serving on the front lines. After all, it is one of the last places where social status does not matter. Through technology, resources, outreach and programs, the public library meets the needs of their all- inclusive community by being flexible and constantly changing.

Sanctaury:Background Of Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault Services, Cynthia Fletcher

Integrated Studies

Domestic Violence and sexual assault are extremely dangerous behaviors that are well known in our society, as well as around the world. Studies and research have shown that places of support through agencies can help restore and prevent repeating occurrences as well as support that is needed for growth. Sanctuary is a non-profit agency committed to the provision of preventive and restorative services to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Sanctuary has a vison to deliver caring, comprehensive support to victims of personal violence in the nine-county area of Pennyrile Area Development in Kentucky. Sanctuary seeks to empower through …

The Opioid Epidemic: How Our Society Is Contributing To The Stigma, Nakeisha Wooton

Integrated Studies

The ongoing opioid crisis in the United States is continuing to worsen as prevention strategies for opioid abuse and addiction are ineffective or improperly regulated. Behaviors of the providers, the public, and the patients must all be addressed to create effective prevention strategies because the attitude toward opioid addiction is a significant factor in the treatment of the disease. Many people view substance abuse as a choice and while this may be an accurate assumption in the beginning, citizens across America are not comprehending the full impact these substances have on a person’s body over time, specifically their brain. In …

Effects Of Ototoxic Chemicals And Occupational Exposure To Humans, Kim M. Gonzalez

Integrated Studies

The primary aim of this capstone paper was to review and examine previous works of literature on the effects of ototoxic organic solvents and various heavy metals on the auditory structure due to occupational exposure. Additionally, the research also focused on identifying work environments, which are characterized by such ototoxic toxins. The method for picking organic solvents and heavy metals encompassed the existing data that signified that such chemical substances could induce auditory challenges among workers in divergent work settings. Furthermore, the ambiguities of the publications were also extensively considered before they could be incorporated in this research. References to …

Beyond Tongue-Tied: Examining Communication Apprehension, Jessica Crass

Integrated Studies

From jobs to relationships, public speaking to internal thoughts, communication is a foundation of society and development. Though communication comes so naturally to so many, many others struggle just to get a single word out. This study takes a look into the fear or anxiety of communication that people face and how that fear can impact their lives.

Communication apprehension (CA) is the fear and anxiety surrounding communication. We will explore how communication apprehension can drastically affect a person’s life on all fronts by examining CA history, CA methods of research, types of CA, and more. Many people, virtually everyone, …

Major U.S. Pandemics A Century Apart: Preparedness And The Socioeconomic Impact Of 1918 Influenza And 2020 Covid-19, Anna Sofia Bryant

Integrated Studies

Examining the U.S. public health response during the 1918 Influenza and 2020 COVID-19 pandemics is instructive to charting a better course of action for future outbreaks. To know where we are going, it often helps to look at where we have been and then take strategic and corrective action. This is especially true when considering structural remedies for poor and minority populations who have been disproportionately affected by health crises, both historically and in the present era, due to a variety of social and economic health determinants. Preventable deaths in nursing homes, unilateral closures of schools, businesses, and churches, and …

Interracial Relationships: The History, Growth, And Effects On Individuals And Society, Alison Kerney

Integrated Studies

Interracial relationships are an often overlooked and misunderstood issue in the United States as well as in other countries. The percentage of these relationships are on the rise, not only involving African Americans and Caucasians, but also Latinos and Asians as well. A thorough study of the cultural concepts of interracial relationships will involve first defining the issue, looking at the prevalence and taking note of trends, reviewing the history and laws that brought this issue to the forefront, and thoroughly examining the positive and negative effects on individuals and society. The research on interracial marriages will help to increase …

The Effects Of Performance Enhancing Drugs In Sports: Legal And Illegal, Eric Johanning

Integrated Studies

This paper offers valuable information that will inform readers about the effects that come with regularly ingesting dietary and performance enhancing drugs and supplements. The paper goes into depth of specific supplements, concerning what the common man or woman believes the supplement does, versus what the supplement is advertised to do. The paper will provide information on certain test trails performed by others as supporting evidence on how the supplement being discussed plays a role in performance enhancement. The motivation behind this paper is to inform young athletes, or any athlete who considers themselves to be uninformed when it comes …

The Role Of Teachers And Parents For Students With Learning And Behavior Disorders, Tamesha Stone

Integrated Studies

Teacher collaboration is crucial to student success. The achievement of the student’s goals and objectives is ultimately up to the student but relies on the teacher’s ability to set up the correct educational plans. Teachers should be looking at students’ progress and struggles individually so that those students who need to be accommodated for are not neglected. It is easy to overlook a learning disability when students react to their educational weaknesses with aggressive or inappropriate behaviors. Generally, in cases like these, a student would need to be assessed for learning and behavior disorders. By definition, a learning disorder is …

How Does The Euroleague Compare To The National Basketball Association (Nba) And G-League, Donte Poole

Integrated Studies

Abstract

My research interests relate to my involvement with both the Euroleague and G-league; hopefully, by gaining more knowledge at some point, my coaching aspirations will propel me to be a successful coach or skills trainer within one of these prominent leagues. In the Euroleague organizations are referred to as clubs, whereas in the NBA and G-league they are referred to as teams. Throughout this research paper, I will give an in-depth breakdown of each professional basketball league and the intangibles that each player associated with the league deals with; rules, regulations, roster stipulations, wages/contracts, agents, housing, and sponsorships. While …

The Importance Of Play In Early Childhood Education, Addye Sawyers, Addye Olivia Sawyers

Integrated Studies

While the origins and purpose of childhood play has been discovered and documented for some time, the inclusion of play in early childhood education is a concept which has not found its way into the core structure of early childhood classrooms until more recent years. As the need for early learning programs continues to grow, so does the need for developmentally appropriate and beneficial early childhood learning intervention. In this paper, we will review prominent theories and recent research on stages of childhood development and learning, the purpose of early childhood education in the U.S., the nature of play and …

Safety In Industrial And Occupational Settings, Dylan Hicks

Integrated Studies

Safety procedures and standards in the workplace have adapted to encompass a large variety of different hazards and threats in the workplace. Psychological and physical hazards are sometimes difficult to detect but are essential to understanding and researching different protective methods for limiting bodily harm to an individual. Federal and state agencies have been established for the purpose of creating, testing, and regulating the new safety standards as well as revising old measure as new technology and research arise that provide better results. The main categories that are at high risk for causing harm are chemical, biological, fire, air quality, …

Is America Ready For Universal Healthcare, Heather Early

Integrated Studies

The American healthcare system noted by politicians, medical professions, American citizens, and health care insurance companies is very complicated. With medical professions complaining of not receiving payment for provided procedures from either patient are insurance companies. American citizens were complaining they cannot afford health insurance or pay for procedures, making citizens not go to medical providers for care.

Furthermore, insurance companies do not get payments for insurance policies from citizens and payout payments to medical providers at a high procedure rate. Politicians have tried to fix the issues by mandating all American citizens have health insurance; they are employer-provided or …

The Influence And Evolution Of Negative Political Advertising, Kelley Johnson

Integrated Studies

Coming out of 2020 was traumatizing — in one way, or another to most people forced to live in the COVID-19 pandemic stricken world. While the world-at-large was attempting to wage war against a microscopic enemy, the United States of America was involved in an additional skirmish.

Then presidential hopeful Joe Biden called the 2020 election, “The battle for the soul of America,” and the political advertising from both sides showcased exactly how well the negative messaging was working to rally each party’s base. When asked about election season, most people will say that they cannot stand all the negative …

Mental Health Teletherapy: An Essential Mental Health Resource After Covid-19, Yvette Wilson

Integrated Studies

The purpose of this paper is to present an exceptional summation of knowledge in human services while focusing on the specific aspect of online mental therapy. This thoroughly investigated paper discusses the challenges our society currently faces with mental healthcare amidst COVID-19 and how online therapy is one venue that we have, for a long time, chosen not to utilize in the past, but must now recognize its viability as a solid, therapeutic resource for the mental healthcare industry. This paper seeks to confront the various reasons for opposing online therapy and share evidence of ongoing programs that have embraced …

A Need For Change; Critical Issues Facing Kentucky's Correctional System, Candace Harper

Integrated Studies

Abstract

Protecting the public, rehabilitating offenders, and reducing recidivism while increasing desistance are essential goals for the Department of Corrections. In order to maximize the effectiveness of the department, several areas need evaluation, and improvement. The focus on reducing recidivism should begin with reconsideration of the methods used to measure an offender's progress and success. The theory that the current measurement of recidivism is unreliable data needs to be investigated and other methods of measurement should be considered. Another aspect that needs inspection is how Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can affect the positive progression that evidence-based programming provides, and how PTSD …

How Covid-19 Is Affecting Ltc Facilities, Rachael M. Simcox, Rachael Simcox

Integrated Studies

Historically, viruses have had major impact on society. Some viruses are relatively harmless, while other are a death sentence. We are currently facing a highly communicable virus that is vigorously making its way around the globe, having a devastating impact on the management and delivery of everyday care in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF’s). In December 2019, a new coronavirus was discovered in Wuhan China. While rapidly spreading in China, it only took a month to make its way to the United States, resulting in the Trump Administration declaring a national emergency, only two months later, on March 13, 2020. Shortly …

Women In The Military, Amanda Bostick

Integrated Studies

Since the beginning of the United Stated military, women have served their country in one way or another. Even when women were banned from serving, they found ways. Through the years, women have faced and overcome many challenges that the military has exposed them to. Many of these challenges have caused medical issues in both mental and physical areas. Women have had to prove their worth and capabilities and continue to do so today. They have faced sexual harassment, abuse, and rape often to be ignored when they speak out and seek help from leadership. Females have faced many challenges …

Employee Turnover: Costs, Causes And Cures, Gayla Crisp

Integrated Studies

Employee turnover is a severe problem in today’s workplace. The number of people quitting their job has risen steadily in the last 10 years, which is costing organizations exorbitant amounts of money. Replacing a less productive worker with a more productive worker can increase revenue, but replacing a valuable employee can cost the organization significantly in various ways, potentially equaling 150% of the lost employee’s salary, or even more. There are many causes of employee turnover, most of which are preventable, and it is important for management to study these issues to determine what actions to take to prevent excessive …

The History Of The Us Army’S Physical Fitness Testing, Amanda Lynch

Integrated Studies

The Army organization has and has always had the foundation of physical fitness. Dating back to 1906, fitness has remained a baseline for soldier readiness. The fitness testing has changed and adapted to the status of the Army, the resources, technology, and tactics used. This includes, but is not limited to wartime versus peacetime, draft force into volunteer force, and the complete integration of women into the force. It is apparent that the physical fitness knowledge of society versus the knowledge of military varies based on the time, and this has influenced the overall fitness of Americans. All the fitness …

Esg Investing: Past, Present, Future, And Why You Should Care, Amy L. Harvey

Integrated Studies

This paper discusses ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) investing, also known as socially responsible investing, green investing, and ethical investing. This paper will inform the reader on the past, present, and future of ESG investing. It will dive deeper into each category and discuss the correlation between the issues and investing principles. Different business philosophies will be compared along with corporate responsibility. The pros and cons of ESG rating systems will be discussed and reviewed. This paper will answer if ESG investing is profitable for the business and help determine the impact it has on our planet.

The Role Of Play In Early Child Development: An In-Depth View, Misty Bone

Integrated Studies

Albert Einstein once said, “Play is the highest form of research.” Play is a crucial component in a young child’s overall maturation as it relates to the five domains of development. Through exploration, discovery, and opportunities to create and grow one’s imagination, play fosters many learning experiences. Research of founding theorists such as Vygotsky, Piaget, Montessori, Frobel, Steiner, and Parten suggest that a direct correlation can be made between the influences of play and a child’s overall development in the five domains. This review will define play and the five domains of development while looking at the various influences related …

Cheap Labor And The Effects On The American Economy And Worker, Brian Proctor, Brian Proctor

Integrated Studies

Abstract

This study shows how American companies have used cheap labor in the past and present to do smaller jobs or to make individual pieces or parts that were to be put together and used in larger products. This cheap labor came from both foreign and domestic sources. In recent times, however, these companies have picked up and moved their entire productions outside of the United States greatly impacting the American economy and workers. These moves have been called outsourcing or off-shoring and have played a major part in the decline of some of the larger manufacturing cities such as …

The Ineffectiveness Of The War On Drugs, Tristen Miller

Integrated Studies

The War on Drugs does not improve health and public safety, but rather serves as a tool of institutional racism and militarism. Despite increased spending on drug enforcement efforts, rates of incarceration and overdose deaths remain high. Through analyzing research done on arrest records in areas such as the state of California; Seattle, Washington; and New Haven, Connecticut, the disparity in arrests of black and white Americans becomes apparent. Additionally, analyzing the effectiveness of War on Drugs policies in Afghanistan, Colombia, and Mexico, reveals ulterior motives for American military intervention. Military intervention and incarceration have proven ineffective at addressing the …

Perceptions Of Discrimination In The Legal Profession, Sabrina Collins

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

Historically, the legal profession has been dominated by white men (García-López 2008). Over time, the barriers hindering diverse participation have been somewhat lifted. In recent years, law schools enrolled equal percentages of men and women, and the number of minority students has also increased. So, how has the legal profession adapted to these changes? The hiring of women and minorities in the field of law does not reflect the increasing diversity seen in law school. Today, only 36% of lawyers are women. While existing research shows discrimination present in the field of law, few studies have examined the relationship between …

Drivers And Consequences Of Sustainability Committee Existence? Evidence From The Hospitality And Tourism Industry, Merve Kilic, Ali Uyar, Cemil Kuzey, Abdullah S. Karaman

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

This study ’ s objective is twofold: (1) to investigate whether board characteristics predict the existence of a sustainability committee, and (2) to examine whether the establishment of sustainability committees stimulates sustainability reporting, external assurance, and the adoption of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework in hospitality and tourism (H & T) firms. For this purpose, the data was derived from the Thomson Reuters Eikon database for publicly traded H & T firms from 2013 to 2018. The results indicate that while board size is a sig- nificant predictor of sustainability committee establishment, female and independent directors are not. Furthermore, …

Politics At The Pulpit: Elite Religious Cues And Immigration Attitudes, Benjamin Knoll, Matthew Baker

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

Previous scholarship has demonstrated a link between religiosity and immigration attitudes, often inferring the effect of cues from religious leaders as the motivating source. This study directly examines the “elite cues” linking mechanism with an experiment embedded in a nationally representative public opinion survey. We improve on previous research designs by introducing a pretest that measures immigration policy attitudes among respondents which can then be directly compared to posttest measures after the introduction of the elite cue stimulus. Multivariate analysis of the survey results reveal no support for the elite cues explanation. We discuss the implications of these findings for …

Barriers To Implementation Of A Technology-Based Mental Health Intervention In A Rural Setting, Becky F. Antle, Lesley M. Harris, Jesse H. Wright, Tracy D. Eells, Amy Cappiccie, Sara M. Williams, Rebecca Katz, Ashley Logsdon, Jesse Owen

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

This study utilized qualitative focus groups with rural health providers and patients to explore barriers to implementation of a technology-based mental health intervention for the treatment of depression in a primary care setting. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was implemented in both urban and rural primary care practices to test the feasibility and effectiveness of computerized cognitive behavioral therapy (CCBT) for depression. Early implementation identified lower rates of willingness to participate in the intervention by rural patients. Subsequently, focus groups were conducted with rural providers and patients to explore barriers to participation and strategies to overcome these barriers in future …