Digital Commons Network^™

Public Participation In Georgia’S Environmental Permitting Process, Joyce A. Stanley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is no meaningful way for Georgia residents to participate in the environmental decision-making process before environmental permits are approved. As a result, hazardous waste facilities are disproportionately placed in African American communities, exposing them to poor air quality and a higher prevalence of heart and respiratory diseases than Whites. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore and better understand how African American residents living in Stonecrest, Georgia felt about the hazardous waste site being placed in their community without an opportunity to provide input into the Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s (GEPD) decision-making process before a decision …

How To Support Secondary School Teachers After Emergency Remote Teaching, Julia Howard Tortorice

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe forced use of emergency remote teaching (ERT) during COVID-19 school closures was sudden, disruptive, and difficult for teachers, leading to a minimal understanding of how to support secondary school teachers’ use of online educational technology after the ERT experience. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how to support secondary school teachers’ use of online educational technology after the ERT experience. The technology acceptance model was the framework used in this study. The research questions explored the framework by asking about teacher perspectives of support, usefulness, and ease of use of online educational technology. The data collection …

Lived Experiences Of Millennial Employees Engaged In Mentorship In Their Workplaces For Turnover Reduction, Shaundra Webb, Ph.D.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While the Millennial generation is steadily taking over jobs that were previously assigned to Baby Boomers, it is unclear how the current job market and modern work environment are adjusting to accommodate this new and unique generation. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of Millennial employees engaged in mentorship in their workplaces for turnover reduction. The research question was: What are the lived experiences of Millennial employees engaged in mentorship in their workplace’s turnover reduction. Employing a qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach and purposive sampling technique, the researcher recruited 16 participants to complete semi structured interviews …

Social Worker Perspectives On Implementation Of Harm Reduction Into Abstinence-Based Substance Abuse Programs, Susan Woomer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Opioid addiction is a growing epidemic in the United States and was declared a public health emergency by the Department of Health and Human Services in October of 2017. There is a growing recognition that the current treatment for heroin and opioid addiction, abstinence-based treatment programs, is not readily available and has minimal success in addressing the epidemic. Harm reduction therapy is recognized as an effective way to address the opioid epidemic. This study aimed to develop further insight and understanding of how to integrate harm reduction therapy in abstinence-based treatment programs. The theoretical framework for this study was the …

Understanding The Lack Of Communication Between Communities And Law Enforcement Through A Community Policing Program, Patrick B. Skoczek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Inequitable treatment by law enforcement officers has deeply impacted minority communities in the United States. Public incidents of abuse of power, discriminatory treatment, and excessive use of force have received increased attention, creating increased community mistrust of law enforcement officers. To help bridge the gap between communities and law enforcement agencies, this qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to examine the use and impact of the Policing and Public Safety Problem-Solving Programs. Data were collected through interviews with 12 retired police officers and 12 community members. Interview questions were related to participants’ perceptions regarding a breakdown in trust between law …

Strategies For Diverse Membership Recruitment And Retention In Nonprofit Organizations, Portia G. Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Incorporating diversity is essential to the survival of nonprofit organizations. This qualitative single case study was important to membership-based nonprofit organization leaders because recruitment and retention strategies contribute to organizational diversity. Grounded in critical multicultural marketing theory, the study was conducted to explore the strategies that nonprofit organization leaders used to recruit and retain a diversified membership. Data were collected from three participants, who were nonprofit organization leaders in the eastern United States, through semistructured interviews, and review of organizational documents and reports, social media, and internet reports. The data were thematically analyzed and two themes emerged: (a) recognition and …

Lived Experience Of Women Veterans Navigating The Veteran Healthcare System, Candance Willett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many women veterans who navigate the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system across the United States have felt that their voices have not been heard regarding their input and lived experiences concerning inclusion to the quality-of-care delivery for their health needs. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of women veterans who were currently facing or had previously faced difficulty navigating the VA healthcare system. The framework used for this qualitative study was interpretive phenomenological analysis. The qualitative method used was hermeneutics which was designed by Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger. Semi structured interviews were of 12 …

Nonprofit Leader Strategies For Revenue Growth And Financial Sustainability, William David Woods

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nonprofit leaders must ceaselessly endeavor to become more entrepreneurial by accumulating strategies for growing organizational revenue and promoting financial sustainability when charitable contributions cannot fund their business operations. The failure to obtain charitable contributions can lead to nonprofit closure. Grounded in behavioral portfolio theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies a leader of a small Wisconsin nonprofit used to increase revenue and financial sustainability when charitable contributions were insufficient to finance business operations. Data collection included semistructured interviews; organizational documents and reports; financial records and reports; social media; and internet reports. Data were analyzed …

Social Workers’ Growth, Identity, And Professional Quality Of Life After Adverse Childhood Experiences, Hope Beavers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to long-term impairments involving neurobiological and epidemiological functions and increased risk for mental and physical health challenges. Many social workers have experienced a high number of ACEs, which increases risks for problems involving wellness, employment instability, and secondary traumatic stress (STS). However, the impact of total ACEs on social workers’ identity, growth, and professional quality of life (PQL) is less known. Using a correlational cross-sectional design, this quantitative study involved examining the impact of total ACEs on posttraumatic growth (PTG), event centrality, and PQL (in terms of burnout, STS, and compassion satisfaction) for …

Predictive Effects Of Length Of Treatment And Type Of Dialysis On African Americans’ Quality Of Life, Latoya Benjamin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals on dialysis often face challenges with the management of their health, resulting in low health-related quality of life (HRQOL), but the extent of this impact has not been fully examined. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was, having accounted for relevant demographic variables such as age, gender, family history, employment status, to examine the effects of length of time for treatment and type of dialysis on HRQOL in African American end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. This study was guided by the socioecological model. Secondary data from 2016 to 2021 was obtained from the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) …

Qualitative Assessment Of Psychological Safety And Ethics In Corrections Officers, Gary Robert Breig

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn this qualitative study, I explored psychological safety, team learning, and ethical and moral perception among correctional officers that worked in the prison industry. Former officers provided data by participating in an open-ended question interviews. I used a phenomenological approach to gather information from former officers about their psychological safety experience and their ethical and moral perceptions. Participants gave insight into their training and their work as individuals and as teams exploring individual and team psychological safety and ethical and moral perception while interacting with each other in the prison workplace. Research questions were about officer preparation, officer collaboration quality, …

Understanding Experiences Of Racial Microaggressions Among African American Women In Cross-Racial Supervision, Nicole Daley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Racial microaggressions are statements that occur in everyday life that are regarded as instances of subtle or unintentional discrimination against members of a racial or ethnic minority. For African Americans, racial microaggressions are feelings of denigration and exclusion. Racial aggressions experienced by African American women in clinical counseling profession (counseling, psychology, social work, mental health) supervision have not been well-studied. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used in this qualitative study to explore African American women supervisees' experience of racial microaggressions in cross-racial supervision. Intersectionality theory and identity negotiation theory were used to guide the development and analysis plan. Semistructured, audio-recorded interviews …

Female Superintendents’ Perspectives About The Preparation, Experiences, And Challenges Important To Secure A Superintendent Position, Erin Fasel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of female representation and gender imbalance in the superintendent position nationwide has been a focus of scholars for many years. Researchers have demonstrated that females have the experiences, preparations, and expertise necessary but are not securing the superintendent position at the same rate as their male counterparts, causing a disproportionate representation in the superintendent position nationwide. The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives of female superintendents on the challenges, preparation, and experiences important for females to succeed in attaining a superintendent position in a large southwestern state. The social cognitive career theory was used to …

Impacts Of Mobile Health Technology On The African American Millennial Health Care Experience, Antoine J. Campbell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans are underrepresented and have limited access to health care in the United States due to systemic disparities. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to develop a better understanding of the relationship that African Americans have with the health care system and the way they interact with it as well as to examine the impacts of mobile health (mHealth) patient engagement applications and their impact on shaping health experiences amongst millennial African Americans. Research questions addressed African American millennials’ perspectives on potential barriers to utilizing health care in the U.S. health care system as well as consideration …

Anxiety Risk Factors And Social Isolation Among Young Adults, Jennifer Clancy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health concern that impacted the world. Increased feelings of loneliness and social isolation during the pandemic were reported to be associated with those seeking help for symptoms of anxiety and depression. Though symptoms of anxiety have been associated with social isolation, research is limited on the association between the anxiety risk factors and social isolation among young adults in the United States. Using the socioecological model, the association between social isolation (dependent variable) with financial stress, health anxiety, and perceived impact of COVID-19 (independent variable), and the influence of gender, race, and household status …

High School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Use Of Equity Practices In Classrooms, Seeku Cleland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As the study site district became more diverse, providing educational opportunities that met all learners’ needs became more urgent in a large US school district. The local problem was that little is known about how teachers perceive their use of equity practices in diverse classrooms. The purpose of this study was to investigate teachers’ perceptions of their understanding and use of equity practices as well as suggestions for improvement. The study was grounded by Banks’ three dimensions of multicultural education: content integration, knowledge construction, and equity pedagogy. Semistructured interviews were conducted with eight full-time high school teachers with at least …

Mathematics Teachers’ Use Of Assessment And Instructional Strategies, Bianca Croutch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

U.S. middle school teachers have struggled to meet the instructional needs of students in the area of mathematics. Teachers’ approaches to assessment and instructional strategies remain understudied; such knowledge could help educational leaders to devise strategies to boost student achievement. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine teachers’ perceptions of assessment data usage and instructional strategies used in middle school mathematics. The conceptual framework was based on Fullan et al.’s three Ps (precision, personalization, and professional learning) framework. The guiding research questions for this study concerned teachers’ perceptions of assessment usage and instructional strategies and their considerations prior …

First-Generation College Graduates’ Perceptions Of Participating In Required Academic Advising Sessions For Degree Completion, Frances Paige Fowler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many first-generation students enter college underprepared, leading them to face challenges that include failure to persist to degree completion. Empirical literature informs how academic advising programs help students persist to degree completion; however, a literature gap exists related to how regularly required academic advising programs influence students to persist to degree completion. This basic qualitative study provides insight into the perceptions of first-generation college graduates regarding how their regularly required academic advising sessions helped them to persist to degree completion. The conceptual framework is Tinto’s theory of student retention, which addresses students’ academic and social integration. Eight first-generation college graduates …

Clinicians' Perceptions Of Telehealth Services During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Virginia, Johnetta Hill Guishard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The onset of COVID-19 introduced unprecedented changes to how U.S. public health services were delivered. Many public and private agencies faced mandatory closures, social distancing mandates, and rapid transitions to telehealth interventions and treatment. Mental health clinicians witnessed disruptions in continuity of care and an increase in mental health risks overall. Although some studies have been conducted to survey clinicians’ perceptions of the usefulness and ease of use of technology-based interventions, knowledge about mental health clinicians’ experiences and perceptions in Virginia was sparse. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore how mental health clinicians in Virginia described …

Educator Preparedness In The Use Of Simulation In Nursing Education, Marcelene E. Hart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractNurse educators lack preparation when using simulation as a teaching modality in educating nurses and nursing students within their clinical environment. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand nurse educators’ perceptions of the challenges in preparing for simulation-based training experiences for nurses and nursing students. Vygotsky’s constructivist theory was used as the conceptual framework for the study to emphasize students’ innate ability to learn using active and hands-on processes through simulation experiences. Questions were developed to explore the challenges nurse educators encounter when preparing for simulation activities. Survey questionnaire invitations were sent through email to hundreds of …

Help-Seeking Behaviors And Employment Hope Among Depressed Black Male Foster Care Alumni, Vanessa Jennings

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Traumatic depression is a system of experiences where the mind, heart, and gut track happenings lingering among systemic models of prevention and intervention and personal stories. This nonexperimental correlational study aimed to provide insights into mental help-seeking and employment hope among depressed Black/African American foster care male alums. The central research question was to what degree, if any, a positive relationship exists between employment hope and seeking access to mental health-related services among male foster care alums who identify with depression. It was hypothesized that a statistically significant relationship exists. The social cognitive career theory and theory of planned behavior …

Food Safety And Free Trade Area In East Africa, Diana Ogwal Akullo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Africans experience high incidences of foodborne diseases annually leading to poor public health, yet there is limited information on implementation of food laws in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Kenya from the perspectives of public officials with knowledge of and experience with implementing food laws, policies, and regulations to inform policy on food security and safety and help mitigate foodborne diseases and associated trade concerns between countries. The study’s research question involved identifying the perceptions of public officials on the impact of food laws on the food safety delivery systems in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Kenya. The study applied complex adaptive system theory …

Predicting Project Success By Project Manager Competencies And Personality Traits Moderated By Work Experience, Jasmine H. Kirby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractProject manager competencies and personality traits can make the difference between project success or failure. However, it remains unclear which is the strongest predictor of project success when moderated by work experience. The purpose of this quantitative study was to provide information about the relationship between project manager competencies, personality, and project success by (a) investigating the relationship between project manager competencies, personality traits, and project success; and (b) identifying whether project competencies or personality traits was the strongest predictor of project success among project managers at different work experience levels. Data were collected from 272 project managers. Instruments to …

An Examination Of Counselor Turnover And Its Impact On Quality Behavioral Health Services, Leslie M. Beale

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Behavioral health organizations often face the challenge of high employee turnover rates, which can critically affect their ability to treat mental illnesses successfully. High counselor turnover at one such organization, BHOX, threatens the provision of timely access to quality mental care. This qualitative case study examined counselor turnover and its impact on the quality of behavioral health services. The Baldrige Excellence Framework was used to guide this descriptive case study of a nonprofit behavioral health organization on the East Coast of the United States, which serves men and women struggling with mental health disorders and substance abuse addictions. The data …

Experiences Of African American Students In A Stem-Focused Community Program, Angela Blount

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The United States has invested millions of dollars in STEM program initiatives; however, African Americans in STEM career fields are underrepresented. The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study aimed to explore the lived experiences of African-American first-year college students from rural communities in a STEM program and whether their experiences influenced their decision to pursue a STEM major in college. Spencer’s phenomenological variant of ecological systems theory (PVEST) was used to frame the study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with eight African American first-year college students from rural communities. Coding analysis involved identifying meaning units and situated narratives …

Sexually Transmitted Infections In Cumberland County, North Carolina, Kayla Brison

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this portfolio is to prevent and minimize sexually transmitted infections within Cumberland County, North Carolina by increasing the community’s awareness and comprehensive knowledge on the issue regarding adolescents.

Significant Findings: Cumberland County, North Carolina currently has a significant prevalence rate of sexually transmitted infections (North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services, 2023). STIs can cause individuals both physical and psychological consequences as well as cause financial burdens on society (Bender & Hill, 2021; CDC, 2023; World Health Organization, 2023). Adolescent Black females are among populations at increased risk of STI prevalence and face unique …

Prevention Of Early Adolescent Substance Misuse And Addiction In Albuquerque, New Mexico, Alisha J. Thomas

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: This portfolio intends to educate children ages 9 to 11 about addiction and its effects in an effort to prevent future alcohol and drug experimentation.

Significant Findings: This paper explores the issue of early adolescent substance use in Bernalillo County, New Mexico also known as Albuquerque. According to the New Mexico Voices for Children (n.d.), in 2017, 9.6% of 12-17-year-olds within the county participated in binge drinking. Internal and external individual risk factors significantly influence a young person’s ambivalence, decision-making, and behaviors to use harmful substances such as alcohol and drugs. The Mexican-American population is a subgroup that …

Youth Mental Health Awareness, Hillsborough County, Fl, Kelce Minor

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: This social change portfolio aims to increase awareness of youth mental health and provide resources for easy access to mental health services, ultimately improving the psychological health outcomes of young people in Hillsborough County.

Significant Findings: Numerous adolescents in Hillsborough County report experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide. The youths also lack mental health awareness and assistance access. The portfolio suggests increasing mental health resources, school-based programs, and mental health awareness campaigns to address these issues.

Preventing Opioid Addiction In Wilkes County, North Carolina, Charly Marie Harris

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Opioid addiction is a problem in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Preventing opioid addiction would slow opioid related deaths and decrease problems such as the number of children in foster care, crime rates, homelessness, and improve mental and physical health. Opioid addiction has been on the rise since around 2007 after pharmaceutical companies began offering lavish incentives to doctors for prescribing opiates. Opioid addiction is devastating families across the nation hence the need for prevention (State of North Carolina, 2017). Prevention efforts must reach children and adults. Addiction does not discriminate and can happen to people of various ages and cultural …

Police Excessive Use Of Force: Preventing Trauma-Induced Stress And Anxiety In The Black Community, St. Louis, Mo., Ashleigh A. Cole

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this portfolio is to increase awareness of mental health disparities in the Black community due to experiencing or witnessing police brutality.

Significant Findings: This brief explores issues of police excessive use of force during interactions with Blacks that result in trauma-induced stress and anxiety, whether witnessing or experiencing such brutality, for this marginalized population. In St. Louis, Missouri, Blacks who experience police use of force in person or “seeing a video of police use of force in the media” experience moderately high police contact anxiety (Murez, 2021, para. 7). The scope of the problem illuminates …