Digital Commons Network^™

Staff Education Program On Perceived Stress Scale, Juliana Mutua

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project was a staff education program conducted at a mental health and rehabilitation center in the United States. The program was designed to address a critical gap in practice of limited staff knowledge of using standardized stress assessment tools to assess patient stress, leading to poor patient outcomes. The practice-focused question was: Does staff education on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) improve staff knowledge as compared pre- to post-education? The purpose was to enhance staff knowledge on the application and interpretation of the PSS. The Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice (JHNEBP) model was used to organize and evaluate the …

Teacher Perspectives On Challenges To Close The Reading Achievement Gap For African American Students, Miriam Aliyya Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was that African American students score lower than White students in reading across grade levels, demonstrating a gap in teaching practice in early childhood education. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore early childhood teachers’ perspectives on challenges to increase African American students’ level of reading proficiency and what they believed they needed to close the African American-White student achievement gap in reading. The conceptual framework was Ladson-Billings’s culturally relevant pedagogy. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 kindergarten through third grade teachers who were currently teaching reading to African American students …

Early Childhood Special Education Teachers’ Perspectives Of Teaching Social-Emotional Skills During The Covid-19 Pandemic Virtual Learning Period, Dalena Lynette Lafferty

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

During the COVID-19 pandemic, early childhood special education teachers struggled to virtually teach social-emotional skills to their students when schools were closed, and all students were moved from face-to-face to virtual learning. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore early childhood special education teachers’ perspectives on teaching social-emotional skills to their students during the COVID-19 pandemic virtual learning period. Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory was used as the conceptual framework for this study. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 early childhood special education teachers from the United States who had experience with teaching social-emotional skills virtually during …

Implementation Of The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 As A Screening Tool For Depression, Nathalie Teboh Njofri Bih

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Depression is a common mental health issue that is often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed in primary care practice due to a lack of appropriate screening. The practice problem addressed by this project was the inconsistent use of standardized tools, like the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), which hinders timely and accurate depression diagnosis. The practice-focused question was: Does educating staff impact their knowledge of the recommended use and interpretation of the PHQ-9 and their confidence in administering the tool? I aimed to enhance depression screening practices by educating nursing staff on administering, scoring, and integrating the PHQ-9 into routine patient care. For …

Lived Experiences Of Obese Women In Mississippi Concerning The Role Of Psychosocial Factors In The Development Of Obesity, Temitope Olabode

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

One of the highest rates of obesity in the United States is in Mississippi, where middle- aged obese women deal with a variety of social, cultural, and personal issues, including shame, discrimination, and stigma based on weight, mental anguish, cultural norms, financial limitations, and restricted access to healthcare. This study investigated the psychosocial factors that contribute to obesity in women aged 40- 60 years, and the effects of obesity on body image, self-esteem, health behaviors, and quality of life. A qualitative phenomenological study using the social ecological model (SEM) framework looked at the individual, interpersonal, and policy levels of the …

Clubhouse Versus Ips Outcomes In Terms Of Hours Worked And Pay Earned, Daniel Scott Reynolds

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals balance personal needs and societal norms as they attempt to achieve self-fulfillment. However, those who have mental illness face marginalization from the workforce and diminished quality of life. Of the two prominent vocational programs – the Clubhouse and the Individualized Placement and Support (IPS) – that assist this population in integrating into the workforce, and therefore into society. It is unknown which program does better at helping the mental illness population meet their objectives of integration. Such a comparison is important because it will help these people to integrate into the workforce and into society, thereby increasing their quality …

Alternative And Traditional Schooling On Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Alaska Native Youth In The Lower Kuskokwim, Nathaniel Hebert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alaska Native youth experience disproportionately high rates of sexual risk, yet disaggregated data and school-contextual analyses remain limited. Understanding how school type (alternative vs. traditional) and individual factors influence sexual risk among Alaska Native youth is essential for informing targeted, culturally responsive health interventions and addressing ongoing health disparities. This quantitative study aimed to examine the association between three behaviors (condom use, multiple sexual partners, and substance use) by school type, controlling for gender, grade level, body mass index, and afterschool activity. Guided by the social-ecological model, this cross-sectional study provided new insights into the relationship between school type and …

Determinant Factors Of Iot Adoption For Smart Cities In The United States, Nathaniel Pleasant Crews

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Even with the promise of efficiency, sustainability, and better services that IoT technologies bring, the adoption in U.S. smart cities remains uneven and hasn’t met expectations. This gap creates challenges for leaders and IT managers who depend on IoT for infrastructure, safety, and service delivery. To address this issue, it’s important to investigate the factors that impact adoption. Grounded in the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study is to examine the relationship between stakeholders’ perceptions of ease of use, usefulness, user trust, security concerns, social influence, and adoption of …

Staff Education Program To Increase Staff Knowledge On Evidence-Based Practices To Reduce Falls, Ariella Carrenan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Falls among older adults in long-term care facilities constitute a pressing concern, affecting 30% to 40% of residents each year due to physiological changes associated with aging. Such incidents precipitated injuries, extended hospitalizations, elevated healthcare costs, and increased the potential for legal liabilities. This project investigated the effect of a structured educational intervention on nursing staff knowledge of fall prevention strategies in a long-term care facility where the fall rate of 3.4% exceeded the state average of 2.5% and the national average of 3.3%. The project explored the question: In a long-term care facility, does staff education increase staff knowledge …

Open Distance Learning’S Transformative Potential To Bridge Educational Disparities While Fostering Inclusive Growth, Khalid Ghoulam

Higher Learning Research Communications

In recent years—during and after COVID-19—the demand for flexible and accessible education surged across the continent, prompting numerous institutions to adopt and expand their Open Distance Learning (ODL) initiatives. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of ODL programs in African universities while exploring the state of ODLs and examining institutional strategies, technological advancements, and ODL’s impact on student accessibility and success. Using case study analyses, which contain data from African universities from various regions, this paper highlights current ODL insights and future directions. This paper also discusses ODL best practices and implementation challenges, and delves into the socioeconomic and cultural …

Suicide Prevention Through The Reduction Of Counseling Stigma In Fort Riley, Kansas, Yanni Kagiwada-Moya

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this social change portfolio is to decrease the stigma of seeking mental help through addressing culture, norms, or systems within Fort Riley, Kansas, that contribute to stigma and suicide risk while using preventative measures to reduce suicide ideation and risk.

Significant Findings: This project focuses on reducing counseling stigma to prevent suicide among military personnel and veterans at Fort Riley, Kansas. Despite available mental health services, 44% of soldiers report fearing career impacts if they seek help, highlighting the need for cultural and systemic change (Irwin Army Community Hospital, 2024). Using the Social- Ecological Model …

Preventing Adverse Outcomes For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Rural Areas, Angela Osakoda

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this Social Change Portfolio is to prevent adverse outcomes for children at risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in rural communities who are unable to obtain a diagnosis or have limited access to services through parent coaching programs that connect caregivers with skills training, psychoeducation, and resources. Significant Findings: ASD impacts 4% of children nationwide (Data Resource Center for Child & Adolescent Health, n.d.). In rural areas, these children often face long waitlists to receive a diagnosis and limited access to services, making it difficult for them to receive the recommended amount of interventions (Boydston …

Reduction And Prevention Of Intimate Partner Violence In King County, Wa, Leta Whitney

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of my social change project is to reduce and prevent intimate partner violence in King County, WA, through educational awareness, training, and supportive resources for victims and perpetrators, as well as the communities in which they reside. Significant Findings: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a preventable public health issue that affects millions of Americans and their communities, and it can occur across an entire lifespan. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) suggests that an estimated 8.5 million women and 4 million men in the United States have reported experiencing a level of IPV …

Identifying Coercion To Prevent Human Trafficking Of At-Risk Youth In Duval County, Florida, Maeve G. Coen

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: Preventing at-risk youth, adolescents, and teenagers from human trafficking victimization.

Significant Findings:Duval County faces the ongoing public health issue of human trafficking at-risk youth. At risk youth can be identified based on risk and protective factors identified through the social-ecological model. Individual risk factors may include child maltreatment, sexual abuse, and exposure to antisocial behaviors throughout childhood. Children with increased exposure to child abuse and maltreatment will escape their homes and engage in endangering behaviors with peers and adults exhibiting antisocial and coercive behaviors. Institutional, Community and Public Policy in Duval County has made advances in treating youth …

Alcoholism In Northampton County, Pa, Lauren Stack

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal is to reduce alcoholism rates in Northampton County, PA by addressing stigma associated with alcohol use, providing age-appropriate education about alcohol in schools targeting youth, and supporting the creation of public policies that facilitate these prevention efforts.

Significant Findings: In Northampton County, the percentage of the population who report excessive alcohol use is higher than the national average (Lehigh Valley Health Network, 2022). Risk factors to alcoholism can include childhood trauma, lack of economic opportunities, and societal norms (SAMHSA, n.d b). Prevention can begin within our youth by implementing strategies that target societal norms. Male adults …

Resilient Families, Thriving Communities, Melanie Phillips

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: My goal as a future marriage counselor is to reduce the number of marriages that end in divorce in my community. I aim to achieve this through preventative measures designed to increase relationship resilience and promote the overall well-being of families and the community. Significant Findings: This paper explores the rising divorce rates in Thatcher, Arizona, and highlights preventative measures to strengthen marriages in order to reduce marital dissolution. Key findings suggest that proactive interventions, such as marriage education programs and the passing of pro-marriage public policies, are more cost-effective than addressing the consequences of divorce (U.S. National …

Suicide Prevention And Mental Health Advocacy Among Pre-Adolescents And Adolescents In Columbia County, Georgia, Savannah Lyons-Becker

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this portfolio is to reduce the risk of suicide in Columbia County, Georgia by providing preventative psychoeducation, destigmatizing mental healthcare, and looking at how we can improve mental health in the community. Significant Findings: Suicide among pre-adolescents and adolescents in Columbia County, Georgia is a critical mental health concern in our community. Studies show we have a 16 per 100,000 suicide rate in our county, which is larger than both the state and national average (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2025), and suicide is the leading cause of death among ages 10-14 in Georgia, which …

Mentoring Programs For Youth In Hagerstown, Maryland: Addressing The Opioid Epidemic, Stephane Reed

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this social change portfolio is to help develop and promote mentoring programs for youth in Hagerstown, Maryland as preventive strategy to reduce the impact of the opioid epidemic. This initiative seeks to strengthen resilience, enhance academic performance and foster healthy decision-making among adolescents through consistent, supportive adult-youth relationships. The proposed mentoring framework to integrate culturally responsive, trauma-informed and community-based approaches address the systemic and interpersonal factors contributing to misuse in Washington County. Significant Findings: In Washington County, where Hagerstown is located, it continues to experience one of the highest opioids overdoes within Maryland which is …

Housing Instability And The Prevention Of Recidivism In Travis County, Helen Carter

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: To reduce and prevent homelessness for those individuals being released from incarceration to aid recidivism prevention, through the expansion and maximization of re-entry programs prior to release. Significant Findings: Both homelessness and recidivism are significant problems in the Travis County area. Data showed over 6,000 individuals were unhoused per day in 2024 (ECHO, n.d.), with recidivism costing the state of Texas almost $370 million per year. There is also a strong association between having been incarcerated, being unhoused, and subsequent recidivism, with a 10 times higher likelihood of being homeless (Couloute, 2018). In addition, this demographic faces many …

Implementing Support Groups For Young Adults With Chronic Illness In Paris, Tn, Jessica Pickel

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: To establish peer-led support groups for adults aged 18-35 with chronic illness in Paris, TN, preventing isolation and improving mental health outcomes through community connection. Significant Findings: Young adults (18-35) with chronic illness in Paris, TN, experience severe isolation (75% report disconnection), 60% lower treatment adherence, and higher ER visits due to unaddressed age-specific needs and cultural barriers for African American subgroups (Anderson & Williams, 2023; Williams & Hernandez, 2023; Taylor & Green, 2022). Evidence confirms peer support reduces loneliness by 70% within three months and delivers 4:1 healthcare savings (Harrison & Lopez, 2023; Johnson & Patel, 2023). …

Addressing Mental Health And Homelessness In The Lower Valley, Viere Arellano-Almazan

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: To reduce homelessness in the Lower Yakima Valley by implementing early intervention and culturally responsive mental health prevention strategies that enhance access to care, reduce stigma, and strengthen community resilience. Significant Findings: The Lower Yakima Valley faces significant challenges in addressing the intersection of mental health and homelessness due to limited access to culturally and linguistically appropriate care. Research indicates that rural residents particularly Hispanic immigrant and farmworker populations experience elevated levels of psychological distress, stigma, and barriers to accessing services (Armstrong et al., 2022). Applying the Social-Ecological Model has illuminated how multiple interconnected factors influence vulnerability, including …

From Exclusion To Inclusion: Employment As A Mental Health And Public Health Priority In Charlotte, Nc, Rozelle K. Gipson

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this Social Change Portfolio is to identify prevention-focused strategies that reduce unemployment among neurodivergent individuals with Autism, ADHD, and intellectual developmental delays by promoting inclusive hiring practices, creating access to vocational training and workplace accommodations, encouraging employers to adopt neuro-affirming practices, and equipping counselors to support clients in navigating employment challenges and advocating for workplace inclusion. Significant Findings: In Charlotte, North Carolina, many neurodivergent people, including those with autism, ADHD, or intellectual disabilities, continue to face major challenges finding and keeping steady jobs. Across the country, about 85 percent of autistic adults are unemployed, one …

Supporting Youth Through Violence And Loss, Tiara Bolden

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this prevention portfolio is to strengthen protective factors for adolescents in Richmond, Virginia, who have experienced violence or loss. The focus is on reducing emotional distress, strengthening resilience, and promoting healthy development among youth who have been affected by community trauma. Significant Findings: Youth in Richmond are disproportionately affected by poverty, violence, and exposure to loss, which contribute to high rates of depression, anxiety, and emotional distress. The City of Richmond Community Health Needs Assessment (2022) found that nearly 29% of youth live in poverty, while the Virginia Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2023) reported that …

Preventing Fentanyl Overdose Deaths In Akron, Ohio: A Community-Based Social Change Initiative, Cecil Mcnulty

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal for this Social Change Portfolio is to reduce the alarming number of fentanyl overdose deaths in Akron, Ohio, through prevention, education, and strengthened community support systems. Significant Findings: This paper examines the high rate of fentanyl overdoses in Akron, Ohio, and how communities are deeply impacted by the opioid crisis, with fentanyl-related overdoses emerging as the leading cause of preventable death. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid significantly more potent than heroin and morphine, has skyrocketed overdose fatalities both nationally and locally, with Summit County reporting overdose rates higher than national averages (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2018). …

Veteran Suicide Prevention In Central Florida, Michael Terkos

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this project is to reduce suicide rates among veterans in Central Florida by strengthening protective factors, increasing access to culturally competent, trauma- informed care, and fostering community-based resilience networks that connect veterans, families, and local agencies. Significant Findings: Veteran suicide remains a critical public health concern in Florida, which continues to rank among the states with the highest veteran suicide rates (Florida Department of Health, 2025). Research indicates that approximately 17 veterans die by suicide each day nationwide (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs [VA], 2022). Key risk factors include post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, …

Staff Education And Implementation Of Phq-9 And Gad-7 In An Adult Psychiatric Private Practice, Exta Oppong Tweneboa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The PHQ-9 and the GAD-7 are short screening instruments used for the detection of depression and anxiety symptoms in various settings, including general and mental health care settings (Pranckeviciene, et al., 2022). The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to educate staff on the implementation of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) into an adult psychiatric private practice to standardize screening, improve diagnostic accuracy, and support measurement-based care for depression and anxiety. A structured staff education program was conducted with five nurse practitioners, one psychiatrist, two therapists, and two front-end administrative staff. …

Stakeholder Value Creation Strategies For Small Financial Service Business Owners, David Sone Njumbe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business owners who emphasize wealth creation to the detriment of sustainability may experience negative business outcomes. Small insurance agency owners are concerned because agency sustainability is a key to creating value for all stakeholder groups. Grounded in the stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies that some owners of small insurance agencies in the financial services industry use to create value for different stakeholder groups in order to remain sustainable in an evolving business environment. The participants were six financial professionals/advisors of the financial services industry. Data were collected using semistructured interview questions. …

The Lived Experiences Of Mothers Facing Phubbing From Their Adolescent Children, Mye Alexis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Widespread use of technology, particularly smartphones, introduced new challenges involving parent–adolescent attachment. Although existing literature primarily examines parental phubbing of adolescents, there is a significant gap in research exploring the experiences of mothers who are phubbed by their adolescent children. To address this gap, the central research question guiding this study was: What are the lived experiences of mothers who have been phubbed by their adolescent (ages 14-18) children? Grounded in Bowlby’s attachment theory, this phenomenological qualitative study aimed to deepen understanding of the emotional impacts of phubbing on mothers’ emotional wellbeing, emotional bonding, and mother–adolescent attachment. A homogeneous convenience …

Navigating Succession: Exploring Succession Planning Strategies In Polish Family Businesses, Jan M. Klaczak, Theresa M. Neal, Yvonne Doll

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Family businesses are the foundation of modern economies and societies, yet many encounter continuity challenges during succession. The purpose of this qualitative, multiple-case study grounded in Rothwell’s seven-step model for succession planning was to explore succession planning strategies Polish family business leaders used for ownership and leadership transfer to the next generation. Three family business leaders who executed succession planning in their firms participated in the study. Data were collected via semistructured interviews, researcher notes, and company document reviews. Using methodological triangulation and Yin’s five-step data analysis, four themes emerged: systematic succession, grooming the successor, communication with nonfamily stakeholders, and …

Factors Impacting School Social Workers’ Trauma-Informed Support Of Students With Disabilities, La Kisha Miles-Sneed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children with disabilities in underserved New Jersey communities are disproportionately exposed to trauma due to compounding systemic inequities. This basic qualitative study explored how school social workers support these students through special education case management. Grounded in disability critical race theory, the trauma-informed schools framework, and ecological systems theory, the study addressed the primary needs of trauma-exposed students with disabilities and the supports and challenges school social workers face in meeting those needs. Semi-structured interviews with 9 school social workers revealed core student needs: emotional and relational safety, access to school-based mental health services, trauma-informed individualized education program (IEP) supports, …