Digital Commons Network^™

One Face, Blair Rohan

Art Journal

Faces are the most recognizable part of the human body. With the exception of identical twins, no two people have the same face. But while we all have unique features, there are universally common characteristics of the human face. After all, everyone has a nose, mouth, and eyes. In my work, I want to emphasize that when completely different faces are superimposed, they can form one coherent face. By using short brushstrokes and different colors for each portrait, I am able to make all the features on the face of four different portraits become one facial appearance. The four different …

Avalanche Vocals, Megan Costello

Art Journal

Throughout my studies of photojournalism, I have developed a strong interest in documentary photography. Avalanche Vocals contains street photographs of people I happened upon by chance. These images were created while I was living in Italy and France this past fall. As a foreigner to the lands, I wanted to understand the identity of the native people. I found that much like the United States, France and Italy have a collage of identities and cultures. As a result, I decided to use street photography as a method of understanding the concept of individual identity. I found that the identity of …

Interactivity In The Work Of François Morellet, Elizabeth Fitzgerald

Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Benno Wissing And The Modernization Of De Stijl, Adrian Mascena

Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Golden Halo: Gustav Klimt’S The Three Ages Of Life As Modern Madonna, Mary Kate Kelly

Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Munch’S Madonna: Exposing Motherhood In Nineteenth Century Europe, Helena Gomez

Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Bouquet Of Flowers In A Vase: Van Gogh's "Unexpected" Painting, Catherine Restrepo

Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Saint Sebastian In The Renaissance: The Classicization And Homoeroticization Of A Saint, Rachel Wall

Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Art Journal 2012 - Interface

Art Journal

No abstract provided.

Artifacts Of Schooling, Frank S. Kelly

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

The paper explores important issues in today’s education, not by analyses and statistics, but by projecting readers into the future and then asking them to look back on today’s schools and to act like archaeologists—to surmise from all sorts of things they can observe, what was really important to us, what we really valued, how we treated kids, how our schools related to the communities they serve, how we used funds and time, how we used the ideas and technology available to us. Readers may find themselves amazed, amused or angered by their own answers.

What We Owe Our Children: Building A Healthier Houston Region, Jay Blazek Crossley

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

The mission of Houston Tomorrow is to improve the quality of life for all the people of the Houston. However, we have an overarching concern for protecting the futures of the children of the Houston region.

The Houston region needs to grow more connected by transit, walking, and biking with a focus on access to our major centers and attractions. We need safer streets, better access to healthy food options, and options for low-carbon lifestyles in walkable, urban, mixed-use areas. We need more people involved in regional planning and major decisions that will dictate the options of future generations.

Children Are Natural-Born Urban Planners!, James Rojas

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Every child is capable of becoming an urban planner because they use their minds and bodies to understand the places they habituate. My interactive method taps into their experiences, emotions, and imagination through play to bring out the city planners in them.

Children have an intuitive sense of the environment around them and this knowledge needs to be developed in allowing them to learn how the participate in civic matters and shape cities in the future.

Solvitur Ambulando: It Is Solved By Walking, Megan Dickerson

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Though a significant portion of the conversation around “play provision” focuses on the quality and availability of community playgrounds, the majority of children’s play occurs in transitional spaces: sidewalks and other spaces not designed for children but used by children daily. This Perspective from the Field briefly reviews the late 19^th century roots of the American playground and argues that though a focus on playground provision may draw attention to the importance of safe play spaces, a focus on playgrounds alone is limiting. Given playgrounds’ historical rootings, the omnipresent KFC (Kit, Fence and Carpet) playground begins to seem a …

Real School Gardens Program: Learning Gardens And Teacher Training To Improve Student Engagement And Academic Performance In Low-Performing Elementary Schools, Jeanne Mccarty

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Children who grow up in poverty are less likely to graduate high school, enter college and find economic stability. REAL School Gardens believes the right educational opportunities – ones that engage and motive children to learn – can break this cycle. The REAL School Gardens Program builds learning gardens and offers teacher training to improve academic engagement and performance in low-income elementary schools. Since its launch, REAL School Gardens has partnered with 92 low-income schools, and preliminary findings show that 84% of students experiencing hands-on academic lessons in a REAL School Garden report high levels of engagement, specifically in math …

Report From The Field: The Results Of A Community Needs Assessment For Parent Education In Houston, Texas, Nancy P. Correa, Christopher Greeley, Angelo P. Giardino

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Introduction: An evolving body of research has demonstrated that parent education has a positive impact on children, parents, and the community. CHILDREN AT RISK conducted a needs assessment of parent support programs in Houston, Texas to determine if there was perceived need and community support for a community-wide approach to evidence-based parent education.

Setting: The needs assessment was conducted by a research and advocacy non-profit that had the support of academic advisors in Houston, Texas.

Methodology: The needs assessment included 70 key informant interviews, 3 focus groups, data collection, a literature review, and a participating stakeholder survey from 28 organizations. …

Enhancing Communities Through The Design, Development And Dissemination Of Positive Parenting Interventions, John A. Pickering, Matthew R. Sanders

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Positive, healthy and happy families are the cornerstone of any healthy community. Parenting programs which address multiple aspects of family functioning are potentially the most effective means of creating positive family environments. However, the various constituents who “consume” parenting support and intervention often are not engaged to help shape program design and development. Using the challenge of parenting siblings as a case example, this paper describes a conceptual framework for enhancing the health and well-being of communities through the iterative development of empirically supported parenting interventions. A model of program development involving enhanced consumer involvement is presented to illustrate how …

Making A Community Ready For Oral Health, Paul Casamassimo, Catherine M. Flaitz

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

The challenges of resolving the oral health disparities among children and other vulnerable populations requires a well-organized community safety net, along with a sincere commitment to prioritize the elimination of this common, but preventable, dental disease. Adequate funding for basic health needs, while incorporating oral health care into a comprehensive primary care model in our neighborhoods provides the best chance for a successful outcome. In order to build better communities for our children, improvement in the access and delivery of dental care must be part of the equation.

Commentary On "Sexual Violence Against Girls In Schools: Addressing The Gaps Between Policy And Practice In Awaso, Ghana", Christabelle Sethna

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Invited Commentary on "Sexual Violence against Girls in Schools: Addressing the Gaps between Policy and Practice in Awaso, Ghana"

Understanding Perceptions About Contraceptive Responsibility Among Adolescents, Silvia T. Linares, Lisa M. Hollier

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Invited Commentary on "Attitudes Surrounding Contraceptive Responsibility: Do Latino Adolescents Differ From Other Groups?"

Determining Emotional Perceptions Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Experienced Vs. Observed Scenarios, Robin P. Goin-Kochel

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Invited Commentary on "Memory Functioning for Personally Experienced and Witnessed Events in Children with Autism and the Implications for Educators, Mental Health Professionals, and the Law".

Beyond Surveillance Toward Prevention Of Injury And Illness At Camps, Karla A. Henderson

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Camps have a long history of contributing to positive developmental outcomes for campers and staff. When illness or injury occurs at camp, however, the positive outcomes of the experience can be diminished. Therefore, surveillance and prevention are essential. This national study of camps provided a benchmark for assessing adverse risk factors at camp. The findings have resulted in initial steps to develop training materials to lower the incidence of injury and illness. Other opportunities that might be considered to further the value of surveillance studies might include: continuing to monitor staff as well as campers, assessing the severity of injuries, …

Increasing Young People’S Active Modes Of Transport: An Urgent Review Of The Child-Friendliness Of Multi-Sector Policies Required, Billie Giles-Corti

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Invited Commentary on "Correlates of Active School Transport Immediately Before and After the Transition from Primary to Secondary School: A Pilot Study".

Commentary On "Trends In Child Health Insurance Coverage: A Local Perspective", Claire Elizabeth Bocchini

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Purpose: To provide commentary on the original research article, “Trends in Child Health Insurance Coverage: A Local Perspective,” by Jean Rapahel, Richard R. Batsell, Marc A. Kowalkowski, Aileen Beltran, Angelo P. Giardino, and Charles G. Macias.

Findings: The authors clearly show that in Houston, TX, over the past eight years, fewer children have employer-sponsored health insurance coverage and more children, especially low-income and minority children, are enrolled in public health insurance programs. These findings underscore the critical importance of preserving and strengthening our existing public insurance safety-net programs.

Conclusion: All children should have access to high quality health care and …

Pediatric Tropical Diseases And The World’S Children Living In Extreme Poverty, Peter J. Hotez

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Enormous strides have been made in reducing the number of global under-five child deaths through expanded development and use of vaccines under the auspices of the GAVI Alliance. However such successes have left behind a significant burden of child morbidity and mortality in developing countries from six major tropical diseases, ie, dengue, malaria, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminth infections, trachoma, and visceral leishmaniasis. Approximately 1.7 billion infections occur from these six diseases that result in disability-adjusted life years that exceed HIV/AIDs and result in 700,000 to 1.2 million deaths annually. International efforts are in place to reduce the disease burden of several …

Sexual Violence Against Girls In Schools: Addressing The Gaps Between Policy And Practice In Awaso, Ghana, Geneviève M. Proulx, Andrea Martinez

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Despite the established relationship between girls' education and several social development outcomes, gender disparities in education remain particularly concerning. Among the many obstacles that still hinder girls’ access to quality education, sexual violence against girls in schools (SVAGS) is one of the most worrying but also one that has received the least attention in light of recent efforts to increase girls’ attendance in school. This article explores the interface between the seemingly solid Ghanaian legal and policy framework to protect children in educational institutions and the high incidence of SVAGS in such institutions. Its purpose is twofold: to identify the …

Attitudes Surrounding Contraceptive Responsibility: Do Latino Youth Differ From Other Groups?, Kari White, Kristine Hopkins, Emily Schiefelbein

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Latina teens have lower rates of contraceptive use and higher rates of pregnancy compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Differences in attitudes about contraceptive responsibility have been suggested as reasons for these disparities. We conducted 36 gender- and race/ethnicity-specific focus groups with young women aged 15 to 21 years and young men aged 18 to 24 in four large Texas cities. To explore youths’ attitudes about contraceptive responsibility, we analyzed transcripts using thematic analysis and compared themes across race/ethnicity and gender. Across all groups, youth often reported that young women were primarily responsible for contraception because of the physical implications of …

Socioeconomic And Cultural County-Level Factors Associated With Race/Ethnic Differences In Body Mass Index In 4th Grade Students In Texas, Jennifer J. Salinas, Manasi S. Shah, Jennifer L. Gay, Ken Sexton, Eileen Nehme, Dorothy Mandell, Deanna M. Hoelscher

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between county-level socioeconomic environment and the propensity to be overweight or obese by race/ethnic group in a sample of fourth grade children the Texas public school system.

Methods: The data used come from the School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) surveillance study – a surveillance study of school-aged children in Texas. The outcome variable used was Body Mass Index (BMI) categorized as underweight/normal/healthy, overweight, and obese. Exposure variables were derived from county-level Hispanic and Black concentration and socioeconomic data using the Human Security Index (HSI) as a framework. We made comparisons between Non-Hispanic White, Black …

Memory Functioning For Personally Experienced And Witnessed Events In Children With Autism And The Implications For Educators, Mental Health Professionals, And The Law, Kelly A. Cornett, Deborah S. Miora, Tracy Fass, Dennis Dixon

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Several researchers have hypothesized a deficit in memory processing to exist in children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This hypothesis has been supported by findings of deficient recall and recognition ability in children with ASD. Specifically, research has pointed to greater deficits in their ability to recall events related to the self as opposed to others. However, such research has not explored how memory functioning would be impacted when an event with an emotional tenor was used and when a forced choice yes/no paradigm was used to extricate what was remembered from the event. The current study …

Injury And Illness Benchmarking And Prevention For Children And Staff Attending U.S. Camps: Promising Practices And Policy Implications, Barry A. Garst, Linda E. Erceg, Edward Walton

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Background: Camp experiences contribute to a range of positive developmental youth outcomes, but camp experiences also pose a risk for youth because of potential exposure to injuries and illnesses. The camp community has lacked both a methodology and effective benchmarks for injury and illness monitoring. Furthermore, camp-related policy recommendations have lacked the support of generalizable data addressing the risk of injuries and illnesses at camp. The need for systematic exploration of when, where, and how injuries and illness occur in camps created an opportunity for administrators and healthcare providers to improve camp safety by understanding injury and illness trends and …

Correlates Of Active School Transport Immediately Before And After The Transition From Primary To Secondary School: A Pilot-Study, Richard Larouche, Guy Faulkner, Mark S. Tremblay

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

The transition from primary to secondary school is a major life event associated with large decreases in physical activity levels. Cross-sectional studies also suggest that secondary school students are less likely to engage in active school transport (AST; e.g. walking and cycling to/from school). To our knowledge, no longitudinal study has previously examined the correlates of AST immediately before and after the school transition. This pilot-study assessed: 1) the concordance between child- and parent-perceived barriers to AST (with Spearman correlations); 2) the associations of AST with child- and parent-perceived barriers to AST, parental neighborhood selection factors and socio-demographic characteristics (using …