Digital Commons Network^™

Preschoolers And Pandas Making Friends: A Journey About Healing From Brain Injury, Barbara Anne Doucette

Museum Studies Projects

Preschoolers that have obtained Non-Accidental Injury (NAI) from familial child abuse are in need of having a unique place for neurorehabilitation in correlation with traditional therapies. My thesis project suggests adding an exhibit annex to an existing giant panda exhibit that will give preschoolers an opportunity to help develop new neuropathways when exposed to mediation and creative activities. Meditation and creative activities are being examined by neuroscientists as an aid in neuroplasticity after brain injury. This thesis reviews the neurotypical preschooler’s milestones and the playful means by which they are achieved. Conjoining the contemporary museums’ and zoological gardens’ outreach to …

Monterey County Behavioral Health - "Transition To Integrated Care", Jose Francisco Barajas Chavez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The rate of clients discharging from acute mental health services in Monterey County is low. According to Monterey County Behavioral Health Services Act (2017), “the demand for services has greatly increased with the ACCESS programs serving 90% more individuals in the past two years [2015-2016], and a 168% increase in the last 5 years [2011-2016].” The increase in demand for services has impacted staff psychiatrist and social workers in providing quality treatment services.

The Monterey County Behavioral Health Bureau (MCBH), a division of Monterey County Health Department, has identified clients who’ve shown improvement in their mental health recovery and are …

Strengthening Families In Santa Cruz County, Yajaira Rubio-Mendoza

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Parenting is very rewarding and enjoyable, yet it can be challenging and exhausting. Therefore, there is no right way to be a parent. At La Manzana Community Resources (LMCR), a family program of Community Bridges, there is a strong belief in strengthening families within the Santa Cruz County community. That is why LMCR provides various services such as, Triple-P Positive Parenting Program. Triple-P, funded by First 5, provides parents and caregivers parenting support ranging from birth to 12 years of age, with additional support for families with teens, and families of children with special needs. The …

Ihss My Source, Daisy Meza

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

IHSS My Source is a smartphone application intended for a field research project as well as an evaluation process with the purpose of tracking and connecting clients to community resources. As a result, it is difficult for Social Workers to follow up with all clients regarding unmet needs. Implementation method began with gathering client data. IHSS My Source, a smartphone application implemented by the Monterey County Department of Social Services, division of Aging and Adult Services, department of In Home Supportive Services to have all community resources listed in one organized and easy to access smartphone app. Expected outcomes are …

San Benito County Parents Learning About Drugs And Alcohol In Spanish, Nancy Zermeno

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Hispanic or Latino non-speaking English Parents are not familiarized with the different types of drugs in the community. Various studies have indicated that San Benito County teenager that suffer from drug and alcohol are at-risk of being truant, dropping school, or becoming criminals. This project aimed to address a Drug prevention intervention class in Spanish to target the population of non-speaking English parents. The majority of non-speaking English parents are not familiarized with the culture or laws in the United States. The project was implemented by the Juvenile Division of San Benito County Probation Department in collaboration with Youth Alliance. …

Translating Bridges Through Social Media For Parental Engagement, Janelle Garcia

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Recent studies show that children tend to do their best in school when their parents are engaged in their early childhood development. However, when parents do not instill the importance of education or engaged in their children’s education journey; than this can lead to numerous consequence. There is a higher chance that these children will continue to be unprepared for school, a higher chance of becoming truant students and a higher chance of dropping out of school at an early age. Unfortunately, parental engagement among Hispanic/Latino population has fallen short to support the academic success of their children. Hispanic/Latino parents …

The Perceptions And Attitudes Of Hispanics Toward Law Enforcement Officers, Brittany N. Pugh

Honors Theses

Relationships between racial / ethnic minorities and law enforcement officers in the United States have long been a topic of concern. Given that Hispanics represent the largest racial / ethnic minority population in the United States, the nature of their collective and individual relationships with law enforcement is a topic worthy of empirical examination. Surprisingly, however, there is limited research specifically focusing upon the beliefs, perceptions and attitudes of Hispanics regarding law enforcement officers. This exploratory study examines the beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes of 101 Hispanics in South central Mississippi toward local law enforcement agencies and officers. Furthermore, the study …

The Influence Of Previous Subject Experience On Interactions During Peer Instruction In An Introductory Physics Course: A Mixed Methods Analysis, Judy A. Vondruska

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Over the past decade, peer instruction and the introduction of student response systems has provided a means of improving student engagement and achievement in large-lecture settings. While the nature of the student discourse occurring during peer instruction is less understood, existing studies have shown student ideas about the subject, extraneous cues, and confidence level appear to matter in the student-student discourse. Using a mixed methods research design, this study examined the influence of previous subject experience on peer instruction in an introductory, one-semester Survey of Physics course. Quantitative results indicated students in discussion pairs where both had previous subject experience …

2017 Winter Graduate & Undergraduate Commencement, Lindenwood University

Commencement Programs

Lindenwood University Commencement program.

About The Mcnair Scholars Program, The Mcnair Team

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

It’S Time To Listen To The Survivors: Understanding Undergraduate College Women’S Choice To Report A Sexual Assault To College Officials, Tamara H. Kenney

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this study was to add to the existing literature about the lived experience of undergraduate college women between the ages of 18-24 years who experienced a sexual assault while enrolled in college. This study used a semi-structured interview protocol with six undergraduate women, between the ages of 18-22 years, who were enrolled in a Western New York college. The qualitative phenomenological design, along with feminist interviewing practices, provided a deeper understanding of the lived experience of the survivors and the barriers that keep women from reporting their assaults to college officials. Six undergraduate college women shared their …

Thriving To Survive: Examining Spirituality As A Strategy For Coping And Perseverance Among Christian College Students At An Urban Public College, Theresa A. Curry

Education Doctoral

Low college graduation rates continue to be a great concern for institutions of higher education. There is a need to examine and employ strategies that will help students cope, persevere, and graduate. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine the perceptions of Christian college students to determine if they identify spirituality as a mechanism to help them cope and persevere at a 4-year urban public college. Social cognition (Bandura, 1986), self-efficacy (Bandura, 1977), and student involvement (Astin, 1984) provided the theoretical framework. Five research questions guided the study. Eight students participated in a one on one in-depth …

The Effect Of Interaction With Therapy Horses On University Students' Perceived Stress Level, Alexa Chapman

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research project investigates how university students are affected by interacting with therapy horses. Stress is the factor that will be evaluated in this particular study. The self-rated stress scores will be acquired from University of Arkansas students both before and after interacting with specially trained therapy horses during an Equine Assisted Activity and Therapy (EAAT) class offered at the University. Stress will be evaluated by students taking a survey inquiring about daily stressors including finances, school, work and relationships. The data collected will be compared by pre- and post- interactions with the horses. We expect that the pre- and …

Increasing Retention Among First-Year Master's In Counseling Students: Evaluation Of A Social Integration Program, James David Jensen

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Comprised of three individual articles, this article-based dissertation represents different aspects of a study involving a program designed to increase retention among master’s level Counselor Education (CE) students. Chapter One provides an overview of the dissertation’s purpose along with a discussion of how the studies comprising the dissertation extend the current literature on student retention in CE programs. Chapter Two discusses a qualitative study that explores students’ perceptions of a Social Integration Program designed to increase program satisfaction and sense of belonging among first-year students in a Master of Arts in Counseling program. The article in Chapter Two presents findings …

A Pilot Study Of Computerized, Tailored Intervention To Promote Hpv Vaccination In Mexican-Heritage Adolescents, Angela Chia-Chen Chen, Michael Todd, Ashish Amresh, Usha Menon, Laura Szalacha

Publications

This study examined feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a computer-tailored intervention aimed at promoting HPV vaccination in Mexican-heritage adolescents aged 11-17. Among 46 Mexican-heritage parents who had one or more eligible children who had not received HPV vaccines, 91% (n = 42) completed the intervention and assessments via touchscreen tablet computers in a vaccine clinic. Mean knowledge scores increased significantly from pre- to post-intervention. After the intervention, 95% (n = 40) of parents intended to get their children vaccinated; 50% (n=21) of them consented to vaccination immediately, resulting in 24 adolescents being vaccinated at that time. All parents reported …

Policy Implications: An Analysis Of Intercountry Adoption In Relation To Nationalism, Victoria Szczechowski

Honors Theses

This research seeks to answer the question: Does level of nationalist sentiment expressed within a country affect the restrictiveness of the country’s intercountry adoption policy? Current literature has examined the influence of the level of nationalism expressed in a country on adoptive parents in choosing from which country to adopt; however, no study has examined the link between nationalism and country-specific intercountry adoption policy. The variable of nationalist sentiment warrants study, for the Hague Convention posits that intercountry adoption is a valid option only if “a suitable family cannot be found in his or her [the adoptable child’s] State of …

Invisible Islanders: Precarious Work And Pacific Settlers In Rural Australia, Makiko Nishitani, Helen Lee

Pacific Studies

A growing number of studies have focused on precarious employment in relation to temporary and illegal immigration status. However, few have examined if this precarity is resolved once migrants acquire permanent residency. This article explores the work experiences of Pacific Islander settlers in rural Australia who either overstayed their visas or had temporary visas and later acquired Australian residency. These Pacific people are employed primarily in seasonal labor and find it difficult to gain more secure employment outside the horticultural sector. Even members of the second generation tend to work as casual laborers on farms. The difficulties migrants face in …

County Judges And Cosmetologists: A Preliminary Inquiry Into “Constitutional” County Courts, Larry Karson

Journal of Criminal Justice and Law

Since at least the days of Prohibition there has been a discussion regarding the professionalism of the individuals involved in the American criminal justice system. From the police officers being required to have some college education along with months of academy training in the law and procedures of the justice system to attorneys being mandated, after college, to complete a 3 year program of formalized academic training in the law and passing a state administered exam of competence, the requirements that determined competency have increased as society and the law have become more complex.

Solution Focused Creativity In Social Work, Emilie R. Kenneally

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Solution Focused Brief Therapy is a well-known method of therapy used by many clinicians and social workers. There are similarities between this therapy and the creative problem solving process. Creating a workbook that adapts creative problem solving tools to include solution focused language and concepts can make social workers’ jobs easier and also help them work more effectively. When social workers are able to do their jobs in a more creative way, they will have less stress and create better outcomes for their clients. Using a framework that already exists (i.e. Solution Focused Brief Therapy) and comparing it to creative …

Worst Date, Kate, Zachary Grant Bess

USU Student Folklore Fieldwork

Me: “What is the worst date you’ve ever been on?”

[Not skipping a beat] Ryker: “OH. Easy. Junior Ball. Her parents drove, we did not get dinner, I had to live off the winter mints they have on the table, and like the water…like you know at high school. You go to a high school dance and they have the little ‘Lifesaver Wintermint’ I had to live off of those and water, and a to-go box out of my friend’s trunk. [laughing] it was from his date, because of course THEY went to dinner.”

[interjecting] ME: Wait why did you …

Home Visiting: Discovering What Works For Increasing Referrals, Theresa Cruz, Leona Woelk, Ivy Cervantes

Reports & Documents

The purpose of this work was to identify barriers providers may experience with regard to referring patients to home visiting (HV) programs and to determine potential intervention strategies that could be used to increase provider referrals, initially in Bernalillo County.

How We Close The Gaps: Our Interprofessional Team Approach To Meeting Quality Measures, Peter Blockhurst, William Buselmeier, Mckenzie Calhoun, Paige Gilbert-Green, Jesse Gilbreath, Erin Harris, Amy Lawrence

ETSU Faculty Works

• Define the role/function of an interprofessional team in the management of complex outpatients.
• Identify the types of patients that would benefit most from a team-based approach.
• Implement elements of our team-based patient care model into individual practices.

Gear Up & Beyond, Stephanie Sanchez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

At Salinas High School there is a low number of high school students completing CSU/UC requirements. In the academic year of 2015, there was a total of 560 high school graduates, of these students 245 graduated with all CSU/UC requirements which is 43%. Gear Up (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) has a purpose of helping students succeed throughout high school. Gear Up promotes post-secondary education by taking field trips, working with parents, and offering tutoring before and after school as well as during lunch are some of the resources offered. Gear Up & Beyond was developed as …

The Visiting Nurses Association And Hospice Connection Program Binder Update: A Need For Current Community Resources, Melina Correa

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Residents in Monterey and San Benito county need up-to-date information on resources and services in their communities to enhance their quality of life. In partnership with the Central Coast Visiting Nurses Association and Hospice, the Connection Program has helped to implement an update of their 2014 Connection Program Resource Binder to address this need. The 2017 Connection Program Resource Binder is a research and needs-based project that will supply staff members with information and applications necessary to help their patients and, in turn, for the community to become more aware of what resources are available to them. The project was …

Foster The Future, Gabriela Zuno

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Thousands of foster children are moving on to becoming adults without the needed life skills education to be successful in life. Chamberlain’s Children Center is a non-profit organization that provides services and housing for foster children. The administration department is the division in the organization that is implementing the life skills course for the teen girls. The project is an educational workshop series addressed to meet the need of daily living skills education for the future success of foster youth. The course consisted of weekly two-and-a-half-hour lessons prepared by community professionals and volunteers for a total of six weeks during …

Almost Home: An Interim Solution To Homelessness, Daleen M. Pearse

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

In 2015 there were 4,627 homeless individuals unsheltered in Santa Clara County (Home Not Found, 2015). With very few housing options available many homeless individuals are forced to camp illegally in conditions that are unsafe and inhumane. The Gilroy Compassion Center has addressed the need for an interim solution to homelessness with its Almost Home Camping Program. This program provides stability to individuals who participate by providing transitional housing in a campground setting as an alternative to camping illegally. Participants address their own personal barriers whether it is substance abuse, mental or physical health, as well as other barriers identified …

Get Them Moving: Increasing Physical Activity In The Classroom, Elizabeth G. Balcom

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The focus of this senior capstone project is on increasing the amount of physical activity within the classroom. Studies show that living a sedentary lifestyle can be detrimental to your health, yet we require students to sit still in classrooms for hours on end. For this project different elementary grade levels were compared to determine the amount of physical activity that currently occurs inside the classrooms, and several teachers were interviewed to see how the issue could be helped. Through what was learned from the the research conducted , an action was taken that responds to the issue of increasing …

Healthy Lifestyle At Headstart In Monterey County, Leticia Manriquez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

In Monterey County, the rate of childhood obesity is too high among the Latino/Hispanic community. The Head Start program in Monterey County serves more than 1,245 children each year with the majority of them being Latino/Hispanic. The causes of childhood obesity are a lack of physical activities, cultural beliefs, and financial issues among families. It leads to serious health problems that impact children academically and psychologically. This capstone project is to increase knowledge and awareness on how to live a Healthy Lifestyle among Head Start parents so that they can apply that to their lives and their children. The project …

Get Out: Preparing Families For Emergencies, Megan Fletcher

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The focus of this Capstone project is on the effects of natural disasters on families and young children. This is an important issue because parents have to prepare to take care of themselves and their children if an emergency strikes. An argument is made that preparing children for emergencies can reduce the negative physical and emotional impact of the traumatic event. Considerations of the issue, should include the perspective of parents at Mimi’s Daycare in California because they are primary caregivers of young children. Three action options emerged from the data and explored as ways to address the issue presented: …

What Legally Prescribed Functions Tell Us: Role Differences Between Adult And Juvenile Probation Officers, Moana Hafoka, Youngki Woo, Ming-Li Hsieh, Jacqueline Van Wormer, Mary K. Stohr, Craig Hemmens

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

The authors' current study, which is built on prior attempts to explore legally prescribed probation functions across 50 states and the District of Columbia, examines the statutorily prescribed duties of adult and juvenile probation officers in the past 10 years. Analyses of role shifts and the complementarities and differences that exist in the statutes are also explored.