Digital Commons Network^™

The Federal Government Must Revise Public Housing Policies To Protect Vulnerable Populations From Evictions, Caroline Grabowski

Population Health Research Brief Series

Over 100,000 Americans are now dying from drug overdoses annually, signifying that the goal of the 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act (ADAA) to end illicit drug use has not been achieved. What’s more, numerous statutes within the ADAA have created or worsened housing instability among people who use drugs and their families. This is because the ADAA allows public housing officials to use their own discretion when determining evictions and lease refusals and has disproportionately harmed individuals in public housing who did not participate in the drug-related activities that led to their eviction. This brief describes how the ADAA negatively affects …

Assisting Ministry Leaders Managing Bipolar Disorder In Adolescents And Young Adults: Development Of An Eight-Week Educational Program, La'shanna A. Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Bipolar disorder poses significant challenges for individuals and their communities, particularly within religious ministry. This research project addressed the need for an educational program that equips ministry leaders to support adolescents and young adults with bipolar disorder effectively. The Love Faith Church (LFC) in Columbia, South Carolina, serves as the focal point for this study. This project included the development of an eight-week Ministry Leaders’ Educational Plan to educate ministry leaders about bipolar disorder in adolescents and young adults. It emphasized evidence-based research and biblical foundations to help ministry leaders better understand and recognize the signs associated with bipolar disorder. …

Intimate Partner Violence And Spirituality: A Healing Process, Sheila Diane Lundquist

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to understand how intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors, from the Atlanta area, use spirituality to heal from the abuse. The theory guiding this study is Maslow’s (1954) Hierarchy of Needs as it shows how spirituality helped these women meet the needs on the hierarchy after having many of the needs ripped from them by the perpetrator(s). Intimate partner violence is a fundamental problem in the United States, especially during these times of COVID-19 and the stay-at home orders. Intimate partner violence takes a toll on the family unit, the community, and the …

An Integrated Approach To Developing Pastoral Efficacy For Addiction Crisis Ministry, Matthias Ponce-De-Leon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The current addiction epidemic has heightened human suffering in many ways globally. This action research project built and implemented a training system to prepare pastors for encounters with individuals and families in substance addiction crises. The primary focus of the training system was to integrate existing approaches to pastoral equipping while advancing the theological framing of addiction models. In doing so, pastors developed understanding and confidence for facing the logistical, personal, and theological challenges in ministry to addicts and their families. Twelve pastors participated in the designed intervention, a 3-hour training workshop, and their shifts in perspectives and strategies for …

The Cost Of Creating Therapeutic Relationships: A Phenomenological Study, Robert D. January

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe how licensed counselors address vicarious trauma and burnout when working with individuals exposed to trauma. This study involved ten licensed professionals from diverse settings including clinics, private practices, and non-profit organizations. Constructive Self-Development Theory guided this study, which defines how traumatic experiences influence a person’s sense of identity. This theory is particularly relevant to this qualitative study because it explains the challenges faced by professional counselors who interact with trauma survivors and acts as a guide toward solutions for preventing counselors from experiencing vicarious trauma and burnout. Snowball sampling was used …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Graduate School Students On Developing Human Capital Through Family Life Education And Leadership Development, Francis Ngulefac

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of graduate school students on developing human capital through family life education and leadership development in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. The theory that informed this study is the human capital theory, which postulates that human beings can improve upon their productive capacity by pursuing further education and acquiring more work-related skills and experience. Thus, this study explored the lived experiences of graduate school students in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area concerning this theory. I recruited 12 graduate school students living in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area in …

Using Mindfulness In Nursing Burnout. An Integrative Review., April Day Branham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this integrative review is to evaluate if mindfulness is effective in decreasing nursing burnout. Nursing burnout has negatively affected the nursing profession for many years, and since the COVID-19 pandemic, it appears to be worse. Mindfulness is a practice that has been used for decades, however, it is gaining more attention in the nursing realm. Mindfulness consists of being present in a moment without judgment. It can consist of individual exercises that are completed using an instructor in person, in an application on a smartphone or computer, or yoga-based mindful activities. A preliminary literature review was completed …

Is Seeing The Therapist Important? Perceptions Of Therapist Empathy And Skill, Jerry Lee Lovelace

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Psychotherapists have increasingly used alternate telehealth formats for providing treatment (e.g., videoconferencing, telephone, and online chat). In some modes, therapists may not be seen clearly or even at all. The current study aimed to assess visibility’s impact on observers’ perceptions of therapists’ empathy and skill. Participants were randomly assigned to evaluate vignettes of psychotherapy sessions with differing levels of visibility: a video of the session or an audio of the session. Analyses revealed that observers’ perceptions of therapists differed by visibility condition. The study found that in the non-visible condition, female presenting therapists were perceived as less skilled and empathetic. …

A Phenomenological Study Of African-American Clergys’ Experiences With Mental Health, Rosalind R. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological qualitative study was to describe African-American clergy’s lived experiences with mental health and mental health’s influence on the construction of their teachings, sermons, and church practice. The goal was to use interpretation to bring to light to an underlying coherence of actions of a group of people. This study reduced individual African-American clergy beliefs regarding mental health to a universal understanding. There were four philosophical assumptions in this study: 1) a search for wisdom to understand the phenomenon of African-American clergy’s lived experiences with mental health influence their teachings, sermons, and church practice, 2) …

Attitudes Toward The Amish Held By Nursing And Social Work Students At A Midwestern University, Lora Wyss, Rosanna Hess

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

As Amish populations increase and move across North America, the likelihood grows that healthcare professionals will come into contact with them. No studies have been conducted to examine contact frequency with or attitudes of healthcare providers toward the Amish. The aims of this study were to examine attitudes toward the Amish among nursing and social work students attending a Christian liberal arts university in a Midwestern state, and, to determine the relationship between students’ cultural awareness, their knowledge of the Amish, their contact with the Amish, and their attitudes toward the Amish. The participants were anonymously surveyed using the Revised …

Health And Healthcare Among The Plain Anabaptist People, Rosanna Hess, Braxton Mitchell

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

This issue of the Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies (JAPAS) marks the eleventh year of publication of this journal, the flagship journal of the Amish & Plain Anabaptist Studies Association (APASA). In the past we have devoted entire issues to specific topics, including Beachy Amish-Mennonite churches [2017 5(1)], past and future directions of Amish studies [2017 5(2)], Ohio Amish schisms [2019 7(2)], gender-focused research [2020 8(2)], agriculture and the environment [2021 9(2)], and the plain people at midcentury [2023 11(1)]. In addition, the 2018 6(2) issue included a special section on health among the Amish. This …

Title Page And Table Of Contents 11(2), Japas Editors

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

No abstract provided.

Improving Prosocial And Academic Skills While Decreasing Challenging Behavior, Tom Clees

Georgia Association for Positive Behavior Support Conference

Youth with challenging behaviors such as noncompliance, aggression, self-injury, and deficits in academic engagement are at-risk for future school failure, including suspension and expulsion, mental health challenges, and incarceration (Alberto and Troutman, 2022; Kauffman, 2016). Low academic achievement, behavioral excesses and social skills deficits are predictive of each other (Gresham, 2016), and may create an escalating cycle leading to further antisocial responses (Kaufman, 2016). The literature provides considerable research on evidence-based strategies that have been associated with positive academic (on-task, task completion) and behavioral (increase in prosocial skills with decreasing challenging behavior) outcomes, among which include (1) self-directed interventions, or …

Performance Art As A Site Of Socio-Spatial Resistance: Challenging Geographies Of Gendered Violence, Egle Karpaviciute

Journal of International Women's Studies

By researching the intersections of art, geography, and violence, this paper interrogates performance art and its capacity to question one’s gendered existence in space/place. Through an analysis of two performance art pieces—J. Hawkes’s Playing Kate (2018) and Cassils’s PISSED (2017)—I explore the connections between art, gendered bodies, and space/place, while establishing a link between and across feminist and trans* gendered tyrannies. While discussing feminist and trans* performance art, this paper probes the felt and lived harms that are experienced by feminist women and trans* individuals in gendered locales and addresses ways in which art can challenge socio-spatial violence. Overall, through …

Teaching And Teachings Of Black Mixed Girls As Unveiling Femme-Centered Anti-Blackness In Us Education, Miranda Mosley

Culture, Society, and Praxis

Through a lack of Black-centered, Black-empowering policies and strategies (Dumas, 2016), Black people are overlooked in the US public education system. Though this general disregard (and disdain) for Blackness in the education system is found to keep communities segregated and result in higher rates of expulsion and punishment for Black students (Dumas, 2014; Wun, 2016), we know relatively little about how experiences shape identities for Black girls in their schools. For Black girls, and specifically Black mixed race girls, we do know that physical attributes like hair texture and skin color shift the girls’ sense of racial identity (Hunter, 2016) …

2023-December-18-Etsu Psychology Working To Meet National Needs.Pdf, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

The results are consistent, as well as troubling.

For three straight years, psychologists across the United States report seeing patients enduring an increase in mental health symptoms, often resulting in longer treatment time.

The gist: Psychologists aren’t sure they can meet the incredible need, according to the annual survey from the American Psychological Association.

Prizing hands-on learning and relevant research, East Tennessee State University is working to produce students well prepared to meet this nationwide concern.

“There are several ways in which our department is helping our students enter the workforce in order to make a real-world impact in the …

Author Biographical Notes

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Denied, Disrespected, Doubted, And Discarded: Women's Criminal Convictions And Experiences Of Discrimination, Brian Wyant, Holly Harner, Brian Lockwood

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

This study surveyed over 400 incarcerated women in a medium-maximum security prison in the United States to assess their experiences of discrimination due to their criminal conviction. Over 60% of the participants indicated they had been discriminated against due to their felon status. Binary logistic models revealed that discrimination based on prison status can occur both inside and outside of prison but varies by race and length of stay. Similarly, qualitative results showed that during and after their incarceration, these women reported being denied jobs, disrespected and viewed as incapable of changing. Some women even anticipated they would experience discrimination …

Cross-Cultural Dyads In The Psychotherapy Room, Sebastian Del Corral Winder, Katrina Spontak, Mixalis Poulakis

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

Therapeutic outcome is often impacted by the psychotherapeutic relationship throughout treatment. These outcomes are mediated by the client’s belief in the psychotherapist’s trust, comfort, and competency while navigating mental health concerns. Cultural differences can impact a client’s perspective on all three factors and thus impact the psychotherapeutic relationship and success of treatment. The Accent Prestige Theory has noted that individuals who speak English with a Latin American Spanish accent are perceived as less competent, friendly, and trustworthy by White individuals in the United States. While this theory has been examined in select contexts, there is no previous work related to …

Experiences Of Caregivers Of People With Dementia In Indonesia: A Focus Group Study, Imelda Theresia, Tara P. Sani, S Evans‐Lacko, Nicolas Farina, Lydia Augustina, Yuda Turana

Peninsula Medical School

Abstract Background Many people with dementia are reliant on family caregivers to provide daily care to maintain quality of life and dignity. As a result, caregivers can experience increased burden, poorer health outcomes and increased stigma. To date, the experiences of caregivers of people with dementia has not been explored within an Indonesian context. Aims This study aims to understand the experience of caregivers of people with dementia in Indonesia and better understanding of the stigma associated with dementia. Materials and Methods This qualitative study is embedded within the Strengthening Responses to Dementia in Developing Countries project. Focus Group Discussions …

An Overview Of Human Trafficking In The United States, Lin Welsh

Theses

This research paper delves into the multifaceted problem of human trafficking, seeking to provide a comprehensive understanding of its dynamics, root causes, and the myriad challenges associated with combating this serious crime. Drawing on empirical studies and criminological theories, the paper navigates through the factors that contribute to the perpetuation of human trafficking. The study begins by exploring the historical and theoretical contexts that create the demand for trafficked persons and the vulnerabilities that make individuals susceptible to exploitation. Additionally, the paper examines the legal and policy frameworks implemented at the national level to combat human trafficking. It aims to …

What's Going On In There? Canadian Government Policy Labs And Public Value Management, Adam Wellstead, Nora Ottenhof, Bryan Evans, Anat Gofen

Michigan Tech Publications

Government-based policy labs have established themselves across the Canadian policy landscape. This article argues these labs contribute to public value management. We begin by reviewing the public value management literature, followed by Canadian contributions to the policy lab literature. Then, our inventory of 35 current Canadian government-based policy labs is descriptively analyzed, including trends in spatial concentration, the tools and methods employed, their focus areas, the number of years in existence, and their primary role in the policy process. We randomly selected nine of these labs, provide more details of their activities, and present a preliminary public value management typology …

Commencement [Program], December 16, 2023, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Commencement Programs

The program of the commencement ceremonies, including a list of institutional leadership, a list of the departments by college, awards given at the ceremonies, and a list of undergraduate and graduate degree candidates. This commencement program is not an official graduate list.

Contents:

--- Iowa Board of Regents ... 2
--- Institutional Leadership ... 2
--- The Academic Procession ... 3
--- Academic Honorary Organizations ... 4
--- University Ambassador Organizations ... 5
--- University Honors Program ... 6
--- Legacy Graduates ... 6
--- Order of Events ... 7
--- College of Education ... 10
--- College of Humanities, …

A Brief Introduction To Better Boards For A Better World, John P. Bohley, Jr., Larry C. Spears

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

This short essay includes the Introduction and Advance Praise from Better Boards for a Better World: An Integrated Practice of Policy Governance® and Servant-Leadership, by John P. Bohley, Jr. and Larry C. Spears (2023, BookBaby Publishing). 244 pages. $35. ISBN 978-1-66789-954-1. Better Boards for a Better World – a daunting challenge. In the pages that follow, we will describe an approach to board governance that we believe will enable boards to unleash their potential to become better boards and to make significant contributions to the creation of a better world through embracing Policy Governance and servant-leadership. Our approach involves bringing …

2023 Fall - Commencement Program, Office Of The Registrar, East Tennessee State University

ETSU Commencement Ceremonies and Programs

No abstract provided.

2023 Fall Commencement, Harding University

Commencement Programs

Program for the Harding University Commencement on December 16.

Commencement Speaker: Keith Cronk

Talking Back To White Systems Of Power: A Black Feminist Critical Autoethnography, Kimberly Diggs

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This thesis is a Black Feminist Critical Autoethnography that talks back (hooks, 1989). I use autoethnographic methods to unpack memories and trauma of my experience of being a part of a predominantly white institution (PWI) and a resident of a community in which the institution resides, and whiteness transcends. I incorporate Black Feminist Thought (BFT) and Critical Race Theory (CRT) as theoretical frameworks to enable counter storytelling to disrupt white, hegemonic ways of being. My evocative narratives, poems, and short vignettes provide a lens in which it means for me to be a Black woman in a community that has …

Physical Therapy Professionals’ Opioid Knowledge And Attitudes In A Midwestern State: A Cross Sectional Survey, Steven G. Kinney, John D. Kiesel

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: To determine perspectives towards opioid use, knowledge on managing an opioid overdose, and awareness towards individuals who use opioids of Indiana physical therapy (PT) professionals. Methods: An online questionnaire was disseminated to PT professionals in Indiana from various practice settings. This questionnaire included two standardized measures, the Opioid Overdose Knowledge Scale (OOKS) and the Opioid Overdose Attitude Scale (OOAS). An additional 12 questions regarding the role of PT and other groups in the opioid crisis as well as opioid education were included. These questions were developed by discussion between investigators as well as feedback from another rehabilitation professional. Descriptive …

An Evaluation Of A Student Allied Health Professions’ Social Prescribing Scheme, Kirstie A. Goodchild, Anya De Iongh

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Social prescribing is a core part of healthcare policy within the NHS and requires support and contributions from all healthcare professionals, including Allied Healthcare Professionals (AHPs). The well-established medical student-led social prescribing student champion scheme (SPSCS) has been expanded to include AHPs, and AHP champions were recruited to deliver peer-led activities focused on social prescribing. This article aimed to evaluate the impact of the scheme's expansion on AHP students. Method: Fourteen AHP champions ran 21 activities that reached 524 students. Those participating in the champion-led activities were asked to complete pre- and post-session surveys to capture the impact of …

A Work Readiness Scale For Allied Health Graduates, Vidya Lawton, Emre Ilhan, Verity Pacey, Taryn M. Jones, Arlene Walker, Catherine M. Dean

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The transition for allied health graduates from university to the workforce has been perceived to be difficult and overwhelming, leading to early attrition within healthcare professions. Work readiness is a crucial aspect of successful transition to the workforce, however, the elements of work readiness are not clearly defined. The purpose of this project was to refine the measurement of work-readiness in allied health graduates. Method: A 62-item Work Readiness Scale for Allied Health Professionals (WRS-AH), based on a work readiness scale for a generic population of graduates, was validated and refined using an exploratory factor analysis. Results …