Digital Commons Network^™

The Examination And Evaluation Of The Public Foster Care System's Attachment-Based Intervention And Trainings For Foster Parents In The West North Division Of The Midwestern States, Brooke T. Crowell

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The effectiveness of many foster parent training curricula in the United States foster care system is basically unknown (Adkins et al., 2018). Furthermore, there is little to no research that indicate when and how attachment-focused interventions and trainings are being implemented in the United States. Thus, the initial purpose of this study was to examine and evaluate interventions and trainings pertaining to attachment that exist throughout the United States public foster care system. As this study progressed however, the purpose shifted to answering this question: How is the Midwest foster care system training staff and foster parents on issues of …

On (Not) Seeing The Chicken: Perdue, Animal Welfare, And The Failure Of Transparency, Calvin Coker, Rachel A. Coker

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

In this essay, we analyze Perdue’s animal welfare campaign from 2016 to 2020 to isolate how demands for transparency are mediated and subverted by Perdue’s public facing rhetoric. Though Perdue’s annual releases and commitments to change nominally constitute a victory for animal welfare advocates, the company’s campaign enacts transparency as a sort of publicity for the company that belies marginal gains for the lives of chickens and may ultimately result in increased meat consumption. In providing trackable metrics, offering paternalistic justifications for their treatments of chickens, and through strategic omissions of language and visuals, Perdue satisfies demands for transparency without …

Sars-Cov-2 In Wildlife: Q & A With Alan B. Franklin, Alan B. Franklin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Welcome Dr Franklin and thank you for joining us to help social workers increase their knowledge about the interconnectedness of humans, other mammals, and the environment. Let's begin with zoonosis.

Viruses can be transferred from wild and domestic animals to humans in a process called zoonosis.

Divest Or Disband?: A Social Problems Game Analysis Of Canadian Media Coverage Of 2020'S Defund The Police Movement, Nicholas Fappiano

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Policing in Canada and America has come under the microscope due to several high-profile incidents of police violence against racialized citizens. The murder of George Floyd by officer Derek Chauvin thrust the concept of ‘defund the police’ to the mainstream public dialogue. To date, there are few studies that explore what defund the police means. The present media analysis addresses this research gap by analyzing how Canadian mass media covered the defund police movement. A social constructionist theoretical framework was utilized to analyze 109 newspaper articles on defund the police from The Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail. The …

Imagining White Victims And Punishing Black Trauma: Whiteness, Anti-Blackness, Trauma, And Social Work In Canadian K-12 Schools, Christine Mayor

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This study critically examined how whiteness and anti-Blackness structure Canadian school social workers’ understanding and responses to students’ expressions of trauma in K-12 schools. Very few studies have previously explored the damage that increasingly popular trauma-engaged school programs may be doing, particularly to Black students. Therefore, this study addressed the role that school social workers play in reproducing harm for racialized, and especially Black, students when implementing trauma-engaged practices.

This critical qualitative study used an innovative methodology combining fictional vignettes and semi-structured interview questions with Ontario school social workers (n=19). Data were analyzed using critical whiteness, anti-Blackness, and critical trauma …

Agents At Work: Modeling How Space Can Influence People In The Workplace, Jovan Poposki

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

People interact with space in ways that are important to consider when designing an office. Not considering this relationship has led to the dissatisfaction of employees post-occupancy. In this thesis, I present an agent-based model that incorporates several characteristics of agents, such as work ethic and sociability, and explores their behaviours and social interactions in the workplace. The model is first tested on a commercial workspace, varying agent parameters to see how they change the behaviour of the model. I find that agents with extreme personalities are happiest, and show a bimodality in the distribution of time spent in various …

The Untended Garden: How Adoptees Navigate Relationships With First Family Members, Dawn Michele Mccormick Tracz

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This research explores how people who were adopted over the age of 6 years old in open adoption arrangements navigate ongoing relationships with first family members. It explores perceptions of how a connection with both adoptive and first family members impacts self-concept. Using an interpretivist-constructivist lens, the narratives of four women are presented and analyzed. In addition to qualitative interviews, each participant was invited to create images that represented relationships with significant family members. The narratives are re-presented in detail adhering closely to the teller’s organization and emphases. In the analysis, themes related to relationships with first family members and …

Responses Of Christian Churches In Ukraine And Other Eastern European Countries To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Olga Nedavnya

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article examines the reaction of Christian Churches to the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic. Attention is paid to the Churches in Ukraine and countries of similar political and cultural heritage (Moldova, Bulgaria, Serbia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Montenegro, etc.). The guidelines and practical activities of the Churches are analyzed, reflecting their response to various problems related to the pandemic. The corresponding differences occur not so much between different countries and peoples, but rather between different denominations. In general, more conservative, and sometimes fundamentalist, reactions are shown by the Orthodox Church, especially in parts of the Russian Orthodox Church in …

Unreality And Loss Of Self: Dissociative Experiences In Buddhist Practitioners, Jill Loving

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

On the surface, the Buddhist idea of emptiness and experiences of depersonalization and derealization seem to have significant overlap. Meditations on emptiness in the Buddhist tradition seek to lead meditators to observe the ego as illusory and empty of inherent content as one step in the journey to liberate oneself from suffering. Conversely, dissociation is generally an involuntary, automatic response to severe trauma that can become more common or chronic in an individual over time. Topographically, these experiences may look similar; both include a sense of unreality of the self and often of the broader world. However, differences in stimulus …

The Impact Of A Relationship Education Program On Health Disparities Among Pregnant Women, Anne Clara Biermann

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Health disparities amongst pregnant individuals of color have long been documented and yet, they persist. While there is growing recognition, the search continues for solutions to close the health disparity gap between White women and women of color. This research is a follow-up to a 2022 study exploring the impact of the MotherWise program on birth outcomes. MotherWise provides an individual-oriented relationship education program and case management service for minority and low-income pregnant women in Colorado. This research further explores a positive trend of the program's impact on preterm birth rates by examining differential effects of participation by race. In …

The Indian Mission Of The Institute Of Blessed Virgin Mary (Ibvm) Nuns: Convents, Curriculum, And Indian Women, Nilanjana Paul

History Faculty Publications

This study focuses on the Indian mission of IBVM nuns, and the role played by them in the spread of female education in India. While acknowledging that missionaries were part of the imperial process, this study analyzes the work of Catholic nuns in India, their convents, and curriculum to show how their work advanced women’s educational opportunities in India. In the process the study examines how Catholic nuns resisted the dominating attitude of the Catholic Church in India. The last section of the article examines how Christian influence under missionaries not only prepared good mothers and wives but also trained …

Harnessing The Power Of Interdisciplinary Research With Psychology-Informed Cyberbullying Detection Models, Deborah Hall, Yasin N. Silva, Brittany Wheeler, Lu Cheng, Katie Baumel

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Cyberbullying has become increasingly prevalent, particularly on social media. There has also been a steady rise in cyberbullying research across a range of disciplines. Much of the empirical work from computer science has focused on developing machine learning models for cyberbullying detection. Whereas machine learning cyberbullying detection models can be improved by drawing on psychological theories and perspectives, there is also tremendous potential for machine learning models to contribute to a better understanding of psychological aspects of cyberbullying. In this paper, we discuss how machine learning models can yield novel insights about the nature and defining characteristics of cyberbullying and …

Developing A Community Rehabilitation And Lifestyle Service For A Remote Indigenous Community, Alice Cairns, Lynore Geia, Sylvia Kris, Elizabeth Armstrong, Amy O’Hara, Danielle Rodda, Robyn Mcdermott, Ruth Barker

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose

Community rehabilitation is an essential health service that is often not available to remote Australians. This paper describes the first cycle of a collaborative project, between local community members, allied health professionals and a university, to co-design a community rehabilitation and lifestyle service to support adults and older people to stay strong and age well in place.

Methods

An action research framework was used to develop the service for adults in two remote communities, one being a discrete Aboriginal community. The first cycle involved planning for, and trialling of a service, with observations, reflections and feedback from clients, community …

Student Works In The Institutional Repository: An Analysis Of Interest And Impact [Presentation Slides], Julia K. Nims

Faculty Scholarship 2022

Eastern Michigan University has highlighted student work in its institutional repository since 2009. Starting with graduate theses and dissertations, the repository’s student presence has grown with the addition of other works, such as honors theses, student journals, and capstone projects. Including student work in our repository fulfills many goals. It allows EMU to showcase and preserve the excellent scholarship produced by our students, and then make these works available to users around the world. These collections serve as recruitment tools to demonstrate what prospective students may achieve through the opportunities EMU offers. The repository provides our students with a space …

Introduction, Carmen M. Mccallum

Faculty Scholarship 2022

No abstract provided.

Feasibility And Preliminary Effectiveness Of Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing On Addiction Cravings In Adults With Substance Use Disorder: Pilot Study, Elizabeth Woodruff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Addiction is a pervasive health and economic issue in the United States. Eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured and client-centered intervention that can be a useful addition to a comprehensive treatment plan for clients with substance use disorder. However, little research has explored EMDR and its effects on addiction. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the feasibility of conducting EMDR and to test its effects on cravings and perseverations associated with addiction and irrational cognitions related to addiction compared to treatment as usual (TAU). This study used a two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) design with …

Sorority Women’S Perceptions Of Survivors’ Services And Justice On An Urban Campus, Andrea Giuffre, Elaine Gunnison

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

While researchers have attempted to estimate the prevalence of and identify risk factors for sexual assault, less is understood about the relationship among populations at high risk for sexual assault and their perceptions of survivors’ services organizations and justice. The purpose of this investigation is to contribute to existing research through exploratory qualitative analyses of 43 undergraduate sorority women’s perceptions of survivors’ services and justice on a large, urban campus in the Pacific Northwest in the United States. Results of these exploratory analyses revealed that the sorority women had preferences for informal confidants and services whom they could trust concerning …

Evaluation Of An Established In-Home, Palliative Care Program And Its Impact On Improving Patient Health Outcomes, Keishan Guillaume

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Background and Review of Literature: Palliative care has a high potential to increase quality of life for patients with serious illnesses through symptom management and providing care and support. There are various settings and organizations where individuals can receive such care. Still, many people prefer staying at home in a familiar environment. The problem is that palliative care programs should be effective to justify the resources invested and maintain patients' quality of life. Moreover, as literature review shows they should involve advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) to achieve better outcomes since these specialists have considerable skills and competencies, but their …

Impact Of A Telehealth-Based Program On Hospital Readmission, Patient Knowledge, And Self-Care Among Older Adults With Heart Failure, Elisee Jacques

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Heart failure (HF) is a global epidemic that affects older populations at an unprecedented rate. It is one of the leading causes of hospital readmission in patients 65 years and older. Although many strategies have been used to properly manage the disease, HF remains a complex condition due to several factors such as disease progression, comorbidities, inadequate patient knowledge, and non-adherence to the treatment plan. Despite the impact of HF on quality of life, morbidity, and mortality in older adults, they have been markedly underrepresented in most major cardiovascular trials. Besides the use of traditional methods for HF management, studies …

The Effects Of Integrating A Palliative Care Screening Tool At An Outpatient Oncology Clinic To Enhance Understanding And Utilization Of Palliative Care Services, Katarzyna E. Rela

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Palliative Care services are underutilized in patients who have cancer primarily due to lack of understanding of what it encompasses by both, the patients and providers. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to facilitate Palliative Care referrals by the use of a Palliative Care screening tool: the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale with the Canadian problem Checklist and the PCQN Distress Screener. The Representational Approach and Jean Watson’s theory of Unitary Caring were utilized in the teaching moment. The screening tool was implemented at initiation and change of treatment during teaching visits by the nurse practitioners with the goal …

Out Of The Shadows And Into The Light: Illuminating The Path To A Bright Future For Nurses Through Increased Advocacy Training, Cynthia Tagliaferri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

A lack of knowledge and involvement in grassroots legislative advocacy among nursing professionals adversely affects nurses’ ability to effectively tackle issues impeding the safe and effective delivery of healthcare. The role of primary care nurses in improving health outcomes includes developing substantial legislative relationships that constructively introduce nurserelated issues that are not adequately recognized or understood by legislators. This DNP quality improvement project sought to assess the effectiveness of a four (4) week legislative advocacy training program on the knowledge of, confidence in, and participation in the legislative advocacy process and local legislative outreach among nurse members of the Florida …

Research Symposium 2022: International Conference On Health Disparities: Treatment And Recovery From Opioid And Alcohol Use Disorders And Related Comorbidities (Ichd-Recover), The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley. School Of Medicine

School of Medicine Publications

No abstract provided.

Drugs, Ethnic Profiling, And The American Perception Of Colombian Immigrants, 1979-1990, Laurisa Sastoque

Armstrong Undergraduate Journal of History

This paper analyzes how the media’s portrayal of Colombian drug trafficking turned into a stigma that affected the Colombian community in the United States. By reviewing periodical sources between the years 1979-1990, this paper argues that the formation of the drug trafficking stigma stems from the media's almost exclusive portrayal of Colombians as drug traffickers, within a context of U.S.-Colombia relations that encompassed tensions regarding responsibility for the growing transnational drug problem. Ultimately, this study proves that the drug trafficking stigma for Colombian immigrants is inherently tied to how American society viewed the Colombian government’s actions in the war on …

"Native Speakers Do Not Understand Me": A Phenomenological Study Of Student Experiences From Developing Asian Countries At An American University, Wolayat Tabasum Niroo, Mitchell R. Williams

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

International students from developing Asian countries where English is the second and foreign language are marginalized in some American Universities due to language barriers. Native English speakers often assume that whoever comes to the United States should be able to speak and write English perfectly. In developing Asian countries, such as South Asia, however, the English language belongs to the families of the Middle and Upper classes. They can get admission in English spoken countries’ higher education institutions. However, when those students come to English-speaking countries, they feel othered, left alone, and disappointed. This study utilizes a phenomenological research method …

A Look At Race, Skin Tone, And High School Students' Perceptions Of Teacher-Student Relationship Quality, Kala Burrell-Craft, Danielle R. Eugene, Juterh Nmah

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

Racial disparities in education have put a spotlight on the role of teachers and the school environment that is created for students. As teachers are seen as a vital element of school climate, the interactions between teachers and students can have a significant effect on students’ success. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between race, skin tone, and teacher–student relationship (TSR) quality. Data drawn from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study included 995 ethnically and racially diverse adolescents. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that being Black, Hispanic, or Multi-racial was significantly associated with TSRs. However, there …

Attitudes About Cybersecurity Articulation Agreements And Transfer Students: A Statewide Survey Of Faculty Members And Advisors, Brian K. Payne, Tracy Vandecar-Burdin, Daniela Cigularova

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

In this study, cybersecurity faculty and academic advisors from community colleges and 4-year universities in the southeast region of the United States completed a survey assessing attitudes about and support for articulation agreements and related transfer policies. Hypothesizing that professional structures shape attitudes and experiences, the researchers conducted an exploratory quantitative study with primarily descriptive analyses. The results reveal differences in attitudes between community college and 4-year stakeholders and between faculty and academic advisors. The results of this study are discussed in relation to faculty and advisor training and communication.

Higher Education Professional Staff Engagement: Looking In And Beyond The Great Resignation, Sarah Owens

Theses and Dissertations

In 2021, there were 68.9 million job separations. Of those, 47.4 million people willingly left their jobs (Romans, 2022). As the “Great Resignation” in the COVID-19 era continues, many professional staff in higher education are re-examining their relationship with work (McClure, 2021). Higher education professional staff, often feeling undervalued and unappreciated, are less likely to engage and more likely to intend to turnover; leaving institutions to bear the costs of lost productivity and staff replacement. This study examines the relationship between university professional staff members’ self-reported levels of psychological engagement (meaningfulness, safety, and availability), employee engagement (cognitive, emotional, and behavioral), …

"Provider Discretionary Power Practices To Support Implementation Of Patient-Centered Hiv Care In Lusaka, Zambia", Chanda Mwamba, Njekwa Mukamba, Anjali Sharma, Kasapo Lumbo, Marksman Foloko, Herbert Nyirenda, Sandra Simbeza, Kombatende Sikombe, Charles B Holmes, Izukanji Sikazwe, Carolyn Bolton Moore, Aaloke Mody, Elvin Geng, Laura K Beres

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Traditional patient-provider relationships privilege the providers, as they possess the formal authority and clinical knowledge applied to address illness, but providers also have discretion over how they exercise their power to influence patients' services, benefits, and sanctions. In this study, we assessed providers' exercise of discretionary power in implementing patient-centered care (PCC) practices in Lusaka, Zambia.

METHODS: HIV clinical encounters between patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and providers across 24 public health facilities in Lusaka Province were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Using qualitative content analysis, we identified practices of discretionary power (DP) employed in the implementation of PCC …

Sustainability In Pediatric Hospitals: An Exploration At The Intersection Of Quality Improvement And Implementation Science, Sara Malone, Jason Newland, Sapna R Kudchadkar, Kim Prewitt, Virginia Mckay, Beth Prusaczyk, Enola Proctor, Ross C Brownson, Douglas A Luke

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Although new evidence-based practices are frequently implemented in clinical settings, many are not sustained, limiting the intended impact. Within implementation science, there is a gap in understanding sustainability. Pediatric healthcare settings have a robust history of quality improvement (QI), which includes a focus on continuation of change efforts. QI capability and sustainability capacity, therefore, serve as a useful concept for connecting the broader fields of QI and implementation science to provide insights on improving care. This study addresses these gaps in understanding of sustainability in pediatric settings and its relationship to QI.

METHODS: This is a cross-sectional observational study …

2022-2023 Usf Libraries Annual Report, Usf Libraries

Library Annual Reports

No abstract provided.