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On The Edge: Facing A Challenging And Uncertain Future. Elder Economic Security Standard™ For The Boston Area, Laura Henze Russell, Ellen A. Bruce, Judith M. Conahan

Gerontology Institute Publications

What is an adequate income for older adults in the Boston area to age in place? How does it vary according to their life circumstances: whether they are living alone or with a spouse, rent or own their home, drive a car or use other transportation? How do Boston area elders’ living costs change as their health status and life circumstances change? What happens if they need long-term care to keep living at home?

This report will address these questions through the development of a measure of income adequacy for older adults, the Elder Economic Security Standard (Elder Standard). The …

Elder Economic Security Initiative: The Elder Economic Security Standard For Massachusetts, Laura Henze Russell, Ellen A. Bruce, Judith M. Conahan

Gerontology Institute Publications

What is an adequate income for older adults in Massachusetts to age in place? How does it vary according to where they live, and their life circumstances: whether they are living alone or with a spouse, rent or own their home, drive a car or use other transportation? How do elders’ living costs change as their health status and life circumstances change? What happens if they need long-term care to keep living at home?

This report will address these questions through the development of a measure of income adequacy for older adults using the WOW-GI National Elder Economic Security Standard …

Changing Patterns Xiii: Mortgage Lending To Traditionally Underserved Borrowers And Neighborhoods In Greater Boston, 1990-2005, Jim Campen

Gastón Institute Publications

The present study is the latest in a series of annual updates of the original report, Changing Patterns: Mortgage Lending in Boston, 1990-1993. Beginning in 1998, the reports’ geographic scope was expanded to include an examination of mortgage lending patterns in 27 cities and towns surrounding the city of Boston. In 2003, the report’s geographic coverage was further expanded to include a total of 108 communities. This year’s report extends coverage to all counties, regional planning areas, and federally-defined metropolitan areas in Massachusetts.

The text that follows this introduction highlights some of the most significant findings that emerge from …

Community Mobility And Dementia: A Review Of The Literature, Nina M. Silverstein, Megan Vanderbur

Gerontology Institute Publications

By the year 2030, 70 million Americans will be 65 or older. Approximately 80 percent of this population will likely be driving themselves. And without appropriate and timely interventions, many are likely to be driving with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Current estimates suggest that 2 percent of the population 65 to 74, 19 percent of the population 75 to 84, and 47 percent of the population 85 and older are likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder. By the year 2050, the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease could range from 11.3 million to 16 million. This significant …

Data Note: Relationship Between Integrated Employment And State Unemployment Rates For Mr/Dd Consumers, Katherine Fichthorn, Dana Scott Gilmore

Data Note Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

State mental retardation/developmental disability (MR/DD) agencies provided day and employment supports to over 466,500 people in 2001. Approximately 23% of individuals supported by MR/DD agencies nationwide were employed in integrated employment settings, with individual state outcomes ranging from 2% to 56%.

The Feasibility Of Establishing The Mosaic Partnerships Program In The City Of Boston, Deb Devenne, Maia Germain, Marsha Inniss-Mitchell, Kyle Reilly, John Sieracki

Emerging Leaders Program Team Projects

Six years ago, Rochester, NY Mayor William A. Johnson contracted with the consulting firm Idea Connection Systems (ICS) to create a program then called Biracial Partnerships for Community Progress. Since that time over 400 leaders from all areas of the Rochester community have participated. ICS has established this program, since renamed the Mosaic Partnerships Program, in several cities. Through the UMASS Boston - Center for Collaborative Leadership, Emerging Leaders Program (ELP), the Mosaic Partnerships Program was introduced as a way to bridge race relations in Boston and be a catalyst for change. Can the Mosaic Partnerships Program provide positive results …

Latino Shelter Poverty In Massachusetts, Michael E. Stone

Gastón Institute Publications

There were about 121,000 Latino-headed households in Massachusetts in 2000 – nearly 5% of all households, an increase from 3.5% in 1990. The median annual income for Latino-headed households was $27,400 in 2000. About one-third of Latino households had annual incomes of less than $15,000; one-third had between $15,000 and 40,000; and one-third had incomes of $40,000 or more. The median Latino household size was 3 persons. 78% of Latino-headed households rented housing, and only 22% were homeowners.

Software And Internet Industry Workers: Implications For The Future Of Work In Massachusetts, Sarah Kuhn, Paula Raymann

New England Journal of Public Policy

Those at the leading edge of the new economy — workers in software and Internet workplaces — can tell us something about the future of work in our new world. The authors have conducted a National Science Foundation-funded study of women and men working in IT. They find that while pay and the opportunity to do interesting work are major attractions, challenges facing this workforce include stress, difficulties balancing work and family, and concerns about employment security. While women and men reported similar attitudes and experiences in many areas, in others there were still significant differences.

Data Note: Relationship Between Mr/Dd Consumers In Integrated Employment And Working Ssi Recipients, Katherine Fichthorn, Dana Scott Gilmore

Data Note Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

State mental retardation/developmental disability (MR/DD) agencies provided day and employment supports to over 466,500 people in 2001. Of these, 108,981 individuals were supported in integrated employment settings. The percentage of individuals working in integrated employment varied widely by state, from 56% in Washington to only 2% in Alabama.

Latinos In Massachusetts: A Mid-Decade Status Report, Jennifer Shea, Charles Jones

Gastón Institute Publications

This research report provides an updated socioeconomic profile of Latinos in Massachusetts. Using data from the 2000 Census, the 2004 American Community Survey, and the 2002 Economic Census and Survey of Business Owners, it provides a comprehensive, comparative overview of a variety of statistical indicators – including population, national origin, age, gender, education, employment, poverty, income, and household composition. This information should prove useful to a range of individuals and organizations concerned with issues that impact the Latino community: policy-makers, advocates, community-based organizations, businesses, and the media. The report focuses primarily on Latinos as a group in Massachusetts, though where …

Springfield, Mandira Kala, Charles Jones

Gastón Institute Publications

This fact sheet presents various economic, social, and demographic indicators pertaining to the Latino population in the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and, when required, compares the Springfield MSA with the state of Massachusetts overall and with the other main areas of large Latino concentration, namely, the Boston, Lawrence, and Worcester Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PMSAs). In this fact sheet the term “Springfield” refers to the complete MSA and not just the city of Springfield. The information for this fact sheet comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey of 2004.

Boston, Mandira Kala, Charles Jones

Gastón Institute Publications

This fact sheet presents various economic, social, and demographic indicators pertaining to the Latino population in the Boston Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA) and, when required, compares the Boston PMSA with the state of Massachusetts overall and with the other main areas of large Latino concentration, namely, the Lawrence and Worcester PMSAs and the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).1 In this fact sheet the term “Boston” refers to the complete PMSA and not just the city of Boston. The information for this fact sheet comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey of 2004.

Lawrence, Mandira Kala, Charles Jones

Gastón Institute Publications

This fact sheet presents various economic, social, and demographic indicators pertaining to the Latino population in the Lawrence Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA) and, when required, compares the Lawrence PMSA with the state of Massachusetts overall and with the other main areas of large Latino concentration, namely, the Boston and Worcester PMSAs and the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). In this fact sheet the term “Lawrence” refers to the complete PMSA and not just the city of Lawrence. The information for this fact sheet comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey of 2004.

Latinos In Massachusetts: Selected Economic Indicators, Ramon Borges-Mendez, Nicole Lavan, Charles Jones

Gastón Institute Publications

This brief presents an analysis of various economic indicators pertaining to the Latino population in metropolitan areas of high Latino concentration in Massachusetts. It includes information on and comparisons of the Primary Metropolitan Areas of Boston and the Metropolitan Statistical Area of Springfield and when available the Primary Metropolitan Area of Lawrence. The information comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey of 2004.

Research To Practice: Postsecondary Education Options For Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Debra Hart, Meg Grigal, Caren Sax, Donna Martinez, Madeleine Will

Research to Practice Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

An overview of research on postsecondary education and options, with a bibliography and recommendations for improving access to college.

Worcester, Mandira Kala, Charles Jones

Gastón Institute Publications

This fact sheet presents various economic, social, and demographic indicators pertaining to the Latino population in the Worcester Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA) and, when required, compares the Worcester PMSA with the state of Massachusetts overall and with the other main areas of large Latino concentration, namely, the Boston and Lawrence PMSAs and the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). In this fact sheet the term “Worcester” refers to the complete PMSA and not just the city of Worcester. The information for this fact sheet comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey of 2004.

A Qualitative Examination Of The Psychosocial Adjustment Of Khmer Refugees In Three Massachusetts Communities, Leakhena Nou

Institute for Asian American Studies Publications

This paper uses a sociological stress process model to explore the Khmer adult refugees’ experience in Massachusetts. The analysis is based on the responses of three focus groups in the Khmer communities of Lowell, Lynn, and Revere, Massachusetts. The focus groups provided an in-depth understanding of sources of stress, stress mediators, and psychosocial adjustment/adaptational patterns for Khmer refugees who had experienced the Cambodian genocide. Symptoms and reactions associated with underlying causes of mental health problems had culturally specific relevance to physical illness and mental health.

Research To Practice: The National Survey Of Community Rehabilitation Providers, Fy2004-2005 Report 1: Employment Outcomes Of People With Developmental Disabilities In Integrated Employment, Heike Boeltzig, Dana Scott Gilmore, John Butterworth

Research to Practice Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

Where do people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities work? What are their hours, wages, and benefits? This brief covers partial results from a survey that gives a snapshot of the outcomes for recently employed people with developmental disabilities.

Research To Practice: Trends And Emerging Issues Regarding Ssa/Vr Reimbursements For Ssi/Ssdi Recipients, John Halliday, Dana Scott Gilmore, Katherine Fichthorn

Research to Practice Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

This brief discusses the declining amount of reimbursement paid to public VR agencies from federal fiscal year (FFY) 2002 to FFY 2005 by considering the impact that fewer claims submitted and a rising SGA level may have on the amount of reimbursement paid.

Massworks: Creating Effective Business Partnerships: What Businesses Want Human Service Agencies To Know, Rick Kugler, Cindy Thomas

MassWorks Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

In October 2005, the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston hosted Mission: Employment II, a conference that brought together people with disabilities and workforce, rehabilitation, and employment professionals. Representatives from the Massachusetts Business Leadership Network (MassBLN) presented these tips on how employment service providers can better respond to companies' needs.

Data Note: Vr Outcomes For People With Spinal Cord Injury, Frank A. Smith, Dana Scott Gilmore, John Butterworth

Data Note Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

An estimated 250,000 people are living with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Since 2000, the average age of injury has been 38, with almost 80% of new injuries affecting men. Approximately 7,154 persons with SCI entered the VR service system in 2004. In 2004, 2382 individuals with SCI achieved successful rehabilitation with the support of state vocational rehabilitation agencies.

Profiles Of Asian American Subgroups In Massachusetts: Chinese Americans In Massachusetts, Shauna Lo

Institute for Asian American Studies Publications

This report presents a profile of Chinese Americans statewide as well as highlights Chinese Americans living in four communities: Boston’s Chinatown, Quincy, Malden and Newton. It draws upon U.S. Census data, secondary sources and interviews.

Changing Patterns Xii: Mortgage Lending To Traditionally Underserved Borrowers And Neighborhoods In Greater Boston, 1990-2004, Jim Campen

Gastón Institute Publications

The present study is the latest in a series of annual updates of the original report, Changing Patterns: Mortgage Lending in Boston, 1990-1993. Beginning in 1998, the reports’ geographic scope was expanded to include an examination of mortgage lending patterns in 27 cities and towns surrounding the city of Boston. In 2003, the report’s geographic coverage was further expanded to include a total of 108 communities.

The text that follows this introduction highlights some of the most significant findings that emerge from the extensive set of tables and charts that constitute the bulk of the report. Part I, together …

Research To Practice: Community-Based Non-Work Services: Findings From The National Survey Of Day And Employment Programs For People With Developmental Disabilities, Jennifer Sullivan Sulewski, John Butterworth, Dana Scott Gilmore

Research to Practice Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

As community-based services for adults with developmental disabilities develop, one category remains underexplored: community-based non-work (CBNW). Findings from an ICI survey show that while CBNW is a growing part of the service mix, its definitions and requirements remain fuzzy.

Research To Practice: The National Survey Of Community Rehabilitation Providers, Fy2002-2003 Report 3: Involvement Of Crps In The Ticket To Work And The Workforce Investment Act, Heike Boeltzig, John Butterworth, Dana Scott Gilmore

Research to Practice Series, Institute for Community Inclusion

This Research to Practice brief examines CRP participation in the Ticket to Work and the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). Findings showed that CRPs were more involved in WIA than the Ticket program.