Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Psychometric Properties Of The Centrality Of Pain Scale, Benjamin J. Morasco, Dennis C. Turk, Christina Nicolaidis

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

The Centrality of Pain Scale (COPS) is a recently developed patient-centered, 10-item self-report measure designed to assess how central, or dominating, in their lives individuals with chronic pain perceive pain to be. The COPS underwent initial development and validation previously; preliminary results suggested that the measure had excellent psychometric properties and that COPS scores were associated with important clinical factors. The purpose of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the COPS in a sample of individuals with mixed chronic pain diagnoses (N = 178) being treated at a U.S. Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Principal components analysis …

Community And State Systems Change Associated With The Healthy Transitions Initiative, Janet S. Walker, Nancy Koroloff, Shawn James Mehess

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

People engaged in efforts to improve services to emerging adults with serious mental health challenges have reached the conclusion that service change at the program or agency level is not sustainable without related changes at the systems or policy level. This article focuses on one set of efforts to create intentional system change at both the community and state levels. These changes were pursued by states and communities that received grants under the federally funded Healthy Transitions Initiative (HTI), with the aim of creating more effective services for emerging adults with serious mental health conditions. The article reviews the development …

Better Futures: A Randomized Field Test Of A Model For Supporting Young People In Foster Care With Mental Health Challenges To Participate In Higher Education, Sarah Geenen, Laurie E. Powers, Lee Ann Phillips, May Nelson, Jessica Mckenna, Nichole Winges-Yanez, Linda Blanchette, Adrienne Croskey, Lawrence D. Dalton, Amy Salazar, Paul Swank

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

The purpose of the study was to conduct a preliminary efficacy evaluation of the Better Futures model, which is focused on improving the postsecondary preparation and participation of youth in foster care with mental health challenges. Sixty-seven youth were randomized to either a control group that received typical services or an intervention group, which involved participation in a Summer Institute, individual peer coaching, and mentoring workshops. Findings indicate significant gains for the intervention group on measures of postsecondary participation, postsecondary and transition preparation, hope, self-determination, and mental health empowerment, as compared to the control group. Youth in the intervention group …

A Theory Of Change For Positive Developmental Approaches To Improving Outcomes Among Emerging Adults With Serious Mental Health Conditions, Janet S. Walker

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

Recent evidence attests to the shortcomings of typical services for improving outcomes among emerging adults with serious mental health conditions (SMHCs). Researchers and providers have responded by developing new programs and interventions for meeting the unique needs of these young people. A significant number of these programs and interventions can be described as taking a positive developmental approach, which is informed by a combination of theoretical sources, including theories of positive development, self-determination, ecological systems, and social capital. To date, however, there has been no comprehensive theoretical statement describing how or why positive change should occur as a result of …

Meeting The Transition Needs Of Urban American Indian/Alaska Native Youth Through Culturally Based Services, Barbara J. Friesen, Terry L. Cross, Pauline Jivanjee, Ashley Thirstrup, Abby Bandurraga, L. Kris Gowen, Jen Rountree

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

This article reports findings from three qualitative studies exploring supports for positive transitions of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth to adulthood. Community-based participatory methods were employed through a research partnership involving a culturally based community agency, the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA), the National Indian Child Welfare Association, and Portland State University. Studies utilized a Relational Worldview (RWV) framework, where well-being is understood as a balance among the domains of mind, body, spirit, and context. Collectively, findings demonstrate that NAYA employs culturally grounded interventions to overcome the traumatic histories and current oppressive conditions affecting low-income urban AI/AN youth …

Balancing Work & Family Responsibilities: A Guidebook For Parent Support Providers, Julie M. Rosenzweig, Anna M. Malsch, Eileen M. Brennan

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

This training manual and guidebook for Parent Support Providers has been adapted from Children/Youth with Disabilities: Their Parents are YOUR Employees, a workbook for human resource professionals originally produced by the Work-Life Integration Project at Portland State University. The research behind the manual comes from over two decades of federally funded studies focused on understanding the work-life experiences of parents with children challenged by behavioral health disabilities. Supplemental materials to the manual for group training purposes include a slide presentation, and a training script.

The survey at the end of this manual may be used as a pre/post evaluation of …

2014 Oregon General Assistance Study, Karen Cellarius, Mary Oschwald, Sandra Marie Leotti

Regional Research Institute for Human Services

In early 2014, the Oregon legislature and the state Department of Human Services (DHS) commissioned a study to gather input from consumer and non-consumer stakeholders regarding how to most effectively meet the needs of childless adults with disabilities. This study was designed to answer the following questions: (1) What services for childless adults with disabilities exist within Oregon and in other states? (2) What is the need today? and (3) What potential program structures and funding options might address the needs or the target population while also addressing any barriers experienced with the previous program? The following synopsis describes the …