Community-Based Research Commons^™

Intentional Conversations: Co-Creating Global Family, School, And Community Engagement Research, Emily Markovich Morris

Brookings Scholar Lecture Series

As part of the Brookings Scholar Lecture Series, Brookings Mountain West presents a lecture titled "Intentional Conversations: Co-Creating Global Family, School, and Community Engagement Research" by Brookings fellow in global economy and development, Emily Markovich Morris. The more that families, schools, and communities work in partnership, the more students and schools have the support needed to thrive. This lecture explores a school and community-based research study representing education institutions in 14 countries across 6 continents. The project identifies beliefs held by families, educators, and students on the purpose of school, and global barriers to family, school, and community engagement. Surveys …

Identi-Tea Podcast: An Original Play, Karsyn Wilson

Calvert Undergraduate Research Awards

Creative Works Winner for 2019:

Identi-Tea Podcast is an original play based on the word-for-word interviews of three LGBTQ+ students of color from UNLV who explore all the various facets of their identities formatted in the style of a podcast. In various moments during the play, audience members are prompted by the actors to critically engage with the ideas presented.

Healthy Food Options At Dollar Discount Stores Are Equivalent In Quality And Lower In Price Compared To Grocery Stores: An Examination In Las Vegas, Nv, Courtney Coughenour, Timothy J. Bungum, M. Nikki Regalado

Public Health Faculty Publications

Food deserts indicate limited access to and affordability of healthy foods. One potential mediator is the availability of healthy food in non-traditional outlets such as dollar-discount stores, stores selling produce at the fixed $1 price. The purpose of this study was to compare availability, quality, price differences in ‘healthier’ versus ‘regular’ food choices, price per each food item, and summary score in dollar-discount stores to grocery stores in Las Vegas using the NEMS-S; a protocol consisting of three subscores—availability, quality, price of healthier versus regular food, and a summary score. [...] see article for full abstract

Investigation Of Mexican-American Attitudes Towards Pet Dogs, Deisy Landeros, Shelly Volsche

McNair Poster Presentations

From wild wolves to ‘fur babies,’ dogs have transcended their relationships with humans after years of domestication and evolved pet keeping dynamics. This research study explores human and dog relationships through cultural perspectives. My research specifically targets the Mexican-American population in Las Vegas in order to understand diverse attitudes towards dogs. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether there are more positive attitudes towards pet dogs within Mexican communities, or if negative attitudes are still present like they have been in past Mexican traditions. While previous studies have presented increasing dog attachment bonds within Americans, I will instead …

Wide Educational Disparities In Young Adult Cardiovascular Health, Elizabeth M. Lawrence, Robert A. Hummer, Benjamin W. Domingue, Kathleen Mullan Harris

Sociology Faculty Research

Widening educational differences in overall health and recent stagnation in cardiovascular disease mortality rates highlight the critical need to describe and understand educational disparities in cardiovascular health (CVH) among U.S. young adults. We use two data sets representative of the U.S. population to examine educational disparities in CVH among young adults (24–34) coming of age in the 21st century: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005–2010; N= 689) and the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (2007–2008; N=11,200). We employ descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The results show that fewer than one in four young adults had …

Disease Prevalence And Health Determinants In Nevada, Takashi Yamashita, Roberto Millar

Social Health of Nevada Reports

In this report, we use recent data to describe the health of Nevada and update the previous report (Monnat, 2012) on health outcomes and health determinants in the Silver State. Data for this report are mainly obtained from the County Health Rankings, America’s Health Rankings, and the 2016 Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity report.

In line with the previous report by Monnat (2012), we reference Nevada’s disease prevalence in relation to the U.S. average and other states, as well as disease distribution among counties in Nevada. We also compaire health indicators in …

Nonprofits And Philanthropy In Nevada, Jessica Word

Social Health of Nevada Reports

The state of Nevada changed rapidly in recent decades enjoying one of the longest and most sustained population and economic growth periods in the nation followed by a severe period of economic contraction and recession (Brookings Mountain West, 2011). Nearly a decade after the Silver State was hit by the Great Recession, the overall economic indicators for 2018 suggest Nevada’s economy is now on solid ground with steady growth predicted for the near future (Banning 2018). The picture for Nevada’s nonprofit sector is not nearly as clear with some indicators suggesting growth and other suggesting struggle.

This chapter explores the …

Problem Gambling And Treatment In Nevada, Sarah A. St. John, Andrea Dassopoulos, Bo Bernhard

Social Health of Nevada Reports

This chapter defines problem gambling and provides a history and overview of community and state-led initiatives to address the harms associated with problem gambling. We outline research conducted in the state of Nevada in the past two decades, with both adults and teens, and with the general population and the treatment population, specifically. After presenting a demographic snapshot of the population that has received state-subsidized treatment, we discuss some common challenges they face.

The chapter provides data on treatment effectiveness as measured by improvements in the lives and wellbeing of problem gamblers and reduction of their gambling behaviors. Finally, we …

Environment And Sustainability In Nevada, Jennifer Stevens, Genevieve Minter, Robert Futrell

Social Health of Nevada Reports

When the inaugural Earth Day launched the first environmental decade in the U.S. more than forty years ago, protecting our air, water, land and other natural resources seemed a relatively straightforward task. Environmental polluters and exploiters would be brought to heel by tough laws. The U.S. and other industrialized nations responded to quality of life concerns associated with environmental degradation by adopting dozens of major environmental and resource policies and creating new institutions such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to manage environmental programs. Following these national developments, states and local communities began systematic efforts to address environmental problems.

What …

Teen Sexuality And Pregnancy In Nevada, Sandra D. Owens, Marya Shegog

Social Health of Nevada Reports

We begin this report by examining recent data regarding the national and Nevada specific trends in teen sexuality and pregnancy and discuss the socioeconomic determinants and disparities in teen pregnancy. Next, we focus on the national and local policies and programs designed to reduce teen pregnancy and to promote health equity among teenage youth. We conclude with a survey of programs that provide housing, case management, mental health services, life skills, career counseling and teen parenting education in Las Vegas and in Henderson, NV.

Appendix provides information about local and national community resources that readers can use to further their …

Sex Industry And Sex Workers In Nevada, Rachel T. Macfarlane, Celene Fuller, Chris Wakefield, Barbara G. Brents

Social Health of Nevada Reports

Las Vegas has long been known as the symbolic center of the commercial sex industry. Nevada is host to the only legal system of prostitution in the United States. From the early legalization of quickie divorce and marriage to the marketing of its large resorts, sexuality has been a key component of Nevada’s tourist economy. If trends continue, for good or for ill, the sex industry will be an even larger part of the economy in the future.

The sex industry refers to all legal and illegal adult businesses that sell sexual products, sexual services, sexual fantasies, and actual sexual …

Prevalence And Patterns Of Injury-Related Mortality In Nevada, Elizabeth M. Lawrence, Aiemie Pace

Social Health of Nevada Reports

Too many lives are lost to injury in the United States and in Nevada. Nearly 200,000 people in our country die each year from injuries, which is equivalent to one death every three minutes (CDC 2017b). Each of these deaths not only extinguishes a life, but also affects the friends, family, and community of the deceased. And deaths from injury are costly: researchers estimate that costs from fatal injuries exceed $200 billion (CDC 2017b).

Injury refers to damage to the body from some external force, such as from a car crash or a fall, including kinetic, chemical, electrical, thermal or …

Behavioral And Mental Health In Nevada, Ruth Condray, Kyle Devine

Social Health of Nevada Reports

The Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health is responsible for providing public and mental health services to people living in or visiting the State. The Division is organized into four branches: Community Services Branch, Regulatory and Planning Services Branch, Clinical Services Branch and Administrative Services Branch. The Clinical Services Branch provides statewide inpatient, outpatient, and community-based public and mental health services. State employees provide mental health services, and contract providers deliver substance use services. Mental health services are additionally organized by age and geography. Adults with mental disorders are treated statewide through the Division of Public and Behavioral Health. …

Religion And Spirituality In Nevada, Josiah Kidwell, Michael Ian Borer

Social Health of Nevada Reports

Across the world, religion is integral to society insofar it shapes people’s thoughts, behaviors, and interactions. What exactly the term “religion” means, however, is far from clear-cut, as it continues to be a highly charged topic of discussion and debate, a subject that many hold dear and near to their hearts.

There seem to be just as many ways to define religion as there are groups and denominations that claim to hold the key to the “meaning of life” and even solve humanity’s woes. For many people, the word religion evokes shared ideas of church, gatherings, worship, prayer, music, traditions, …

Aging Trends & Challenges In Nevada, Jennifer R. Keene, Jacqueline Ragin

Social Health of Nevada Reports

Societal aging is one of the most important social trends of the 21st century. It affects our political, social, and economic institutions and also the nature of our interpersonal and family relationships (Quadagno 2011). In the coming decades, both as individuals and as a society, we will have to make important decisions regarding the consequences of our aging population. Policy makers, families, businesses, local, state, and federal governments, health care providers will have to meet the growing needs of the older population in the U.S. and in Nevada.

By the year 2020, the percent of the U.S. population over age …

Immigration And Ethnic Diversity In Nevada, Tiffiany Howard, Roman Lewis

Social Health of Nevada Reports

In a few decades, non-Hispanic whites will constitute a majority in the United States. If current demographic trends continue, the Hispanic/Latino population will double or even triple in size by 2050, the Asian population will double, and the African-American population will grow at a faster pace than non-Hispanic whites. The last group is expected to start declining by 2025. These developments promise to bring profound changes to the country’s ethnic and racial landscape.

Nowhere in the U.S. are national population trends more evident than in the state of Nevada. Within the last decade, Nevada has experienced the largest population increase …

Family Life And Divorce In Nevada, Katherine Hertlein Ph.D., Anita Horvath, Julia Seyferth-Smith

Social Health of Nevada Reports

This chapter surveys family life and divorce in Nevada. Its main goal is to provide readers with a broad understanding of marriage patterns and divorce trends in the Silver State. After presenting history and marriage dynamics in the United Sates, the authors review wedding-related expenses and present data illuminating the differences between Nevada and other states, as well as provide cross-county comparisons.

This report discusses legal grounds for divorce in Nevada, the no-fault procedures governing the divorce process, the custody issues facing the divorcing spouses, and the circumstances under which alimony may be due to parties involved in a divorce …

Child Abuse And Neglect In Nevada, Ramona W. Denby-Brinson, Hanna Haran

Social Health of Nevada Reports

Child maltreatment in Nevada reflects the general social, economic, and health conditions within the state and its local communities. This chapter starts with various definitions of child abuse and neglect, focusing on the approach adopted by Nevada legislators and comparing it with competing definitions. Next, this report examines child abuse and neglect rates in Nevada and tracks the progress the state has made toward achieving its goals related to child welfare outcomes, including child protection and safety, child permanency, and child well-being. The discussion then moves to the most promising child welfare intervention practices and approaches. Finally, the chapter outlines …

Addiction And Substance Abuse In Nevada, Andrea Blin

Social Health of Nevada Reports

Substance abuse is an issue with serious health and societal consequences in Nevada and throughout the nation. In 2016, drug overdoses were responsible for approximately 64,000 deaths in the United States, surpassing motor vehicle deaths by 60 percent (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018). Recent attention has been focused on the spike in opioid use and its implications for public health. Nationally, deaths from opioid overdoses increased from 6.1 per 100,000 in 1999 to 19.8 per 100,000 in 2016. Nevada’s experience has mirrored national trends, with the drug overdose death rate in the state increasing from 11.5 per 100,000 in …

Parental Factors That Influence Swimming In Children And Adolescents, Jennifer Pharr, Carol C. Irwin, Richard L. Irwin

Environmental & Occupational Health Faculty Publications

Swimming can be an important source of physical activity across the life-span. Researchers have found that parents influence physical activity behaviors of their children. The purpose of this study was to determine what parental factors influenced the number of days that children swam. Survey respondents (n = 1,909) from six cities across the United States were surveyed at local YMCAs. Children were found to swim significantly more if their parents encouraged them to swim, members of the family knew how to swim and swam with them, or their parents were not afraid of the children drowning or afraid of …

Considering Sport Participation As A Source For Physical Activity Among Adolescents, Jennifer Pharr, Nancy L. Lough

Environmental & Occupational Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND:

Studies have shown participation in sport is lower among girls than boys, decreases as students matriculate through high school, is lowest among Black and Hispanic girls and has a positive relationship with SES. With sport recognized as a contributor to physical activity and health in adolescents, consideration of diminishing rates of participation appears warranted. The purpose of this study was to identify patterns related to differences in self-reported sport participation between genders, ethnic groups, grades and SES.

METHODS:

This study was a cross-sectional, secondary analysis of data collected for a sport interest survey. All students in grades 8-11 attending …

Effectiveness Of A Poverty Simulation In Second Life®: Changing Nursing Student Attitudes Toward Poor People, Nancy Menzel, Laura Helen Willson, Jessica Doolen

Nursing Faculty Publications

Social justice is a fundamental value of the nursing profession, challenging educators to instill this professional value when caring for the poor. This randomized controlled trial examined whether an interactive virtual poverty simulation created in Second Life^® would improve nursing students’ empathy with and attributions for people living in poverty, compared to a self-study module. We created a multi-user virtual environment populated with families and individual avatars that represented the demographics contributing to poverty and vulnerability. Participants (N = 51 baccalaureate nursing students) were randomly assigned to either Intervention or Control groups and completed the modified Attitudes toward …

Commercial Sexual Exploitation Of Teens, Tamieka Meadows, Alexis Kennedy

McNair Poster Presentations

This research explores whether commercially sexually exploited children (CSEC) abuse drugs or face greater histories of abuse than their delinquent peers. This research will evaluate whether girls who are CSEC victims experience more abuse of drugs or experience more physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. The study also explores whether CSEC victims witnessed more abuse than non-CSEC victims. A survey of needs and issues facing delinquent girls was given to 130 girls between the ages of 13 to 18. Questions asked about their drug use, abuse history, and whether they witnessed abuse. This research found that many girls who are CSEC …

Interstate Migration Among Latinos And The Foreign‐Born Latino Population In Nevada, 2007‐2011, Jaewon Lim, John P. Tuman, David F. Damore

Brookings Mountain West Publications

Over the past two decades, Nevada’s foreign‐born Latino population has grown dramatically. As a consequence, by the end of 2011, approximately 42% of Latinos residing in Nevada had emigrated from Latin America, with over three‐fourths of the foreign‐born Latino population originating from Mexico. In part, Nevada has been attractive to Latin American immigrants (and Latinos more generally) because of the relative abundance of jobs in the state that require relatively low levels of skill and educational attainment, as well as the state’s close proximity to Arizona and California. Prior to 2008, Latino employment was concentrated in Nevada’s hospitality, construction, and …

Thinking Like A Scientist: A Thematic Analysis Of Students' Experiences At The Sacnas Research Conference, Rosa Perez, Rachael D. Robnett

McNair Poster Presentations

The underrepresentation of minority students in STEM fields is a concern in today’s society. Research suggests that identity plays a major role in students’ ultimate success within these fields. Using identity theory as a theoretical framework, this study explores the ways in which identity affects the academic careers of underrepresented students in STEM. The participants of this study consisted of undergraduates from various colleges and universities around the United States that attended the SACNAS 2010 research conference. Thematic analysis was used to identify four overarching themes from a set of narrative responses collected after the event. The identified themes include …

Behavioral And Mental Health In Nevada, David Caloiaro, Luana Ritch

Social Health of Nevada Reports

Until recently, the Nevada Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services (MHDS) was the public provider of mental health, substance abuse and developmental services. On July 1, 2013, the delivery of the mental health, substance abuse and developmental services in Nevada was restructured on several levels. With this reorganization, Developmental Services for persons with intellectual disabilities was transitioned into the Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD), while mental health and substance abuse services were integrated to become Behavioral Health. Behavioral Health was then merged with the public health from the State Health Division to form the new Division of Public …

Quality Of Peer Relationships Among Children With Selective Mutism, Marielle Leo, Rachele Diliberto, Christopher A. Kearney

McNair Poster Presentations

The current study examined the quality of peer relationships among children with selective mutism. Previous research suggests that children who are selectively mute have difficulty making friends and have poor outcomes in treatment. Participants were derived from the UNLV Child School Refusal and Anxiety Disorders Clinic. An initial assessment was conducted by the Clinic therapist. The study utilized a demographic form, the Child Behavior Checklist, and the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule—Parent Version. The current study found that children who are selectively mute ranged in the quality of friendships, and this knowledge may be used to help treatment outcome.

Identifying And Describing The Network Of Health, Education, And Social Service Non‐Profit Organizations In Southern Nevada, Shannon M. Monnat, Anna Smedley, Fatma Nasoz

Lincy Institute Reports and Briefs

This brief presents the results of a partnering survey designed to measure the partnering power of each health, education, and social service non‐profit in southern Nevada indicated by the connections between these organizations. The survey documents which organizations engaged in the most partnering, increasing the potential that they could better leverage investments and philanthropy through their social network. University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), United Way of Southern Nevada(UWSN), HELP of Southern Nevada, Catholic Charities, Three Square, the Clark County School District, Goodwill of Southern Nevada, and Opportunity Village consistently ranked highly in terms of overall participation and activity, influence, …

Accommodations For Patients With Disabilities In Primary Care: A Mixed Methods Study Of Practice Administrators, Jennifer Renee Pharr

Environmental & Occupational Health Faculty Publications

Structural barriers that limit access to health care services for people with disabilities have been identified through qualitative studies; however, little is known about how patients with disabilities are accommodated in the clinical setting when a structural barrier is encountered. The purpose of this study was to identify how primary care medical practices in the United States accommodated people with disabilities when a barrier to service is encountered. Primary care practice administrators from the medical management organization were identified through the organization’s website. Sixty-three administrators from across the US participated in this study. Practice administrators reported that patients were examined …

Prevention Of Type 2 Diabetes In Urban American Indian/Alaskan Native Communities: The Life In Balance Pilot Study, Daniel C. Benyshek, Michelle Chino, Carolee Dodge-Francis, Toricellas O. Begay, Hongbin Jin, Celeste Giordano

Environmental & Occupational Health Faculty Publications

Objective: The Life in BALANCE (LIB) study is a pilot translational study modeling the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) intensive lifestyle coaching intervention among an underserved, high-risk population: American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) living in a large urban setting (Las Vegas, Nevada). Research Design and Methods: A total of 22 overweight/obese AI/ANs (age, 39.6 ± 10.4 years; BMI, 34.1 ± 6.3 kg/m2) at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes (HbA1c > 5.4 (36 mmol/mol) < 6.4 percent (46 mmol/mol) participated in the program between April and December, 2011. Study participants completed a 16 week intensive lifestyle coaching intervention. In addition to obtaining qualitative data regarding opportunities and challenges of applying the lifestyle intervention for AI/AN participants in an urban setting, clinical data, including BMI, waist circumference, blood pres- sure, fasting blood glucose, and blood lipids (HDL, LDL and Triglycerides), were collected. Results: Only 12 of the 22 participants remained in the LIB program at the final post-program follow-up. Participants demonstrated significant decreased waist circumference and elevated HDL cholesterol. Triglycerides manifested the highest percentage change without statistical significance. No significant change was ob- served in blood pressure or fasting blood glucose. Conclusions: LIB participants’ improvements in BMI, waist circumference, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides suggests type 2 diabetes prevention programs aimed at urban AI/ANs show significant potential for reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes among this underserved and high risk community. Qualitative data suggest the main challenge for type 2 diabetes prevention specific to this population is a need for improved community outreach strategies.