Innovative Program Ideas Sought

1973 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Vitale ◽  
Lauren Byma ◽  
Evan Podolak ◽  
Zhaoyu Wang ◽  
Shengnan Sun ◽  
...  

Suicide is a major public health problem in the US, specifically among Veterans. The Resilience and Wellness Center (RWC) is an innovative program focused on suicide prevention. The RWC targets vulnerable veterans by augmenting traditional treatments with complementary and integrative health interventions. One critical problem in suicide prevention is lack of engagement in traditional mental health programs, with stigma an oft-cited barrier. The RWC, an alternative paradigm, attempts to break through this barrier by addressing isolation through promoting group camaraderie and accountability, integral to the success of the program. This innovative program provides a unique opportunity to enhance life skills through Whole Health intervention, including: meditation, yoga, music therapy, exercise/dance etc. Specifically, the RWC is a four-week outpatient program, where admission is determined via hospital-wide consults. With a focus on Measurement Based Care, Veterans complete baseline and post-program assessments such as the Personal Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) and scales measuring: depression, hopelessness, sleep quality, and diet & nutrition. Data for 9 cohorts to date demonstrate significant improvements, with large treatment effects as evidenced by reduction in PHQ-9 totals and feelings of depression and hopelessness, especially for Veterans with histories of suicide attempts or ideation. Overall, Veterans found the RWC program experience favorable, with > 98% completing. The RWC can be rapidly deployed in the VHA by drawing on existing hospital services and clinics. According to participants, the RWC engages Veterans in building a partnership to pave the way towards a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bing Yu Li

Abstract Background and Objectives Aging and deterioration mark a new phase in many older adults’ life, highlighting the importance of creativity and imagination. This article introduces the implementation of an innovative program, Play Intervention for Dementia (PID), at a nursing home in Hong Kong, with emphasis on its contribution to the conceptual framework for understanding selfhood of older adults with dementia. Research Design and Methods As a community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) project, this study democratized knowledge production by integrating voices of practitioners with diverse backgrounds through video-based methods. Results Play, as an activity replete with free expressions and impulsive interactions, is an ideal realm for exploring and establishing selfhood with older adults with dementia. It has been found that “aesthetic self”, an alternative self emerging from immediate aesthetic experience and carrying transformative power within the caring relationship, is a necessary element of self-construction in life with dementia. Discussion and Implications Integrating theories and practice, this framework provides a new lens for understanding and responding to selfhood, disease, and life.


2009 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 4-10
Author(s):  
Candice P. Boyd ◽  
Evan Kemp ◽  
Toula Filiadis ◽  
Damon Aisbett ◽  
Martin Markus

Sense of belonging to a community offers protection against depression (Glover et al. 1998); however, rural adolescents with mental health issues often feel isolated, lonely and socially excluded (Aisbett et al. 2007). This is exacerbated by the stoic attitudes and fear of social stigma which prevent many rural adolescents from engaging with mainstream mental health programs (Boyd et al. 2006). With this knowledge, we aimed to engage atrisk rural adolescent males who would otherwise not seek psychological help in an innovative program which would link them to a broader sporting community. The project also aimed to strengthen leaders of this community to act as mentors for these young people. In this article, we describe the development and delivery of the mentoring component of this innovative program. The outcomes for the youth involved in this program are described in the subsequent article by Kemp and colleagues in the next edition of Children Australia.


2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 255-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Menchaca ◽  
Ellen S. Hoffman

Current conventional wisdom may perceive that higher education is outdated and maybe even likely to collapse. Online education is often predicted to replace brick-and-mortar campuses with systems providing students access to world-class learning via smartphones and tablets. Many private and commercial ventures are embracing such concepts. However, in the race to implement large-scale models, significant key elements such as understanding that learning can be social, affective, personal, and even cultural may be missing. Thus, creative yet research-based programs at the university level are needed. While it is true that existing university structures might inhibit the implementation of radical programs, there are opportunities where such innovation can be offered. In the case of the Department of Educational Technology at the University of Hawaii, an option for a program at the certificate level not necessarily leading to a traditional degree was provided. The certificate option provided an opportunity to explore entrepreneurial models while also incorporating what we understand about learning, the brain, and newer technologies. This paper describes the circumstances and approach that led to the creation of an innovative program that still fit within current university structures.


1992 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 293-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Farber ◽  
Mary Ellen Denenberg ◽  
Susan Klyman ◽  
Patricia Lachman

This article describes the Philadelphia School District’s approach for providing an intensive level of language treatment by combining aspects of the traditional itinerant pull-out method with instruction received in the classroom. The speech-language pathologist assumes the roles of co-teacher, consultant, and direct treatment provider. This innovative program allows flexibility of programming and adjusts the level of effort to individual and classroom needs. Students with moderate to severe speech-language disorders are selected on a system-wide basis for this level of service. Initial resistance to the presence of speech-language pathologists in classrooms eases as students’ speech-language performance shows marked improvement. Preliminary data analysis indicates that the Language Resource Room model is a successful adjunct to traditional treatment modes.


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