Community Recruitment of Asian, Latino and African American Older Adults With Depression Symptoms During COVID-19

Recruitment and engagement of racial/ethnic minority older adults in clinical trials is crucial to expand implementation of evidence-based interventions for disability prevention. Public Health measures to counteract COVID-19 pandemic have increased the challenges on reaching this population. This study seeks to comprehensively evaluate a set of recruitment strategies to enroll Latino, Asian and African American older adults with symptoms of depression and anxiety during the first year of a randomized clinical trial. A partnership of three academic sites across the U.S. (NYC, MA and PR) involving several collaborations with community agencies recruited racial/ethnic minority older adults using different strategies involving bilingual interviewers calling from hospital research dataset and community agencies’ list of clients, referrals from primary care providers or psychotherapy waitlist. In this presentation we will report various recruitment and retention data including individual and organizational predictors of successful recruitment as well as challenges across all three sites.

Promoting Sustainable Responses to the US Opioid Epidemic with Community-Academic Partnerships: Qualitative Outcomes from a Statewide Program.

Background: Drug overdose deaths in the United States have continued to increase at an alarming rateThe United States is facing two devastating public health crises– the opioid epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic. Within this context, one of the most ambitious implementation studies in addiction research is moving forward. Launched in May 2019, the HEALing Communities Study (HCS) was developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as part of the Helping to End Addiction Long-termSM Initiative (National Institutes of Health, 2020). The goal for this research was to reduce opioid overdose deaths by 40 % in three years by enhancing and integrating the delivery of multiple evidence-based practices (EBPs) with proven effectiveness in reducing opioid overdose deaths across health care, justice, and community settings. This paper describes the initial vision, goals, and objectives of this initiative; the impact of COVID-19; and the potential for knowledge to be generated from HCS at the intersection of an unrelenting epidemic of opioid misuse and overdoses and the ravishing COVID-19 pandemic.. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration distributed more than $7 billion between January 2016 and June 2020 to address the drug overdose crisis. The funds were intended to support evidence-based responses, including medications for opioid use disorder, and other prevention, treatment and recovery activities. Although the SOR grants support much-needed community level interventions, many of the services they support may not be sustainable. Methods: This paper describes a statewide effort to support local entities through SAMHSA’s State Opioid Response (SOR) grants in Virginia. Our investigators conducted detailed needs assessment exercises with community agencies across the state, and collaboratively developed requests for proposals (RFPs) to sustain their SOR programs. We distributed the RFPs to prospective partners at universities across the state, and provided all responsive proposals to local agencies who selected the proposal most likely to meet their needs. Our investigators also conducted an inductive, three-phase content analysis approach to examine the RFPs submitted to the VHEOC to identify nominal categories of support requested of the academic partners. Results: Our investigators received and coded 27 RFPs from ten community agencies representing four of five regions of the state. We identified six nominal categories of academic support with high inter-coder agreement. The six categories of support requested of the academic partners were program development and support, literature review and best practices, outreach and education, data analysis and interpretation, program evaluation, and grant writing assistance. Several RFPs requested up to three categories of support in a single project. Conclusions: Our analysis of the requests received by the consortium identified several categories of academic support for SOR-grantees addressing the drug overdose crisis. The most common requests related to development and maintenance of supportive collaborations, which existing research has demonstrated is necessary for the long-term sustainability of SOR-funded services. In this way, the academic partners served as a source of support for sustainable SOR-funded programs. As the state opioid response program is implemented nationally, we hope that other states will consider similar models in response to the opioid crisis.

Community-Based Approaches for Mitigating Risk, the Potential for Countering Radicalization, and the Prospects of Gender Mainstreaming

In an ever more complex policing environment, there is increasing pressure on police and community agencies to reduce and remove risks to individuals, families, and neighborhoods. Situation tables and hubs offer a method of collaborative risk mitigation that breaks down siloes, improves communication, reduces crime, and saves money. Due to the similarities in risk types, these tables may also reduce radicalization and extremism apart from traditional enforcement, which can lead to further isolation, resentment, and labelling. Additionally, opportunities are presented for gender mainstreaming and creating more fair access to services for previously disadvantaged groups.

Making working drawings and mockups of the redesign of the Dayak traditional lamin for the preservation of East Kalimantan's indigenous culture

Culture in East Kalimantan has many varieties that are increasingly disappearing if conservation efforts are not carried out both by the community, agencies/institutions, especially in schools/campuses that are in direct contact with matters of culture. One of the cultures that is currently of concern is the culture of the Dayak Kenyah community in the Pampang cultural village, Samarinda. Besides being a cultural heritage, Pampang village is also an asset for tourism and education for local communities and foreign tourists. The condition of the lamin building which is getting old requires special attention for maintenance or design updates while maintaining the philosophical aspects of the local culture. Therefore, this community service activity focuses on developing traditional lamin designs in the Pampang cultural village. The methods used are literacy assessment, drawing/design making, lecture/concept presentation, discussion, and evaluation. The results of this activity are in the form of products and services, working drawings and mockups of the redesign of traditional lamin buildings which are expected to contribute to the preservation of the original culture of East Kalimantan.

Nature of Conflicts and Their Resolution in Korogocho Slums, Nairobi, Kenya

Majority of the households in slums are female headed and have very low incomes. Survival for these women exposes them to illegal income generating activities including prostitution, hawking and making illegal local brews. This results in conflicts not just among themselves for competition over the shared resources but also with the law enforcement agencies. The study sought to establish the nature of conflicts prevalent in Korogocho slum, Nairobi Kenya. The study employed the Liberal Feminism Theory to conceptualize and analyze the nature of conflicts and focused on two ideals, equality and liberty to explain the consequence of the push factors leading women into slum life. The study respondents were women, local administrators and leaders, village elders, clinical staff and officers from Civil Society Organizations selected through simple random sampling procedure and purposive sampling. Data was collected using a standard questionnaires with both open and closed ended items. There was also a focused groups and key informants interviews. Quantitative data was exported to Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) while qualitative data was thematically analyzed. Findings showed that most of the conflicts were: over competition for scarce resources. The conflicts resulted in physical battery. The slum vigilante groups led in the resolution of the conflicts with limited police intervention. Given that the groups were male dominated, women got little justice. The study recommends the need for the government and development partners to build inclusive community agencies to identify and respond to the common problems facing women in the slums instead of leaving the slum residents to solve them on their own.

The Legal and Ethical Care of Patients Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing with an Emphasis on Communication Methods

Background: As the deaf and hard of hearing population has increased over the last few decades, the prevalence of American Sign Language as a person’s primary language has increased with it. However, many optometrists are unsure as to how to approach an exam, and what the law requires to accommodate these patients. This literature review explores the legal and ethical considerations of examining and communicating with patients who are deaf or hard of hearing. Methods: Through literature review, information was gathered and summarized from many high quality publications and legal cases as to how to properly care for and communicate with a patient who is deaf or hard of hearing, with special attention to the legal and ethical requirements of an optometrist. Results: To optimize the health care environment for patients who are deaf or hard of hearing, the most important step is for optometrists to understand local resources, such as sign language interpreters, legal support, and community agencies, that can benefit both the patients and their chair time. This varies depending on what the deaf/hard of hearing patient needs and should be adjusted accordingly. The supplemental use of pictures or diagrams to illustrate tests or procedures may also help solidify communication between patient and doctor but may not be a substitute for “effective communication” as outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Above all, it is important to meet these legal requirements, as well as address the specific needs of the patient, preferably with preparation before the exam. In addition, this information in this literature review is summarized in pamphlet format for distribution to the optometric community. Conclusion: The Americans with Disabilities Act lays out legal guidelines that physicians must follow when it comes to patients who are deaf or hard of hearing, including optometrists. It is important for optometrists to study these requirements and be aware of them, should the situation arise when a patient who is deaf or hard of hearing schedules or presents in a clinical setting.

Lived experiences of Puerto Rican university students displaced to South Florida after Hurricane Maria

The purpose of this study is to document the experiences, services, and programs provided to displaced university students from Puerto Rico and to offer recommendations to educational and community agencies regarding effective integration after a natural disaster. Through in-depth semi-structured interviews, this qualitative phenomenology study consisted of collecting oral histories of six displaced university students from Puerto Rico who relocated to Southwest Florida after Hurricane Maria. The analysis of the data indicated three themes, including (1) trauma after hurricane, (2) challenges and needs during relocation, and (3) conflicting feelings about the homeland and the United States. Although immediate, basic needs were met soon after relocation, in-depth, social-emotional needs, such as dealing with trauma and becoming acculturated in the new culture, remained unanswered. Recommendations are provided to higher education administration, professionals in education, and community agencies.

Developmental disabilities : policies for those at the margins of society

This thesis examines Ontario's disability policies--the Ontario Disability Supports Programs Act, the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and assesses the extent to which the legislation provides supports for individuals with developmental disabilities who have both the desire and the capacity to live independently. It uses content analysis to identify the purported aims of the legislation and assesses outcomes through qualitative interviews with executive directors of community agencies that serve individuals with developmental disabilities. A key theme is that there is a tendency to homogenize disability so that barriers to accessibility are defined with a focus on "visible" physical disabilities with consistently less attention to "invisible" developmental disabilities. It concludes by pointing to appropriate housing, adequate income supports, availability of transportation and appropriate employment as critical areas to facilitate the choice of independent living. These areas are underdeveloped in current legislation.

Developmental disabilities : policies for those at the margins of society

This thesis examines Ontario's disability policies--the Ontario Disability Supports Programs Act, the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and assesses the extent to which the legislation provides supports for individuals with developmental disabilities who have both the desire and the capacity to live independently. It uses content analysis to identify the purported aims of the legislation and assesses outcomes through qualitative interviews with executive directors of community agencies that serve individuals with developmental disabilities. A key theme is that there is a tendency to homogenize disability so that barriers to accessibility are defined with a focus on "visible" physical disabilities with consistently less attention to "invisible" developmental disabilities. It concludes by pointing to appropriate housing, adequate income supports, availability of transportation and appropriate employment as critical areas to facilitate the choice of independent living. These areas are underdeveloped in current legislation.