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Photovoice 2.0: A Research Framework for the Digital Generation
No full textThe purpose of this dissertation is to conduct a descriptive case study research that adapted the research framework, Photovoice 2.0 with select doctoral students from Algeria. Due to the immense number of young adults digitally communicating images through social media, it is vital to develop competencies in visual, media, and privacy literacy. Photovoice 2.0 study is deeply rooted in qualitative approach to address the needs of the new media generation. The new framework provided insights into the lives of six Algerian university students. Using Instagram, the participants showcased and addressed issues in Algerian society such as, public infrastructure for wheelchair accessibility, environmental pollution, conditions of public-school housing, and positive aspects of soccer. The participants expressed Photovoice 2.0 as an empowering experience and will continue to use this method in their future academic professions. Additionally, the participants showed positive gains in visual media and privacy literacies. Future implications discuss the various contexts Photovoice 2.0 could be used in universities or public schools to engage students and raise awareness about important issues
Water and Wastewater Systems: An Appraisal of the Cyber Risks and Threats Facing this Critical Infrastructure
No full textThe stability and national security of our country is very strongly correlated with the robustness of our water and wastewater systems. The health, well-being, technological advances, and prosperity of our nation is intricately tied to our country’s ability to prevent water-borne, communicable pathogens, and associated diseases, protecting our precious natural resources, and in general to maintaining and protecting our flourishing natural environment. It is self-evident, therefore, that we pay utmost attention to the threats and risks that the systems encapsulating the water and wastewater treatment facilities face on a regular basis. The economic disasters that befall our country as a result of an ill-secured water infrastructure are catastrophic and the costs dire. Given the myriad avenues of attack on this critical infrastructure such as denial of service, injection of noxious chemicals, subverting SCADA systems, our broad goal in this project is to conduct an appraisal of the cyber risks and threats facing this critical national infrastructure
Social Media Effects on School Safety
Get PDFThis white paper addresses how social media applications pose a danger to school safety when used by students inappropriately. The topic is relevant because parents send their children to school to learn, and they cannot learn if they are in danger or have serious distractions in the school environment. Parents are the individuals who primarily purchase the devices which students use to access social media and therefore their role in their student�s inappropriate use of social media cannot be diminished. Appropriate measures must be taken to reduce the potential for any harm to school safety. The increase in school threats and violence fueled by social media is a significant concern for all stakeholders. Students� social media should be monitored by parents, school administration, and law enforcement. One primary aspect of the increase in school threats may be attributed to the fact that social media makes it easy for individuals to hide behind the threats they make. Social media threats also contribute to the increase in aggressive behaviors and cyberbullying. Another aspect of social media impacting school safety is the increase in law enforcement resources and costs. The majority of school threats turn out to be a hoax, but they must all be investigated until it is determined the threats are not credible. The amount of manpower needed to adequately respond to these school threats is not realistic and it is a costly and labor-intensive task for many school districts and law enforcement agencies. The conclusions drawn in this paper lead to the utilization of artificial intelligence to combat social media threats in conjunction with ensuring parents are accountable for at least completing frequent checks with their children about what they are posting.LEMI
Law Enforcement Professionals' Off-Duty Use of CBD and CBD Products
Get PDFThe criminalization and legalization of marijuana and other derivatives of the cannabis sativa plant, for medical and recreational use, has changed the landscape of politics, society, and employment laws and regulations. The criminalization of marijuana and similar products has roots in fear of immigration and will remain federally illegal in 2024. Federal law prohibits the sale, use, and possession of marijuana under the commerce clause. More and more states have either fully legalized marijuana or have relaxed regulations concerning its medical use. With regulations becoming more relaxed, more and more people are partaking in the use of marijuana or other derivatives of the cannabis sativa plant. One of the main active ingredients of cannabis sativa is cannabidiol (CBD), which is a non-addictive and non-psychotropic component that may provide physical and mental benefits like reduced pain and inflammation and reduced depression (Grinspoon, 2021). Law enforcement should create policies addressing employees� off-duty use of CBD and CBD products. Even with such policies in place, employees may choose not to use CBD or CBD products; however, allowing those employees who wish to use them may provide both the employee and employer direct benefits. Additional benefits from this policy may include increasing the potential applicant pool and a reduction in disqualified applicants due to drug use.LEMI
Policy Development: Mitigating Mental Health-Related Issues in Police Officers
Get PDFLaw enforcement officers are part of a unique profession devoted to service to their respective communities. Recent years have mandated mental health awareness training to combat the tremendous need for mental health services amongst the citizens we serve. However, the law enforcement profession has failed to recognize a growing deficiency within its rank and file. This deficiency is the mental health wellness of the officers graciously entering a life of service to our communities. Failure to address our officers� mental health issues leads to poor community service, loss of manpower, and potentially devastating lawsuits for the agency. In 2019, according to a USA New Web Article, at least 228 law enforcement officers succumbed to their mental health issues and took their own lives (Shannon, 2020). This statistic, according to the Officer Down Memorial web page, far exceeds police officer line of duty deaths for the same year, which was 171 (The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc, 2020). Because of this growing epidemic, agency administrators and policy developers need to take a strong look at current policies or develop new policies, related to mental health services and wellness programs for their officers. Policy implementation is necessary to effectively mitigate mental health distress in officers and provide for an efficient and healthier working environment. This paper is to show the necessity that departments should develop and implement policies to help mitigate mental health-related issues in police officers.LEMI
Latino Osteopathic Medical Student Audio Series – Stephen Alvarado
No full textBridging Horizons: Audio Series on a medical career journey for undergraduate students with Stephen Alvarado. There is an undisputable need to increase Hispanic diversity in medical education and healthcare. Discover the inspiring world of medicine through "Bridging Horizons," an audio series designed to empower and guide Hispanic undergraduate students on their path to medical school. Delve into the personal stories and triumphs of Hispanic medical students, giving insights into their cultural perspectives on how to start the journey to becoming a medical professional. This audio series highlights the cultural attributes of medical students and their successful stories from navigating fears and uncertainties to initiating their medical career path up to their school’s admission. "Bridging Horizons" is a platform that celebrates the resilience, achievements, and contributions of Hispanic individuals in the initial journey to becoming medical professionals. Join us in fostering a supportive community for Hispanic prospective med students, offering practical advice on engagement to break down barriers, bridge cultural gaps, and provide a roadmap for aspiring Hispanic medical professionals. Tune in for a roadmap to success, from undergraduate studies to medical school admission.SHSU College of Osteopathic Medicin
Toward a More Effective Policy Model for Data Breach Reporting in the Texas Healthcare System
Get PDFHospital data breaches have been escalating in recent years commanding the attention of policymakers. In addition to putting healthcare facilities in financial and legal jeopardy, data breaches undermine the healthcare system by threatening public trust. In 2023, Texas legislators amended the Business and Commerce Code to adjust data breach reporting practices in response to this growing threat. This amendment introduces new reporting requirements that impact healthcare facilities in several ways. The aim of this technical paper is to provide policymakers and healthcare administrators an introduction to the issue of data breaches and suggest additional improvements to this law. In what follows, I will provide a brief overview of the background and significance of data breaches in the healthcare system, define the types of data breaches that most commonly impact the healthcare system and review existing regulatory policies governing data breach responses. I will then provide an overview of Senate Bill 768 and suggest several ways that future legislation can strengthen reporting and response requirements in the future
Registered Play Therapists' Experiences Working with Spanish-Speaking Children and Parents
Get PDFThe Hispanic population is continually growing in the United States (U.S. Census, 2020). Yet, even with this growth, Latino children and adults are minimally represented in receiving mental health counseling (CDC, 2020). To holistically understand the Hispanic population and culture, it is important to recognize the predominant language of this group, which is often Spanish. Currently, the Spanish language is the number one non-English language used in the United States (Dietrich & Hernandez, 2022). However, even with these statistics, research on counseling for Spanish speakers is lacking. Even more so, research on play therapy with Spanish-speaking children is rare.
A potential problem arises from the absence of research regarding the connection between Registered Play Therapists (RPTs) and Spanish-speaking clients. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe registered play therapists’ cultural relational experiences when working with Spanish-speaking children and their parents. A new addition to the registered play therapist (RPT) standards was recently implemented by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) in 2023 to require hours of diverse education and training for play therapy on cultural and social diversity topics (Association for Play Therapy [APT], 2023). This study aims to understand what practices are beneficial for RPTs working with this population in hopes of adding to counselor educators’ play therapy education and supervision. The research questions guiding this study are (1) What are the cultural relational experiences of registered play therapists when working with Spanish-speaking children in play therapy sessions? And (2) What are the cultural relational experiences of registered play therapists when working alongside Spanish-speaking parents to guide treatment?
A phenomenological approach will be used to encapsulate the experiences of registered play therapists working with Spanish-speaking child clients and their parents. Individuals will be selected to participate in the study if they are registered play therapists, licensed professional counselors in Texas, utilize child-centered play therapy, and work with Spanish-speaking clients and their parents. The researcher hopes the results will help current and future play therapists or any mental health professionals working with Spanish-speaking children and parents better understand this experience
The Lived Experiences of Millennials with Student Loan Debt
No full textThis dissertation investigates the lived experiences of Millennials with student loan debt, a growing issue as college enrollment and tuition costs rise. Despite the significant impact of this debt crisis, research on this demographic's experiences is limited. This study fills this gap, aiming to equip mental health counselors with a deeper understanding of the mental health challenges faced by these individuals and to develop strategies addressing the financial aspects of their anxiety and depression.
The research, grounded in cognitive learning theory and cultural life script theory, explores motivations for higher education, financial stress, financial literacy, and the effects of student loan debt on major life events, anxiety, depression, and help-seeking behavior. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, revealing five major themes and six sub-themes that encapsulate their experiences.
The study underscores the importance of understanding these experiences, given Millennials' significant role in the US economy. The insights can enhance counselors' understanding of this population's needs, guiding effective counseling sessions, and informing targeted interventions, thereby enriching mental health counseling strategies
FORAGING SOURCES OF POLLEN FOR EAST TEXAS MELISSODES SPECIES (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE: EUCERINI)
Get PDFMelissodes is a genus of native bees found throughout east Texas. Their presence
on plants found in the region is understudied and could reveal novel or important plant
pollinator interactions. This study explores the dietary range of Melissodes species across
east Texas and creates a list of plants utilized in pollen collection. To accomplish this,
specimens of Melissodes were collected from areas across east Texas and taken from institute collections in order to extract pollen samples from their bodies. Pollens were then examined using a scanning electron microscope in order to be identified. Many of the Melissodes species examined exhibit generalist foraging tendencies as well as having a direct preference for pollen of the Asteraceae family