2379 research outputs found
Sort by
School Participatory Budgeting: A Civic Education Model for Critical Youth Empowerment
Get PDFYoung people\u27s potential for meaningful participation in school has yet to be fully realized. They are constrained to low levels of involvement and remain, for the most part, controlled in most decision-making environments. Youth engagement models all strive to engage youth fully, but only some do. A School Participatory Budgeting (SPB) class at a New England High School offers a model for actualizing youth engagement at a critical level. Through SPB, youth demonstrate six dimensions of critical youth empowerment (1) a welcoming environment, (2) meaningful participation, (3) equitable power-sharing between youth and adults, (4) engagement in critical reflection on interpersonal and sociopolitical processes, (5) participation to affect change, and (6) integrated individual- and community-level empowerment. This study conducted an evaluation of secondary data made available from the SPB program in order to assess youth empowerment. Findings determined that youth involved in SPB demonstrate improvements in civic knowledge, participatory competencies, and have improved perceptions of individual and community-level empowerment. The findings make a case for critical youth empowerment through SPB
Experiential Education: The Impact of Learning by Doing
Get PDFThere is a large emphasis on keeping students engaged as they learn and grow and the importance of connecting them to opportunities that provide real world applications. Experiential education is an alternative pedagogy in which the student engages with the broader community and collaborates with the educator who guides them through the experience, observations, and reflection process. This capstone project was an online professional development workshop designed for new and experienced educators. It is centered on teaching youth and young adults the relevance, components, and impact of incorporating experiential learning as part of their education. The agenda offered support, research and resources on how to work with youth to help them explore and define their beliefs so they can frame their purpose as it relates to taking action towards transformative change in their communities and society at large. A mixed method research strategy was utilized through the workshop introductions and icebreakers, activities and debriefs, and post workshop evaluation surveys. The qualitative and quantitative responses from participants were analyzed as to what they got out of the workshop. Post workshop evaluation data resulted in a high level of interest in learning more about experiential education and the positive outcomes it produces within students\u27 academic and personal lives to further engagement and success within their community. The implications of not pursuing more training on this topic could lead to less engaged learners and unempowered educators that do not see the societal and personal benefit of becoming engaged, activists of change within their communities
To Be Heard and Seen: Students of Color Call for a Sense of Belonging and Support in Higher Education
Get PDFThis research delves into the policies, procedures, and resources that higher institutions carry to best support their students of color. The support systems in this research centers on academic performance, cultural belonging, financial and mental health support of students of color. Many institutions concentrate on a general one-size-fits-all system that can be counterproductive because not all students are the same and their needs differ. This issue is important because students of color do not feel seen or heard at predominantly white institutions. This case study was created to find the weaknesses, strengths, and improvements on how higher institutions are best supporting students of color. The methodology that was used was interviewing two staff members each from Hampshire College and Merrimack College in Massachusetts through a questionnaire they responded to that was based on identity and cultural belonging. As a result, I found that students of color are best supported in higher education through academic advising, raising funds for campus programming, and cultivating cultural awareness at their higher institution. The conclusion is that higher education supports students of color by on campus programming but needs to develop stronger inclusivity tools for students of color to feel like they belong which is the step needed to move to get better results and higher retention
The Implementation of Harm Reduction Strategies in Eating Disorder Treatment: A Systematic Literature Review
Get PDFEating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates of all mental illnesses (NEDA, 2021). The rate of relapse among patients who receive traditional eating disorder treatment is significant (Berends et al., 2016). The treatment landscape for eating disorders has historically been rooted in abstinence based models. According to Williams et al. (2010) this often overlooks and minimizes the complexity of individual experiences and continues to perpetuate stigma. Despite significant advancements in research and clinical interventions, current models frequently fall short in addressing the multifaceted nature of these complex disorders. However, evidenced based research and clinical practice shows the potential efficacy and ethical imperative of integrating harm reduction principles into treatment approaches (Janse van Rensburg, 2020). This paper critically examines the shortcomings of traditional treatment approaches, highlights their limitations in fostering sustainable recovery and mitigating harm. Through a comprehensive review of current literature, the prevailing emphasis on abstinence-based frameworks and its implications for patients\u27 autonomy, stigma, and long-term outcomes are explored. A study done by Andersen et al. (2021) revealed that there are five main themes as to why people do not access traditional eating disorder treatment: (1) Disagreement on treatment needs, (2) rigid standard procedures, (3) failure to listen, (4) deprivation of identity, and (5) mistrust and fear. Moreover, the inherent flaws in the dichotomous view of success and failure within the context of eating disorder treatment, as researched by Leavy et al. (2011) underscores the importance of embracing a more nuanced understanding of progress. The conceptual framework of harm reduction within the context of eating disorders, emphasizes its compatibility with a patient-centered, holistic approach to care (Westmoreland & Mehler, 2016). Furthermore, there are potential benefits of harm reduction strategies which include promoting engagement, reducing shame, and enhancing long-term outcomes (Khan et al., 2022) . Through an analysis of current practices and emerging evidence, this paper advocates for a paradigm shift towards a harm reduction-oriented model of care in the treatment of eating disorders, ultimately prioritizing the well-being and autonomy of each individual on their recovery journey. The results of this systematic literature review demonstrates that there is a paucity of evidence related to the application of harm reduction interventions when they are applied to the treatment of eating disorders. Further research studies are needed on this subject in order to assess outcomes
Wiping Out: Living Diaper to Diaper
Get PDFDiaper need is a prevalent issue for families with young children throughout the country. One in two families in the United States, cannot afford enough diapers to keep their child clean, comfortable, and healthy (National Diaper Bank, 2021). Given the limited resources within the community and the absence of adequate safety net programs, families are vulnerable to health and social disparities. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program (WIC), and Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) are three government assistance programs, designed to help low-income families. This project looks at how lawmakers can utilize public benefits to support families with diaper needs. My recommendation calls for financial assistance for diapers to be included in SNAP and WIC benefits. A stipend of $100 a month per child would be reasonable for families to afford diapers. I would also recommend funding for diaper distribution programs that provide diaper assistance for families who may be experiencing financial hardship but do not qualify for SNAP and WIC benefits
Alternative health groups on social media, misinformation, and the (de) stabilization of ontological security
No full textThrough 19 semistructured interviews, we explore why people join and participate in “alternative health” Facebook groups and Reddit subs. Participation in these groups creates an ontological circle where people’s feelings of fear, desperation, and distrust in the systems and actors that comprise our government, health, and news systems inspire alternative information and support-seeking in these groups and subs. While participation assuages those feelings and stabilizes people’s sense of ontological security, it also destabilizes it, reinforcing and legitimizing feelings of fear, desperation, and distrust. This circle contributes to favorable receptive conditions for spreading unproven and dangerous health misinformation. We argue that it will be difficult to address misinformation (1) without considering and rectifying people’s often valid reasons for feelings of fear, desperation, distrust, and their desires for information and (2) without considering the relationships between alternative health social media groups and subs and the (de)stabilization of ontological security
Tolle Lege Works Published in 2024
Get PDFBibliography of Tolle Lege works published by members of the Merrimack College Community in 2024. Works include journal articles, newspaper articles, books and book chapters or sections, reports, book reviews, conference papers, web articles, and published interviews.https://scholarworks.merrimack.edu/tolle_bib/1007/thumbnail.jp