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Pathways and Barriers: Understanding Perinatal Substance Use Disorder Systems in Kansas
No full textSubstance use disorder (SUD) during pregnancy and the postpartum period is an increasingly significant contributor to maternal and infant health challenges in Kansas. Between 2016 and 2022, the Kansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee (KMMRC) found that SUD contributed to more than one in four pregnancy-associated deaths, with all overdose deaths occurring in the postpartum period (Kansas Department of Health and Environment [KDHE], 2023). Accidental overdose was a leading cause, and substance use rarely occurred in isolation. Mental health conditions, including suicide and intimate partner violence (IPV), often overlapped, compounding the risks.
These deaths were not inevitable. Many of these pregnancy-associated deaths could have been prevented through earlier identification, treatment engagement, and stronger continuities of care. The underlying risk factors, such as untreated behavioral health conditions and fragmented postpartum services, were visible and, in many cases, addressable. Their persistence reflects missed opportunities across health, behavioral health, and child welfare systems. Kansas has made meaningful progress in shifting toward family-centered, trauma-informed care. However, significant barriers remain. Gaps in rural access, workforce capacity, harm reduction, and culturally responsive care continue to limit consistent, high-quality outcomes for pregnant and parenting people affected by SUD.
This report outlines five strategic priorities, each grounded in statewide data, lived experience, and practice-based insights: (1) Upstream identification and prevention; (2) Expand flexible, evidence-based care across the perinatal continuum; (3) Harm reduction and postpartum continuity; (4) Family-centered child welfare and court partnerships; and (5) Data-driven quality and sustainable financing. This report is designed for policymakers, health care professionals, community leaders, and advocates who influence perinatal and behavioral health systems in Kansas. It distills complex data and evidence into actionable insights, showing where early intervention, family-centered support, and cross-system coordination can make the greatest impact. Readers will find practical examples of promising practices, gaps that demand attention, and policy opportunities that can reduce preventable deaths, improve maternal and infant health, and strengthen families. Investing in high-quality perinatal care not only protects mothers and babies today, it also helps prevent childhood adversity, fosters positive early life experiences, and creates healthier, more resilient communities for generations of Kansans to come
Strength and Detailing of Beams with High-Strength Headed and Hooked Stirrups
No full textThirty-nine large-scale reinforced concrete beams were tested under monotonic three-point bending to investigate the use of stirrups with mechanical anchors (heads) or hooks and Grade 80 (550) reinforcing steel. Grade 60 and 80 (420 and 550) No. 3, No. 4, and No. 6 (0.375, 0.5, and 0.75 in. [10, 13, and 19 mm]) bars were used as stirrups, which were spaced at one-quarter to one-half of the member effective depth. Other variables included beam depth (12 to 48 in. [310 to 1220 mm]), beam width (24 and 42 in. [620 and 1070 mm]), longitudinal reinforcement strain corresponding to the nominal beam shear strength (nominally 0.0011, 0.0017, or 0.018), and concrete compressive strength (4000 and 10,000 psi [28 and 69 MPa]). Headed stirrups that: a) engage (are in contact with) the longitudinal bars; or b) have a side cover of at least six headed bar diameters and at least one longitudinal bar within the side cover, produce equivalent shear strengths as hooked stirrups, and both details allow stirrups to yield. The results affirm that beams designed for the same Vn with either Grade 60 or 80 (420 or 550) stirrups exhibit equivalent shear strengths. A nominal shear strength based on a concrete contribution equal to 2√ fcbwd may be unconservative when ρ1fytm < 85 psi (0.59 MPa) in members with a/d = 3, h ≥ 36 in. (910 mm), ρ < 1.5%, and no skin reinforcement
How Nonprofits Communicate Opportunities and Digital Divide amid Virtual Volunteering
No full textThis is the paper from a presentation given at the 111th Annual Convention of National Communication Association held in Denver, CO on 11/22/2025.Virtual volunteering is identified as a flexible and accessible form of civic engagement, capable of expanding participation across age, geography, and ability (Tommasi et al., 2025). Yet such assumptions may obscure how the framing of participation itself shapes who feels invited or excluded from these opportunities (Cox et al., 2018; Silva et al., 2018). This two-part study investigates the communicative dimensions of the digital divide in online volunteering, with a particular focus on older adults (Mukherjee, 2011). Study 1 examines how nonprofit organizations and volunteer recruitment platforms communicate about virtual volunteering opportunities. Drawing on framing theory (Entman, 1993) and communication accommodation theory (Giles, 2016), the study analyzes 229 virtual volunteering messages, including online recruitment messages from 17 platforms (e.g., VolunteerMatch, AARP). Using thematic analysis method, this study explores how communication features such as identity signaling, role descriptions, and participation expectations construct the “ideal volunteer” and shape perceptions of fit and access through (non)accommodative language. Preliminary findings suggest that while many platforms highlight flexibility, only a few directly address digital literacy, onboarding support, impact, and the inclusion of older adults. Study 2 will build on these findings to explore how older adults interpret and respond to such framings and language. Using focus groups and semi-structured interviews, I will examine how older adults perceive virtual volunteering messages and how these perceptions influence their sense of accessibility and motivations. Together, the current research reframes the digital divide as a communicative phenomenon, with implications for nonprofit message framing and older adults’ volunteering engagement
Kansas Connecting Communities Annual Report 2024–2025
No full textKansas Connecting Communities (KCC) recognizes the need for improved systems of care that support timely access to quality behavioral health care for all perinatal women in Kansas. KCC empowers physicians, clinicians, and other care professionals to identify and address perinatal behavioral health conditions. This annual report provides an overview of KCC services and supports, measures of progress, and recommendations for program impact
Kansas 2025 Title V MCH Needs Assessment: 2026 to 2030 Priorities and State Action Plan
No full textThe MCH Needs Assessment provides a comprehensive roadmap for improving maternal and child health outcomes in Kansas. By addressing health disparities, workforce shortages, behavioral health challenges, and social determinants of health, the Title V MCH Program aims to create a more equitable and effective system of care. Expanded access to healthcare services, enhanced care coordination, and data-driven programmatic efforts will help improve the overall well-being of women, infants, children, and adolescents across the state
Sacred Practices, Secular Texts: Community and connection at the Midwest Data Librarian Symposium
No full textThese slides were presented as the closing reflection at the 2025 Midwest Data Librarian Symposium, held at Michigan State University and hosted by Michigan State University, Wayne State University, and the University of Michigan on October 20-22, 2025. For more information about the Symposium, see https://mw-data-lib-symposium.github.io/website/.The Midwest Data Librarian Symposium traditionally closes with a reflective, contemplative session. This iteration of the closing reflection takes the opportunity to onboard newer Symposium attendees to the practice of offering and engaging in reflection in a professional setting. This reflection examines applying sacred reading practices to secular texts for community-building and connection. Attendees applied the sacred reading practice of Florilegia to phrases and ideas from the Symposium captured by attendees, who submitted these "sparklets" via an anonymous web form
Imputation of ancient human genomes from under-represented Native American populations
No full textThis is the poster from a presentation given at the American Society of Human Genetics held in Boston, MA on 10/16/25.Historically, imputation to infer missing genotypes in genetic datasets was constricted to use on contemporary genetic data. This limitation was based on two concerns: the inferring of past genetic diversity using contemporary reference panels and the very low sequencing coverage of most ancient genomes. However, studies in recent years have shown that established imputation methods are suitable for ancient samples with depth of coverage as low as 0.5-0.75x, when using the 1000 Genomes Project cohort as a reference panel. This panel has been used to successfully impute genomes from less represented populations, including Native Americans. There is, however, a limited number of Native American individuals, from particular geographic regions, in this panel (n=347). With this limited number, it is possible that some imputation targets are significantly diverged from the haplotypes present in the panel. To explore the suitability of genotype imputation upon targets with genetic ancestry sources not well-represented by modern reference variation data, we considered several approaches for genotype imputation and phasing (including GLIMPSE) with the 1000 Genomes Project Phase 3 reference panel. In particular, we describe the outcomes of this approach using an ancient genome, sequenced initially to 11X autosomal depth but then resampled at lower depths, from a 770–380cal BP Unangax individual, resampled at lower depths of coverage. The populations of the Aleutian Islands have a distinct population history from the Central and South American groups that make up the Native American component of the 1000 Genomes Project. To mitigate genotype missingness, we determine the value of using additional reference panels, such as the imputation server provided by TOPMed. We also test the power of using a smaller reference panel created from less genetically diverged populations. We present additional steps researchers can take to address this concern and improve imputation accuracy when working with genetically under-represented groups
AI Advocates: Empowering Teachers with AI Tools & Strategies
No full textThis is Season 1 - Episode 1 of the AI Advocates podcasts created by the FLITE Stem Center. The purpose of AI Advocates is to provide podcasts dedicated to helping educators integrate artificial intelligence into their classrooms to save time, enhance learning, and provide more equitable educational opportunities. Hosted by Dr. Lisa Dieker and Dr. Maggie Mosher from the Achievement & Assessment Institute at the University of Kansas, these podcasts offer tips, tools, and strategies for teachers looking to incorporate AI into their teaching practices safely and effectively.In the debut episode of AI Advocates, Dr. Lisa Dieker and Dr. Maggie Mosher introduce their podcast, aimed at helping teachers integrate AI into education effectively. They discuss their backgrounds, personal motivations for advocating AI in education, and their shared passion for equity and accessibility, particularly for students with disabilities.
The hosts outline the three main types of AI:
ANI (Artificial Narrow Intelligence): Task-specific AI, like Siri or Zoom.
AGI (Artificial General Intelligence): AI with human-like reasoning and learning capabilities.
ASI (Artificial Super Intelligence): A future AI that surpasses human intelligence.
They emphasize the benefits of AI in saving time for educators while acknowledging concerns like privacy, bias, and misinformation. Future episodes will provide practical AI tools, strategies, and safety guidelines to empower teachers
Out of Many, One?: The Heterogeneity of the Asian American Experience
No full textThese are the slides from a presentation given at Society for Personality and Social Psychology on 02/21/2025.The present research is the first to examine how various Asian American groups identify with the nation. Past intergroup relations research on how U.S. minorities identify with the nation have included black, white, and Latinx participants while the inclusion of Asian Americans has often been homogenized without distinction (Sidanius et al.,1997; Molina et al.,2015). This project addresses the gap by highlighting the distinctions between the subgroups which compose the Asian American category (Lee, 2015). We perform secondary data analyses on the 2016 National Asian American Survey Pre-Election Survey to examine if national identification varies across Asian American subgroups. Results demonstrate significant differences on levels of national identification between Asian American subgroups whether analyses focus on between region group differences (e.g., South Asian v. Southeast Asian) or within region group differences (e.g., Japanese v. Chinese). Our findings suggest heterogeneity is the norm regarding the Asian American experience and questions of national identity. We explore the implications for national identity and the drawbacks to homogenizing the Asian American experience
Where in the orbe terrarum were the Eastern Roman Frontiers of the Early Principate?
No full textThese are the slides from a presentation given at 121st Annuals Classical Association of the Middle West and South Meeting on 03/20/2025.The frontiers dividing the Roman empire from Parthia and Armenia are difficult to locate, since it is largely agreed that rivers like the Rhine, Danube, or Euphrates cannot truly define a frontier in the way that they are often said to do (Isaac 1992: 401, Whittaker 1994: 73). Yet, in ancient texts, it is clear that such geographical features played a significant role in delineating Roman territory. This discrepancy stems from the modern focus on the precise, physical state of the frontier, rather than the way frontiers were conceptualized and represented in the ancient sources. Even if Roman authors could not accurately reflect the realities of their borders, they exhibit a theoretical understanding that is fundamental to their idea of empire (Braund 1996, Broderson 2006).
In my paper, I reassess the value of Roman perspectives on the eastern frontier. I will use Tacitus’ texts to demonstrate the belief that geography, and rivers especially, were the primary factor in identifying the location of the Roman border. In this context, we will see how the Euphrates River functions as a clear point of division between Roman territory and the Parthians. In Armenia, however, there is no similarly prominent natural boundary, and thus the Romans themselves struggled to conceptualize its frontiers. I will show how this absence of a clear geographical boundary between Rome and Armenia contributes to Tacitus’ depiction of the political confusion in Armenia as the origin of the turmoil and deterioration of Roman hegemony in the east.
I begin by exploring the explicit testaments to a river frontier in Tacitus’ Annales. Very early in his text he states: mari Oceano aut amnibus longinquis saeptum imperium (Tac. Ann. I.9). The Euphrates in particular becomes the center of repeated battles with the Parthians. Tacitus continually refers to this river as the guarded, natural frontier between Rome and Parthia (Tac. Ann. XII.12, Tac. Ann. XV.3, et al.).
I then turn to the larger conundrum posed by the ambiguity of Armenia. Without the delineation of the Euphrates, and with no other comparable river, Tacitus leaves the demarcation of Armenian territory uncertain: ambigua gens ea…situ terrarium (Tac. Ann. II.56). More concerning still is the Armenians’ dubious trustworthiness—another problem Tacitus attributes, in part, to the undefined geography between Rome, Armenia, and Parthia (Tac. Ann. XIII.34).
In Tacitus’ mind, the lack of clear geographic boundaries certainly contributes to the turmoil in the region of Armenia. Nearly every large-scale conflict in the east arises from Armenian dynastic struggles (Tac., Ann., VI.32 ff.), and Parthian peace settlements require a full withdrawal of the Roman presence from both Armenia and Parthia (Tac., Ann., XV.17). Tacitus’ treatment of the case of Armenia thus shows how critical geographic boundaries were to his concept of the empire, and how the absence of such borders seriously undermined Roman power and influence in the region (Tac., Ann., XII.14)