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Evaluating San Francisco urban green spaces and policy to inform future decision-making: how climate change adaptation strategies can be prioritized and incorporated in urban park design and planning through a decision-making tool
Full text linkAmid the current climate crisis, enhancing urban green spaces (UGS), parks, and open spaces with climate change adaptation (CCA) as a strategic pillar in San Francisco’s urban planning is an essential strategic pillar to develop more resilient cities. However, in complex bureaucratic landscapes, integrating CCA strategies that meet project goals while ensuring inclusive stakeholder engagement presents a challenge. This project presents the identification, development, and application of a holistic decision-making tool (DMT) in the form of a Pugh matrix/decision matrix and with a focus on urban planning in San Francisco, California. Key decision-making criteria are identified and weighted through a comparative analysis of recent UGS case studies and evaluation of regulatory policies and guidelines. The final DMT enables urban planners and developers to make informed, timely decisions about prioritizing CCA strategies. The case study analysis highlighted core criteria but also revealed a lack of ability to standardize weighting due to variability within San Francisco’s UGS development landscape. Existing policies and guidelines vary in effectiveness and should be incorporated using a hierarchical approach; however, determining which documents to prioritize can delay the planning process. The proposed DMT offers a comprehensive set of criteria, a subset of which can be standardized and applied across UGS projects. The remaining criteria are adaptable to account for unique project factors such as site maintenance, cost, and governance structures. The DMT serves as a resource to support decision-making efforts and should be used alongside the provided quick guide summarizing potential CCA strategies for UGS development and improvement
LEADERSHIP, PERFORMANCE, AND RETENTION: A CASE STUDY OF LORETO CONVENT GIRLS\u27 SECONDARY SCHOOL, MATUNDA
Full text linkThis study investigates the role of leadership in influencing student performance and retention at Loreto Convent Girls’ Secondary School, Matunda, Kenya. Prompted by a noticeable decline in academic achievement, student enrolment, and staff morale, the research explores how leadership practices, governance structures, and the adequacy of leadership preparation have contributed to the institution’s challenges. Framed by Authentic Leadership Theory, the study employs a qualitative case study methodology, drawing on semi-structured interviews with stakeholders, including students, alumni, teachers, parents, and members of the Board of Management.
The findings reveal three interrelated leadership shortcomings: inadequate leadership development, frequent leadership changes, and governance failures. These deficiencies undermined discipline, fractured stakeholder trust, and destabilised staffing structures. A comparison of leadership styles further reveals that authoritarian leadership alienated staff and eroded morale, whereas inclusive, emotionally intelligent leadership was associated with stronger community engagement and a more stable school culture.
The study concludes that the decline at Loreto Matunda is not merely a product of external challenges but reflects internal leadership deficits. Addressing these requires systematic preparation of school leaders, consistent support structures, and fidelity to the Catholic educational charism. Practical implications include the need for leadership development programmes tailored to faith-based schools and strategic policy reforms to strengthen governance and accountability in Catholic institutions
Enhancing Flu Vaccination Rates Through Improved Electronic Health Record User Workflow Training
No full textA quality improvement project was implemented at an urban community health clinic primarily serving low-income, underinsured, and Latinx individuals. The site had a history of poorly organized flu vaccine rollout and low vaccination rates among the patient population. Seasonal influenza infects millions of people across the US each year, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths (Garza et al., 2023), and vaccination is the best prevention. Electronic health record training has been shown to reduce user burnout and improve efficiency (Gordon et al., 2022). The QI project aims to increase medical assistant satisfaction with the flu vaccine rollout by 15%, from 65% to 80%, and the clinic flu vaccination rate by 5%, from 10% to 15%. The intervention will be implemented October 1, 2025, and post-intervention data collection will be completed November 5, 2025. A multimodal intervention was designed to address the electronic health record workflow inefficiencies, increase staff satisfaction, and improve vaccination rates. The intervention included 1) streamlined patient appointment flu vaccine documentation, 2) addition of the “Immunization Clinic” function within the electronic health record to be used during Flu Clinic, 3) development of standardized training tip sheets, and 4) electronic health record staff training. Post-intervention staff satisfaction increased by 12% and vaccination rates increased by 7.7%. The QI project team created new standardized electronic health record workflows and training tip sheets for flu vaccine documentation. The continued collection of vaccination rate data for subsequent years is needed to assess the long-term impact of the workflow change
Improving Doula Visibility and Integration in the Labor & Delivery Unit through the Implementation of Creative Standardized Visual Strategies
No full textObjective: The 22-bed, Labor and Delivery (L&D) unit lacks a standardized model to introduce doulas, clarify their scope of practice, or communicate the value of the services they provide. To address this gap, the team implemented a standardized doula awareness poster that included each doula’s name, photo, years of experience, and personal interests. Aim: The goal is to enhance visibility and promote integration of doula support to strengthen team collaboration and patient engagement. Methods: A pre- and post- implementation survey was distributed exclusively to the volunteer doulas. After the doula awareness poster was displayed for four weeks, a post-survey assessed these same domains to determine changes in visibility, role clarity, and team integration. Results: Post-intervention responses from the doulas showed increased feelings of visibility, improved perception that patients and staff understood their role, and strengthened a sense of integration within the L&D team. After intervention, the percentage of doulas who felt consistently supported doubled from 15.4% to 30%. Rarely feeling supported dropped to 0%. Conclusion: The implementation of a doula awareness poster improved visibility, role clarity, and integration of volunteer doulas within the L&D microsystem. Ongoing updates to the poster and continued staff education are recommended to sustain and further enhance doula-staff collaboration
Beyond Compliance: How Targeted Education Improves Psychotropic Medication Documentation and Patient Safety in Skilled Nursing Facilities
No full textPsychotropic medications are routinely prescribed in skilled nursing facilities to manage behavioral and psychological symptoms, but inadequate documentation poses risk to patient safety and leads to regulatory noncompliance. Objective: This project aimed to improve nursing staff knowledge and confidence in documenting psychotropic medication use in order to safeguard patient safety and follow Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines. Aim: A targeted education session and standardized flowsheets were developed to enhance documentation adherence and staff confidence in psychotropic medication administration. Methods: To assess knowledge, comfort, and adherence to documentation standards a pre- and post-intervention survey were administered to nursing staff. Results: Results showed that staff reported feeling more confident and knowledgeable about documentation, and adherence to medication protocols improved. For example, the number of staff reporting being “slightly confident” dropped from 56% to 0%, while “moderately confident” responses rose to 56%. Conclusions: Focused education combined with structured documentation tools supports nursing staff competency, promotes resident safety, and strengthens compliance with federal and state regulations. Ongoing training, chart audits, and electronic health record (EHR) review are recommended to maintain these improvements and offer a model for quality improvement in skilled nursing facilities
El Corazón al Descubierto: Reflexiones sobre Levítico 18.22
No full textThe article explores the hermeneutical paradoxes of the book of Leviticus through the personal experience of Rabbi Steven Greenberg, whose encounter with Leviticus 18.22 transformed his relationship with the Torah and his own identity. Through rigorous textual analysis, the article questions traditional cis-heterosexist interpretations and examines the semantic complexity of the expression mishkebey ishshah [a wife’s bed]. The study shows how Leviticus—far from being a monolithic code—contains internal tensions, profound ethical elements, and a surprising openness toward neighbors and immigrants, inviting a critical and liberating reading
Liturgia Queer para Afrontar la Situación de Forma Activa: Oraciones Judías para Tratamientos y Pruebas Médicas LGBTIQ+
No full textIn recent years, medicine has moved toward greater inclusivity of the LGBTIQ+ community, ushering in an era focused on health needs linked to diverse identities. This qualitative study analyzes six contemporary Jewish prayers that address LGBTIQ+ concerns, such as support for medical care and treatments related to sexual and gender identities, including hiv/aids. Often written by LGBTIQ+ rabbis, these liturgies introduce new conceptions of body, gender, sexuality, and divinity. They express reverence for creation, trust in medicine, and respect for the body’s capacity for transformation, articulating queer Jewish liturgy as active coping
Justifying Intervention by Shaping Perception: A Framing Analysis of United States Propaganda During the 1953 Iranian Coup d’État
Full text linkThis thesis examines how major United States newspapers framed the 1953 Iranian Coup, which overthrew democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. During the Cold War, the U.S. frequently violated international law, infringing on the sovereignty of foreign nations by orchestrating coups under the guise of combating communist threats to protect strategic interests. The 1953 CIA-backed coup in Iran followed this pattern. This research examines how U.S. media shaped public perception to justify intervention, focusing on the question: What does the framing of the 1953 Iranian Coup d’État in U.S. print media reveal about U.S. interests and their influence on media coverage? Analyzing 20 articles from The New York Times and The Washington Post (1950–1954), this study identifies four framing categories: communism, oil nationalization, threat, and overthrow. Employing a hybrid methodology based on framing theories by Erving Goffman, Robert M. Entman, Zhongdang Pan, and Gerald M. Kosicki, the thesis explores how U.S. media portrayed Mossadegh as a destabilizing figure whose nationalist policies, specifically oil nationalization, jeopardized Western interests. By emphasizing themes of communism and authoritarianism, the media delegitimized Mossadegh, conditioned American readers to support his removal, and framed the coup as necessary to maintain regional stability. The findings underscore the significance of media framing in constructing narratives that align with governmental objectives. This thesis offers critical insights into the profound impact of media framing in international affairs and the lasting repercussions of the 1953 Coup, contributing to the rise of Iran’s theocratic regime and present day U.S.-Iran tensions
Improving the Onboarding Process and Retention Rate of Volunteers for the Cantlay Pantry at Catholic Charities
No full textDue to recent budget cuts, the Cantlay Pantry has experienced a decrease in staff following layoffs. As a result, the agency intends to attract and retain more volunteers to support operations and balance staffing shortages. According to the agency\u27s senior director, there is currently a high turnover rate among volunteers, furthering the need to enhance volunteer recruitment and retention efforts.
The limited number of workers has placed significant strain on remaining staff, leading to an increase in responsibilities and suspension of several programs, including the homeless distribution program. The population served by the Cantlay Pantry includes residents of Santa Ana and surrounding communities experiencing food insecurity. Individuals experiencing food insecurity are at increased risk for malnutrition and developmental challenges, making the pantry\u27s services a necessity to the community.
This project aims to develop a more effective volunteer onboarding program for the Cantlay Food Pantry of Catholic Charities. We will focus on targeted outreach to recruit volunteers, update the orientation process, and implement an online system to track volunteer participation. The use of visual aids, an onboarding handbook for volunteers, and identification of nearby locations for volunteer recruitment. These efforts will help increase volunteer participation and improve task distribution in order to better serve the community that seeks services from the Cantlay Food Pantry.
Complete implementation of our project’s interventions has been delayed due to the holiday season and foreseen events for the Cantlay Food Pantry. The pantry director does not have enough time or staff capacity to implement these changes before the project\u27s end date. This was partly influenced by the recent government shutdown, leading to SNAP benefits being put on pause and thus leading to an increased demand at the pantry to meet from the community. Despite this, the interventions have all been created, finalized, and handed over to the pantry for long-term sustainability and implementation in the near future. Instead of measuring the outcomes of the interventions, the team proposed creating a survey to assess staff\u27s expected benefits. The anticipated benefits for the pantry include improvements with onboarding, staff training, pantry visibility, time savings from full-time staff, and enhanced volunteer tracking through automation. Overall, staff feedback from the evaluation survey expressed that these interventions will improve the volunteer recruitment and onboarding processes