The Effects of Theatre-Based Interventions with Older Adults Diagnosed with Neurodegenerative Diseases

The Doctoral Capstone Experience evaluated theatre and the relation with occupational therapy to observe the potential connection theatre can create to improve shared experiences, emphasize collaboration, and improve quality of life through participation and engagement of theatre-based interventions. In general, theatre allows the foundation of occupational therapy to remain pertinent within the intervention process by remaining flexible, client-centered, and meaningful to aid with participation and engagement by dismissing signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s with a concentration on novel activities. Within the site of the project, there is currently a gap with socializing of consumers, due to the diverse group population, which overall is affecting the sense of collaboration that is hoped to be achieved at the Adult Wellness Program. The objectives throughout the experience were achieved through continued research that explored theatre interventions and working with individuals with neurodegenerative diagnoses to improve engagement, participation, and overall quality of life by utilizing assessments, measuring themes, and interpretating observed behaviors during interventions. Overall, improvement with quality of life in most consumers, as measured by VQ, SF-36, and qualitative observations, was achieved through improved scores and positive change in affect

Striving for Just Green Enough

The benefits of urban green space have been well-documented, resulting in a push for incorporating green infrastructure within the built environment. Efforts to design more biodiverse, nature-rich cities have been shown not only to provide resounding ecological benefits, but also to generally improve the quality of human life and well-being. Yet a dichotomy exists between the theory and practice of the integration of green space in urban areas. The benefits coupled with urban green infrastructure have hidden costs that contribute to the creation of spatially distributed inequities, which in turn lead to “eco-gentrification.” For development to be truly sustainable, it must also be equitable. Therefore, urban green space must be designed in the context of the co-evolving complexities of socio-natural processes. Officials involved in green space implementation must acknowledge and account for the environmental justice issues produced by urban socio-economic structures through “just green enough” strategies that integrate community-based participatory planning and anti-gentrification policies—thus ensuring the equitable realization of green space benefits.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136590/1/VanderWilde_StrivingForJustGreenEnough.pd

The Impact of the Menstrual Cycle on Female Performance in Athletics

Female hormones, key to preparing a woman\u27s body for childbirth, work in a magnificent, cyclical manner. It can be expected that these hormones, with the role of preparing a woman\u27s body to conceive a child and deliver a life safely into the world, would have a large impact on the health of the female, especially when it comes to athletics. Numerous studies conducted to understand the full extent of the effect of reproductive hormones on the female body have shown that these hormones influence not only menstruation, but also various physiological and psychological elements. Such effects can certainly impact athletic performance

Institutions Implementation of Trauma-Informed Care Practices for Sexual Assault Survivors

The purpose of this research is to understand the importance of trauma-informed care practices on college campuses for sexual assault survivors. The empirical research surrounding institutions implementation of trauma-informed care practices for sexual assault survivors discusses the prevalence of individuals who have experienced trauma, the importance of trauma-informed care education, and the need to utilize community resources. These findings determine the need for trauma-informed care practices as well as important tools for implementation. In order to improve institutions implementation of trauma-informed care practices for sexual assault survivors, much of the research suggests increased professional development dedicated to becoming informed on the topic for university faculty, staff, and students. The project proposed in this research involves training modules and speakers regarding to topic to be completed by students, staff, and faculty at regular interval. This is an important issue because 20-25% of college students are sexually assaulted during their time in college (Mellins et al., 2017) and Eisenberg et al. (2016) determined in their study that colleges with high levels of sexual assault resources positively impact survivors’ feelings of well-being and recovery outcomes. This initiative will also benefit students who are dealing with other forms of trauma as well—Davidson (2017) notes that the research indicates that approximately fifty percent of “college students are exposed to a [potentially traumatizing events] in the first year of college” (, p. 5)

The Reality of America’s Inhumane Alternatives to Detention Program

Since 2004, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) have heavily relied on alternatives to detention (“ATDs”) to monitor individuals on the non-detained docket in attempts to decrease the use of immigrant detention and ensure appearances in legal proceedings. Commonly utilized ATDs include ankle monitors, SmartLINK (tracking/surveillance application), or voice reporting systems.[ As studies show the harmful effects of ATDs, it is proven that ATDs are no more effective at ensuring appearances than community-based support services. This post was originally published on the Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights and Social Justice website on February 9, 2022. The original post can be accessed via the Archived Link button above

Impacts of Cigarette Smoking on Consumer Health

In this paper, I will analyze the effects taxes impose on smoking behavior given the relative inelastic demand cigarettes have had over time

Women in Rural Professions

The Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ISPFMRA) is an organization made up of both men and women who are employed in rural professions such as farm management, farmland appraisal, and rural consulting. The society was once all men, but the membership of women is on the rise. Although today this society is mostly made up of men, the group of women within the society play a very important role in the rural professions industry. As young agriculture students some young women may feel that there are many career opportunities not stressed to them as much as other career opportunities. Therefore, it is often a struggle to find information from other women about the careers they have chosen to pursue. The objective of this research was to describe the current participation of women within rural professions in Illinois and to discuss how women can pursue opportunities in professional farm management. Through phone and Zoom interviews in Fall 2020, eight women involved in rural professions from across the state of Illinois provided information related to their background, challenges they have faced in the industry, and advice for young women interested in a future career path similar to theirs. The interviewees ranged from women just beginning their careers to those nearing retirement, allowing for a wide variety of opinions and career stories. Results of the interviews indicate that many young women in the agriculture industry have at one time or another felt they were encouraged to pursue a career they were not interested in, due to their gender. However, many of the women spoke of still following the career path they wanted and having success alongside their male colleagues. Many of the interviewees stressed that young women today should not be intimidated because they are women but should embrace their difference and push for excellence in their careers. The results of this study can inform young women about the career options they have and the mentors they can lean on in the industry.https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/urs2021agr/1004/thumbnail.jp

Literacy by Degrees and UNO Postsecondary Prison Education Project Evaluation

CPACS Urban Research Awards Part of the mission of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS) is to conduct research, especially as it relates to concerns of our local and statewide constituencies. CPACS has always had an urban mission, and one way that mission is served is to preform applied research relevant to urban society in general, and the Omaha metropolitan area and other Nebraska urban communities in particular. Beginning in 2014, the CPACS Dean provided funding for the projects with high relevance to current urban issues, with the potential to apply the findings to practice in Nebraska, Iowa, and beyond