Contemporary Franco Americans: A Study of Ethnic Identity, Help-Seeking Attitudes, and Values

Given the proximity to Canada, many French Canadians who immigrated to the United States between 1850 and 1950 settled within New England. This immigration resulted in a large population of French Canadian descendants, now considered Franco Americans, within this region. Despite the number of Franco Americans, mental health professionals in New England are offered limited knowledge on conceptualizing and treating this population. To respond to this need, the present study investigated the cultural values, ethnic identity, and professional psychological help-seeking attitudes of contemporary Franco Americans. It was hypothesized that Franco Americans would prioritize values in line with the group’s traditional characteristics and values; immigrant generational status would impact ethnic identity and help-seeking attitudes; and ethnic identity would be negatively related to help-seeking attitudes. Information was gathered in an online survey utilizing demographic items, Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ) and additional author-created items, Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure-Revised (MEIM-R), and Attitude Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form (ATSPPHS-SF). Data were evaluated using descriptive statistics, correlations, and tests of difference. Results indicated that Franco Americans ranked/prioritized values in the following order: work, family, benevolence, self-direction, universalism, conformity, hedonism, achievement, tradition, stimulation, religion, and power. Generational differences did not exist with regards to ethnic identity and help-seeking attitudes, and ethnic identity was not related to help-seeking attitudes. Women prioritized family and benevolence higher than men, whereas men prioritized power higher than women. Age was positively correlated with ethnic identity, universalism, self-direction, security, and religion, and negatively correlated with hedonism, achievement, and power. Those who spoke French as their first language possessed higher ethnic identity than those who spoke English as their first language. First generation prioritized religion and tradition higher than second generation. Third generation prioritized universalism higher than fourth generation. The study concluded: that (a) contemporary Franco Americans’ values orientations are similar to those of the general American population; (b) the majority of contemporary Franco Americans identify with an ethnic label, but do not have a high level of ethnic identity in terms of exploration and commitment; and (c) contemporary Franco Americans as a group hold impartial to somewhat favorable help-seeking attitudes

Contemporary Franco Americans: A Study of Ethnic Identity, Help-Seeking Attitudes, and Values

Given the proximity to Canada, many French Canadians who immigrated to the United States between 1850 and 1950 settled within New England. This immigration resulted in a large population of French Canadian descendants, now considered Franco Americans, within this region. Despite the number of Franco Americans, mental health professionals in New England are offered limited knowledge on conceptualizing and treating this population. To respond to this need, the present study investigated the cultural values, ethnic identity, and professional psychological help-seeking attitudes of contemporary Franco Americans. It was hypothesized that Franco Americans would prioritize values in line with the group’s traditional characteristics and values; immigrant generational status would impact ethnic identity and help-seeking attitudes; and ethnic identity would be negatively related to help-seeking attitudes. Information was gathered in an online survey utilizing demographic items, Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ) and additional author-created items, Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure-Revised (MEIM-R), and Attitude Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form (ATSPPHS-SF). Data were evaluated using descriptive statistics, correlations, and tests of difference. Results indicated that Franco Americans ranked/prioritized values in the following order: work, family, benevolence, self-direction, universalism, conformity, hedonism, achievement, tradition, stimulation, religion, and power. Generational differences did not exist with regards to ethnic identity and help-seeking attitudes, and ethnic identity was not related to help-seeking attitudes. Women prioritized family and benevolence higher than men, whereas men prioritized power higher than women. Age was positively correlated with ethnic identity, universalism, self-direction, security, and religion, and negatively correlated with hedonism, achievement, and power. Those who spoke French as their first language possessed higher ethnic identity than those who spoke English as their first language. First generation prioritized religion and tradition higher than second generation. Third generation prioritized universalism higher than fourth generation. The study concluded: that (a) contemporary Franco Americans’ values orientations are similar to those of the general American population; (b) the majority of contemporary Franco Americans identify with an ethnic label, but do not have a high level of ethnic identity in terms of exploration and commitment; and (c) contemporary Franco Americans as a group hold impartial to somewhat favorable help-seeking attitudes

Predictors of High School Students\u27 Performance and College Readiness

Identifying the best predictors of academic performance and college readiness is crucial for promoting success in postsecondary institutions. This cross-sectional study of 587 students examined the association between ethnicity and gender on high school students’ 1) high school grade level competence in reading, writing, and mathematics, and 2) a test of college readiness. Additionally, we determined whether the following parental factors were associated with students’ perceptions of attending college and performance on a college readiness test: 1) parents’ highest level of education, 2) parents’ perceptions of students’ level of education, and 3) parents’ perceived reasons of why students might not pursue higher education. Measures of college readiness included the California High School Exit Examination and the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test. Ethnic differences were observed with higher scores in Caucasian and Asian students compared to Hispanic and African-American students on college readiness test scores. There was a strong relationship between parental expectations and students’ academic success. Limitations, strengths, and implications for curriculum development were also discussed

Puppets in Education

Introduction: •Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of related brain-based disorders that affect a child\u27s behavior, social and communication skills. •In 2009, approximately 1,000 Vermont students received special educational services for ASD. •Puppets in Education (PiE) is a non-profit group that teaches kids how to keep themselves safe and healthy and to appreciate each other’s differences. •PiE’sFriend 2 Friend Program (F2F) addresses ASD in fun and interactive puppet and workshop presentations, promoting empathy for individuals on the autism spectrum by modeling, labeling, explaining and normalizing differences, and teaching prosocial communication and friendship skills. •Last year, UVM COM students collaborated with PiE to determine how the use of puppets could best educate the community regarding ASD. •This year our goals were to elicit: --the perceived effectiveness of current ASD education in the classroom --the perceived effectiveness of including children with ASD in the classroom; and --the most important aspects of ASD to address in the Puppets in Education (PiE) curriculumhttps://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1059/thumbnail.jp

Myanmar Burkholderia pseudomallei strains are genetically diverse and originate from Asia with phylogenetic evidence of reintroductions from neighbouring countries.

Melioidosis was first identified in Myanmar in 1911 but for the last century it has remained largely unreported there. Burkholderia pseudomallei was first isolated from the environment of Myanmar in 2016, confirming continuing endemicity. Recent genomic studies showed that B. pseudomallei originated in Australia and spread to Asia, with phylogenetic evidence of repeated reintroduction of B. pseudomallei across countries bordered by the Mekong River and the Malay Peninsula. We present the first whole-genome sequences of B. pseudomallei isolates from Myanmar: nine clinical and seven environmental isolates. We used large-scale comparative genomics to assess the genetic diversity, phylogeography and potential origins of B. pseudomallei in Myanmar. Global phylogenetics demonstrated that Myanmar isolates group in two distantly related clades that reside in a more ancestral Asian clade with high amounts of genetic diversity. The diversity of B. pseudomallei from Myanmar and divergence within our global phylogeny suggest that the original introduction of B. pseudomallei to Myanmar was not a recent event. Our study provides new insights into global patterns of B. pseudomallei dissemination, most notably the dynamic nature of movement of B. pseudomallei within densely populated Southeast Asia. The role of anthropogenic influences in both ancient and more recent dissemination of B. pseudomallei to Myanmar and elsewhere in Southeast Asia and globally requires further study

Weight management for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities: Rationale and design for an 18 month randomized trial

Weight management for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) has received limited attention. Studies on weight management in this population have been conducted over short time frames, in small samples with inadequate statistical power, infrequently used a randomized design, and have not evaluated the use of emerging effective dietary strategies such as pre-packaged meals (PMs). Low energy/fat PMs may be useful in individuals with IDD as they simplify meal planning, limit undesirable food choices, teach appropriate portion sizes, are convenient and easy to prepare, and when combined with fruits and vegetables provide a high volume, low energy dense meal. A randomized effectiveness trial will be conducted in 150 overweight/obese adults with mild to moderate IDD, and their study partners to compare weight loss (6 months) and weight maintenance (12 months) between 2 weight management approaches: 1. A Stop Light Diet enhanced with reduced energy/fat PMs (eSLD); and 2. A recommended care reduced energy/fat meal plan diet (RC). The primary aim is to compare weight loss (0–6 months) and weight maintenance (7–18 months) between the eSLD and RC diets. Secondarily, changes in chronic disease risk factors between the eSLD and RC diets including blood pressure, glucose, insulin, LDL-cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol will be compared during both weight loss and weight maintenance. Finally, potential mediators of weight loss including energy intake, physical activity, data recording, adherence to the diet, study partner self-efficacy and daily stress related to dietary change will be explored

Immunogenicity of a Killed Bivalent (O1 and O139) Whole Cell Oral Cholera Vaccine, Shanchol, in Haiti

Background: Studies of the immunogenicity of the killed bivalent whole cell oral cholera vaccine, Shanchol, have been performed in historically cholera-endemic areas of Asia. There is a need to assess the immunogenicity of the vaccine in Haiti and other populations without historical exposure to Vibrio cholerae. Methodology/Principal Findings We measured immune responses after administration of Shanchol, in 25 adults, 51 older children (6–17 years), and 47 younger children (1–5 years) in Haiti, where cholera was introduced in 2010. A≥4-fold increase in vibriocidal antibody titer against V. cholerae O1 Ogawa was observed in 91% of adults, 74% of older children, and 73% of younger children after two doses of Shanchol; similar responses were observed against the Inaba serotype. A≥2-fold increase in serum O-antigen specific polysaccharide IgA antibody levels against V. cholerae O1 Ogawa was observed in 59% of adults, 45% of older children, and 61% of younger children; similar responses were observed against the Inaba serotype. We compared immune responses in Haitian individuals with age- and blood group-matched individuals from Bangladesh, a historically cholera-endemic area. The geometric mean vibriocidal titers after the first dose of vaccine were lower in Haitian than in Bangladeshi vaccinees. However, the mean vibriocidal titers did not differ between the two groups after the second dose of the vaccine. Conclusions/Significance: A killed bivalent whole cell oral cholera vaccine, Shanchol, is highly immunogenic in Haitian adults and children. A two-dose regimen may be important in Haiti, and other populations lacking previous repeated exposures to V. cholerae