Family Unity, Family Health: How Family-Focused Immigration Reform Will Mean Better Health for Children and Families

This report builds on a body of evidence on the impact of immigration policy on communities, paying particular attention to the health and mental health of children and families.Using existing research, predictive quantitative analysis and data from a convenience survey and two focus groups, this reportshines a light on the consequences of a continued policy of detention and deportation on: physical health, mental health, educational and behavioral outcomes among children; adult health status and lifespan; and economic hardship and food access in households

Planning for Pedestrians and Bicyclists in North Carolina.

Over the past decade, as obesity has continued to rise among both youth and adults, interest has grown in developing policies to promote community environments that support healthy lifestyles.1 A broad range of local, regional, state, and federal policies under the rubrics of active living, smart growth, and sustainable development share the underlying assumption that they can help people make healthier choices. From a transportation planning perspective, the benefits of pedestrian and bicycle plans resulting from the building of infrastructure to support pedestrian and bicycle travel include improved health (for example, through increased levels of physical activity and reduced obesity), a better environment (for example, through lower carbon emissions), and a stronger economy (for example, through lower fuel bills). However, until more recently, the health benefits have not been specifically explored

The Furry Fandom: constructing a costumed society for identity exploration

This paper examines the social-psychological influences of dress within the furry fandom. Using observations, surveys, and interviews at two fur conventions, I explore how individuals’ various identities are developed through costuming. The results reveal a spectrum of identities within the fandom; costuming and “dressing-up” enable individuals to safely explore, express, and negotiate these identities through as-animal performance

Homeownership and financial security of Chatham Habitat for Humanity partner families

Homeownership has been described as "The American Dream" (Rohe, Van Zandt, & McCarthy, 2002a) and as "right up there with baseball and apple pie" (Cannato, 2010). Homeownership is a brass ring idealized in the American mind. Historically, homeownership has been promoted in the United States to express a variety of ideologies characteristic of their times: independence during the nation's first century, social status and health at the turn of the 20th century, sociopolitical sentiment during World War I, and societal improvement during the Hoover administration (Cannato, 2010). While ideologies promoting homeownership permeate American history, evidence of its benefits and costs has been reported only recently and much work remains in this area, particularly in relation to low-income populations. This paper describes the author's efforts to contribute empirical work to research on the connection between homeownership and financial security in a low-income population. It describes a project that used a qualitative approach to better explore and understand Habitat for Humanity (HFH) partner family perceptions of financial security. Financial security was chosen as the focus of the project for the following reasons: (1) a national economic crisis since previous research on perceptions of financial security at select HFH affiliates was conducted that may influence findings; (2) interest in the topic among staff at the Chatham County affiliate as possible data to report on grant applications to funders; (3) the author's interest in the topic's possible connections to recent foreclosure proceedings started at the affiliate; and (4) promotion by the head office of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) of homeownership as a means of wealth accumulation and financial security for low-income partner families, based on research in the general population (Habitat for Humanity International, 2010a), when experts suggest in recent research that, in fact, there is a gradient such that higher-income families experience greater benefits from owning a home than their lower-income counterparts. This paper: (1) summarizes relevant literature about the financial benefits of homeownership to low-income populations generally and specific to Habitat for Humanity homeowners; (2) describes the methodology for a project with a local Habitat for Humanity affiliate to obtain partner family feedback about their perceptions of their own financial security and related behaviors over time, such as helping out a close relative in financial need, covering an unexpected bill, or using public assistance programs; (3) summarizes partner family responses; (4) describes common themes discussed by partner families; and (5) suggests implications for this affiliate in the future.Master of City and Regional Plannin

Multiculturalism and Compassion: Responding to Mental Health Needs Among Refugees and Asylum Seekers Comment on "A Crisis of Humanitarianism: Refugees at the Gates of Europe".

As Fotaki (2019) argues, the current political climate in Europe is threatening principles of humanitarianism, particularly among refugees and asylum seekers. This commentary builds on that argument, with a spotlight on mental health and culturally relevant service design. By addressing some of the barriers faced by refugees and asylum seekers in accessing mental healthcare, we can address inequalities and develop compassionate societies

Lobos CO2 Pipeline Health Impact Assessment

Building a carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline through Torrance County, New Mexico, has the potential tocompromise safety, threaten water supplies and quality, and disrupt the special places, culture and historical connection to the land that unite the county's diverse communities. This Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of Kinder Morgan's proposed Lobos CO2 Pipeline finds that the project offers few if any benefits to the health, well being and economy of the county

Mental health service users' perceptions of data sharing and data protection: a qualitative report.

BACKGROUND: To improve health services, social, economic and health data should be shared and linked to create a full narrative of lived experience. Mental health data sharing is often considered a particularly sensitive area. OBJECTIVE: To assess mental health service users' perceptions regarding the current practice of administrative data-driven research. METHOD: We conducted a focus group using case study scenarios. Themes and subthemes were analysed using qualitative methods. RESULTS: Participants were generally happy for data owners to share their health, social and economic data if the purpose was transparent and if the information would inform and improve health policy and practice. Participants were less keen on sharing data through digital applications. CONCLUSION: This case study informs a data linkage study protocol. Research teams and database owners should strive to educate service users on data protection and create dissent opportunities

Multiculturalism and Compassion: Responding to Mental Health Needs Among Refugees and Asylum Seekers; Comment on “A Crisis of Humanitarianism: Refugees at the Gates of Europe”

As Fotaki (2019) argues, the current political climate in Europe is threatening principles of humanitarianism, particularly among refugees and asylum seekers. This commentary builds on that argument, with a spotlight on mental health and culturally relevant service design. By addressing some of the barriers faced by refugees and asylum seekers in accessing mental healthcare, we can address inequalities and develop compassionate societies

Mental health care utilisation and access among refugees and asylum seekers in Europe: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Refugees and asylum seekers often have increased mental health needs, yet may face barriers in accessing mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services in destination countries. The aim of this systematic review is to examine evidence on MHPSS service utilisation and access among refugees and asylum seekers in European Union Single Market countries. METHODS: Four peer-reviewed and eight grey literature databases were searched for quantitative and qualitative literature from 2007 to 2017. Access was categorised according to Penchansky and Thomas' framework and descriptive analyses were conducted. Quality of studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist. RESULTS: Twenty-seven articles were included. The findings suggest inadequate MHPSS utilisation. Major barriers to accessing care included language, help-seeking behaviours, lack of awareness, stigma, and negative attitudes towards and by providers. CONCLUSIONS: Refugees and asylum seekers have high mental health needs but under-utilise services in European host countries. This underutilisation may be explained by cultural-specific barriers which need to be tackled to increase treatment demand. Training health providers on cultural models of mental illness may facilitate appropriate identification, referral, and care. Based on these findings, it is crucial to review policies regarding MHPSS provision across the EU

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) for assessment of microbial water quality: current progress, challenges, and future opportunities

Water quality is an emergent property of a complex system comprised of interacting microbial populations and introduced microbial and chemical contaminants. Studies leveraging next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies are providing new insights into the ecology of microbially mediated processes that influence fresh water quality such as algal blooms, contaminant biodegradation, and pathogen dissemination. In addition, sequencing methods targeting small subunit (SSU) rRNA hypervariable regions have allowed identification of signature microbial species that serve as bioindicators for sewage contamination in these environments. Beyond amplicon sequencing, metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses of microbial communities in fresh water environments reveal the genetic capabilities and interplay of waterborne microorganisms, shedding light on the mechanisms for production and biodegradation of toxins and other contaminants. This review discusses the challenges and benefits of applying NGS-based methods to water quality research and assessment. We will consider the suitability and biases inherent in the application of NGS as a screening tool for assessment of biological risks and discuss the potential and limitations for direct quantitative interpretation of NGS data. Secondly, we will examine case studies from recent literature where NGS based methods have been applied to topics in water quality assessment, including development of bioindicators for sewage pollution and microbial source tracking, characterizing the distribution of toxin and antibiotic resistance genes in water samples, and investigating mechanisms of biodegradation of harmful pollutants that threaten water quality. Finally, we provide a short review of emerging NGS platforms and their potential applications to the next generation of water quality assessment tools.Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology. Center for Environmental Sensing and Modelin