African-American Women Superintendents: Perceived Barriers and Challenges Experienced While Accessing and Serving in the Superintendency

This research study was designed to add to the existing but limited literature that explores perceived barriers and challenges African-American women superintendents experienced while ascending and serving in the superintendency. According to the literature, African-American women are underrepresented in the role of public school superintendents. This study examined the impact of gender and racial discrimination on African-American women superintendent aspirants and those currently serving in the role. This study surveyed and interviewed African-American women superintendents serving in public school districts in North Carolina and South Carolina, examining their perceptions of barriers and challenges experienced while ascending and serving in the superintendency. Race and gender were the two identified themes found in the analysis of survey and interview data. This study determined that race and gender have an impact on African-American women public school superintendents while ascending and serving in the role. All subthemes supported racial and gender biases. Choice of dress, working in a male-dominated field, isolation and exclusion from “good old boy networks,” dispelling the belief that African-American women do not make good administrators, and the lack of acceptance by male and non-African-American administrators and staff were all subthemes of the impact of race and gender. The findings of this study will serve to better prepare African-American women who aspire to and serve in the superintendency when faced with barriers and challenges rooted in racial and gender biases. The findings can be used to better inform school boards, hiring personnel, educational leadership programs, and public school districts of the barriers and challenges African-American women public school superintendents experience and how race and gender impact them in the role of superintendent

A Concept Paper for a VCU Social Sciences Initiative

This project proposes the development of a Social Sciences Initiative at the undergraduate and graduate levels that will provide educational, research and service opportunities for faculty and students. These opportunities are envisioned as interdisciplinary, with a focus on community issues and priorities, and with the potential to create new links among existing educational/research units within the University. The development of a Social Sciences Initiative provides a direct link to the Mission of VCU through several of the Mission’s intents: “activities that increase knowledge and understanding of the world and inspire and enrich teaching” The Social Sciences Initiative will expand current activities and promote innovative teaching in an interdisciplinary manner. “diverse educational programs” The Social Sciences Initiative increases the diversity of educational program offerings. “development of innovative approaches to meet the changing needs of our society” The Social Sciences Initiative will directly address the changing societal needs through support of interdisciplinary education, research, and service. Further, this initiative is consistent with the VCU Vision in that it will “advance a climate of scholarly inquiry…serve as a model of diversity in higher education…addressing urban issues in the nation and the world…build upon its substantial foundations in the…applied social sciences.” (VCU Strategic Plan for the Future of Virginia Commonwealth University, Phase II, 1998)

Activating chronic kidney disease patients and family members through the Internet to promote integration of care

PURPOSE: To describe the potential role of the Internet as a vehicle for improving integration of care through activating chronic kidney disease patients and their family members. Also, to describe how that potential is being developed through a website sponsored by the Medicare program in the United States. BACKGROUND: The Internet is expanding at a rapid rate, and health-related websites are one of its most popular features. Efforts to promote integration of care have focused mainly on providers up to now, and more emphasis is needed on the potential roles of patients. Chronically ill patients have particular needs for improved education about their conditions and enhanced involvement in care planning and treatment decisions. Medicare developed the Dialysis Facility Compare website to serve those goals for people with chronic kidney disease. METHODS: We conducted qualitative research with 140 chronic kidney disease patients and family members, and 130 renal care professionals to evaluate and improve the Dialysis Facility Compare website. A series of 19 focus groups, 13 triads (small focus groups), and 56 individual interviews were conducted in four regions of the United States and by telephone. RESULTS: We found that the Dialysis Facility Compare website has the potential to improve integration of care for people with chronic kidney disease in at least three ways. First: by expanding the roles of patients as members of the multi-disciplinary team of caregivers treating their disease. Second: through better integration of the informal care provided in the home and community with the formal care provided by health professionals. Third: by improving coordination of between care provided in the pre-dialysis and dialysis phases of the disease. DISCUSSION: We developed recommendations for revising and enhancing the Dialysis Facility Compare website in a number of ways to better promote patient activation and integration of care. The unique features of the Internet, such as its different dimensions of interactivity, and applications of behavioural theories for website design should also be further explored

Moncure/Haywood, Chatham County : a community diagnosis including secondary data analysis and qualitative data collection

Community health cannot be fully understood without considering the health of the individuals that make up that community and social and environmental health indicators. The Moncure/Haywood community in rural Southeastern Chatham County was examined through Community Diagnosis, a process that integrates quantitative and qualitative data to create a picture of the social, political, psychological, environmental and physical health of communities. Our findings create this document that may provide a tool to help the community in future organizing and developing endeavors. Four students from the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of North Carolina's School of Public Health were assigned the task of exploring the community health of Moncure/Haywood as a learning experience. The four students, Shelly Harris, Kevin Harrell, Katie McIntire, and Dawn Rogers, worked within the community from September 1998 until May 1999, compiling data and interacting with Moncure/Haywood community members with the assistance of a preceptor, Margaret Pollard, the Chatham County Commissioner. The community diagnosis process attempts to understand the community from an insider's perspective. In order to attain this perspective, the methodology acknowledges that health status cannot be determined by statistics alone. Community Diagnosis examines the strengths and resources available to a community while examining the needs and weaknesses. A simultaneous examination may result in matching needs with already available assets and preventing overlap and duplication of services. This document provides a starting point for community members to address needs and use available resources. The project began in the Fall of 1998 with the secondary data collection regarding the general and social health of the community. Statistics gathered include morbidity and mortality, economic and demographic information, and historical and cultural information. Due to the lack of specific data on Moncure/Haywood, information was collected from the 1990 United States Census for the block group that includes Moncure/Haywood. Chatham County statistics were used when block group level data was not available. These data were compared to county and state statistics as well as to government health goals. Sources for secondary data include Log Into North Carolina (LINC), United States Census of 1990, Chatham Community Health Improvement Project (CCHIP), various state and county web sites, and agents within the local community. The qualitative data collection process began simultaneously. Community windshield tours and informal interviews at local gathering spots provided a glimpse into the community life of Moncure/Haywood. One aspect of exploring and introducing ourselves to the community included attending church services and community events. Moncure/Haywood is rich in cultural and community resources, which aided our endeavor. The Moncure/Haywood community sits in the southeast corner of Chatham County bordered by the Deep and Haw Rivers and U.S. Highway One, which are vital resources for the community. Many towns are located within a fifteen-mile radius of the community including Pittsboro, Sanford and Apex. The Research Triangle Park, a major technical and research center, and Raleigh, the state capital, are within 30 miles. The residents of Moncure/Haywood enjoy a community with a long, rich history. Originally attracting farming settlers, Moncure/Haywood lured developers of railroad and industry due to the plentiful natural resources. Religion also played a major role in the development of the community and continues to be of great importance to community members. Moncure/Haywood is a small community with less than 1000 residents. The population is almost equally balanced between African-Americans and White, providing a more integrated feel to the community than other rural towns. The majority of community members own their homes and the unemployment rate is very low. Once a booming town, Moncure/Haywood is now a bedroom community that relies on local industries and larger towns for employment. Residents generally travel to neighboring towns for shopping and recreation. Elementary and middle school children attend Moncure Elementary, and the community’s high school age teens are bussed to Northwood High School in Pittsboro. Moncure/Haywood is unincorporated and has no formal governing body. As a result, all community decisions are made at the county level by elected county commissioners. The community has grappled with the issue of incorporation for many years. Although not all agree, most community members feel that incorporation would be good for the community because of increased access to services and the potential for further growth. Community members obtain health services from the Moncure Community Health Center as well as from providers in Pittsboro, Sanford, Chapel Hill and other neighboring towns. The community health center provides many services and many of the older community members utilize its services. Other services for the community include a mobile health unit, social services, and community organizations. Data collection also involved collecting qualitative data through interviews with community members and service providers. An interview guide was established providing a framework of questions and issues to be addressed with interviewees. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained, and interviews began in January 1999. Interviewees were recruited through the preceptor as well as through informal interviews at church services. Community members suggested other persons to interview that would help create a picture of Moncure/Haywood life. Twenty people were interviewed and emerging issues became apparent as to the assets and needs of Moncure/Haywood. Data from the interviews were and then coded and organized into chapters to demonstrate the concerns of the community. A synopsis of the data was presented to community members in a community meeting on March 20, 1999 in order to reflect our findings and to obtain feedback. The forum provided an avenue for new issues to emerge and to reach residents who had not been heard. The drug problem that has emerged within the past five years in Moncure/Haywood concerned almost every community member. The drug problem has led to increased crime in the community. Many felt that the drug problem is a direct result from the lack of recreation and youth activities for the community's children. With an increase in the number of juvenile arrests within the past five years, the secondary data support the problem among the community's youth. Some community members also felt that lack of police protection may contribute to this problem as well, but action has been taken to place a Chatham County Deputy within a satellite office in the community. Most residents see growth in Moncure/Haywood positively. Growth would increase the tax base and attract businesses to the area. Sanford has begun the construction of a regional airport within two miles of the community which may further development. Residents felt that more opportunities and an increase in services would benefit Moncure/Haywood. The need for the development of a sewer system in Moncure/Haywood would be exacerbated by growth in the community. Many residents expressed that a sewage system needed to be developed in the community in order to attract more businesses and developers. Many residents also felt that this may only be accomplished if the community was incorporated. The strong sense of community and community ties in Moncure/Haywood was heard throughout the interviews. Community members felt that in times of need the community would pull together and assist one another. Churches and relationships between neighbors provide a stable foundation for the community and often catalyze community organizing. These fundamental foundations make the community competent to approach the issues that concern the community and to derive solutions. There are several limitations to the community diagnosis process in Moncure/Haywood. A large portion of secondary data was collected from the 1990 census that may not represent the current population. Lack of data specific to Moncure/Haywood also limited the accuracy of secondary data. The referral process limited the accuracy of the qualitative data. Interviewees referred community members to us. Therefore, data collected may represent one side of community issues. Data may also have been limited by a lack of trust among community members. This community diagnosis process only allowed a limited amount of time to engage and get to know residents. This may have influenced the type of information they were willing to share with us. This Community Diagnosis identified the strengths and weaknesses of Moncure/Haywood. This process can provide community members with a starting place to address their needs and to aid in getting support or funding for potential services. By highlighting the resources already available to the community, community members can also examine what creative solutions may already exist and prioritize the issues at hand.Master of Public Healt

Reducing Public Health Risk During Disasters: Identifying Social Vulnerabilities

Abstract All regions of the US experience disasters which result in a number of negative public health consequences. Some populations have higher levels of social vulnerability and, thus, are more likely to experience negative impacts of disasters including emotional distress, loss of property, illness, and death. To mitigate the impact of disasters on at-risk populations, emergency managers must be aware of the social vulnerabilities within their community. This paper describes a qualitative study which aimed to understand how emergency managers identify social vulnerabilities, also referred to as at-risk populations, in their populations and barriers and facilitators to current approaches. Findings suggest that although public health tools have been developed to aid emergency managers in identifying at-risk populations, they are not being used consistently. Emergency managers requested more information on the availability of tools as well as guidance on how to increase ability to identify at-risk populations

Earthquake Size Distribution: Power-Law with Exponent Beta = 1/2?

We propose that the widely observed and universal Gutenberg-Richter relation is a mathematical consequence of the critical branching nature of earthquake process in a brittle fracture environment. These arguments, though preliminary, are confirmed by recent investigations of the seismic moment distribution in global earthquake catalogs and by the results on the distribution in crystals of dislocation avalanche sizes. We consider possible systematic and random errors in determining earthquake size, especially its seismic moment. These effects increase the estimate of the parameter beta of the power-law distribution of earthquake sizes. In particular, we find that estimated beta-values may be inflated by 1-3% because relative moment uncertainties decrease with increasing earthquake size. Moreover, earthquake clustering greatly influences the beta-parameter. If clusters (aftershock sequences) are taken as the entity to be studied, then the exponent value for their size distribution would decrease by 5-10%. The complexity of any earthquake source also inflates the estimated beta-value by at least 3-7%. The centroid depth distribution also should influence the beta-value, an approximate calculation suggests that the exponent value may be increased by 2-6%. Taking all these effects into account, we propose that the recently obtained beta-value of 0.63 could be reduced to about 0.52--0.56: near the universal constant value (1/2) predicted by theoretical arguments. We also consider possible consequences of the universal beta-value and its relevance for theoretical and practical understanding of earthquake occurrence in various tectonic and Earth structure environments. Using comparative crystal deformation results may help us understand the generation of seismic tremors and slow earthquakes and illuminate the transition from brittle fracture to plastic flow.Comment: 46 pages, 2 tables, 11 figures 53 pages, 2 tables, 12 figure

The impact of alternative delivery strategies for novel tuberculosis vaccines in low-income and middle-income countries: a modelling study

BackgroundTuberculosis is a leading infectious cause of death worldwide. Novel vaccines will be required to reach global targets and reverse setbacks resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. We estimated the impact of novel tuberculosis vaccines in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) in several delivery scenarios.MethodsWe calibrated a tuberculosis model to 105 LMICs (accounting for 93% of global incidence). Vaccine scenarios were implemented as the base-case (routine vaccination of those aged 9 years and one-off vaccination for those aged 10 years and older, with country-specific introduction between 2028 and 2047, and 5-year scale-up to target coverage); accelerated scale-up similar to the base-case, but with all countries introducing vaccines in 2025, with instant scale-up; and routine-only (similar to the base-case, but including routine vaccination only). Vaccines were assumed to protect against disease for 10 years, with 50% efficacy.FindingsThe base-case scenario would prevent 44·0 million (95% uncertainty range 37·2–51·6) tuberculosis cases and 5·0 million (4·6–5·4) tuberculosis deaths before 2050, compared with equivalent estimates of cases and deaths that would be predicted to occur before 2050 with no new vaccine introduction (the baseline scenario). The accelerated scale-up scenario would prevent 65·5 million (55·6–76·0) cases and 7·9 million (7·3–8·5) deaths before 2050, relative to baseline. The routine-only scenario would prevent 8·8 million (95% uncertainty range 7·6–10·1) cases and 1·1 million (0·9–1·2) deaths before 2050, relative to baseline.InterpretationOur results suggest novel tuberculosis vaccines could have substantial impact, which will vary depending on delivery strategy. Including a one-off vaccination campaign will be crucial for rapid impact. Accelerated introduction—at a pace similar to that seen for COVID-19 vaccines—would increase the number of lives saved before 2050 by around 60%. Investment is required to support vaccine development, manufacturing, prompt introduction, and scale-up