Neutralism as pluralistic diverse history: government support for preservation stewardship of historic religious properties

Masters final project submitted to the Faculty of the Historic Preservation Program, School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, University of Maryland, College Park, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Historic Preservation. HISP 710/711 final project, 2014.America’s historically designated religious sites face a unique set of legal and financial preservation challenges. These properties tend to be financed through fluctuating membership and fundraising, and can be denied public preservation funding if violating the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. Beyond their evident architectural and historical significance, an economic impact analysis demonstrates the financial value of benefits these sites provide to the public. A historical analysis of related policy, statutory law, and judicial review reveals the development of neutralist Establishment Clause interpretation that allows public subsidized funds to be disbursed to religious institutions that are providing a secular charitable benefit as non-profit organizations. Two case study sites in Baltimore City demonstrate how public funds have been received by following best practices in secular use restriction and preservation management. Recommendations then propose legally defining, guiding, and potentially regulating the neutral disbursement of government preservation funds to historic sacred sites

Old Goucher neighborhood : strengthening a community identity through an exploration of the past

"University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation, Graduate Program in Historic Preservation, Fall 2013.

Catching Up on Health Outcomes: The Texas Medication Algorithm Project

OBJECTIVE: To develop a statistic measuring the impact of algorithm-driven disease management programs on outcomes for patients with chronic mental illness that allowed for treatment-as-usual controls to “catch up” to early gains of treated patients. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: Statistical power was estimated from simulated samples representing effect sizes that grew, remained constant, or declined following an initial improvement. Estimates were based on the Texas Medication Algorithm Project on adult patients (age≥18) with bipolar disorder (n=267) who received care between 1998 and 2000 at 1 of 11 clinics across Texas. STUDY DESIGN: Study patients were assessed at baseline and three-month follow-up for a minimum of one year. Program tracks were assigned by clinic. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: Hierarchical linear modeling was modified to account for declining-effects. Outcomes were based on 30-item Inventory for Depression Symptomatology—Clinician Version. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Declining-effect analyses had significantly greater power detecting program differences than traditional growth models in constant and declining-effects cases. Bipolar patients with severe depressive symptoms in an algorithm-driven, disease management program reported fewer symptoms after three months, with treatment-as-usual controls “catching up” within one year. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to psychometric properties, data collection design, and power, investigators should consider how outcomes unfold over time when selecting an appropriate statistic to evaluate service interventions. Declining-effect analyses may be applicable to a wide range of treatment and intervention trials