Cultivating Cubanidad : weaving a cultural nexus into Havana's urban fabric

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2007.Includes bibliographical references (p. 83-85).City-frameworks create an underlying system of order through which individuals are able to interact within their communities. Considering the successful historical precedents of city developments like Philadelphia, Savannah, and Bolonga, these cities exemplify the three different styles of city-frameworks (infrastructure, greenway, and architecture). Contemporary city-frameworks have increasingly embodied forms of development vocabulary, like the mega-block and the monument, which oppose the energy of present neighborhoods and oftentimes end up breaking up communities. Usually associated with these strategies is the desire to accommodate for tourism and gentrification at the expense of lower-class relocation. Taking this into consideration, in this thesis I propose an alternative strategy of development, one that is built from the success of past while recognizing the needs of the present. This strategy is developed by analyzing strong and weak city-frameworks. The lessons learned from this set of precedence is then shaped into seven rules of city-framework planning, accompanied by a set of comprehensible urban redevelopment vocabulary. Then to test adaptability, the development strategy is systematically employed in the context of Havana, Cuba, looking at the Central Havana neighborhood of Colon, as a design case study.by Tracy Lyn Wharton.M.Arch

Older, church-going African Americans’ attitudes and expectations about formal depression care

Journal articleThis phenomenological study involved focus groups with church-affiliated, African American women and men (N ¼ 50; ages 50 and older) in southeast Michigan to determine their attitudes and expectations around formal mental health care. Data analysis employed a constant comparative approach and yielded themes related to formal mental health care, along with delineating concerns about defining depression, health, and well-being. Health and wellbeing were defined as inclusive of physical and spiritual aspects of self. Churches have a central role in how formal mental health care is viewed by their attendees, with prayer being an important aspect of this care. Provider expectations included privacy and confidentiality; respect for autonomy and need for information, having providers who discuss treatment options; and issues related to environmental cleanliness, comfort, and accessibility. Implications include providing effective, culturally tailored formal depression care that acknowledges and integrates faith for this group.Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging ResearchNational Institutes of Health, 5P30 AG015281Program for Positive Aging at the University of Michigan Department of PsychiatryPeer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152349/1/Wharton Watkins Mitchell Kales 2018 Older Church going African Americans attitudes and expectations about formal depression care.pd

Perceptions and receptivity of nonspousal family support: A mixed methods study of psychological distress among older, church-going African American men

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of non-spousal family support on mental health among older, church-going African American men. The mixed methods objective was to employ a design that used existing qualitative and quantitative data to explore the interpretive context within which social and cultural experiences occur. Qualitative data (n=21) were used to build a conceptual model that was tested using quantitative data (n= 401). Confirmatory factor analysis indicated an inverse association between non-spousal family support and distress. The comparative fit index, Tucker-Lewis fit index, and root mean square error of approximation indicated good model fit. This study offers unique methodological approaches to using existing, complementary data sources to understand the health of African American men.Program for Positive Aging in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of MichiganNational Institutes of Health (5P30 AG015281)Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research, University of MichiganPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163977/1/Watkins et al_Perceptions and Receptivity of Nonspousal Family Support A Mixed Methods Study of Psychological Distress Among Older Church-Going African American Men.pdfDescription of Watkins et al_Perceptions and Receptivity of Nonspousal Family Support A Mixed Methods Study of Psychological Distress Among Older Church-Going African American Men.pdf : Main articl

Qualitative Research on Work-Family in the Management Field: A Review

Despite a proliferation of work-family literature over the past three decades, studies employing quantitative methodologies significantly outweigh those adopting qualitative approaches. In this paper, we intend to explore the state of qualitative work-family research in the management field and provide a comprehensive profile of the 152 studies included in this review. We synthesize the findings of qualitative work-family studies and provide six themes including parenthood, gender differences, cultural differences, family-friendly policies and non-traditional work arrangements, coping strategies, and under-studied populations. We also describe how findings of qualitative work-family studies compare to that of quantitative studies. The review highlights seven conclusions in the current qualitative literature: a limited number of qualitative endeavours, findings worth further attention, convergent foci, the loose use of work-family terminology, the neglect of a variety of qualitative research approaches, quantitative attitudes towards qualitative research, and insufficient reporting of research methods. In addition, implications for future researchers are discussed

Rigor, Transparency, And Reporting Social Science Research: Why Guidelines Don’T Have To Kill Your Story

Dissemination of research is the most challenging aspect of building the evidence base. Despite peer review, evidence suggests that a substantial proportion of papers leave out details that are necessary to judge bias, consider replication, or initiate meta-analyses and systematic reviews. Reporting guidelines were created to ensure minimally adequate reporting of research and have become increasingly popular since the 1990s. There are over 200 guidelines for authors to assist in reporting a range of study methodologies. Although guidelines are freely available, they are underutilized and there is criticism regarding assumptions about methodologies targeted by guidelines. As journal editors lean into endorsements, social work authors may benefit from considering guidelines appropriate for their work. This article explores pros and cons of guideline use by authors and journals and presents some suggestions for the field of social work, including assessment of whether profession-specific reporting guidelines are needed, and cautions regarding limitations

Relationships Among Caregiving, Income, Gender, And Health: A Cross-Sectional Examination Of A Representative Sample Of Older Americans

Although there is substantial evidence to support the effect of burden on caregivers, few studies have compared caregivers to their noncaregiving counterparts on the basis of health and well-being outcomes. This study examines the relationship between caregiving and health and whether other factors may have stronger influence on well-being measures. Using a nationally representative sample of older adults in the United States (N = 3,005), this study examines relationships between caregiving status, gender, and income, and 9 outcomes (self-rated physical and mental health, time since seeing a doctor, time since most recent pap smear or prostate-specific antigen [PSA] test, depression, loneliness, stress, anxiety), using logistic and linear regression models. Results support that paradoxically, caregiving was associated with increased likelihood of PSA test in male caregivers, although data also indicated higher levels of anxiety and stress, as might be expected. Income was associated with 8 of 9 outcomes, and gender predicted depression, anxiety, stress, and self-rated mental health. The study highlighted the importance of psychosocial stressors, such as income and gender, on the health outcomes of older adults who may be caregiving. Considering complexity of unique experience is necessary to accurately assess vulnerability to poor mental health or health-related outcomes

A Mixed-Methods Evaluation Of Social Work Learning Outcomes In Interprofessional Training With Medicine And Pharmacy Students

Social work has moved firmly into a need for partnership training models, as our newest Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards explicitly call for interprofessional education (IPE). Although IPE is not a new model, we have not been consistently involved in training partnerships. Three professional schools formed partnerships to provide IPE events for social work (n = 42), medicine (n = 108), and pharmacy (n = 49) students. Social work students showed positive change on a validated measure of attitudes and beliefs regarding interprofessional practice, and debriefing included rich discussions about challenges of communication and boundaries and perceptions of hierarchy and skills of other teammates in the context of case-based learning, guided by faculty from all three professions

Adapting An Interprofessional Training Model For Social Work Field Placements: An Answer For Better Mental Health Care Outreach For Older Adults In Primary Care

Professional shortages of geriatrically trained social workers pose a barrier to mental health care for older adults. Integrating graduate social work interns into primary care settings may increase the availability of trained social workers. However, few studies provide guidance on how to develop an interprofessional healthcare placement focused on the needs of older adults. This article discusses a model training program created by a psychology department (with input from social work faculty) that can be adapted by schools of social work. Client outcomes (n = 47) indicate significant improvement when using this model

The Familial Union between Caregivers and the Juvenile Justice System

This research describes an initial exploration of the phenomenon of caregivers’ learning of their child’s detention, an area of exploration that has little previous attention in the literature. This initial exploration was rooted in a desire to gain an understanding of the caregiver’s experience with both their family member (adjudicated juvenile) and the criminal justice system. A qualitative, phenomenological approach was used in this study to gain rich understanding into the lived experiences shared by twelve caregivers of youth being adjudicated in the juvenile justice system. Two overarching themes emerged from the data: 1) the system, with communication, fairness, and substitute parental provider as notable subthemes, and 2) the family, with family strength and relationship to support needs as a notable subtheme. Gaining insight into this critical point of family crisis has implications for intervention frameworks addressing family stability and support for long-term outcomes

Person-Centered Primary Care Strategies For Assessment Of And Intervention For Aggressive Behaviors In Dementia

With an increase in the number of individuals affected by dementia, it is imperative for health care providers to be well versed in the most effective ways to manage neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as aggression. Aggression can be particularly hard to manage because it creates risk of harm for formal and informal caregivers, and options for medical intervention are complex and situation dependent. Although multiple guidelines for management of aggression in dementia are available in the literature, their scope is widespread and suggested treatments often vary, making decision making difficult to navigate for busy clinicians. Using a composite case as a model, the current article provides guidelines that take outpatient providers through the steps needed to provide effective treatment for aggression in individuals with dementia. Shifting the current focal point of health care for aggressive dementia patients toward a more person-centered approach will have a positive impact on patient care