Cultivating Contextual Attributes in the Integration of Latin@ Educational Leadership

Although the Latino population is growing rapidly in the United States, there is a disproportionate paucity of literature on the perspectives and challenges of Latino/a educational leaders. Culturally aware educational leadership can help to improve retention and student engagement of Latino students. The purpose of this article is to explore the factors influencing the educational experience and perspective of Latino/a students and leaders to expand the understanding of Latinos within the education system. Identifying role models, creating network and professional development opportunities, as well as offering training programs are practices to enhance the training and expertise of Latino educational leaders. Implications and recommendations for practice and research are discussed

Personality and socio-institutional predictors of self-employment intentions among people with disabilities: An empirical investigation

As a minority group, people with disabilities (PWD) face many challenges when making a career choice and establishing vocational goals. Self-employment or entrepreneurship represents a viable, prevalent vocational option for people with disabilities (PWD). Owning a business, which offers flexibility, independence, earnings, and satisfaction, is a common vocational practice among PWD. This dissertation investigates the dynamic factors that influence entrepreneurial business formation among minority groups. Specifically, it evaluates the effect of personal, socio-cultural, and institutional factors on the entrepreneurial intentions of PWD. After controlling for age, minority status, educational level, type of disability and gender, the results highlight significant empirical support for the personal factors of proactive personality and entrepreneurial self-efficacy, the social factors of perceived social status and the presence of a role model, and the institutional variables of perceived resource support and perceived institutional support as predictors of the level of entrepreneurial intentions among PWD. These findings contribute to the understanding of the process of career choice and value of self-employment as a vocational option for PWD as well as to the research on minority entrepreneurship by detecting important personal, socio-cultural, and institutional predictors of entrepreneurial intentions. Rehabilitation professionals can increase their knowledge of the intricate career development process for PWD while identifying ways to improve services available for clients interested in self-employment. Understanding the factors impacting self-employment among PWD also helps to identify useful support systems, establish effective networks, and recognize potential policy and changes. In the entrepreneurial process for PWD, social and institutional support can greatly facilitate business creation by providing information, skills and support

Attitudes towards people with disabilities: a systematic Rreview of intervention effectiveness

The improvement of attitudes towards people with disabilities has led to studies focusing on the impact of interventions.  This review systematically analyzes and synthesizes the use of interventions to influence attitudes toward people with disabilities. A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases to identify studies that used an intervention in English with a defined assessment instrument meant to measure attitudinal changes toward people with disabilities. Based on a literature research, 32 studies conducted in fourteen different countries were included. In the majority of the cases, the use of interventions was an effective tool to improve attitudes towards disabilities. Implications of findings for practitioners and researchers are discussed

Undergraduate Research: An Essential Piece for Underrepresented Students\u27 College Success

Undergraduate research represents a high impact practice for higher education institutions to improve the college experience of underrepresented students. The integrative and mentoring aspects of undergraduate research can help to enhance the academic and social participation of underrepresented students. Undergraduate students provide opportunities for students to develop valuable skills for personal and professional growth. Specifically, participation in undergraduate research can foster work-related skills for underrepresented students for future career and interpersonal relationships. In this literature review, the benefits and perceived challenges for underrepresented students as well as institutional investment in undergraduate research are explored to potentially offer valuable information to increase the college success for historically marginalized college students

Assessing Companion Animal Attachment Among Future Latino Human Services Professionals

As the population of individuals from minoritized ethnic background continues to grow in the United States, the relationship between humans and their companion animals can provide valuable information for human services professionals. Attachment to companion animals can play a significant part in clients’ emotional well-being, family dynamics, and quality of life. This study aimed to examine the associations between human attachment with companion animals and their educational training and attitudes about animals. Analysis revealed that relational attachment was significant among Latino students in the study, and particpants’ positive attitudes and beliefs about animals significantly predicted their level of attachment to companion animals. Participants also reported having diverse species of companion animals that demanded different responsibilities. Considerations to enhance service delivery and educational preparation of future human services professionals have implications for humane education and improved client outcomes

Strategies and Barriers to Work Behavior Changes: Perceptions of Prevocational Rehabilitation Professionals

Adequate work behavior can increase job retention and job satisfaction for employees with disabilities. Employment modification strategies are practicable tools to address challenging work behavior negatively affecting employment of individuals with disabilities in rural areas. The purpose of this study was to conduct a phenomenological qualitative study of prevocational rehabilitation professionals in a focus group concerning rehabilitation services and training needs for rural vocational services for people with disabilities. Three themes emerged: (a) strategies to improve employment retention; (b) strategies to develop employment skills; and (c) barriers to the implementation of strategies provided. Results also suggested that training rehabilitation programs emphasize employment interventions to support employment opportunities and to understand characteristics of rural areas. Implications for vocational rehabilitation in rural areas included effective implementation using a person with a disability environment fit perspective, inclusion of identified themes in vocational rehabilitation curricula, and improvement of employment services

Let’s practice: Shaping crisis management of preservice counseling professionals

Counselors frequently encounter crises in practice with various factors shaping crisis management. However, limited preparation and training combined with personal and situational characteristics affect a counselors’ ability to properly handle a crisis. The purpose of the present study was to identify factors that could potentially affect the ability to handle a crisis in session among counselors-in-training and add to the understanding of self-efficacy in crisis counseling. The study consisted of participants enrolled in a practicum pre-service course in a CACREP accredited program. Results were analyzed through a narrative research approach, specifically a categorical-content narrative analysis, theory-driven thematic analysis and cross-case analysis was used to compare and contrast each point to identify common themes. Four predefined source of self-efficacy themes identified were performance experience, vicarious performances, verbal persuasion, and imaginal performance as well as three themes derived from narrative analysis: crisis management, practice self-care, and personal characteristics. Findings indicated participants’ exposure to a crisis in a counseling session demonstrated increases in perceived ability to effectively manage and work with a client experiencing a crisis. Participants, who attended to a real or fictional crisis, expressed a positive impact on their crisis counseling self-efficacy. Implications for counselor education and practitioners are discussed

Crisis counseling self- efficacy: Personal abilities and situational influences

Crises are unpredictable in nature and affect the general well-being of individuals. A proper crisis management foundation can prepare future counselors to effectively work with clients who are experiencing a crisis. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the perceptions of counselors-in-training (CIT) in relation to their anticipated crisis intervention abilities. This paper reports the results of qualitative focus groups of counselors in training. Participants reported perceived strengthens and limitations shaping their ability to handle a crisis. Counselor preparation offers opportunities to properly train culturally responsive providers for crisis management. Key words: Crisis counseling; self-efficacy; counselor educatio

Assessing Companion Animal Attachment Among Future Latino Human Services Professionals

As the population of individuals from minoritized ethnic background continues to grow in the United States, the relationship between humans and their companion animals can provide valuable information for human services professionals. Attachment to companion animals can play a significant part in clients’ emotional wellbeing, family dynamics, and quality of life. This study aimed to examine the associations between human attachment with companion animals and their educational training and attitudes about animals. Analysis revealed that relational attachment was significant among Latino students in the study, and participants’ positive attitudes and beliefs about animals significantly predicted their level of attachment to companion animals. Participants also reported having diverse species of companion animals that demanded different responsibilities. Considerations to enhance service delivery and educational preparation of future human services professionals have implications for humane education and improved client outcomes

Crisis counseling self- efficacy: Personal abilities and situational influences

Crises are unpredictable in nature and affect the general well-being of individuals. A proper crisis management foundation can prepare future counselors to effectively work with clients who are experiencing a crisis. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the perceptions of counselors-in-training (CIT) in relation to their anticipated crisis intervention abilities. This paper reports the results of qualitative focus groups of counselors in training. Participants reported perceived strengthens and limitations shaping their ability to handle a crisis. Counselor preparation offers opportunities to properly train culturally responsive providers for crisis management