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This comparative case study examines the organizational variations in refugee services in Dallas and Amarillo, Texas. Engaging sociological theories of organizations, migration, and the state, this study conceptualizes immigrant-serving organizations as brokers that operate within fields of similar entities that channel resources and services to refugees. Drawing on 60 in-depth interviews and over two hundred hours of participant observation, this study finds two distinct models of resource brokerage. In Dallas, immigrant-serving organizations operated as networked resource brokers, characterized by high levels of collaboration, robust local political support, and community engagement through consistent volunteer labor. These characteristics facilitated the sharing of resources and knowledge, resulting in the establishment of more professionalized services for immigrants and refugees. In contrast, immigrant-serving organizations in Amarillo operated as atomized resource brokers, characterized by fragmented collaborations, inter-organizational competition, limited volunteer labor, and varying levels of political support from local representatives. This atomized brokerage model hindered the efficient allocation of resources and support, leading to fragmented and less comprehensive services for refugees. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the variations within the organizational fields of ISOs in Texas. The comparative analysis of Dallas and Amarillo offers a nuanced understanding of the impact of local context on the provision of refugee services. The research contributes to academic knowledge in the fields of migration, organizations, and the state, and has practical implications for policymakers, ISO workers, advocates, and scholars in Texas and beyond.

Contemporary military conflicts are not likely to occur between states but rather within states. Recent examples, such as the ongoing Chechen-Russian war, Kosovar resistance to Serbian ethnic-cleansing, Mayan (Zapatistas) autonomy claims in Mexico, and the Ogoni struggle for land control in Nigeria testify to the diversity and scope of ongoing state versus nation conflicts. Since most states "host" several ethnonational or indigenous groups within their borders, an examination of the conditions under which internal geopolitical faultlines (or historical/cultural divisions) transform into militarized disputes is warranted. Several theories of separatism guide the two general research questions for this project. First, what prompts some separatist groups to demand secession from the host state(s) while other groups seek greater autonomy within the host state(s)? Second, what specific group characteristics contribute to a separatist group's involvement in intrastate war? Using logistic regression analysis, the findings suggest that when a group is highly concentrated on the homeland, is represented by a political party, and has more than one host state, groups tend to demand exit over autonomy. Also, political parties appear to be a very important indicator in determining a separatist group's mobilization toward intrastate war, essentially exposing ethnonationalist faultlines and further dividing the electorate. Finally, high group concentration can lead to involvement in interstate crises, which demonstrates how intrastate conflicts can transcend state borders. Specific conflict resolution techniques are offered in conclusion to promote accommodation by both separatist groups and host states. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of determining acculturation in a Deaf Navajo Indian through an assessment of art work, accompanying narratives, and interview data. It was concluded that the cultural characteristics of the subject examined in this case study were reflected in his art work and stories, with his Navajo identity revealed as the primary cultural affiliation. Interview data indicated the presence of a significant, albeit less predominant, Deafness cultural affiliation that was not notably reflected in the art pieces or accompanying narratives. Art therapy alone was not established as a reliable medium through which to assess acculturation. However, used in concert with the interview and the subject's own narratives, art therapy proved to be of value in the assessment of acculturation patterns in a Deaf Navajo Indian.

An exploratory descriptive design was used to investigate older healthy Hispanic women's beliefs about breast cancer. A secondary analysis of a database from a larger study dealing with Hispanic and Anglo women's knowledge of breast cancer and use of breast cancer screening was conducted. Using Orem's theory of self-care and self-care deficit as the framework, and content analysis, data were obtained from a two part question of the original 63 item questionnaire. A major finding was that hopelessness/powerlessness received the largest number of responses, especially from the youngest subjects, 50 to 69 years old. The seventy year olds had the largest number of responses in the acceptance category, while the eighty year olds had the largest in the denial category. The results supported the importance of culturally relevant and sensitive nursing practice. Reasons for older healthy Hispanic women's beliefs about breast cancer are discussed as well as recommendations for nursing practice and future research.

The incidence of HIV infection has been increasing among Hispanic women at an alarming rate. An assessment was conducted concerning attitudes and behaviors about sex and safe sex practices of 28 young Hispanic women attending an alternative education program in South Tucson, Arizona. This study sought to discover if relationships exist between: HIV education and safe sex practices; level of acculturation and safe sex practices; and attitudes and safe sex practices. Findings were inconclusive regarding the association between level of acculturation and safe sex practices. HIV transmission knowledge does not appear to influence safe sex practices. However, several of the attitudes investigated do appear to influence safe sex practices.

"A coyote in the outer world" is an observational exploration by an American Indian about the influences of culture change upon his own ancient Navajo traditions since 1868. The colonial model of an authoritarian bureaucratic state of faceless disempowered citizens serves as the abrupt change-agent for native and native American culture since circa 1780. Observations, opinions and culture specific models exemplify the culture-specific oral traditions contained in the complex mythologies, interpersonal theosophies and wisdom of the Navajo's kin-based community. Also included are strategies for self-definition that help distinguish between and revitalize one's ancient ancestral and contemporary historic oral traditions. Conveying American Indian perspectives about culture based self-definition in the United States reiterates that the Coyote is actively utilizing methodologies appropriate to his native perspective and acknowledges the dearth of scientific buttressing of culture specific observations.

The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions of African-Americans in the Southwest with regard to police, crime, and safety. As part of a larger study of a 12,500 sample of White, Asian, Hispanic, American Indian, and African-Americans, a questionnaire was mailed to 5,000 randomly sampled African-Americans, stratified by gender, age, State of residence, and area of residence. Frequency analyses, t-test analyses, and ANOVA analyses, were conducted. Results indicated that African-American males had more positive attitudes toward safety than females. Also noted was that the age group of 60+ had more positive attitudes toward police than other age groups (18-25, 26-40, 40-60), as well as a better awareness of community policing than the age group of 18-25.

Value-expectancy theory was used with 32 Mexican-American women to investigate whether the likelihood of following cancer screening guidelines was a function of perceived effectiveness and difficulty of the behaviors. Participants used magnitude estimation techniques to rate 10 recommended cancer screening behaviors with respect to perceived effectiveness, difficulty, and likelihood of adoption. Standard correlation and regression analysis were conducted on the means of the natural logs of the raw scores. Results indicated both perceived effectiveness and perceived difficulty were significant predictors of likelihood of taking action (R² =.71, p ≤ .005). Unlike previous Anglo samples in which effectiveness was not a significant factor in intent to act, this group of Mexican-American women gave approximately equal importance to effectiveness and difficulty. A curvilinear relationship between difficulty and likelihood is common to this and all previous studies: the sharply decelerating curve indicates that likelihood decreases rapidly with increasing difficulty.

This study explored the most critical problems encountered by Mexican-American women in professional careers. These women were employed in art, science, engineering, education, medicine, law, writing, and administrative and managerial specialties. Both single (N = 38) and married (N = 33) women participated in this study. There were no restrictions on age, number of years on the job, or educational level. A questionnaire designed by the researcher was used to gather information on the subjects. The questionnaire was divided into three parts: Part 1 solicited demographic information, Part 2 addressed issues encountered in the workplace, and Part 3 examined issues encountered at home. Findings from the study indicated that the most critical problems encountered by Mexican-American women in the workplace included the "Superwoman complex," being the "only," and establishing legitimacy. At home, crucial issues consisted of the Superwoman complex, self-imposed guilt/torment, and family pressure. Additional questions revealed critical problems encountered by these women.