Previous studies, typically with children, have used delay-tolerance training to treat problem behavior maintained by access to tangibles. This often involves physical prompting and waiting rather than exchanging, two practices that may not be possible or relevant to adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). For many adults with ID in residential settings, exchanging items, rather than waiting per se, may be evocative for problem behavior. In the current study, I evaluated an exchange program to treat problem behavior maintained by access to tangibles for adults diagnosed with ID at a residential facility. I measured the latency to exchange low- and high-preference items following a request for the item and the individual's problem behaviors. Results demonstrated that the exchange program increased relinquishing of an item while decreasing the rate of problem behavior. This analysis provides another method to treat problem behavior maintained by access to tangibles for adults without using physical prompting.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)

Thesis (M.S.)--California State University, Dominguez Hills, 1998. / Typescript (photocopy). "Spring 1998." Includes bibliographical references (leaf 39) and abstract.

Legitimate and underground needle exchange programs, specifically targeted for intravenous drug users (IVDUs) (i.e., currently the second largest risk group in the AIDS epidemic), have emerged in various locales in a desperate attempt to change their drug use practices and behaviors associated with the transmission of HIV-1/AIDS. This study focuses on one such program, the Tacoma-Pierce County Needle Exchange Program, in which the pioneering efforts of a private individual are provided, the manifestations of public entrepreneurism are examined, and in which various attributes of program acceptance are identified and explored. An introductory and exploratory case study approach is the research strategy used in this dissertation, since it is adaptive and flexible to accommodate the use of multiple data sources. Data have been collected through semi-structured interviews involving four law enforcement personnel and 21 program clients (i.e., IVDUs), which consisted of open-and close-ended questions regarding program acceptance. Existing data sources, such as court documents, published interviews with key officials, journals, and various news articles provide an assessment of the events and activities that relate to the evolution and success of the Tacoma-Pierce County Needle Exchange Program. The attributes identified and explored in this study include: settings, type of staff, method of service delivery (including spillover effects), nature of the geographic area, concern over the effects of AIDS, external environmental conduits (the informal communication network and the media), and characteristics of program clients. These attributes were found to be important to program acceptance of the Tacoma-Pierce County Needle Exchange Program; however, they should be further examined in other communities to see if they remain important. To this extent, the findings indicated that needle exchange programs have complex characteristics attached to them, and that they deserve to be further studied to understand those complexities. Other benefits of the Tacoma-Pierce County Needle Exchange Program found to be important include: (1) fewer citizen complaints about the carelessly discarded, used syringes often found in gutters, parks, greenbelts, alleys, and streets; and (2) fewer reports of infections caused by accidental needle stick injuries among law enforcement personnel (which can occur when a law enforcement officer frisks a suspect), maintenance employees, and grounds-keepers. Overall, phenomenal savings can accrue from such unintentional and additional benefits of needle exchange programs. In light of this debilitating disease, and of the high cost associated with medical care, such innovative interventions are perceived worthy in the course of this deadly epidemic.

As a result of the proved correlation between gender inequality and armed conflict, the United Nations Security Council approved Resolution 1325 in the year 2000. In the implementation of resolution 1325 it is important to understand which levels and actors that can improve women’s role as decision makers in order to build sustainable peace. This thesis has analyzed the results that the YEPGSN between FENOCIN and SAL has had on the participants ability to improve women’s role as decision makers within FENOCIN and if the participants feels that FENOCIN empowered by the YEPGSN can be an important actor in the process to improve women’s roles in Ecuador from grass-root level. In order to understand the YEPGSN results, a field study was conducted in Ecuador and interviews were done with the participants in the YEPGSN. The empirical material was then tested against Lederachs theory on levels and actors in peace buildings processes in order to understand if the YEPGSN approach could be seen as an effective way to implement the resolution 1325 vision or not. The results showed that the view on women’s role as decision makers among the participants has changed from their experiences in Sweden and that they felt that the YEPGSN had empowered their role within FENOCIN. The participants also felt the they, through FENOCIN, can improve women’s role as decision makers in Ecuador from grass-root level. But that the results must be seen in a long term perspective and that more focus has to be put on implementation of the results. This result was closely linked with the theory on levels and actors in peace building processes. Therefore, the conclusion is that the model of YEPGSN can be seen as a approach to improve women’s role as decision makers on grass-root levels in line with Resolution 1325. / C-uppsats i Freds och Konfliktstudier

Bakgrund: Långvarigt drogbruk leder till negativa fysiologiska och psykologiska konsekvenser. Samsjuklighet, stigmatisering och abstinens är några anledningar till att patientgruppen fortsätter sitt drogbruk. Droginjicering är en av orsakerna till att blodsmittor sprids i samhället. Sprututbytesprogrammet är riktat till personer med intravenöst drogberoende och erbjuder remittering, sprututbyte, samtalskontakt och antidotpreparat. Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva patienters upplevelse av skadereduktion och påverkan påriskbeteende genom deltagande på sprututbytesprogrammet. Metod: En allmän litteraturstudie utgjordes av tio kvalitativa originalartiklar som analyserades tematiskt. Resultat: Tre huvudteman och sex subteman identifierades. Minskat riskbeteende med subtema egenvårdsförmåga och hjälp från flera håll. Ökad relationsbyggnad med subtema hälsofrämjande verksamhet och vårdmötet. Begränsade resurser med subtema fortsatt stigmatisering och när drogberoendet tar överhand. Slutsats: Sprututbytesprogrammet ökarkunskapen om riskbeteende, egenvårdsförmågan och hälsofrämjande livsstilsförändringar. Behandling, utbildning och en känsla av trygghet är viktiga komponenter för konsekvent deltagande på Sprututbytesprogrammet. Verksamheten ökar självkänslan hos patientgruppen till skillnad från annan hälso- och sjukvård och bidrar till att minska sociala klyftor mellan patientgruppen och övriga samhället. Fortsatt stigmatisering och strukturella hinder gör patientgruppen skör vilket belyser behovet av vidare forskning och utbildning för att kunna möta deras vårdbehov. / Background: Addictive disorders lead to negative physiological and psychological consequences. Comorbidity, stigmatization and abstinence are reasons for continued drug use. Intravenous drug use contributes to the spread of blood-borne diseases. The needle-exchange program targets intravenous drug users and offers referrals, needle-exchange, counselling and naloxone. Aim: The purpose was to describe patients' experience of harm reduction and the impact on risk behavior through participation in the syringe exchange program. Method: A literature study based on ten original qualitative articles that were thematically analysed. Result: Three main themes and six sub-themes were identified. Positive life-style change with sub-themes self-care ability and help from different directions. Relationship building with sub-themes health-promotion operations and care meeting. Limited resources with sub-themes continued stigmatization and when drug addiction takes over. Conclusion: Needle-exchange increase patients’ knowledge of risk behaviour, self-care, and positive life-style changes. Treatment, education, and safety are components for continued participation. The program increases self-esteem, and helps reduce the social divide between people with drug addiction and the rest of society. Our research revealed that there are obstacles to consider. Continued stigma and structural barriers make the patients fragile, which highlights the need for continued research and education to be able to meet their care needs.

Research questions were: 1: Will Drug Injectors Use An Exchange In A StateWhere Syringes Are Legal? 2: Will Drug Injectors Using An Exchange Decrease Risky Behavior? 3: Will Frequent Clients Change Risk Behaviors More Than Infrequent Clients? 4: Will Drug Injectors Using An Exchange Change Risk Behaviors More Than A Comparison Group Not Using An Exchange? 5: Does An Exchange Have An Impact On The Number Of Discarded Syringes On The Streets? 6: Is There A Difference In The Rate Of Spread Of HIV Infection Among Users And Non-Users Of The Exchange. Drug injectors will use needle exchange programs, even in a state where syringes are legal. During the first four years, nearly 2,000 drug injectors made approximately 16,000 visits to the Exchange. Clients of the Exchange reduced risky behavior from intake to six months. Change lasted over time: at twelve months, change in behaviors continued to be significant. Frequent users of the Exchange were better on two variables than infrequent users: they borrowed syringes less, and were less likely to use a syringe and throw it away. Drug injectors using the Exchange were compared to those not using the Exchange, but using a bleach/outreach project. Clients of both projects reduced risky behaviors, with Exchange clients better on two variables: re-using syringes without cleaning, and throwing away used syringes. The two projects attracted different drug injectors, and should be viewed as complementary rather than competing AIDS prevention strategies. The impact of the Exchange on the community was evaluated by the change in the number of discarded syringes found on the streets. The number of syringes found per month decreased from 5.14 before the Exchange opened to 1.9 after it began -- a significant side benefit. The data presented here support the growing evidence that needle exchange programs produce behavioral risk reductions, and that the number of potentially infected syringes in public places can be reduced.

The European Union, viewing itself as a normative actor, employs various means to disseminate its normative power within its member states, candidate countries, and the global context. The ERASMUS+ program comprises one of the tools designed to enhance the EU's international presence by facilitating cross-cultural interactions among participants and fostering group affiliations. This study aims to explore this impact on ERASMUS+ participants from EU candidate countries like Albania, employing constructivist concepts. By conducting interviews with both mobile and non-mobile Albanian exchange students, leading a comparative analysis, this research seeks to offer deeper insights into the extent to which the normative power of the EU influences these participants and their European identity formation. The guiding hypothesis, that participating in an ERASMUS+ program successfully shifts the identities of the students towards a more pro-European stance, has been verified through the discourse analysis of the interviewees answers. Hence, the normative power of the European Union is present and strengthened through this tool in the candidate countries.

This study explores how hosting an international exchange youth influences families. Participants in the study took part in a four-week summer exchange by hosting a middle school aged Japanese youth through the Kentucky 4-H/Labo program. Labo is a Japanese club program that encourages youth to learn about American culture through international travel. As society becomes more globalized, the skills and abilities associated with international travel are increasingly important (Anderson, Lawton, Rexeisen & Hubbard, 2006). Hosting international youth through exchange programs is one method of developing these skills and abilities. This qualitative study uses thematic analysis to analyze three primary data sources. These were in-depth, semi-structured interviews (n = 20), program evaluation, and lifeline interview methodology graphs. This study explored the gap left by prior research by being concerned with families who have hosted an exchange youth for a short period of time. Previous research has focused on long-term exchanges, individuals and Americans traveling abroad. From this analysis, seven major themes were identified. These include (a) challenges of communication, (b) anxiety of program participants, (c) belief in a privileged experience, (d) personal growth, (e) familial relationship development, (f) feelings of loss upon departure, and (g) increased appreciation of home and foreign cultures. Two outlying themes of (a) father made a surprising contribution to hosting the exchange youth and (b) idealization of Japan were included for the additional context of understanding they provided. These findings offer insights into the efficacy of these programs as well as how they benefit the family. The findings, implications for program managers and potential areas for future research are discussed.

Na sociedade contemporânea, mudanças tecnológicas, políticas e econômicas têm favorecido a mobilidade das pessoas, dando-lhes oportunidade de acesso à informação e à formação além-fronteiras, implicando o contato de culturas e línguas, promovendo nova configuração não apenas dos espaços como dos próprios sujeitos. A mobilidade estudantil, como ação de internacionalização do ambiente universitário, vem crescendo com a assinatura de convênios de cooperação. Diante desse cenário bastante favorável e das possíveis questões concernentes à apropriação de uma língua-cultura estrangeira, decorrentes desse deslocamento geográfico, cultural e linguístico, interessamo-nos em olhar para esse público e refletir acerca da relação sujeito-língua-identidade que se promoveria nesse contexto. Partimos da hipótese de que a língua estrangeira, ao ser vivenciada em imersão, modifica-se e modifica o próprio aprendiz. O que motiva um estudante a escolher o Brasil para intercâmbio e a aprender a língua portuguesa (LP)? Que representações tem da LP? O intercâmbio interfere nessas representações? O aprendizado da língua estrangeira interfere no processo identitário desse falante? A fim de elucidar essas questões, iniciamos pesquisa de campo junto a intercambistas francófonos na Universidade de São Paulo, indagando-os sobre sua autobiografia linguageira (BARONI e JEANNERET, 2011; BRETEGNIER, 2011; THAMIN e SIMON, 2011; JEANNERET, 2010; MOLINIÉ, 2006) por meio de questionários e entrevistas, seguindo uma abordagem compreensiva (BERTAUX, 2001; KAUFMANN, 1996). Os resultados evidenciam mudanças na identidade desses sujeitos-aprendizes por conta da vivência social da LP no contexto imersivo. O aspecto predominantemente destacado como propulsor de uma integração maior desse sujeito à língua e à cultura local foi, primeiramente, o sentimento de ser bem acolhido pelos nativos e considerado por eles como alguém que pode participar da comunidade linguística. Em seguida, uma conduta não de simples turista, mas de quem se propõe a conhecer e a se familiarizar com a língua e cultura-alvo foi também importante para essa inserção. Assim, o relacionamento positivo com o brasileiro e a tomada de decisão do EU em buscar conhecer esse Outro são cruciais para se poder falar a LP, que é, ao mesmo tempo, alvo e meio dessa interação. Poder falar significa ser autorizado pelo nativo e se autorizar a falar em primeira pessoa na língua estrangeira (REVUZ, 2001), causa e efeito da adesão à língua e do aperfeiçoamento de competências linguísticas, sociais e culturais alcançados. Benefícios esses tão caros aos aprendizes que eles temem perder, ao retorno, o que conquistaram e se sentem impulsionados a ser um propagador, um articulador entre o lá e o aqui para que outros tenham experiência semelhante. Desse modo, o intercâmbio potencializa a vivência com e por meio da língua-alvo e permite aos sujeitos serem valorados como alguém que fala português e a ocupar um entre-espaço, reconfigurando-se constantemente. Igualmente, a narração de sua autobiografia linguageira com a língua portuguesa e da experiência vivida no Brasil, permite-lhes construir uma nova percepção de si. Com isso, o intercâmbio é colocar-se em outro espaço, ver-se de outra forma pelo contato com o outro (portanto, há um deslocamento simbólico e não apenas geográfico) para o que o exercício da língua portuguesa in loco foi fundamental. / In contemporary society, technological, political and economic changes have benefited the mobility of people, providing them access to information and training across borders, implying the contact of cultures and languages, promoting a new configuration not only of the spaces as of the subjects themselves. Student mobility, as an action of internationalization at the university environment, has been growing with the signing of cooperation agreements. In view of this quite favorable context and the possible questions concerning the appropriation of a foreign language resulting from this geographic-cultural and linguistic movement, we are interested in observing this audience and reflecting on the subject-language-identity that would be risen in this perspective. Our hypothesis is that the foreign language, when being experienced in immersion, may be modified and modify the apprentice. What motivates a student to choose Brazil for exchange and to learn Portuguese (PL)? Which representations do the apprentices have of the PL? Does the exchange interfere with these representations? How does the learning of the foreign language interfere in the identity process of this speaker? In order to clarify these issues, we began field research with francophone exchange students at the University of São Paulo, asking them about their personal langage biography (BARONI e JEANNERET, 2011; BRETEGNIER, 2011; THAMIN e SIMON, 2011; JEANNERET, 2010; MOLINIÉ, 2006) through questionnaires and interviews, following a comprehensive approach (BERTAUX, 2001; KAUFMANN, 1996). The results evidenced changes in the identity of these subjects-learners because of the social experience of the PL in the immersive context. The appearance predominantly featured as the propellant for greater integration of this subject to the language and local culture was the feeling of being welcomed by the natives and considered by them as one participant in the linguistic community. A personal conduct not just as a common tourist, but of those who propose to get to know and become familiar with the target language and culture is also crucial for this insertion. Thus, the positive relationship with Brazilians and the decision-making of the University Student in seeking to know this Other are crucial to being able to speak the PL which is at the same time the target and a mean of this interaction. Being able to speak means to be authorized by the native and self-authorizing to speak in first person in the foreign language (REVUZ, 2001), cause and effect of adherence to the language and the enhancement of language skills, social and cultural competences, which are so cherished to apprentices who fear, when return home, lose what they have conquered and feel driven to be a propagator, an articulator between there and here, so that others have similar experience. The exchange enhances the experience with and through the target language, allowing the subjects to be valued as someone who \"speaks Portuguese\" and to occupy an inter-space, constantly reconfiguring themselves. By the narration of their linguistic autobiography with the PL and of their experience in Brazil, these apprentices construct a new perception of themselves. Therefore, the exchange is to put yourself in another space. It is to be seen in another way by the contact with the other (thus there is a symbolic displacement and not only a geographic one) for which the exercise of the Portuguese language in loco was essential.