<p> The conditions that allowed early MFTs the freedom to creatively explore different interventions and theories of change are no longer available in today&rsquo;s mental health care system. Although there are many benefits to the structure of managed behavioral healthcare organizations, a thorough review of the literature demonstrates that many therapists working in managed care agencies struggle with maintaining their theoretical creativity, claiming third-party payers&rsquo; service requirements and paperwork a barrier to their creativity. A phenomenological transcendental research method was utilized to understand the phenomenon of successfully combining creativity and accountability in the practice of marriage and family therapy from the perspective of six creative MFTs who have effectively incorporated creative therapeutic techniques into their work, while adhering to the structured requirements of managed care. </p><p> The findings and themes of the study were organized into two categories. The themes in the Textural / Content Category (description and purpose of therapeutic creativity at a managed care agency) are: (1) Creatively combining the needs of the clients, the different professional entities, insurance companies and you as a therapist, (2) Translating post-modern information into the medical model language that meets the third-party payers&rsquo; requirements, (3) Completing documentation with clients, (4) Incorporating technique from a range of therapy models, (5) Keeping clients engaged through a variety of resources and activities, and (6) Utilizing metaphors and themes to uncover patterns of relational dynamics and behaviors. The themes in the Structural / Supportive Conditions Category (factors that allow the balance of creativity and accountability to occur) are: (1) Systemic understanding of how the therapeutic and business systems of managed behavioral healthcare interact together, (2) Having a supportive network of colleagues, (2a) Supportive group of coworkers within the job setting, (2b) Supportive network of MFT colleagues outside of the work setting, (3) Desire to make a difference in peoples&rsquo; lives, (4) Continuous education on all aspects of the mental health field, (5) Employers&rsquo; support of creative therapy, (6) Self-reflection, (7) Self-care, and (8) Organization and time management.</p>

<p> This study examines the impact adult supervision, role models, and civic engagement has on the health status of adolescents. The dependent variable was health status of adolescents. The independent variables were adult supervision, role models, and civic engagement. The results revealed that adult supervision is related to the health status among adolescents. Specifically, adolescents whose parents were married are more likely to report excellent to very good health. Adolescents who do not live with both parents are more likely to report that they feel hopeless and restless. One of the most consistent predictors of adolescent health status in the area of adult supervision was frequency of an adult around after school hours. Another consistent predictor of health status among this population was gender. Being female was related to worse health status among adolescents. Role model was also a predictor of excellent to very good health status among adolescents.</p>

<p> The purpose of the proposed qualitative phenomenological research study was to determine the lived experiences of emergency department nurses involved in family presence during resuscitation events. The phenomenological research study added to the current knowledge about family presence during resuscitation by examining an emergency department nurse&rsquo;s past experiences with family presence during resuscitation and the impact they have on their decision to allow family presence in future events. The information can assist health care leaders in understanding the perceptions of emergency department nurses regarding family presence and assist in developing guidelines regarding family presence during resuscitation. The data collected also helped to identify factors which influence the nurse&rsquo;s feelings about the practice and to overcome resistance to the practice.</p>

<p> Objective: Although externalizing behavior problems are the most common problems in childhood, most remain untreated. Identifying factors related to treatment use can help close the gap between need and utilization. This study examined how the severity of a child's behavioral symptoms moderates the relationship between parents' perceptions of treatment effectiveness and the likelihood of using offered treatments. </p><p> Method: Participants were 182 parents of three to eight year old children attending primary care pediatric visits in five Midwestern community-based practices. Parents completed questionnaires rating the perceived effectiveness of the treatment, likelihood of utilizing the treatment, and the Pediatric Symptom Checklist. </p><p> Results: Separate linear regressions were conducted for four treatment types. Child behavior moderated the relationship between parental perceived effectiveness and likelihood to use prescription medication, <i>p </i> &lt; .05. Parents of children with more severe behavior problems were more likely to use prescription medication than parents of children without severe behavior problems, and likelihood to use prescription medication had a weaker relationship with believing it will work than for other parents. For parents of children with less severe behavior problems, belief in the effectiveness of prescription medication was positively associated with likelihood to use. All other regressions were not significant. </p><p> Discussion: The impact of perceived effectiveness of prescription medication on likelihood to use it varies depending on the severity of a child's behavioral symptoms. Parents of children without a clinically-significant behavior problem need to believe in prescription medication's effectiveness in order to increase their likelihood to use it.</p>

In South Africa, which has the largest HIV infected population world-wide, more than 5 million individuals presently live with HIV and AIDS (Evian, 2002:20; LINAIDS, 2004:19). These HIV-infected patients in turn affect the family structure within which they find themselves in a specific community. According to Saleeby (1992:54) and Barnett and Blaikie (1992:34), several families in South Africa are affected by the challenges posed by AIDS. This research forms part of the group research project, Tswaragano, which deals with an investigation into the competencies, abilities and strengths of the family of the HIV-positive patient while supporting the patient at home (Wessels, 2003:54). Problems such as unemployment, poverty, crime and changed demands in the community where these families live and increased challenges place a tremendous amount of stress on the families (Saleeby, 1992:54; Barnett & Blaikie, 1992:34). A vicious circle of AIDS and poverty is clearly confirmed and it has been found that people who live with HIV and AIDS need more support than health care alone (Booysen et al,. 2004:817-826). It is evident from the literature that, although information regarding HIV and AIDS is conveyed during pre- and post-HIV and AIDS test counselling, the transmission of information is not necessarily successful (Parker et al., 1998:18). A question which hence arises is whether the HIV positive patient and his family who support him at home fully grasp the necessary information. Greeff and Du Plessis (2001:2) confirm that health workers in the North-West Province do not convey the information effectively. Several factors probably contribute to defective information transfer between the health worker and the patient. One factor is that if the environment within which information is conveyed is not comfortable and mutual respect and trust between the health worker and the HIV positive patient is limited, the interpretation of information on HIV and AIDS is impaired (Allender & Spratley, 2001:163). A further aspect that should be taken into consideration is that HIV and AIDS-related information can be understood and internalised by the HIV positive patient in different ways, since several interpretation possibilities exist for information that is conveyed (Parker et al., 1998:20). Health workers who convey the information to the patient does however not always determine whether the HIV positive patient understands and internalises the information correctly (Parker et al., 1998:21). The facts mentioned above not only limit the HIV positive patient's understanding but also eventually the understanding of the family who have to support the HIV positive patient at home, regarding HIV and AIDS. The family can be seen as a primary core support resource for the HIV positive patient (Uys, 1999:2), and limited understanding impairs support at home (Hartman, 1981:10). With this is meant that the family is the "social service agency in meeting the social, educational and health care needs" of its members. The aim of this research was to investigate and describe the understanding of the HIV positive patient and the family regarding HIV and AIDS-related information. Guidelines were formulated to promote the understanding of the family of the HIV positive patient regarding HIV and AIDS-related information with the view to empower the family of the HIV positive patient in order to be able to support the patient at home. The research design was quantitative and descriptive by nature. It entails a pilot study in the Kagiso district, Vryburg area (Bophirima) of the North-West Province. The actual research study was performed in the Primary Health Clinics in the Potchefstroom district of the southern area of the North-West Province. Purposive sampling was performed (Burns & Grove, 2001:376; Brink, 1996:141; Abramson & Abramson, 1999:70; Bainbridge, 1989:46). Selected health workers acted voluntarily as go-betweens to identify HIV positive patients and their families who are prepared to participate in the research and who answer to the criteria, and to assist in filling out the questionnaires. The questionnaires were analysed by means of the frequency method with the assistance of the Statistical Consultation Services of the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus and reported on by means of tables and graphs (Brink, 1996:499; Burns & Grove, 1997:430). From the research it was found that, although information transfer regarding HIV and AIDS does take place, there still are many voids in respect of the understanding of this information and this pertains to HIV positive patient as well as the families. The researcher has come to the conclusion that the proposed guidelines in order to empower families of the HIV-positive patients to support these patients at home therefore is obvious and important. Furthermore, the researcher is of opinion that families midst the difficult circumstances will realise their own strengths if they could acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. Recommendations were made for nursing education, for the practice of the community nurse as well as for nursing research. Guidelines were formulated to empower the family of the HIV positive patient to be able to support the patient at home. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

<p> The goal of this project was to create a grant proposal and identify a potential funding source to develop a holistic mentoring program for foster youth in one non-profit organization in Long Beach, California. A thorough literature review identified risk factors for foster youth and identified evidence-based mentoring programs that the grant writer used to design a holistic mentoring program for foster youth. The Foundation Directory's on-line database at the Long Beach Non-Profit Partnership identified the Dwight Stuart Youth Foundation as the best funding source for this project. A grant was then written to support a holistic mentoring program at Power 4 Youth in Long Beach, California. The actual submission of this grant was not a requirement for the successful completion of the project.</p>

<p> The purpose of this project was to locate a potential funding source and write a grant to provide support and services to emancipated foster youth that will enable youth to obtain self-sufficiency and a healthy lifestyle. Emancipated foster youth experience many challenges once they exit the foster care system. The proposed program will give them an opportunity to increase their ability to live independently. An extensive literature review was performed to investigate the best ways to assist emancipated foster youth with addressing their needs such as housing, employment, education, social support, safe sex practices and mental health concerns. A search was conducted to locate an appropriate funder for this program.</p><p> California Community Foundation is the funder that was chosen to fund this program. This foundation is committed to assisting transition aged youth attain self-sufficiency. The program will provide support and services to emancipated foster youth in the city of Los Angeles, California. </p>

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 201-208). Also available via World Wide Web.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ., 2003. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

A proposta de Reforma Psiquiátrica vem modificando a assistência ao portador de transtorno mental nas últimas décadas. Com a desinstitucionalização do doente mental, emergem novos paradigmas com grandes desafios a todos os atores sociais envolvidos na construção da cidadania e na busca da reabilitação psicossocial. Surgem novos conceitos do processo saúde-doença, novas redes de assistência, alocação de recursos como também a implantação de Centros de Atenção Psicossocial CAPS e ainda diretrizes do Ministério da Saúde determinando que as ações, no campo da saúde mental, sejam realizadas na atenção básica, ou seja, nas Unidades Básicas de Saúde (UBS) e por meio da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF). A ESF passa a ser uma importante ferramenta no processo saúde-doença no que diz respeito ao cuidado integral do ser humano visando à promoção, prevenção, proteção e recuperação tanto das doenças físicas, sociais quanto mentais. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é compreender as necessidades da ESF para desenvolver as ações de saúde mental na comunidade e identificar as ações desenvolvidas pelas equipes da ESF frente aos portadores de transtornos mentais e seus familiares. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, que foi desenvolvida por meio de entrevista semiestruturada realizada com os membros das equipes da ESF, as entrevistas foram gravadas e transcritas na íntegra para análise. O material foi analisado por meio da Análise Discurso sob a ótica do referencial teórico do materialismo histórico e dialético. Emergiram das entrevistas três categorias: Processo Saúde Doença-Mental; Família; Processo de Trabalho. Os discursos dos informantes revelaram que os profissionais ESF mantêm a prática da psiquiatria tradicional centrado nas consultas, na medicação e nos exames, sendo esse o principal instrumento para a produção de saúde, e exercício das práticas destes profissionais está baseado no diagnóstico psiquiátrico; é incipiente o numero de profissionais que se mobiliza a desenvolver ações voltas ao acolhimento e a escuta; realizam atividades grupais e relatam que existe a necessidade de ampliar seus conhecimentos na área de saúde mental. / The proposed Psychiatric Reform has changed how mental health patients have been assisted in recent decades. With the deinstitutionalization of mental health patients, new paradigms have emerged offering great challenges to all social actors involved in constructing citizenship and to the search for psychosocial rehabilitation. New concepts of the health-disease process have appeared, along with new assistance networks, allocation of resources, as well as the creation of Psychosocial Care Centers CAPS, and Health Ministry guidelines stipulating that actions in the mental health field be undertaken at the basic care level at Basic Health Units (UBS) and through the Family Health Strategy (ESF). ESF has become an important tool in the health-disease process with regard to integral care aiming for the promotion, prevention, protection and recovery of physical, social and mental illness. Thus, the objective of this work is to comprehend the needs of ESF to develop mental health actions in the community and identify the actions developed by ESF teams with regard to mental health patients and their relatives. It is a qualitative research, to be developed through semi-structured interviews with members of the ESF teams; the interviews were recorded and fully transcribed for analysis. O material foi analisado por meio da Análise Discurso sob a ótica do referencial teórico do materialismo histórico e dialético. The material was analyzed through discourse analysis under the theoretical framework of historical and dialectical materialism. Three categories emerged from the interviews: Health-Mental Illness process; Family; Work Process. The discourses of the informants revealed that ESF professionals keep traditional psychiatric practice centered on consultations, medication and exams, making it the main tool for health production, with the exercise of these professionals practice based on psychiatric diagnosis; the number of professionals who mobilize to develop actions focusing on welcoming and listening is still incipient; they perform group activities and report the need to broaden their knowledge on the field of mental health.