Introdução: A implantação do Programa de Controle da Hanseníase (PCH) na Atenção Primária à Saúde, no Brasil nomeada Atenção Básica (AB), é uma das principais estratégias para o controle da doença em países endêmicos. Este estudo avaliou a implantação do PCH na rede de serviços da AB em Aracaju-Sergipe. Métodos: Trata-se de uma pesquisa avaliativa da vertente da avaliação de programas de saúde. A análise do contexto foi realizada por meio de entrevistas semi-estruturadas com gerentes de serviços e outros informantes-chave. Na avaliação do desempenho foram comparadas as características dos casos notificados no período pósimplantação (2001-2007) nos serviços de AB e na Unidade de Referência (UR) serviço especializado \"tradicional\". Para avaliação dos efeitos da implantação no Município foram calculados indicadores epidemiológicos e operacionais anuais. As características clínicas e epidemiológicas dos casos foram comparadas entre os períodos pré-implantação (1996-2000) e pósimplantação (2001-2007) utilizando-se qui-quadrado com nível de significância 5%. Todos os cálculos foram baseados nos dados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). Resultados: A municipalização do sistema de saúde e a simultânea implantação da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) na AB foram fatores determinantes para a implantação do PCH na rede de serviços da AB. Foram diagnosticados 780 casos no período pré-implantação. O diagnóstico de 1.469 se deu no pós-implantação, dos quais, 699 (47,58%) e 693 (47,17%), respectivamente, na AB e UR. A partir de 2001 houve aumento progressivo do número de casos notificados na AB que, de 2004 a 2007, manteve-se como principal local de notificação. O aumento do número de casos ocorreu simultaneamente à ampliação do número de equipes da ESF. Foram verificados na AB e na UR predomínio de diagnóstico por demanda espontânea, baixas taxas de avaliação de incapacidades e de vigilância de contatos. No período pós-implantação observou-se aumento de: taxas de detecção geral e em menores de 15 anos; proporções de casos com grau de incapacidade avaliado ao diagnóstico, de 60,9% para 78,8% (p < 0.001); alta por cura, de 41,41% para 44,42% (p < 0,023); casos detectados por exame de contatos, de 2,05% para 4,08% (p < 0,001); e diminuição do abandono de tratamento, de 5,64% para 3,35% (p < 0,008). Os gerentes locais, responsáveis pelos serviços da AB, afirmam ter pouca atuação no PCH, o que atribuem à ausência de capacitação em ações de hanseníase. Conclusão: As oscilações verificadas nas taxas de detecção acompanham a tendência nacional, sugerindo que a implantação do PCH nos serviços de AB incrementou o acesso ao diagnóstico e ao tratamento. A redução do número de casos de abandono do tratamento indica alguma melhora na retenção dos pacientes. Insuficiências pré-existentes em ações de controle e vigilância persistiram no período pós-implantação\". As ações de hanseníase desenvolvidas na AB são conduzidas essencialmente por enfermeiros e médicos da ESF que atuam de modo isolado e independente das gerências locais, cujo trabalho é centrado em atividades-meio. Muitas dificuldades e barreiras à adequada implantação do PCH são comuns a outras ações programáticas dentro da rede de AB. / Introduction: Integrating a Leprosy Control Programme (PCH) into Primary Health Care (AB) is one the main strategies for controlling the disease in endemic countries. The aim of this study was to assess the integration of a PCH into the network of AB services in Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil. Methods: This study entailed a survey assessing the outcome of health programmes. Analysis was carried out by semi-structured interviews with managers of services and other key informants. Performance assessment entailed comparative analysis of characteristics of cases notified during the \"post-integration\" period (2001-2007) within the AB services versus those at the Reference Unit (UR) providing a traditional specialized epidemiological service. The effects of integration in the Municipality were assessed based on annual epidemiological and operational indicators. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of cases for the \"pre-integration\" (1996-2000) and \"post-integration\" (2001-2007) periods were compared using the Chisquared test adopting a 5% level of significance. All calculations were based on data from the Brazilian Disease Notification System (SINAN). Results: The municipalization of the health system along with simultaneous implementation of the Family Health Strategy (ESF) in AB, were determining factors for integration of the PCH into the network of AB services. A total of 780 cases were diagnosed during the \"pre-integration\" period versus 1,469 during the \"post-integration\" period. Of these latter cases, 699 (47.58%) were registered in AB and 693 (47.17%) at the UR. From 2001, there was a steady rise in the number of cases notified in AB, which between 2004 and 2007 remained the leading source of notifications. The rise in the number of cases occurred in parallel with an increase in the number of ESF teams. In both AB and at the UR, a predominance of diagnoses by spontaneous demand and low rates of assessment of disabilities and surveillance of contacts, were noted. Results for the \"post-integration\" period revealed a higher rate of detection overall and among individuals younger than 15 years of age, a higher proportion of cases with disability grade assessed at diagnosis (from 60.9% to 78.8%) (p < 0.001), discharges due to cure (from 41.41% to 44.42%) (p < 0.023) and of cases detected by contact exam (from 2.05% to 4.08%) (p < 0.001). Lower treatment abandonment was also found for the \"post-integration\" period (from 5.64% to 3.35%) (p < 0.008). The local managers responsible for AB services reported low involvement in the PCH, ascribing this to lack of training in leprosy actions. Conclusion: Fluctuations in rates of detection followed the national trend, suggesting that integration of the PCH into AB services broadened access to diagnostic services and treatment. The drop in the number of cases abandoning treatment indicates improved patient retention. Previous shortcomings in control and surveillance actions persisted in the \"post-integration\" period. Leprosy actions run in PHC are essentially conducted by nurses and doctors under the ESF. This group works independently from local management teams whose efforts are centered on support activities. Many of the problems and obstacles in effective integration of the PCH are also faced by other programme actions within the AB network.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos de um Programa de Promoção do Envelhecimento Saudável na Qualidade de Vida de idosos durante o seu desenvolvimento anual, identificando fatores preditores dos efeitos observados. MÉTODOS: Estudo com amostra de 83 idosos participantes do programa do GAMIA (HCFMUSP) entre 2000 e 2002. A qualidade de vida foi mensurada utilizando-se o World Health Organization Quality Of Life (WHOQOL-Bref) no início e ao término do programa. Os índices de QV foram correlacionados com variáveis clínicas, funcionais e sócio-demográficos utilizando-se a Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS), as Escalas de Atividades de Vida Diária de Katz e Lawton e dados obtidos nos prontuários. O envolvimento em atividades sociais e de lazer, bem como dados referentes a autopercepção do idoso em relação a saúde e QV foram obtidos por questionário elaborado pelos autores. A análise estatística foi realizada com os testes ao nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: Dos 83 idosos predominaram os do sexo feminino (79,5%) e a média geral de idade foi de 69,30 anos. As mulheres melhoram mais no domínio psicológico (p = 0,035) e mostraram uma tendência de melhora no domínio relações sociais (p = 0,074). A análise global dos dados mostrou uma redução no domínio físico do WHOQOL- BREF (p = 0,014) e elevação dos domínios psicológico e meio ambiente (p = 0,029 e p = 0,007 respectivamente), detectando-se tendência de elevação nos domínios relações sociais e geral (p = 0,062 e p = 0,052). Constatou-se uma relação inversa entre multimorbidades e qualidade de vida, principalmente nos domínios físico, relações sociais e meio ambiente. Em relação às Atividades de Vida Diária, todos os idosos da amostra alcançaram a pontuação máxima na Escala de Katz e 92,8% na Escala de Lawton. Dos 83 idosos da amostra, 78 (93,9%) afirmaram ser possível ter uma boa qualidade de vida na velhice. DISCUSSÃO: Como a avaliação clínica destes idosos revelou doenças desconhecidas previamente e determinou a utilização de novos medicamentos a percepção que o idoso tem em relação a sua saúde pode ter sido o fator preponderante para a piora no domínio físico. A melhora dos domínios psicológico e meio ambiente podem estar relacionados ao suporte psicológico e social que o idoso recebe dos colegas e profissionais e dos benefícios das atividades em grupo, bem como às tendência de elevação observada nos domínios relações sociais e geral. As mulheres, além de constituírem a maioria dos participantes, se beneficiam mais que os homens no programa do GAMIA. CONCLUSÕES: Apesar do declínio dos índices no domínio físico, o idoso obteve melhora da qualidade de vida nos demais domínios do WHOQOLBref. O GAMIA é um modelo de promoção da saúde que contribui, efetivamente, para a melhora da qualidade de vida no envelhecimento. / OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a Program for Promotion of Healthy Aging on Quality of Life of elderly during their annual development, identifying predictors of the observed effects. METHODS: The sample included 83 elderly participants in the program GAMIA (FMUSP) between 2000 and 2002. Quality of life was measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-Bref) at the beginning and end of the program. QOL scores were correlated with clinical, functional and sociodemographic using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS), the Scale of Activities of Daily Living Katz and Lawton and data obtained from the files. Involvement in social activities and leisure, as well as data relating to perception of the elderly in relation to health and QOL were obtained by questionnaire developed by the authors. Statistical analysis was performed to test the significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Of the 83 elderly, female patients predominated (79.5%) and overall mean age was 69.30 years. Women improve more in the psychological domain (p = 0.035) and showed a trend of improvement in social relationships domain (p = 0.074). Data analysis showed a reduction in the physical domain of WHOQOL-BREF (p = 0.014) and increased psychological health and environment (p = 0.029 and p = 0.007 respectively), detecting upward trend in social relationships and general ( p = 0.062 and p = 0.052). There was an inverse relationship between Multimorbidity and quality of life, especially in the physical, social relationships and environment. Regarding the Activities of Daily Living, all seniors in the sample reached the maximum score on the Katz scale and 92.8% in the Scale of Lawton. Of the 83 seniors in the sample, 78 (93,9%) said it possible have a good quality of life in old age. DISCUSSION: As clinical evaluation of elderly revealed previously unknown diseases and ordered the use of new drugs, the perception that the elderly have about your health may have been negative and contributed for the deterioration in the physical domain of WHOQOL-BREF. Improvement in psychological health and the environment can be related to psychological and social support that the elderly receive from peers and professionals and the benefits of group activities, as well as the upward trend observed in the social relationships and general. Women also constitute the majority of participants, benefit more than men in the program GAMIA. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the decline in rates in the physical domain, the elderly received better quality of life in other domains of the WHOQOL. The GAMIA is a model of health promotion to contribute effectively to the improvement of quality of life in aging.

Introdução: A implantação do Programa de Controle da Hanseníase (PCH) na Atenção Primária à Saúde, no Brasil nomeada Atenção Básica (AB), é uma das principais estratégias para o controle da doença em países endêmicos. Este estudo avaliou a implantação do PCH na rede de serviços da AB em Aracaju-Sergipe. Métodos: Trata-se de uma pesquisa avaliativa da vertente da avaliação de programas de saúde. A análise do contexto foi realizada por meio de entrevistas semi-estruturadas com gerentes de serviços e outros informantes-chave. Na avaliação do desempenho foram comparadas as características dos casos notificados no período pósimplantação (2001-2007) nos serviços de AB e na Unidade de Referência (UR) serviço especializado \"tradicional\". Para avaliação dos efeitos da implantação no Município foram calculados indicadores epidemiológicos e operacionais anuais. As características clínicas e epidemiológicas dos casos foram comparadas entre os períodos pré-implantação (1996-2000) e pósimplantação (2001-2007) utilizando-se qui-quadrado com nível de significância 5%. Todos os cálculos foram baseados nos dados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). Resultados: A municipalização do sistema de saúde e a simultânea implantação da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) na AB foram fatores determinantes para a implantação do PCH na rede de serviços da AB. Foram diagnosticados 780 casos no período pré-implantação. O diagnóstico de 1.469 se deu no pós-implantação, dos quais, 699 (47,58%) e 693 (47,17%), respectivamente, na AB e UR. A partir de 2001 houve aumento progressivo do número de casos notificados na AB que, de 2004 a 2007, manteve-se como principal local de notificação. O aumento do número de casos ocorreu simultaneamente à ampliação do número de equipes da ESF. Foram verificados na AB e na UR predomínio de diagnóstico por demanda espontânea, baixas taxas de avaliação de incapacidades e de vigilância de contatos. No período pós-implantação observou-se aumento de: taxas de detecção geral e em menores de 15 anos; proporções de casos com grau de incapacidade avaliado ao diagnóstico, de 60,9% para 78,8% (p < 0.001); alta por cura, de 41,41% para 44,42% (p < 0,023); casos detectados por exame de contatos, de 2,05% para 4,08% (p < 0,001); e diminuição do abandono de tratamento, de 5,64% para 3,35% (p < 0,008). Os gerentes locais, responsáveis pelos serviços da AB, afirmam ter pouca atuação no PCH, o que atribuem à ausência de capacitação em ações de hanseníase. Conclusão: As oscilações verificadas nas taxas de detecção acompanham a tendência nacional, sugerindo que a implantação do PCH nos serviços de AB incrementou o acesso ao diagnóstico e ao tratamento. A redução do número de casos de abandono do tratamento indica alguma melhora na retenção dos pacientes. Insuficiências pré-existentes em ações de controle e vigilância persistiram no período pós-implantação\". As ações de hanseníase desenvolvidas na AB são conduzidas essencialmente por enfermeiros e médicos da ESF que atuam de modo isolado e independente das gerências locais, cujo trabalho é centrado em atividades-meio. Muitas dificuldades e barreiras à adequada implantação do PCH são comuns a outras ações programáticas dentro da rede de AB. / Introduction: Integrating a Leprosy Control Programme (PCH) into Primary Health Care (AB) is one the main strategies for controlling the disease in endemic countries. The aim of this study was to assess the integration of a PCH into the network of AB services in Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil. Methods: This study entailed a survey assessing the outcome of health programmes. Analysis was carried out by semi-structured interviews with managers of services and other key informants. Performance assessment entailed comparative analysis of characteristics of cases notified during the \"post-integration\" period (2001-2007) within the AB services versus those at the Reference Unit (UR) providing a traditional specialized epidemiological service. The effects of integration in the Municipality were assessed based on annual epidemiological and operational indicators. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of cases for the \"pre-integration\" (1996-2000) and \"post-integration\" (2001-2007) periods were compared using the Chisquared test adopting a 5% level of significance. All calculations were based on data from the Brazilian Disease Notification System (SINAN). Results: The municipalization of the health system along with simultaneous implementation of the Family Health Strategy (ESF) in AB, were determining factors for integration of the PCH into the network of AB services. A total of 780 cases were diagnosed during the \"pre-integration\" period versus 1,469 during the \"post-integration\" period. Of these latter cases, 699 (47.58%) were registered in AB and 693 (47.17%) at the UR. From 2001, there was a steady rise in the number of cases notified in AB, which between 2004 and 2007 remained the leading source of notifications. The rise in the number of cases occurred in parallel with an increase in the number of ESF teams. In both AB and at the UR, a predominance of diagnoses by spontaneous demand and low rates of assessment of disabilities and surveillance of contacts, were noted. Results for the \"post-integration\" period revealed a higher rate of detection overall and among individuals younger than 15 years of age, a higher proportion of cases with disability grade assessed at diagnosis (from 60.9% to 78.8%) (p < 0.001), discharges due to cure (from 41.41% to 44.42%) (p < 0.023) and of cases detected by contact exam (from 2.05% to 4.08%) (p < 0.001). Lower treatment abandonment was also found for the \"post-integration\" period (from 5.64% to 3.35%) (p < 0.008). The local managers responsible for AB services reported low involvement in the PCH, ascribing this to lack of training in leprosy actions. Conclusion: Fluctuations in rates of detection followed the national trend, suggesting that integration of the PCH into AB services broadened access to diagnostic services and treatment. The drop in the number of cases abandoning treatment indicates improved patient retention. Previous shortcomings in control and surveillance actions persisted in the \"post-integration\" period. Leprosy actions run in PHC are essentially conducted by nurses and doctors under the ESF. This group works independently from local management teams whose efforts are centered on support activities. Many of the problems and obstacles in effective integration of the PCH are also faced by other programme actions within the AB network.

Language assessments are increasingly being leveraged for the purposes of educational reform and accountability, yet relatively little is known about how teachers respond to their implementation or what impact they have on the learning outcomes of students. Drawing on theories of educational innovation, this mixed methods study explores the interplay between testing, teaching, and learning in an urban Midwestern K-12 world languages program. Specifically, it investigates the washback effect of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL), and the potential for its influence on teachers’ practices to complement strategic efforts to introduce and manage curricular innovation at the local level. The study was divided into three distinct but complementary phases. In Phase 1, teachers (n=47) responded to an online survey addressing their background, instructional practices, and the potential influence of the AAPPL therein. In Phase 2, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a subset of teachers (n=12) in order to more richly describe their instructional and assessment-related practices. Finally, in Phase 3, AAPPL scores were obtained for all students (n=846) who took the assessment. Quantitative analyses predominantly involved the use of descriptive statistics to depict teachers’ practices and students’ performance on the AAPPL, as well as bivariate correlations to measure the relationship between the two. Qualitative analyses of interview data were aimed at identifying categories and themes leading to a rich description of teachers’ behaviors and activities in response to the AAPPL. In the final stages of analysis, both qualitative and quantitative data sources and analyses were synthesized in an attempt to develop a more nuanced understanding of the interplay between assessment, instruction, and learning. Findings suggested a moderately positive washback effect of the AAPPL, which was manifested through individual and collective efforts to refine curricula and instruction with the goal of further enhancing students’ language performance and proficiency development. Key findings included teachers’ increased use of ACTFL’s core documents to guide their planning, and an adjustment to the amount of instructional time devoted to the four modalities (listening, reading, writing, and speaking). This evidence for positive washback of the AAPPL was observed among teachers across languages and levels, and extended beyond those immediately implicated in its administration. Furthermore, the strength and direction of the influence was mediated by the close link between testing and teaching, individual differences among teachers, and the collaborative approach to managing the innovation. Evidence connecting teachers’ practices with student outcomes on the AAPPL was diffuse, with bivariate correlations indicating a potential relationship between the use of target language and explicit grammar instruction and students’ composite scores. This investigation has contributed to a greater understanding of how external language performance assessments may serve as a catalyst for refining and improving language teaching in K-12 contexts. Those seeking to promote the adoption of similar innovative practices should ensure that the assessment is aligned with the pedagogical goals of the curriculum and that their approach to introducing and managing change is responsive to the local context. While more research is needed in order to determine the potential influence of innovation on the learning outcomes of students (Green, 2013), world language programs should be encouraged to implement standards-based external assessments as a means by which to promote teachers’ adoption of proficiency-oriented instructional practices.

Programs that include skills to help girls successfully navigate the difficulties of preadolescence have been shown to be beneficial. One such youth development program in the southeastern part of the United States began in 2014 but has had no formal evaluation completed. The purpose of this qualitative study was to conduct a utilization-focused process evaluation, asking questions that addressed the perceptions of a school leader (n = 1) and volunteers of the program (n = 8). Their input was solicited concerning successful implementation strategies used, and recommendations for adaptations, recruitment, and volunteer training. Semistructured interviews were conducted using predetermined open-ended, questions. Open coding was used to discover the most common themes. After analyzing the data using VERBI's Software, MAXQDA, the identified themes were (a) successful elements of the program, (b) elements of the program that were not working, (c) suggestions for adaptations to improve the outcomes for participants, and (d) essential points to consider when recruiting new volunteers. Study participants reported that many of the girls participating in the program made positive changes in their behavior, exhibited improved self-esteem, and expanded their support system. Key findings will be discussed with the program administrators to assist them in recruiting and training new volunteers and to suggest administrative adjustments. Positive social change will be facilitated by offering ideas to the administrators that may result in expansion of the program, allowing more girls in the community to participate and experience positive results.

This dissertation consists of three essays examining the role of transfer-program interactions for families and households who participate in the social safety net. The safety net is comprised of many different programs, run by different agencies, governed by different rules, and often administered by disparate and secluded entities. However, many households participate in multiple programs, subjecting them to the milieu of administrative hurdles. In this dissertation, I try to untangle some of the intended and unintended effects of program participation that may be experienced by these households. In Essay 1, I examine the effect of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) on food hardship in US households, utilizing food security information from the Food Security Supplement of the Current Population Survey. Because states adopted the Medicaid expansions provided under the ACA at different times beginning in 2014, the cross-state, over time variation allows me to separate the impact of the ACA on food hardship using triple difference specifications. The richness of questions in the Food Security Supplement allows me to examine the effect of the ACA across different measures of food hardship, and also examine differential response for households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Examining the mechanisms through which the ACA could affect food insecurity, I find the ACA not only increased average weekly food expenditure, but also the probability a household participates in SNAP. I employ a two-stage, control function approach to address reverse causality between SNAP and food insecurity. I find that the ACA reduced the probability that a household participating in SNAP falls into the two lowest food security categories by 6.5 percentage points and reduced the probability of being food insecure by 14.2 percentage points. Across specifications, I find strong evidence for increasing returns to program participation, and evidence of a differential impact of the ACA across the distribution of food hardship. In Essay 2, I examine how grant funding and fiscal structure affect program response over the business cycle. I compare child enrollment in Medicaid, a matching grant funding program, with enrollment the State Children's Health Insurance Program, a block grant funded program, utilizing the similarities in beneficiaries, program benefits, and administration to isolate the impact of fiscal structure. I utilize administrative enrollment records, along with individual level participation data, and find a one percentage point increase in the unemployment rate leads to a 7.6% decrease in the number of beneficiaries per person enrolled in block grant funded programs, and a 10% decrease in state expenditure per person decreases the probability of enrollment in a block grant program by 0.58 percentage points. I also find that enrollment is much more persistent among matching grant funded programs, and being enrolled in a block grant funded program the previous period increases the probability of enrolling in a matching grant program this period 75% more than remaining enrolled in the block grant funded program. Finally, in Essay 3 I explore the effect of the minimum wage on the self-reported value of public assistance program benefits, and the joint effect of the minimum wage and public assistance programs on the income to poverty ratio using data from the 1995-2016 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement. In the first stage, I estimate a Tobit model controlling for the censoring of received benefits from below at zero, and examine the effect of changes in the minimum wage on the self-reported dollar value of benefits received for food stamps/the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)/Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), as well as the total sum of benefits. I find that the minimum wage reduces the value of means-tested benefits, but that this effect is strongest for programs with strong work requirements. Utilizing the residuals from the first stage, I employ a control function approach to estimate the joint effect of the minimum wage and program benefits on the income to poverty ratio. I find the own-effect of the minimum wage provides a small increase in the income to poverty ratio, but that the total effect, accounting for changes in benefits, attenuates by approximately 30%.

Society has, historically, reacted to teenage pregnancies with a mixture of embarrassment, apathy and neglect. It wasn't until the 1960's that an attempt was made to design and implement programs to meet the needs of pregnant adolescents. An example of such a program is the Salem Teen Mother Program. This program was begun in 1966 and is affiliated with the local YWCA. If offers a comprehensive program to approximately 150 students each year. The services it offers include day care, social services and counseling, education, health services, parenting skills and employment counseling. The following chapters include a literature review which describes the problems facing teenage mothers in the nation. Programs that have been implemented to deal with those problems and the results of related research studies are also discussed. Subsequent chapters are devoted to the follow-up study of the Salem Teen Mother Program. First a description of the program is presented followed by chapters on methodology, data analysis, results and the conclusions from the study.

Freshmen Interest Groups (FIG) programs 'peer support systems for entering students at a public university in the northeast' were believed to contribute to positive retention outcomes, but had not been evaluated to determine their impact on student retention. The rationale for this project study was the absence of formal evaluations to determine retention program effectiveness. The results are important to enrollment management staff and academic program coordinators whose job responsibilities are tied to student retention. Bean's nine themes of college student retention provided the conceptual framework for this study. Research questions considered the likelihood that retention and persistence to graduation outcomes are based on FIG participation, and the likelihood of retention when controlling for the nine themes. Regression analysis examined existing data on a sample of 4,098 students who started at the local campus and should have returned for the 3rd semester. Results showed that participation in the FIG increased the odds of retention by a factor of 1.37, and the odds of persistence by a factor of 1.74. Five of the nine themes 'students' intentions, first-year GPA, housing status, school of enrollment, and ethnicity' had a significant impact on the likelihood of students' retention at the study site. The project study results informed an evaluation report which presents findings and offers recommendations to the administration at the study site. Understanding and promoting student retention and success is of utmost importance to those striving to affect social change through education, and a clear understanding of opportunities to support the development of responsible, productive, and prepared students have both local and far-reaching social change implications.

A Freshman Academy's Influence on Student Connectivity, Attendance, and Academic Achievement by Nancy O. LoPresti MA, Montclair State University 2005 MAT, Marygrove College, 2002 BA, Kean University 1981 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education Walden University June 2017

Ineffective professional development is a longstanding problem in education. Locally, the school district in the study lacked a comprehensive system for evaluating their secondary level professional development programs. The purpose of this case study was to investigate the district's professional development program, specifically examining its perceived strengths and weaknesses. The conceptual framework of the study was systems theory and the adaptive schools reform model. The research questions examined the perceptions of various school personnel on their experiences with the current professional development program at the study district's high school. Individual interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of 3 teachers, 4 teacher-facilitators, 1 professional development committee member, and 1 school administrator. Interview data were concurrently analyzed using inductive analysis and typologies derived from the literature. The results were used to create a project consisting of a comprehensive policy proposal that provides detailed guidance and procedures for every stage of the school's professional development program cycle. The study project was designed to assist educators, administrators, and school districts in conceptualizing, designing, and implementing professional development programs that are tailored to meet the needs of local educators. This study promotes positive social change through facilitating the development of improved professional development programs that increase teacher quality and student achievement.