<p> Obesity in the United States has reached epidemic proportions and is affecting younger generations. Research indicates that media usage contributes to adolescent obesity. Data shows that technology use (television, video games, and computer, etc.) is specifically higher among Latinos than their White counterparts. However, limited research exists on the effects that technology use has on Latino adolescents' adiposity. A cross-sectional baseline analysis was conducted using a sample of (<i>N</i>=131) at-risk Latino middle school adolescents from the Youth Empowerment for Success <i> S&iacute; Se Puede</i> Project. Body fat percent was used as the dependent variable; while television time, video or computer game time, and frequency of personal computer use were the independent variables. Results indicated that only video or computer game time had a positive association with Latino youth body fat percent, even after controlling for socioeconomic status. The implications and limitations of the study are discussed.</p>

<p> The research explores communication processes and functions within organizations. The research relates two programs of interest that compare and contrast within the processes of organizational functions. The two programs discussed in the research examine the issues regarding unstable households, poverty, and low educational attainment as the cause of low income. The research introduces the Basic Income Grant and Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend. The programs are studied in order to bring awareness to the importance of developing the funds, and how it relates to communication within organizations. The method of research is comprised of data comparison. The research identifies factors such as: a comparative case study analysis between the two programs implemented in Namibia and Alaska, the use of media, communication, and processes, the exploration of communication within organizations, how the organizations overcame setbacks, and the relationship of "Framing Theory" and "Modernization Theory" as it relates to communication in the real world.</p>

<p> The prevalence of sexual violence on college campuses has reached an alarming level. With some reports indicating that almost 20% of women experience attempted or completed rape after entering college, the call for intervention is at an all-time high (Krebs et al., 2009). One of the more recent and successful interventions has come in the form of bystander intervention, which calls upon the people around when the potential for a sexually violent situation develops and encourages them to step up and intervene (Banyard, Plante, Moynihan, 2005). This study looked into how college student athletes were different than their non-athlete peers on measures of willingness to intervene and actual intervention behaviors in situations of sexual violence. Intervention behavior was measured in terms of total opportunities to intervene, total intervention actions, total inactions, the proportion of actions per opportunity, and the proportion of inactions per opportunity. For any effect of athlete status on bystander intention or behavior, these potential mediators were investigated: drinking behavior, rape supportive attitudes, exposure to sexual violence education, and social connectedness. A two-way analysis of variance indicated gender and athlete status main effects and interactions. Several regression models explored the relationships of the potential mediating variables with these effects. Athletes were less willing to intervene but reported more frequent intervention behavior than non-athletes. Drinking behavior mediated the relationship between athlete status and willingness to intervene. These results indicate the field of bystander intervention should tailor intervention techniques to fit the student athlete population, and further to include in this intervention a discussion of how drinking behavior inhibits willingness to intervene in situations of sexual violence.</p>

<p> This project evaluates the effectiveness of life coaching and seeks to prove that coaching can be a better method of producing disciples who fulfill their ministry purposes than the methods currently being employed in small churches in the urban areas of Greater Cleveland. Specifically, this project will address three separate hypotheses that are all related to demonstrating the importance of the coaching ministry at Hope Alliance Bible Church (HABC). <b> Hypothesis 1:</b> The HABC coaching program will be successful in enabling spiritual transformation to occur within the eight participants. <b>Hypothesis 2:</b> The HABC coaching program will be successful in increasing church ministry training and/or church ministry participation for the eight participants. <b> Hypothesis 3:</b> The HABC coaching program will be successful in increasing participation in activities that connect with the community around HABC for the eight participants. </p><p> Chapter 1 gives the rationale for the researcher's interest in discovering how to best incorporate a coaching paradigm into the ministry environment of small urban churches. Examples from Scripture are given to support the importance of coaching in the process of bringing disciples to maturity and preparing them for ministry. Proof is given to show why the church should be involved in bringing positive change to the community. </p><p> Chapter 2 provides the literature review of the resources used in or relative to the study, and insights from previous research related to the subject of life coaching for urban leaders. The researcher presents a wide-array of excellent resources from accomplished practitioners in the areas of coaching, urban ministry, discipleship, and leadership development. Leaders who desire to become change agents in the church and community will need to stay abreast of current best practices in all of these areas, and the books and articles mentioned will prove to be of great assistance for growing leaders. </p><p> Chapter 3 is the record of the procedures and research methods used in this study. </p><p> A summary timeline is given to provide an overview of how the research was conducted from start to finish. Information is given to show how the participants were selected, and general information about each of them is also revealed. The topics of discussion are presented in chapter three, along with how they related to the objectives of the coaching sessions. A general description of how the sessions were conducted is also included, along with the assessment criteria from each session and why there were deemed significant in the outcomes of the three hypotheses. Individual and corporate coaching sessions were held twice monthly, using topics that would help the participants discover God's will and follow through on a life plan to fulfill the God-given purpose for their lives. </p><p> Chapter 4 provides the findings and results of the study, showing the hypotheses, accumulated data, and responses of the participants involved in the project. The objectives met by each participant are presented, how meeting those objectives contributed to the increased level of participation in the areas related to the three hypotheses, and how coaching was instrumental in those achievements. The data provides a record of the progress made by each participant. Evaluations were based upon the steps taken to continue spiritual growth, preparation for ministry, and involvement in ministry outside of the church. </p><p> Chapter 5 provides the Conclusions and Research Implications of this project. Results are given and conclusions drawn that show the value of performing life coaching for aspiring leaders in small urban churches. The coach compared the pre-assessment data with the post-assessment data, and the participants performed a self-evaluation at the end of the pilot period. Based upon the data, conclusions are given as to why the coaching program had low, medium, or high levels of effectiveness in the areas of spiritual transformation, church ministry involvement, and activities that connect with the community. Conclusive reasons are given to show why further research should be done in this area, using variables such as accumulating data from a longer period of time, coaching preachers only, and allowing the community to assess whether or not the church is making a difference in their lives.</p>

<p> According to U.S. Census figures and the Michigan Department of Community Health (2011), there are approximately 5% - 6% of children in the State of Michigan who are uninsured and it is estimated 70% of these uninsured children may be eligible for State subsidized health insurance. While the percent of uninsured children in Michigan consistently rates well below the national average, it is concerning the rate of uninsured children in Michigan is relatively stable. There are strong financial and social incentives to design outreach efforts to reach all children in the State and make these efforts an "everyday event." </p><p> This research examines the question of whether or not a school-based outreach program is effective in reaching children who are eligible for State subsidized health insurance but are uninsured and will test the following two hypotheses: </p><p> Ho1: Incorporating health status outreach into routine school district operations does not identify a statistically significant number of uninsured children. </p><p> Ho2: There is no statistical difference in the number of applications received from a school-based outreach program during the pilot period. </p><p> The pilot program takes place in six of the eleven school districts that operate in Van Buren County, MI. School districts were provided two health insurance status collection forms. Form A is designed to be distributed with the Free and Reduced Lunch Application. Form B is designed to be distributed as part of the student registration packet and welcome material. The completed Form A and Form B are sent to a State of Michigan registered application assisting agency for SCHIP application assistance and enrollment. </p><p> As a result of the survey, 156 children were identified as not having health insurance. This represents more than 44% of the 358 children who are eligible for State subsidized health insurance, in the participating school districts, but are uninsured. Enrolling these children will help the State of Michigan to meet targeted enrollment gains and earn CHIPRA performance bonus payments. The additional funds from higher CHIPRA bonus payments could be used to provide the resources to fund the following specific recommendations: </p><p> 1. The Michigan Department of Community Health should lead the effort to work with the Michigan Department of Education to modify the Free and Reduced Lunch Application to capture whether or not the applicant has health insurance. </p><p> 2. The Michigan Department of Community Health should lead the effort to incorporate into the direct certified free and reduced lunch eligibility process a systematic check as to whether or not the applicant has State subsidized health insurance. </p><p> 3. The Michigan Department of Community Health should provide resources from the expected performance bonus to work with schools across the State to implement these changes. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)</p>

<p> Human trafficking and prostitution for commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) happens every day, in every country. Women and female children are the predominate targets of this type of exploitation. This research looked at CSE women and how the Organization for Prostitution Survivors (OPS), a Seattle nonprofit, approaches their work with victims. The action research study question was: What creates successful collaboration and best practices sharing within a Seattle social services nonprofit organization serving the domestically prostituted and trafficked survivor community? Data were collected through an online research survey, consisting of 11 questions in total. Survey demographics included nine OPS board of directors and staff participants. The completed findings were shared with OPS in a feedback session during the spring of 2014, indicating a need for more robust organizational development practices and strategy beyond OPS's current framework, including standardization of communication and self-care practices, financial development, fundraising, and clearly defined roles.</p>

<p> Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a serious public health issue, and many social factors are involved in virus transmission and treatment. The current conceptualization of how HIV status disclosure and perceived stigma of HIV diagnosis interact is undeveloped. This study was based on social cognitive theory and tested hypothesized positive relations between HIV serostatus disclosure, social support, and self-efficacy. In addition, self-rated HIV stigma was examined as a potential mediating variable. Participants were 109 HIV positive, mostly White gay men recruited via an online bulletin board. They completed the medical outcomes study social support survey, the general self-efficacy scale, the HIV stigma scale, a HIV serostatus disclosure questionnaire, and a demographic questionnaire. Linear regression revealed that social support significantly and positively predicted HIV serotatus disclosure. HIV stigma mediated this relation by lowering the perception of support. Sexual orientation disclosure significantly and positively predicted HIV serostatus disclosure and social support. It is recommended that future research examine the impact of HIV stigma in different groups (racial and sexual minorities, and women). Culturally-sensitive assessments may also be used to measure individual levels of perceived stigma, HIV status disclosure, and social support. Action for social change includes raising general public awareness regarding HIV misconceptions, such as transmission risk; lowering stigma and raising support through public education; and increasing sexual minority status self-identification via outreach in low self-disclosure communities.</p>

<p> The development of new medical treatments for patients is limited by the challenges of recruiting clinical-research participants. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration regulates the multidimensional approval process for new drugs, biologics, and medical devices to ensure consumer safety. The regulatory approval processes includes complex clinical trials that necessitate either healthy volunteers or patients who are willing to participate. The low enrollment rates of volunteers and patients willing to participate in clinical trials are resulting in significant delays in bringing new treatments to the market and substantially increasing development costs, for which consumers ultimately pay. The available research indicates that young adults and adolescents represent two of the lowest participating groups in clinical trials. Even though they are the next generation of consumers and patients, little to no research has examined the adolescent and young adult populations and their knowledge and perceptions of clinical research or their willingness to participate in clinical trials. Understanding these populations' perspectives and knowledge of the drug-development process and providing education regarding on this issue may have a profound, positive trickle-down effect on medicine, their personal well-being, and the well-being of the general public. </p><p> This study used a simple experimental design consisting of an intervention group and a control group. The intervention was a 10-minute educational video on participation in clinical research. Adolescents and young adults (<i> n</i> = 527) were randomly distributed into the two groups. The knowledge, perceptions, and willingness to participate in clinical research were measured in both groups utilizing a 31-question survey instrument. The findings from this study may be used by educators, health care providers, patient advocacy groups, payers, and the pharmaceutical research and development industry to determine the best methods for educating adolescents and young adults on clinical research and trial participation. </p><p> The study concluded with a discussion of the importance of the role of leadership in social change and the process of igniting and sustaining such change. This process includes how, historically, public and private interests have come together to positively influence important public-health initiatives and, in turn, social change that holistically benefited all of society. Moving forward, leadership for social change could potentially deliver new and improved medical treatments in a timelier manner.</p>

<p> To what extent is it possible for a social movement to transform a public education system in order to promote an alternative social vision? Under what conditions can this implementation occur within the bureaucratic state apparatus, at the regional and national level? How does state-society collaboration develop, in contexts where civil society groups and the state have opposing interests? This dissertation addresses these questions through an investigation of the educational initiatives of the Brazilian Landless Workers Movement (<i>Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra,</i> or MST), a national social movement of rural workers struggling for agrarian reform. MST activists have been able to implement educational proposals in rural public schools that encourage youth to stay in the countryside, foster a sense of belonging to the movement, promote collective forms of work, and practice participatory governance. </p><p> Part I provides an overview of the multi-level and multi-sited political ethnographic approach used to conduct this research. It then reviews the literature on social movements and state-society relations, and considers how a Gramscian framework can be used to analyze how social movements implement educational proposals in public schools that are opposed to the interests of the dominant class. Part II examines the history and national expansion of the MST's educational initiative: how activists first developed their educational proposals; why the movement went from promoting popular education to participating in the public educational sphere; and why and how the federal government appropriated these ideas as a new approach to rural schooling, known as <i>Educa&ccedil;&atilde;o do Campo</i> (Education of the Countryside). Part III explores the MST's attempt to transform public schools in three state educational systems and two municipalities, and why the MST's success differs drastically across the country depending on the state capacity, government orientation, and level of MST mobilization in each region. </p><p> Comparison of the outcomes in these subnational cases yield new and unexpected insights into the relationships and conditions that lead to or impede participatory governance: (1) low-capacity governments and weak institutions can offer unusual openings for social movements to implement participatory initiatives; (2) high-capacity state antagonism negates the positive effects of mobilization; (3) not-so-public forms of contention are an effective strategy that social movements can use to engage the state and participate in the provision of public goods; (4) technocracy is a significant barrier to participatory practices, even among supportive governments; and, (5) state-society collaboration is not possible if the leadership of a social movement does not have a strong connection to its base. </p><p> Significantly, this research shows that the implementation of a social movement's goals through the state apparatus does not always lead to movement cooptation or decline. Additionally, public schools, normally institutions reproducing state power, can be used by marginalized communities to support alternative social visions. However, the case of the MST also illustrates that this process is never straightforward, easy, or permanent, as it requires communities to first develop a common vision, and then work with, in, and through the ever-changing power structures to implement this vision.</p>

<p> Interdisciplinary war trauma research suggests wars involving ethnic cleansing have debilitating and serious impacts on the physical and mental health of survivors. There has been a lack of focus on female-specific victimization, although female-driven cultural practices are altered as a result of traumatization. The South Slavic female survivors of the Balkan War partake in extensive cultural practices that have been shaped by their experiences of trauma. The current study used a qualitative approach to understand how women's traumatic experiences are manifested in and ameliorated by their oral memory traditions, or the cultural practice of sharing transgenerational information. Specifically, data from psychosomatic clinical sessions spanning a ten-year period were analyzed to identify how the somatic practice of the Kolo, or the round dance or sharing of information in a circle, has provided the women an outlet for their cultural expression and healing. Results are discussed in terms of psychosomatic themes that help us understand the effects of trauma.</p>