<p> The purpose of this project was to develop a grant and identify potential funding sources to fund a staff training program at the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) of South East Ventura County to increase staffs knowledge of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) techniques when working with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in after-school settings. A comprehensive review of the literature was completed to build knowledge about the need for after-school programming, the benefits of participating in after-school programs, the benefits of inclusion for children diagnosed with ASD, and ABA interventions. The Amgen Foundation was selected as the ideal funding source for this project. This training program targets employees working in the after-school programs at the YMCA of South East Ventura County. Submission and/or funding were not a requirement for the successful completion of this project.</p>

<p> The purpose of this project was to write a grant proposal for the design and implementation of a resource support program that would serve as extra support for low- income Latino parents of newly diagnosed preschoolers. Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face multiple challenges. These challenges include limited access to screenings for ASD, language barriers, lack of information, awareness, community support, and resources due to low social economic status and mental health issues. The major components of the proposed program are to provide outreach, psycho education, and link parents to resources in the community. Santa Ana Unified School District's Mitchell Child Development Center which is located in the city of Santa Ana, California will be the host agency. The actual submission and/or funding for this grant were not requirements for the successful completion of this project.</p>

<p> Stigma toward adults with serious mental illness involves labeling, stereotyping, separation, status loss and discrimination. Stigma has been linked to lowered self-esteem, social isolation and withdrawal, and lowered quality of life. As providers of treatment and services, it is fundamental that social work professionals have knowledge regarding serious mental illness and stigma. This quantitative study evaluated the attitudes of 87 Master of Social Work students attending California State University, Long Beach. Respondents completed the Attribution Questionnaire (AQ-27) which evaluated attitudes toward a schizophrenic man presented in a case vignette. Measurements of the nine subscales measuring stigma had a total possible range of 3-27. Results showed correlation between age and pity, differences between ethnicity and stigma subscales, and between stigma subscales and gender. This study contributes to the understanding of stigma toward adults with serious mental illness and shows the need for curriculum that addresses mental health, cultural diversity, and stigma.</p>

No description available.

<p> The purpose of this project was to locate a potential funding source and write a grant to enable children with physical disabilities to become more included in their education and with their peers. An extensive literature review was performed to investigate the best way to meet these needs through the usage of assistive technology (AT) devices and how such technology can be implemented into an educational curriculum. </p><p> The Inclusion Through Assistive Technology (ITAT) program has the following goals: (1) train children and teachers on the usage of AT devises, (2) reduce children's emotional difficulties, and (3) increased the involvement of children and parents in the educational process. </p><p> The Children's Charity Fund was selected as the program's potential funder, due to its focus on the educational needs of the target population. The actual submission of the proposal was not a requirement of the thesis project. </p>