<p> Adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse are increasing and there is a gap in the This study examines the literature on adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and the effects on their mental health. The findings show that adults survivors of childhood sexual abuse have a higher rate of depression, anxiety, suicide, and substance abuse when compared to non-abused adults. Gathering the most recent information, this study analyzes interventions that can improve the mental health of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Concurrently, this study discusses how cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is the most effective intervention when compared to group therapy. Results show that the trauma focused component of CBT as well as homework and exercises given show a decrease in maladaptive behavior after the intervention concludes. Findings have implications for future research, including combining both interventions to provide a holistic intervention.</p>

<p> <b>Purpose.</b> The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative case study was to explore the experiences of advocates who represent organizations that engage in disability policy advocacy. The study investigated the strategies and activities used by disability rights advocates, including those used when advocating for deinstitutionalization of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), and the recommendations for advocates of the deinstitutionalization of individuals who live in large intermediate care facilities (ICFs).</p><p> <b>Methodology.</b> A phenomenological case study and semistructured interviews were used to explore the strategies and practices of organizations that engage in disability policy advocacy. The researcher used a purposeful sampling approach to interview 5 disability policy advocates with extensive experience for the study. Gen and Wright&rsquo;s (2013) policy advocacy framework was used to guide the development of the interview questions and resulting themes that emerged from the interviews.</p><p> <b>Findings.</b> Advocacy organizations identified three main activities used when advocating for individuals with I/DD: coalition building, information campaigning, and engaging decision makers. When advocating for the deinstitutionalization of people with I/DD, their strategies included coalition building, information campaigning, and reform efforts. The advocates consistently recommended reform efforts, and to a lesser extent, coalition building as strategies and activities to expedite the deinstitutionalization of individuals who reside in large ICFs.</p><p> <b>Conclusion.</b> Reform efforts (pilots, demonstrations, litigation) are consistently recommended for future advocacy efforts in support of expediting the community transition of individuals who reside in large ICFs.</p><p> <b>Recommendations.</b> Future research should explore the activities of advocacy organizations for other populations or in other geographies. This research study has direct implications for individuals who reside in large ICFs and want to move to community living. This study adds to the practice of advocacy in that it will aid the development of future advocates through training targeting practices of successful, highly experienced advocates. </p><p>

Yes / Despite increasing evidence of the impact of health inequalities on mental health (Pickett and Wilkinson, 2015) there is only limited recognition of the potential role for mental health social work in addressing ‘upstream’ as well as ‘downstream’ challenges of poverty, disadvantage and oppression affecting many people experiencing mental health difficulties. This paper presents some of the current evidence concerning mental health inequalities and the opportunities for mental health social workers to promote wellbeing. A theme throughout the paper is the need to avoid the many examples of dichotomous thinking that frequently characterise thinking about mental health and mental health practice. Additionally the limitations of an individualised recovery discourse are acknowledged. Drawing on Krieger’s (2011) ecosocial model, the social determinants of mental health are considered and the concept of embodiment is examined for its contribution to a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between inequality and health. Finally, the paper offers a version of mental health social work that ‘faces both ways’, involving issues at both the individual and the wider societal level. This includes developing and extending partnerships with service users and carers and with other professional and agencies.

<p> The purpose of this project was to identify and create a program that would meet the needs of a target population, identify potential funding sources, and write a grant to fund a program at St. Mary's Hospital in Long Beach, California. An examination of the literature expanded knowledge about the challenges homeless individuals face. Homeless individuals commonly receive inadequate medical care and often access more costly acute care services due to limited resources, discrimination, and cost. Housing and case management services after discharge from a hospital setting can help improve health care outcomes and reduce costly services.</p><p> The program was designed to provide specialized discharge planning services to homeless individuals being discharged from St. Mary's Hospital. The California Wellness Foundation was chosen for this grant based on the program areas of the funder. The actual submission and/or funding of this proposal was not a requirement for completion of this project.</p>

In the labor market, workers can increase their chances of meeting potential employers through costly search. My first chapter aims to empirically quantify the search intensity of workers, both employed and unemployed. My second chapter develops a theoretical model to study the optimal unemployment insurance with search intensity endogenously chosen by unemployed workers. I devote my third chapter to empirical identification of whether major illness leads to persistent household poverty in rural China. My first chapter studies the search behaviors both on and off the job, and the effect of search intensity on wage determination. Four determinants of wages are considered: productivity, workers’ bargaining power, competition between employers due to on-the-job search, and search intensity. I estimate the structural model using the 2001 panel of the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), together with supplementary information from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS). The empirical results demonstrate that search intensity declines as the worker gets a wage rise from her current job. My second chapter addresses the efficiency issues arising from the externalities and hidden-action features of search effort. The solution to the social planner’s problem may not be decentralized in a competitive market. Calibration shows that the current US unemployment insurance (UI) system generates an 8.07% welfare loss relative to the socially optimal allocation. In the third chapter, I use a unique dataset on Chinese rural households to test whether severe illness can cripple a rural household’s economic resources leading to temporary and/or persistent poverty. When health shocks are assumed to be exogenous, in the sense that households cannot control the arrival rate of adverse health shocks by choosing the amount of medical expenditures, a Markov regime-switching regression model reveals no significant evidence that a severe illness causes persistent household poverty. To endogenize health shocks and choices on medical expenses, a dynamic structural model is employed. The structural estimates support the view that major illness leads to persistent household poverty. / text

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<p> The purpose of this thesis was to write a grant to obtain funding for a comprehensive transitional patient care program and family caregiver support services. Through process analysis, the grant writer developed the Next Step Hospital to Home Caregiver Support Program (NSHCP). This program was developed to bridge the gap in the delivery of services of transitional patient care and family caregiver support services.</p><p> California Healthcare Foundation (CHCF) was identified as an appropriate funding agency. Their focus on ideas and innovations that improve quality medical care, increase efficiency, and lower the costs of medical care is compatible with the mission of the NSHCP. In collaboration with CHCF and Anaheim Regional Medical Center, the grant writer developed the NSFCP in an effort to provide quality transitional care and caregiver support services. The actual submission and/or funding of this grant was not a requirement for the successful completion of this project.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to explore how caregivers of patients with dementia are physically and mentally affected by their increase in responsibilities. The purpose of this project was to locate a potential funding source and write a grant to obtain funding for a caregiver support group for the Calabasas, CA community and its surrounding areas.</p><p> Caregiver intervention programs have been identified as a critical area of research by the Alzheimer's Association. Silverado Senior Living is a national organization that serves patients with dementia. The program consists of two support groups offering structure and flexibility through cognitive behavioral practices and a continuous feedback.</p><p> If funded and implemented, this program would add value to the body of research that exists for caregivers and drive awareness and change to current policy. In addition, Silverado would better serve its community and act as a model program for other Silverado locations.</p><p> The actual submission and/or funding of this grant was not a requirement for the successful completion of the project.</p>

<p> The purpose of this thesis was to conduct a policy analysis of Title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (P.L. 106-501 ). The policy was enacted to assist older adults in combating food insecurity and malnutrition. The policy specifies that federal funding be allocated to states, in order for the states to provide both congregate meal programs and home-delivered meal services to older adults. For this reason, a more in-depth analysis of Title III of the Older Americans Act was conducted in this project, in order to better understand the nutritional needs of older adults, and the need for nutritional services for the older adult population. This study utilized David Gil's policy analysis framework to analyze Title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965 and the analysis indicated that its implementation has not produced the policy's intended outcomes and has not produced its intended goals of reducing food insecurity within the U.S. older adult population. </p>

<p> The purpose of this thesis was to examine the factors associated with psychological distress among older Vietnamese adults. Utilizing information from secondary data called the California Health Interview Surveys (CHIS), a quantitative research method was completed for this study. The study explored levels of psychological distress with several factors including demographic characteristics, language use and proficiencies of patients, patients' understanding of rights to request for an interpreter during doctor visits, number of visits to doctors' offices, language used by doctors during consultation (English, Vietnamese, or other), and lastly, quality of interaction with doctors. </p><p> The result of this study indicated significant relationships among several factors and the level of psychological distress among older Vietnamese adults. These factors, include: demographics, patients' understanding of rights to an interpreter, number of doctor visits, language used by doctors during consultation, and doctor-patient communication.</p>