A pre-post-test, quasi-experimental study design with experimental and control groups was carried out in which measures of social climate were used to define and then change a mental health program. Two forms of the Community Oriented Program Evaluation Scale (COPES), which measures ten dimensions of mental health program social climate, e.g., autonomy, program clarity and personal growth, defined the program social climate according to a single taxonomy at three separate test administrations. The definitions were based on views about the program held by staff and clients. Using the COPES Forms, staff and clients defined the program as they saw it, and defined what their ideal program might look like. Systematic feedback about the program social climate was made to a focus group in the experimental site. The feedback resulted in a definition of the program. Review of the test results provided a means for making changes geared at emphasizing programmatic dimensions found to be lacking. New clinical routines were instituted in the experimental site. The post-test results established that the clinical changes significantly improved the worth and quality of the treatment experience. Measures of social climate helped define, then systematically change, a mental health program's social climate. The use of social climate measurement in this evaluation showed that the definitions contributed to its improvement, and its achievement of clinical and programmatic goals.

<p> Connections within communities have been recognized as a protective factor in the experience of collective trauma, yet many interventions have not accounted for the potential disruptions to connections within communities. The purpose of this dissertation project is to broaden the knowledge of ways to generate community connectedness through culturally appropriate and systemic interventions directed at social networks and communities, and the methodologies to implement them. One of the most notable findings following terrorism and immense psychosocial trauma is that family, community, and social network supports are the most significant factors in promoting recovery and preventing long-term mental health difficulties. This project utilized a content analysis of theoretical foundations and professional counselor competencies, which provided empirical evidence as to how community connectedness emerges following a collective trauma event. Given the significance for building community connectedness into collective trauma responses (Breckenridge &amp; James, 2012; Charuvastra &amp; Cloitre, 2008; Flynn, 2007; Hobfoll et al., 2007; Landau, 2012; Mears, 2008; Saul, 2014; Saul &amp; Bava, 2009; Shultz, Cattaneo, Sabina, Brunner, Jackson, &amp; Serrata, 2016), and the call for more leadership from counselors by CACREP (2016) in the area of disasters and crises, this project provides an instructional manual for mental health professionals who are called upon after a collective trauma. This instructional manual offers interventions and models to facilitate long-term post disaster recovery after a collective trauma.</p><p>

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Aug. 13, 2009). Directed by Craig Cashwell; submitted to the School of Education. Includes bibliographical references (p. 130-139).

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.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-02-24T20:15:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 UlianaFO.pdf: 473373 bytes, checksum: 0c2229bda1326b794d02312462a7dc62 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-07-12 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / A preocupa??o com a qualidade do atendimento na sa?de p?blica tem levado alguns profissionais a buscar realizar outros tipos de pr?ticas al?m do tradicional atendimento cl?nico. Diante dessa situa??o, ? cada vez mais reconhecida a relev?ncia das interven??es em grupo como uma estrat?gia de atua??o para os profissionais da sa?de. Essas interven??es t?m sido muito utilizadas nos pa?ses desenvolvidos como forma de preven??o e tratamento dos problemas de sa?de, principalmente no caso das doen?as cr?nicas, devido ao prolongamento da situa??o de desequil?brio causado por estas. No contexto local, h? pouca divulga??o das pr?ticas de interven??o em grupo, apesar do reconhecimento quanto a sua import?ncia. Com a motiva??o de estudar essas pr?ticas, esta pesquisa objetivou conhecer as caracter?sticas das interven??es em grupo que s?o realizadas na rede b?sica de sa?de em Natal-RN, bem como o significado e import?ncia atribu?da pelos profissionais a essas interven??es. Para isso foi feito um levantamento dos centros de sa?de do munic?pio de Natal que declararam trabalhar com grupos e alguns profissionais, nesses centros, foram entrevistados. A partir dos dados obtidos nessas entrevistas, foi elaborado o question?rio e aplicado em quarenta e cinco profissionais. Evidenciou-se a pouca difus?o das interven??es realizadas em grupo, havendo uma preocupa??o maior com os atendimentos individuais. A maioria das interven??es em grupo s?o desenvolvidas atrav?s de "palestras educativas", visto que muitos profissionais n?o conhecem outras formas de interven??o grupal. Entretanto, nos centros de sa?de envolvidos com a sa?de mental, especialmente os NAPS e CAPS, tem sido desenvolvidas um grande n?mero de interven??es grupais, al?m de haver uma predomin?ncia das interven??es em grupos terap?uticos. Por outro lado, nos outros centros de sa?de, observou-se que prevalece a falta de condi??es estruturais para a realiza??o de interven??es grupais, al?m da pouca motiva??o e capacita??o de alguns profissionais para realiz?-las