The "New Institutionalism" (DiMaggio and Powell 1991) posits a Theory of Practical Action as the basis for persisting social arrangements in economic life. In this project, I use this perspective to explain the social construction and organization of the life insurance industries of New York and Arizona. I develop an institutionalized-strategies explanation of industry organization. Research by Dobbin (1994b) showed the influence of embedded "institutional logics" in shaping rational responses to the economic business of railroads in Britain, France, and the United States. I combine Dobbin's argument with recent research on the development of state-level economic policies in the United States. Leicht and Jenkins (1994) identified three distinct "strategies" employed by states in implementing economic policies, and they imply that the strategies differ mainly in their "assumptions about the nature of economic growth and the role of the state" in economic development (1994:257). 1 argue that these findings suggest that states adopt a particular strategy--a set of similar Policy tools ("tactics") for specific policy targets. Applied to the insurance industries of New York and Arizona, an institutionalized-strategies view proposes that variation in state insurance laws reflects the meanings lawmakers associate with the economic enterprise of "life insurance." Different public conceptions of life insurance as a business led to different meanings for policymakers, and these meanings defined what tactics of control are legitimate and appropriate. These meanings derived from the economic and cultural legacy in the state--cultural heritage and economic history gave meaning to images of life insurance as a business enterprise. The legitimate, rational actions (tactics) of policymakers followed from the cultural legacy of the two states, and they constituted overall strategies directed at controlling life insurance companies. The sociocultural and historical embeddedness of meanings associated with the business of life insurance makes the lines of action rational in the minds of policymakers. In addition to showing how this process operated in the two states, I document the outcomes of such organizing activity--different rates of organizational dynamics and industry trajectories as reflected in rates of foundings, entries, and failures of life insurance companies.

This study, grounded on fieldwork carried out in the cities of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, looks at the narratives of women who describe themselves, and are identified by others, as belonging to what is called in Mexico, the well-positioned middle classes. From these narratives of privilege, the author looks at the differentiating ways of these women and includes, within theoretical and historical contexts, their narration of life stories that are laced with issues of social class, gendered subjectivities and nation-ness. The author engaged the narrations of women of Mexican descent living on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico political divide, contrasting the ways they live the suggested positioning within specific social, political and economic structures and systems developed in the area. This positionality, as well as its normalizing ways, was usually addressed through elaborations of the commonly used expression, "our customs." By following these elaborations of location within a perceived and lived social space, the author notes that the "customs" primarily reference a specific location of social class and, as part of this privileged positioning, the customs include particular ways of participating in pious activities as well as in the promotion of localized processes of nation making. The customs further referenced historical moments of regional importance. Based on these observations, the author takes the position that the discourse observed and analyzed at present reflects not only the vestiges of past political and economic relations of social consequences but also the fact that some people weave their lives at this border site by navigating both sides of the political divide. The data obtained from the fieldwork experience was derived not only through the collection and analysis of life stories, but also through the participant-observation activities carried out over an extended period of time. In addition, the author is a native and long-term resident of this border site between the United States and Mexico.

<p> Social service agencies often ignore death and dying issues (DDI). Direct care staff (DCS) are left to fend for themselves. They express themselves when it comes to DDI. Training on DDI and grief and loss issues (GLI) is scarce. Theories such as Symbolic Interactionism and Awareness theory help explain GLI and DDI. The methods used in this study include qualitative interviewing. Ten DCS were interviewed from a Fargo social service agency. They were asked questions about their beliefs in DDi and their work with clientele. Also addressed were how DDI effected them personally and their educational background. Results indicated that their were positive perceptions of the disabled people regarding DDI and GLI. The DCS believe that the disabled individual grieves adequately with staff and family assistance. Additionally the disabled persons with whom the DCS worked understood GLI and DDI. The staff at this agency were not trained for DDI until an incident ocured.</p>

<p> The study examined how Black lesbian women perceive risks to their sexual health and how community discourse shapes these perceptions. Data from interviews with 28 Black lesbian women in Southern California were qualitatively analyzed and 10 were used in this study. It was expected that their sexual health risk perceptions would be shaped by discourse they heard from their peers in their communities. Results showed that participants define sexual health in terms of both psychological and physical aspects. Also, results showed that beliefs in physiological likelihood, generational experiences, and gender expression differences in attitudes toward casual sex shape how participants perceive risks to their sexual health. Results showed that community discourse did not directly shape risk perceptions, rather participants expressed processes of contradiction, negotiation, and disidentification in this relationship. The importance of these findings on resources for this community is also discussed. </p>

<p>Using Action Research, Implementation Science, and Institutional Ethnography, this practice-focused research explored inhibiting and promoting factors related to implementing buprenorphine treatment within HIV primary care while simultaneously developing, installing and initially implementing an interdisciplinary buprenorphine treatment/practice. Data was collected and analyzed using constructivist grounded theory method strategies. Data collection/generation included documentary analysis, key informant interviews, field data from collaborative interdisciplinary team processes, researcher reflective practice, a patient focus group, and an interdisciplinary buprenorphine treatment/practice manual. </p><p> The research had several achievements. It identified three key implementation inhibiting categories, (1) significant and persistent bias, (2) plaguing and difficult questions, and (3) buprenorphine expectionalism. It also developed countering implementation promoting categories, (1) be an educated advocate and dispel myths, (2) identify core components of interdisciplinary buprenorphine treatment and uniformity of care, and (3) dementionalizing interdisciplinary treatment/practice. It exposed scope of practice issues and mapped out the specifics of the types of services each discipline would provide, the detail of those practices, their coordination, as well as the areas of practice where there was joint responsibility and overlap. It increased the capacity and competences of the research organization and the 18 interdisciplinary buprenorphine team members. It also explicated the many forms of power operating in the study and the importance of power sharing, adapting treatment, leadership support, structural components and resources on the development and implementation process. </p><p> This study shed light on the reality that prescribing buprenorphine and taking up the practice of treating opioid dependence/addiction means that clinicians must be prepared and skilled to provide care where issues of life and death, emotional distress, and significant uncertainties are part of the landscape. The study findings also highlight that balancing safety (both patient and staff) with control and authority is an important aspect of buprenorphine treatment. An interdisciplinary focus expanded the concept of treatment and addressed many important aspects of caring for people with opioid dependence/addiction that often go unaccounted for and/or unnoticed. Without an interdisciplinary frame, patients are at risk for receiving substandard care. This study demonstrated that the interdisciplinary practices needed to provide quality care and improve health outcomes are interdependent. </p>

<p><b>Background and Purpose:</b> There is research documenting negative attitudes toward individuals with disabilities, but few studies from the perspective of the wheelchair user. Research on perceived attitudes and discrimination has been conducted in the workplace and store environment, but not the restaurant setting. <b>Purpose:</b> develop and initiate validation of a novel instrument for measuring the perception of attitudes and discrimination by restaurant personnel toward individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) who are wheelchair users in a restaurant setting; investigate the perception of attitudes and discrimination by restaurant personnel toward individuals with a SCI who are wheelchair users; investigate the relationship between perception of attitudes and discrimination and age, gender, race/ethnicity, level of injury, time since onset, and quality of life (QOL). <b>Methods: </b> A cross-sectional, mixed methods design. Participants had a SCI, were 18 years old or older, at least 1 year post-SCI, and used a wheelchair when in a restaurant. Data regarding perception of attitudes and discrimination were obtained with a novel questionnaire; the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LiSat-9) measured QOL. <b>Results:</b> 86 participants: 41 male (47.7%); mean (SD) age 46.5 (13.0) years; White (87.2%). Internal consistency of the attitudes and discrimination measure, Cronbach&rsquo;s &alpha; = .87. The mean item response scale score of the perception of attitudes and discrimination questionnaire was 2.78 (0.55). Correlation and multiple regression analyses revealed no relationship between age, gender, race, level of injury, time since onset of injury, and the mean item response score of the attitudes and discrimination measure. Multiple regression analyses were conducted, controlling for age, gender, and race to identify variables associated with the LiSat-9. Entering the variables of level of injury, time since onset, and the mean item response score of the attitudes and discrimination measure resulted in a Multiple <i>R</i>² = .23; <i>F</i> = 3.38, <i>p</i> = .01. Content analysis of qualitative data revealed problems of physical access of restaurants and negative attitudes of restaurant employees. <b>Conclusions:</b> Individuals with SCI who are wheelchair users perceive physical and attitudinal barriers when in a restaurant. Improvements in physical design and research and training aimed to reduce attitudinal barriers in restaurants are needed. </p>

<p> This study was designed to explore how the experience of past parental alienation and current estrangement from adult child(ren) affected aging alienated parents particularly in the domains of depression and life satisfaction. This study also explored the link between past parental alienation and late-life estrangement from adult child(ren). The sample of 65 participants responded to an online survey after responding to a recruitment flyer posted on Craig's List. </p><p> The results showed mild to moderate levels of depression and moderate dissatisfaction with life among the study participants. Higher levels of parental alienation were significantly associated with higher levels of depression and greater dissatisfaction with life. Participants also overwhelmingly reported that past parental alienation had contributed to their current estrangement from their adult child(ren). </p><p> Further research is needed on the impact of parental alienation on the well-being of aging parents.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to partner with the community to learn and conceptualize how to integrate a spiritual and leadership development program in order to promote social and family responsibility in African American and Latino at-risk males who have become single fathers and to become responsive to the Word of God in their lives.</p>

<p>Historically, the majority of immigrants to the United States came from European countries. The 1965 Immigration Reform Act (IRA) fundamentally changed the configuration of immigrants to the United States. The largest immigrant communities now consist of Latin Americans, Asians, and Africans. Another important development in immigrant communities in the past few decades has been the growth of a disproportionately large upper class in non-Hispanic immigrant communities. In this study, I will investigate the determinants of upper class status with a focus on non-Hispanic immigrants in the United States. </p><p> I have used a theoretical framework consisting of a wide spectrum of social theories. The theoretical framework encompasses Demographic and Structural Factors, Assimilation Theory, Weberian Theory, Elite Theories, and Marxian Theory. From this wide spectrum of theories, I have developed a set of fifteen exogenous variables including key socio-demographic variables, metropolitan area, region, the number of hours worked, immigration from an English speaking country, citizenship status, the length of stay in the United States, occupational status, occupational prestige, educational attainment, private schooling, and employment status. Consequently, I have analyzed the influence of these variables on upper class status attainment among non-Hispanic immigrants in the United States. </p><p> The current study has utilized secondary data analysis from the 2010 American Community Survey (ACS). Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to examine the relationship among study variables. More specifically, by conducting block analysis, the result of the regression analysis spelled out the degree of influence of each theoretical perspective on the dependent variable, upper class status attainment. </p><p> The results of this study have revealed that Structural and Demographic factors make up the largest share of influence on upper class status attainment among non-Hispanic immigrants in the United States. The most influential variables emerged as &ldquo;hours worked&rdquo; (<b>&beta; = 0.211</b>) from the Demographic and Structural Factors block, &ldquo;educational attainment&rdquo; (<b>&beta; = 0.174</b>) from elite theory, and &ldquo;Marital Status&rdquo; (<b>&beta; = 0.119</b>) from the Demographic and Structural Factors block respectively. </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>