Community Service Providers Research Articles

A Web-Based Gender-Sensitive Educational Simulation on Vocational Rehabilitation for Service Providers Working With Youth With Disabilities: Pilot Evaluation.

Although there is a need for gender-specific health care, especially within the context of vocational rehabilitation for youth with disabilities, clinicians, trainees, and community service providers commonly report lacking training in gender-sensitive approaches. Therefore, an educational tool designed for clinicians working with youth, that addresses how to approach such issues, could help clinicians to augment the care they provide. The objective of our study was to conduct a pilot evaluation of an educational simulation for health care and service providers focusing on gender-sensitive approaches within the context of supporting youth with disabilities in vocational rehabilitation. We conducted a survey from May to September 2021 to assess the relevance of the simulation content, preliminary perceived impact on gender-sensitive knowledge and confidence, and open-ended feedback of a web-based gender-sensitive educational simulation. A total of 12 health care providers from a variety of professions who had experience working with youth in the context of vocational rehabilitation participated in the survey (11 women and 1 man). Most participants reported that the content of the simulation was relevant and comprehensive. The majority of participants reported that the simulation helped to increase their perceived knowledge or understanding of the topic, changed their perceived understanding of their intervention or approach, and informed their perceived confidence. Our qualitative findings from the open-ended questions highlighted three main themes: (1) relevance of the simulation content, (2) perceived impact for clinical practice (ie, gender-sensitive language and communication and building rapport with patients), and (3) perceived impact on organizational processes (ie, practices, policy, and privacy). Our educational simulation shows preliminary potential as an educational tool for service providers working with youth who have a disability within the context of vocational rehabilitation. Further research is needed to assess the impact of the tool with larger samples.

Contraceptive decision-making through the lens of social determinants of health among female sex workers: A qualitative descriptive study.

The aim of the study was to examine how female sex worker's motivations, desires, intentions and behaviours towards childbearing and childbearing avoidance inform their contraceptive decision-making. We explored the influence of social determinants of health in the domains of social context (sexual partners and experiences of violence), healthcare access, economic instability on the contraceptive decision-making process. We conducted a qualitative descriptive study informed by Miller's Theory of Childbearing Motivations, Desires and Intentions through the lens of social determinants of health. Participants were recruited from a parent study, EMERALD, in July-September, 2020. Data were collected from 22 female sex workers ages 18-49 using semi-structured 45 to 60-min audio-recorded interviews and transcribed verbatim. Theory guided the development of the study's interview guide and thematic analytic strategy. Five themes emerged related to contraceptive decision-making: Motivations (value of fatherhood), Desires (relationships with love), Intentions and Behaviours (drugs overpower everything, contraceptive strategies and having children means being a protector). Women's contraceptive decision-making often included intentions to use contraception. However, social determinants such relationships with clients and intimate partners, interpersonal violence and challenges accessing traditional health care offering contraceptive services often interfered with these intentions and influenced contraceptive behaviours. Women's contraceptive decision-making process included well-informed desires related to childbearing and contraceptive use. However, social determinants across domains of health interfered with autonomous contraceptive decision-making. More effort is needed to examine the influence of social determinants on the reproductive health of this population. Findings from this study build on existing research that examines social determinants impacting reproductive health among female sex workers. Existing theoretical frameworks may not fully capture the influence constrained reproductive autonomy has on contraceptive decision-making. Future studies examining interpersonal and structural barriers to contraception are warranted. The parent study, EMERALD, collaborated with community service providers in the study intervention.

Long-term care insurance, mental health of the elderly and its spillovers.

The paper studies the effects of the long-term care insurance (LTCI) program in China on the mental health of older adults and the wellbeing of their families. We employ the staggered difference-in-differences approach based on the LTCI pilots from 2015 to 2017. First, we find the LTCI program improves older adults' happiness and reduces depression symptoms significantly. The effects on the improvement in memory and cognition are associated with the elderly with activities of daily living-related need for care. Second, the effects of LTCI are partially mediated through providing community services, relieving care burdens, and reducing the incidence of diseases. More importantly, LTCI coverage improves caregivers' physical health and social activities, reflecting its welfare spillover effects. Furthermore, the relationship between LTCI and mental health differs due to the difference in LTCI designs and older adults' demographic characteristics. This presents a need to consider mental health in the services and evaluation criteria of LTCI.

The Role of Saudi Social Institutions through Entrepreneurship in Community Development according to Vision 2030

The present research aims to identify the role of social institutions and the role of Saudi social institutions through entrepreneurship in community development according to Vision 2030. It is divided into two topics: the first topic: is the research plan which includes: the introduction, the problem of research, the importance of research, concepts, and terms. The second includes the theoretical framework of several axes, namely: the role of social institutions and their number in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, what these institutions achieved during the previous period of community and charitable projects, the role of the Mohammed Al -Ali Al -Sanea Charitable Foundation within the framework of social responsibility, linking the institution's vision to the vision of 2030, and the proposed strategies to develop the developmental services in society, recommendations and proposals for Saudi social institutions. These recommendations and proposals have reached: not to be satisfied with volunteer work on traditional methods, but rather to create community programs that support the owners of effective and academic initiatives and seek to form a higher committee for community work that works to develop community work strategies and coordination between organizations and institutions and unifying their work channels in a way that meets the aspirations of vision Kingdom 2030. Coordination in providing aid, unifying standards and founding aid to ensure that there is no duplication in assisting, and making a guide for services provided by official and private volunteer organizations to raise awareness and introduce services, centres and bodies that provide community services.

Demands for Community Services and Associated Factors among Residents in Smart Communities: A Case Study of Xuzhou City.

Smart community enables a sustainable and livable community future, in which residents' demands play an important role in its success. Though great efforts have been made to encourage residents' participation in the implementation of smart communities, inefficient service supply still exists. Thus, this study aimed to classify residents' demands for community services in smart communities and to explore relevant influencing factors based on the developed conceptual framework. Data from 221 respondents in Xuzhou city of China were analyzed by using binary logistic regression. The results indicated that more than 70% of respondents had demands for all community services in smart communities. Moreover, the demands were influenced by distinct factors, including sociodemographic characteristics, living characteristics, economic characteristics, and individual attitude characteristics. The types of community services in smart communities are clarified and fresh insights are provided into associated factors related to residents' demands for these services in this study, through which enhanced provision of community services and effective implementation of smart communities can be achieved.

'Exploring the perspectives of young adults with developmental disabilities about sexuality and sexual health education'.

Sexuality is important in everyday lives; it contributes to a sense of self. Everyone has a right to access sexual experiences, form relationships, and obtain sexual health education. There is limited literature from the perspective of people with developmental disabilities about their sexuality and particularly how, or if, societal attitudes influence their sexuality and their opinions about sexual health education. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of young adults with developmental disabilities about their sexuality, their perceptions about how their sexuality was viewed by the community, and about the sexual education that is required and how it should be delivered. A qualitative interpretative phenomenological approach using a purposive sample was used to explore the perspectives of young adults, aged between 18 and 32 years old with developmental disabilities, to explore their perspectives on their sexuality, societal attitudes, and access to sexual health education. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using an interpretative phenomenological approach. Five main themes were developed from the data: (1) sexuality is multidimensional and important, (2) the challenges and fear of expressing sexuality, (3) societal views need to change, (4) close support enables sexuality, and (5) sexual health education needs to be individualised. Participants suggested that sexuality was important to them, and they had the same expectations about sexuality and relationships as many young adults. However, their autonomy and self-determination to set sexuality goals were constrained by societal attitudes. Supportive family and friends enabled opportunities, but they believed the knowledge and attitudes about disability, and about disability and sexuality, of community members, service providers, funders, and educators needed to change to enable increased opportunity to express their sexuality. Participants reported a need for individualised sexual health education provided by professionals with expertise.

Perception of extreme hot weather and the corresponding adaptations among older adults and service providers-A qualitative study in Hong Kong.

Extreme hot weather events are happening with increasing frequency, intensity and duration in Hong Kong. Heat stress is related to higher risk of mortality and morbidity, with older adults being particularly vulnerable. It is not clear whether and how the older adults perceive the increasingly hot weather as a health threat, and whether community service providers are aware and prepared for such future climate scenario. We conducted semi-structure interviews with 46 older adults, 18 staff members of community service providers and two district councilors of Tai Po, a north-eastern residential district of Hong Kong. Transcribed data were analyzed using thematic analysis until data saturation was reached. It was agreed upon among the older adult participants that the weather in recent years has become increasingly hot and this led to some health and social problems for them, although some participants perceived that hot weather did not have any impact in their daily lives and they were not vulnerable. The community service providers and district councilors reported that there is a lack of relevant services in the community to support the older adults in hot weather; and there is generally a lack of public education regarding the heat-health issue. Heatwaves are affecting older adults' health in Hong Kong. Yet, discussions and education effort regarding the heat-health issue in the public domain remain scarce. Multilateral efforts are urgently needed to co-create a heat action plan to improve community awareness and resilience.

Stigma toward cocaine use in Mexico City: does gender matter?

ABSTRACT Stigma toward those using cocaine and other substances remains a barrier to treatment and social inclusion. As part of a larger study exploring stigma toward those experiencing symptoms of various DSM5 diagnoses an experimental vignette methodology was used to examine factors associated with stigma toward individuals using cocaine in Mexico. Results from the subset of 66 individuals who were randomly assigned a vignette featuring cocaine use indicate that the gender of person using cocaine was not associated with differential levels of stigma. Lower levels of stigma were reported by respondents who had familiarity with mental health and substance use issues and by those endorsing higher levels of spirituality. Having a high school education or beyond was associated with greater stigma. Public health and education efforts are needed to inform community members and service providers about how stigma could affect addiction treatment and recovery. Implications for practice and research are explored.

Impacts of service learning-based social responsibility training on medical students.

Social responsibility (SR) is a fundamental value among physicians, who must maintain a positive attitude toward it during medical education by providing community service. This study investigated the impacts of service learning-based social responsibility training (SRT) by evaluating the SR perceptions of medical students who had participated in an SRT program and their views on the impacts of SRT on themselves, their institution, and the studied target groups. Four focus group interviews were held with 32 medical students, following a determined purposeful sampling method. Guided by qualitative content analysis, the data were analyzed through an iterative coding process. The analysis of the students' perceptions of SR revealed 13 themes in the impact of SRT: 7 for medical students, 4 for the medical school, and 2 for the studied target groups. The students explained SR with concepts of responsibility, volunteering, sensitivity, kindness, and community orientation and believed that SRT practices based on service learning effectively deepen the understanding of SR and the needs of the target groups in which they work. Communication, teamwork, leadership, and project management skills were defined as students' achievements. SRT practices had a positive effect on the studied target groups by meeting their physical and emotional needs; furthermore, they increased their medical school's recognition and accountability in society. Therefore, providing service learning-based experiences with reflection opportunities throughout medical education supports the development of medical students' understanding of SR, which can be strengthened with a supportive corporate culture and by improving the faculty's role-modeling and tutoring skills.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Social responsibility is a fundamental value among physicians, who must maintain a positive attitude toward it during medical education by providing community service. Providing service learning-based experiences with reflection opportunities throughout medical education supports the development of medical students' understanding of social responsibility, which can be strengthened with a supportive corporate culture and by improving the faculty's role-modeling and tutoring skills.

“I didn't even know headspace had the drug thing until today”: A socio-ecological analysis of access to drug and alcohol interventions in integrated youth health care services

BackgroundWith 150 centers Australia-wide, the headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation is an exemplary integrated youth health service. Headspace centers provide medical care, mental health interventions, alcohol and other drug (AOD) services, and vocational support to Australian young people (YP) aged 12 to 25 years. Co-located headspace salaried youth workers, private health care practitioners (e.g. psychologists, psychiatrists, and medical practitioners) and in-kind community service providers (e.g. AOD clinicians) form coordinated multidisciplinary teams. This article aims to identify the factors influencing the access to AOD interventions for YP, in the Australian rural headspace setting; as perceived by YP, their family and friends, and headspace staff. MethodsThe study purposively recruited YP (n = 16), their family and friends (n = 9), and headspace staff (n = 23) and management (n = 7) in four headspace centers in rural New South Wales, Australia. Recruited individuals participated in semistructured focus groups about the access to YP AOD interventions in the headspace setting. The study team thematically analyzed the data through the lens of the socio-ecological model. ResultsThe study identified convergent themes across groups and found several barriers to the access of AOD interventions; 1) YP's personal factors, 2) YP's family and peer attitudes, 3) practitioner skills, 4) organizational processes and 5) societal attitudes were all identified as negatively impacting access to YP AOD interventions. Practitioners' client-centered stance, and the youth-centric headspace model were factors that were considered as enablers of engagement of YP with an AOD concern. InterpretationWhile this Australian example of an integrated youth health care model is well placed to provide YP AOD interventions, a mismatch existed between practitioner capability and YP needs. The sampled practitioners described limited AOD knowledge, and low confidence in providing AOD interventions. At the organizational level, multiple AOD intervention supply and utilization issues occurred. Taken together, these problems likely underlie previous findings of poor service utilization and low user satisfaction. ConclusionClear enablers exist for AOD interventions to be better integrated into headspace services. Future work should determine how this integration can be achieved and what early intervention means in relation to AOD interventions.

OPTIMIZING THE CULTURE OF DISCIPLINE OF POLRI MEMBERS BASED ON PP NO 2 OF 2003 TO REALIZE PROFESSIONALISM

According to Law no. 2 of 2002 concerning safeguarding security and providing community services, protection, protection, and services to the community. This will not be realized if it is not carried out with the discipline of the members of the Police. Deviations in the behavior of Polri members are a violation of the disciplinary regulations of the Polri as stipulated in PP No. 2 of 2003 concerning Disciplinary Regulations for Polri Members. The purpose of writing this journal is the implementation of the implementation of disciplinary law enforcement for members of the Police through disciplinary hearings of the Police, knowing the implementation in the Police disciplinary hearings in realizing a disciplined Police and analyzing optimizing the functions of Police law enforcement in the implementation of disciplinary hearings in order to create a disciplined National Police. It is known that the implementation of disciplinary law enforcement for Polri members through Polri disciplinary hearings is the responsibility of Polri members who violate the law within the corridors of Polri's disciplinary law or violations of the code of ethics, the violation is internally institutional, namely through the trial session and the session of the Professional Code of Ethics Commission. Obstacles in the implementation of the Police disciplinary hearings are changes to the internal legal rules within the National Police, such as the National Police Chief Regulation No. 14 of 2011 concerning the Professional Code of Ethics, previously there were two National Police Chief Regulations governing the same thing, namely the National Police Chief Decree No. Pol: KEP/32 / VII/2003 and Regulation of the Chief of Police, Regulation of the Chief of Police Number 7 of 2006. The new regulation on the Code of Ethics for the Police Profession does not provide sufficient explanation. As a result of regulations that have multiple interpretations, each party will have different controls, so that it can open up opportunities for law enforcement to occur which ultimately creates legal uncertainty

Spatial analysis of community service availability in rural Kentucky, United States.

This study examined community service provider (CSP) availability relative to neighborhood socioeconomic status and its association with health-related social needs in Eastern Kentucky, United States. We used GIS methods to generate 10-mile network service areas around addresses of 736 CSPs and 10,161 Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries screened August 2018-April 2020 in 27-county study region. We observed wide variation in CSP availability and an inverse relationship between CSP availability and rates of unemployment, poverty, and federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The CSPs appear to have higher availability in more affluent census block groups. We found a statistically significant negative relationship between CSP availability within 10 miles of a beneficiary's resident and the presence of food, housing, transportation needs. Our findings suggest that healthcare providers, government entities, and non-profit organizations should consider geographic accessibility to those most in need when making referral and funding decisions, particularly in rural communities.

Young Parents and Digital Technologies: Navigating Pathways to Enhance Agency for Vulnerable Mothers

Mothering and motherhood can be a very challenging experience in the 21st century, where cultural pressures, on the one hand, and health experts’ regular parenting surveillance, on the other, continue to influence mothering decisions and practices. The socially constructed “good mother” discourses and associated pressures/influences can be amplified for vulnerable mothers who may feel marginalized from or judged by the broader society. This article presents findings from a study that involved interviews with ten young mothers and 12 staff working at a leading family welfare agency supporting young parents in Melbourne, Australia. The study examined how digital technology could promote a sense of agency for vulnerable mothers as well as barriers and enablers of accessing digital knowledge and online parenting support. In addition, the study explored how technology could assist community organizations’ staff in helping their clients better. This paper argues that, overall, digital technologies can positively influence the experience of mothering and can empower vulnerable mothers by increasing their access to various sources of support. Furthermore, our findings suggest that technology can enhance community and family service providers’ practice, opening possibilities for a more supportive relationship with clients by empowering them and increasing agency over their situation.

Debakarn Koorliny Wangkiny: steady walking and talking using first nations-led participatory action research methodologies to build relationships

ABSTRACT Aboriginal participatory action research (APAR) has an ethical focus that corrects the imbalances of colonisation through participation and shared decision-making to position people, place, and intention at the centre of research. APAR supports researchers to respond to the community's local rhythms and culture. APAR supports researchers to respond to the community's local rhythms and culture. First Nations scholars and their allies do this in a way that decolonises mainstream approaches in research to disrupt its cherished ideals and endeavours. How these knowledges are co-created and translated is also critically scrutinised. We are a team of intercultural researchers working with community and mainstream health service providers to improve service access, responsiveness, and Aboriginal client outcomes. Our article begins with an overview of the APAR literature and pays homage to the decolonising scholarship that champions Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing. We present a research program where Aboriginal Elders, as cultural guides, hold the research through storying and cultural experiences that have deepened relationships between services and the local Aboriginal community. We conclude with implications of a community-led engagement framework underpinned by a relational methodology that reflects the nuances of knowledge translation through a co-creation of new knowledge and knowledge exchange.

Using research feedback loops to implement a disability case study with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and service providers in regional and remote Australia

ABSTRACT While there is a well-developed body of literature in the health field that describes processes to implement research, there is a dearth of similar literature in the disability field of research involving complex conditions. Moreover, the development of meaningful and sustainable knowledge translation is now a standard component of the research process. Knowledge users, including community members, service providers, and policy makers now call for evidence-led meaningful activities to occur rapidly. In response, this article presents a case study that explores the needs and priorities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia who have experienced a traumatic brain injury due to family violence. Drawing on the work of Indigenous disability scholars such as Gilroy, Avery and others, this article describes the practical and conceptual methods used to transform research to respond to the realities of community concerns and priorities, cultural considerations and complex safety factors. This article offers a unique perspective on how to increase research relevance to knowledge users and enhance the quality of data collection while also overcoming prolonged delays of knowledge translation that can result from the research-production process.

Alternative response officers: investing in policing alternatives and community safety in Saskatoon, Canada

Abstract The current demand for policing alternatives has never been higher. In Canada, police services are increasingly exploring these alternatives to address this demand. In 2021, the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS), in collaboration with the city of Saskatoon, university partners, and numerous community stakeholders, introduced an alternative response officer (ARO). The ARO is a special constable, meaning that they are sworn in as a peace officer, but are tasked with addressing community safety concerns that do not require an armed officer to attend. SPS introduced the ARO in the downtown area of Saskatoon with the intent to increase interoperability with other community service providers, increase uniformed presence in the area to act as reassurance and deterrence, and to decrease the need for armed officers to attend low-level social disorder or social welfare calls. Using activity counts and calls for service data, this study examines the implementation and early outcomes of policing alternatives for community support and policing resource management. This study has implications for investing and expanding policing alternatives and reducing policing costs to municipalities.

Barriers to tourism participation: A case of first‐generation local community service providers

AbstractParticipation in tourism businesses for the local community often comes with various challenges. A better understanding of barriers to tourism development can help manage and smoothen community participation in tourism. Over the past two decades, an effort has been made to understand the barriers to tourism, but the perspective of first‐generation community participation is not explored in the existing literature. The current study measures barriers to tourism participation through four parameters, i.e., sociocultural, infrastructural, operational, and personal barriers. The study examined the barriers of first‐generation service providers from the rural tribal belt of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Data were collected using the purposive sampling technique from various tourism and allied services owned and managed by the local tribal community. The findings indicate that barriers related to the infrastructural support system are the dominant form of barriers. In contrast, the sociocultural factors do not act as a strong barrier among service providers. However, this report defers to other studies on tribal communities that indicate specific sociocultural barriers to participating in the tourism business. The study shows that willingness and conducive sociocultural aspects alone are not sufficient to lead a profitable tourism business. Furthermore, the study also recounts the importance of external intervention for macro‐level planning in tourism infrastructure.

FREQUENT USERS OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IN A METROPOLITAN CITY: INDIVIDUAL- AND SYSTEM-LEVEL CONSIDERATIONS

Abstract Frequent 911 calls from older adults place a significant burden on emergency response systems. Drawing from key informant interviews, we explore factors implicated in repeated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) among older people in the City of Los Angeles and provide system and policy recommendations to mitigate overuse of EMS 911 calls. Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) dispatch call records documented 370,016 EMS encounters from 202,471 unique individuals over 50 from 2012 to 2016. Frequent 911 callers over the age of 50 (n=8), family members (n=6), Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) personnel (n=10), and community service providers (n=3) participated in in-depth, qualitative interviews to understand individual- and system-level factors that increase the likelihood of repeated calls. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically. Guided by Grounded Theory, two themes emerged across all interviewee groups pointing to factors that contributed to 911 calls: 1) The Nature of 911 Calls; 2) Barriers to Access. Patients and family members were aligned on a third theme: 3) Previous Encounters: Interactions with emergency care providers, while LAFD and service providers were in agreement on a fourth theme: 4) The Role of EMS Responders and Community Providers. All groups provided recommendations for the theme, 5) Change the System so that 911 calls do not serve as the default choice. Findings demonstrate the need to improve coordination between LAFD, medical and human service providers. Care coordination can support individual- and system-level supports for patients and families to address their needs and reduce repeated EMS use.

INTRODUCING THE CENTENARIANS IN THE HEALTH AND RETIREMENT STUDY

Abstract The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) is a nationally representative sample of older adults, and data are available for 15 waves. This presentation presents an overview of the oldest cohort of the HRS (the AHEAD sample) as they become centenarians. Basic characteristics of these centenarians and near centenarians (98 years and older, N = 516) indicate that they are primarily female (77 percent), White (82 percent) with on average 10.6 years of education. The average age was 84.2 years at baseline and 98.3 years at wave 14. We analyze data by comparing centenarian survivors to nonsurvivors, by following them longitudinally, and by comparing different cohorts of centenarians over historical time. Results indicate that centenarians continue to enjoy life, and they have special survivorship characteristics. Newer cohorts, however, show a more compromised quality of life. The results are relevant to family members of oldest-old adults and to community service providers.

ANALISIS IMPLEMENTASI SISTEM PENGELOLAAN ADMINISTRASI PADA KANTOR KECAMATAN GILIRENG KABUPATEN WAJO

In writing this thesis aims to determine the analysis of the administrative management system at the Gilireng District Office, Wajo Regency and to determine the obstacles faced by employees regarding administrative management in providing community services at the Gilireng District Office, Wajo Regency by using a qualitative research type using a descriptive approach method.