County Community Research Articles

Judge rules against former administrator

Case name: Terry, et al. v. Maricopa County Community College District, et al., No. CV‐19‐05754 (D. Ariz. 08/09/21).

OCR finds college didn't retaliate

Case name: Letter to: Butler County Community College, No. 03‐21‐2013 (07/27/21).

Analysis of Carotid Ultrasound Screening of High-Risk Groups of Stroke Based on Big Data Technology.

In order to understand detection of carotid atherosclerosis in the screening of high-risk stroke populations in a certain area of China, we have analyzed related risk factors of CAS. In accordance with the requirements of the “2015 Technical Plan for the Screening and Intervention Projects for High-Risk Stroke Populations,” a cluster sampling method was used to select 4532 (number of screened persons from 2015 to 2021) permanent residents over 41 years old (一) in Shaheying Town, Liulin Town, Chenggu County, Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province, and Da'an Town, Ningqiang County, and nearby communities are selected as the screening targets. We screened out high-risk groups of stroke based on big data technology and understood the detection of CAS. According to the screening results of big data technology, it was divided into two groups: CAS group and non-CAS group. The basic information, medical history, personal lifestyle, physical examination, and laboratory examination results of the two groups were classified and counted. The measurement data such as age and waist circumference of the two groups were tested by two independent samples, and the count data of gender, stroke history, hypertension, and other data were tested by the χ2 test of the four-table data, and the logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors for CAS of population at high risk of stroke. The results proved the following: (1) Among the 4532 screeners, 865 cases were screened out of the high-risk population of stroke, with an average age of (58.5 ± 8.3) years, mainly 59 to 68 years old, accounting for 43.8%, and the male-to-female ratio was 1.6 : 1. (2) The detection rates of CAS, intimal thickening, plaque formation, and stenosis among high-risk groups of stroke were 55.5%, 10.2%, 52.2%, and 32.6%, respectively. (3) Among the high-risk groups of stroke, CAS patients have a history of stroke, the proportion of hypertension, age, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels that are higher than those in the non-CAS group, and the difference is statistically significant. (4) Logistic regression analysis shows that age, diabetes, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol are independent risk factors for CAS in the high-risk population of stroke in this area.

Judge rules against former employee

Case name: Henderson, et al. v. Montgomery County Community College, No. 19‐1064 (E.D. Pa. 07/21/21).

Judge rules against former administrator

Case name: Terry, et al. v. Maricopa County Community College District, et al., No. CV‐19‐05754 (D. Ariz. 08/09/21).

Closer contact with students can pay off in enrollment, retention

No one should underestimate the importance of offering a personal touch when working with students who may face multiple barriers to enrollment and completion, said the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success at Monroe County Community College in Michigan. Scott Behrens, Ph.D., still finds the phone calls he places to students to be among his favorite aspects of the job.

Judge rules against former employee

Case name: Henderson, et al. v. Montgomery County Community College, No. 19‐1064 (E.D. Pa. 07/21/21).

Modeling of Infectious Disease Informed by Investigative Focus and Data Characteristics, From the Microscopic to County Community Level

Modeling of Infectious Disease Informed by Investigative Focus and Data Characteristics, From the Microscopic to County Community Level

An Evaluation of a Public Health Intervention Aimed at Increasing Knowledge and Improving Behaviors Surrounding Suicide Prevention among Genesee Health System Staff and Genesee County Community Members

An Evaluation of a Public Health Intervention Aimed at Increasing Knowledge and Improving Behaviors Surrounding Suicide Prevention among Genesee Health System Staff and Genesee County Community Members

Prospects for a Rim County Renaissance: Pandemic as Economic Opportunity

In previous Maine Policy Review essays, the author assessed the chronic economic distress facing Maine’s rim counties. His forecast for “more of the same” has been largely borne out by facts on the ground. At the end of 2021, however, he foresees new opportunities in the coming decade, based on a mix of positive external forces and creative Maine responses. Their economic potential is also strengthened by a massive infusion of federal dollars, the spread of high-speed telecommunications, and even the climate crisis. With critical state support, private-public-nonprofit partnerships are re-inventing rural Maine’s heritage industries—forest products, the food system, and tourism—and tapping its renewable energy potential. Pursued together, these silver buckshot initiatives can move many rim county communities onto a sustainable development path.

Study on the Problems and Countermeasures of the Rural Community Home Care Service for the Aged: Based on the Home Care Service Center for the Aged in Linqu County

With China’s population ageing, the issue of caring for the elderly has become a national concern. The rural economy is relatively backward in comparison to cities and towns, the old-age security service policy facilities are not yet perfect, and the large-scale outflow of young and middle-aged labor force following reform and opening-up has weakened the traditional family old-age support function, and the benefits of community old-age support appear, but it is still limited by a number of factors. The research object in this paper is the Weifang Linqu County Community Home Care Service Center for the Elderly, which summarizes the current implementation of rural community home care services. This paper also investigates the problems that exist in old-age care at home in rural communities and proposes some solutions.

Bridging juvenile justice and behavioral health systems: development of a clinical pathways approach to connect youth at risk for suicidal behavior to care

BackgroundJustice-involved youth have high rates of suicidal behavior and co-morbid psychiatric disorders, yet low rates of service use. Implementation efforts aimed at supporting cross-agency linkage protocols may be useful components of interventions promoting behavioral healthcare service access for youths on probation. The purpose of this study was to develop clear referral Pathways for three suicide risk classifications of youth, across 10 counties in a single state through a community-academic partnership in New York state, a strategic planning process between county Probation departments and community Behavioral Health.ResultsWe sought to clarify service destinations for youth in three classes of risk for suicidal behavior: Class I (Crisis, Imminent Risk); Class II (Crisis, Non-Imminent Risk); and Class III (Non-Crisis but in Need of Service). Prior to Pathway Meetings, there was a low degree of agreement between Probation and Behavioral Health leadership for the appropriate service destination for youths in crisis, whether at imminent risk (Class I: 57.8% overlap) or at lower than imminent risk (Class II: 45.6% overlap). Options for referral destinations for Classes I and II decreased significantly (indicating greater overlap) as a result of Pathway Meetings [(Class I: from 2.5 to 1.1 (t(9) = 3.28, p < 0.01); Class II: from 2.8 to 1.3 (t(9) = 4.025, p < 0.003)]. Pathway Meetings allowed Behavioral Health and Juvenile Justice systems to make joint decisions regarding referral pathways, resulting in innovative solutions, such as the use of mobile crisis.ConclusionsThe community-academic partnership served to bring internal (Juvenile Justice) and external (Behavioral Health) contexts together to successfully generate agreed upon Pathways to care for youths demonstrating risk for suicidal behavior. Bridging Behavioral Health and Juvenile Justice systems together to agree to referral Pathways for each risk class can increase appropriate service use.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03586895. Registered 21 June 2018, https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/prs/app/template/EditRecord.vm?epmode=Edit&listmode=Edit&uid=U0003B7I&ts=4&sid=S00080NN&cx=-n4kinh

Abstract 10400: The Role of Patient, Community, and Healthcare System Factors in Variability of Hospital Readmissions After Myocardial Infarction

Introduction: The Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) penalizes hospitals by reducing Medicare (CMS) reimbursement for those institutions with higher rates of readmissions following hospitalizations for myocardial infarction (MI). Understanding the contributors to readmission following MI hospitalization can identify meaningful areas for intervention. We examine whether community and patient or healthcare system factors contribute more to variability in MI readmissions. Methods: We compiled CMS hospital data on MI readmissions, CMS physician reimbursement data, and 2020-21 County Health Rankings (Credit: University of Wisconsin). The outcome was the ratio of a hospital’s MI readmissions to MI discharges. Physician/healthcare system factors included total number of cardiac subspecialists, presence of all subspecialties, and the mean proportion of reimbursed charges. Patient and community factors included mean Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) risk score (quantifies expected healthcare costs for CMS beneficiaries based on ICD-10 coding), median household income, the proportion of residents reporting no physical activity, and access to food stores. Models were created using linear regression. Model of best fit was determined using R 2 , AIC, BIC in model training data and mean absolute prediction error (MAPE) and root mean square prediction error (RMSE) in test data. Results: The linear regression model incorporating community and patient factors explained greater variability in MI readmission rates and performed with greater accuracy in the test data (R 2 0.21; AIC -40.2; BIC -5.1; MAPE 0.030; RMSE 0.042) than the model incorporating physician/healthcare system factors (R 2 0.04; AIC 170.0; BIC 195.0; MAPE 0.033; RMSE 0.045). HCC score, level of physical activity, median household income, and number of cardiac specialists were associated with significant effect sizes on the outcome. Conclusions: At a county level, community and patient factors appear to contribute more to variability in hospitals’ MI readmission rates. Further analyses should explore other community, patient, and provider factors that contribute. The HRRP does not account for community or patient factors, indicating its limitations.

Abstract 10388: The Role of Patient, Community and Healthcare System Factors in the Variability of Cardiovascular Hospital Readmissions

Introduction: The Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) penalizes hospitals by reducing Medicare (CMS) reimbursement for institutions with higher rates of readmissions following hospitalizations for myocardial infarction (MI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and heart failure (HF). Understanding the contributors to these readmissions can identify meaningful areas for intervention. We examine whether community and patient or healthcare system factors contribute more to variability in cardiac readmissions. Methods: We compiled CMS hospital data on MI, CABG and HF readmissions, CMS physician reimbursement data, and 2020-21 County Health Rankings (Credit: University of Wisconsin). The outcome was the ratio of a hospital’s composite readmissions for MI, CABG and HF to discharges for the same conditions. Physician/healthcare system factors included total cardiac subspecialists, presence of all subspecialties, and the mean proportion of reimbursed charges. Patient and community factors included mean Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) risk score, median household income, proportion of residents reporting no physical activity, and access to food stores. Linear regression models were compared using R 2 , AIC, BIC in model training data and mean absolute prediction error (MAPE) and root mean square prediction error (RMSE) in test data. Results: The linear regression model incorporating community and patient factors explained greater variability in readmission rates in training data and performed with greater accuracy in the test data (R 2 0.35; AIC -1839; BIC -1811; MAPE 0.017; RMSE 0.022) than the model incorporating physician/healthcare system factors (R 2 0.04; AIC - 1685; BIC - 1664; MAPE 0.022; RMSE 0.027). HCC score, level of physical activity, and number of cardiac specialists were associated with the largest effect sizes on the outcome. Conclusions: At a county level, community and patient factors appear to contribute more to variability in hospitals’ MI, CABG and and HF readmission rates. Further analyses should explore other community, patient, and provider factors that may contribute. The HRRP does not account for community/patient factors, indicating its limitations.

Smart city community governance system based on online and offline aggregation services.

This paper takes smart city as an example, combining with online and offline aggregation services to explore the possible way out of county community governance innovation. In this white paper, community governance of online and offline aggregate services depends on the various assets and functions of the community, acts in collaboration with community stakeholders, and prevents and resists contingencies. Defined as a community with the ability to self-organize, self-adapt, and self-heal Interference or disaster to achieve sustainable development. This paper puts forward the benefit evaluation method of community governance, which is used to evaluate the implementation effect of online and offline community governance system. Taking a county as an example, this paper analyzes the impact of the challenge and novelty of this model on urban construction. Research shows that in the previous community governance model, about 50% of the people think that the managers of all institutions related to public welfare should not take management as the purpose, and even nearly 70% of the respondents also stressed that these institutions should not be allowed to collect legal management fees or commission fees. At the same time, 40% of respondents admitted that they did not trust the quality of free services provided by public welfare agencies. The online and offline aggregate service modes adopted by the city not only work well in the city's economy, but also increase the city’s GDP by 12%. This is 3.6% higher than in the previous mode. In addition, this model will accelerate the process of democratic construction and improve people's happiness index.

Association between particulate matter air pollution and heart attacks in San Diego County

ABSTRACT Air pollution is one of the major risk factors contributing to adverse public health outcomes worldwide. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been repeatedly associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attacks. Because PM2.5 is unequally distributed with elevated concentrations near high-traffic and industrial zones, PM2.5 is an environmental justice issue of major public health concern. In this study, we reviewed the relationship between PM2.5, emergency visits due to heart attacks, and environmental justice in San Diego County using data from CalEnviroScreen 3.0. Our results indicate that PM2.5, diesel PM emissions, and emergency visits due to heart attacks are weakly, but positively correlated (r = 0.3, R2 < 0.1). Areas classified as environmental justice communities, communities comprised more dominantly of nonwhite populations, and communities closer to the San Diego-Tijuana border are exposed disproportionately to air pollution in San Diego County. Overall, this work demonstrates that there is an association between elevated local PM concentrations in San Diego County communities with emergency hospital visits due to heart attacks, and that these associations are an environmental justice issue disproportionally affecting disadvantaged communities. Implications: Particulate matter is an adverse contributor to overall health throughout the lifespan, contributing to diseases such as asthma, hypertension, stroke, and increased risk of cardiovascular events. Here, we assess the relationship between particulate matter and heart attacks in San Diego County using CalEnviroScreen3.0. Using these tools, we also examine correlations between this relationship and different sociodemographic indicators such as age, race, income, and proximity to the high-traffic U.S.–Mexico border. Overall, we show that specific communities around San Diego are more highly exposed to particulate matter, and that these relationships may be disproportionately contributing to heart attacks in disadvantaged communities.

Closer contact with students can pay off in enrollment, retention

No one should underestimate the importance of offering a personal touch when working with students who may face multiple barriers to enrollment and completion, said the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success at Monroe County Community College in Michigan. Scott Behrens, Ph.D., still finds the phone calls he places to students to be among his favorite aspects of the job.

The Socio-Economic Environment among Pastoral Communities in West Pokot and Turkana Counties in Kenya

There are conflicts in many pastoral communities around the globe, while the Sahel region and EastoAfrica demonstrate sustained levels of inter-pastoral violent conflicts with associated potential impacts on their livelihoods. Turkana-Pokot Violence across borders, conflict is now the norm. A number of efforts have been made by various bodies to bring peace to the region. Despite the Kenya Police Reservists' disarmament and arming communities, peace building meetings, prosecuting perpetrators, declaring illicit firearms surrender amnesties, and setting up peace committees continue to prevail in the region, insecurity and violent conflict. This study was primarily utilized the Protracted Social Conflicts (PSC) theory of Edward Azar. The study adopted descriptive research design. The study was conducted in Turkana and West Pokot Counties of Kenya. A total of 434 respondents were targeted in Pokot North and Turkana South. The sample size of 130 respondents was selected from each of the two Sub Counties. Data was collected using questionnaires, interview schedules, and document analysis and focus group discussions. Pilot study was conducted in Wajir County to establish reliability and validity of research instruments using content analysis and Cronbach alpha respectively. Quantitative data was analyzed using the SPSS to obtain descriptive statistics and chi-square. Qualitative data was analyzed by use of themes and presented in narrative form. Quantitative data was presented in form of tables, charts and graphs. Qualitative data was presented in form of narratives and verbatim quotations. The findings of the study revealed that, the proximity of Turkana County to three international borders, namely; Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia had contributed to the proliferation of small arms through the porous borders that are not governed by the respective governments. This contributed to the availability and cheapness of small arms in Turkana County as a whole, hence the sustenance of the conflict between the two communities. Therefore, this theoretical framework was useful in anchoring the study. The study findings therefore suggested that politics, governance, peace building strategies, commercialization of raided animals and proliferation of small arms are the sustainers of conflict among the pastoral communities of Turkana and West Pokot Counties of Kenya. The next chapter presents the effectiveness of the existing conflict management system towards the conflict between the Turkana and Pokot communities.&#x0D;

Closer contact with students can pay off in enrollment, retention

No one should underestimate the importance of offering a personal touch when working with students who may face multiple barriers to enrollment and completion, said the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success at Monroe County Community College in Michigan. Scott Behrens, Ph.D., still finds the phone calls he places to students to be among his favorite aspects of the job.

Use of Community-Based Participatory Research Partnerships to Reduce COVID-19 Disparities Among Marshallese Pacific Islander and Latino Communities - Benton and Washington Counties, Arkansas, April-December 2020.

Marshallese and Latino communities in Benton and Washington counties, Arkansas, were disproportionately affected by COVID-19. We evaluated the effectiveness of a comprehensive community-based intervention to reduce COVID-19 disparities in these communities. We examined all laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases in the 2 counties reported from April 6, 2020, through December 28, 2020. A 2-sample serial t test for rate change was used to evaluate changes in case rates before and after implementation of the intervention. After implementation, the proportions of cases among Marshallese and Latino residents declined substantially and began to align more closely with the proportions of these 2 populations in the 2 counties. Infection rates remained lower throughout the evaluation period, and weekly incidence also approximated Marshallese and Latino population proportions. Leveraging community partnerships and tailoring activities to specific communities can successfully reduce disparities in incidence among populations at high-risk for COVID-19 .