Community Development Department Research Articles

Spatial econometric analysis of the digital divide in Thailand at the sub-district level: Patterns and determinants

This study explores spatial patterns of the digital divide and its determinants at the sub-district level in Thailand, uncovering nuanced patterns often overlooked in the in prior literature. To our knowledge, no studies in the digital divide field have offered such detailed estimations. Based on the Spatially Aware Technology Utilization Model, we constructed a conceptual model tailored to the digital divide's geospatial context in Thailand. Using a spatial econometric approach, we analyzed the 2021 data set on basic household necessities provided by Thailand's Community Development Department. The results show a positive spatial autocorrelation of the household internet access divide (HIAD) across Thailand's sub-districts. This spatial clustering tended to be high–high in the sub-districts located in the northeastern and northern regions, with low–low agglomerations in the central region of Thailand. In addition, the spatial econometric analysis results indicated that the HIAD may be influenced by various factors including demographic, economic, educational, government ICT prioritization, social capital, transportation, and disaster-related variables. This study provides both theoretical and policy implications to enrich geographic knowledge of the digital divide, specifically in the context of developing countries.

Bridging workforce skills gaps in rural America amid ‘the great resignation' by leveraging a triple helix collaboration

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically impacted the job market through a surge in layoffs and the mass resignation of employees leading to the emergence of ‘The Great Resignation’. This study explores the perspectives of employers regarding skills gaps and hiring challenges with a focus on rural communities. A collaboration led by a prominent rural university department of Community and Workforce Development included industry partners, governmental agencies, a partner university, primary and secondary schools (K-12), vocational institutions, Chambers of Commerce, and Small Business Development Centers. Their objective was to examine the gap between employer needs and worker readiness. Leveraging the Triple Helix approach, a grant was awarded to fund a stackable pathway skills development program for high-demand industries in a rural five-county area. This program, the Industry Engaged Workplace Ready Program Model, is a two-phase, rapid-response approach for meeting emergent workforce needs by providing accessible training, education, networking, and mentoring to employable candidates. Findings revealed success in the program with mixed outcomes and room for program revision.

The Determinant Factors of Research and Publication Information System Use Behavior in Private University at Surabaya: The Moderating Role of Service Quality

The development of an information system in the Research and Community Development Department in one of the private universities in Surabaya, which has already been developed since 2020, has not yet undergone an evaluation of user acceptance, specifically among the faculty. Furthermore, the satisfaction survey conducted has been too general so far, making it essential to evaluate the service quality of the information system provided. The research aimed to analyze user acceptance of X information system from the Research and Community Development Department. Additionally, it seeked to assess its service quality. The empirical research was quantitative by design, and data were collected from 228 faculty members. The research model was analyzed using PLS-SEM. The data analysis results indicate that all items used in the research are valid and reliable, with cross-loading values ranging from 0.837 to 0.980. Then, the Cronbach’s alpha values are greater than 0.6. It is found that out of six proposed hypotheses, four hypotheses are accepted and two hypotheses are rejected. The research finds that ease of use and usefulness influence intention to use, which increases usage behavior. The research also shows that service quality does not moderate the influence of perceived usefulness and ease of use on intention to use.

Innovative approach to full-service participatory occupational group development for the elderly in Bangkok, Thailand

This research aims to investigate an innovative approach to comprehensive participatory occupational group development for the elderly in Wat Pracharabuedham Community 1-4. The goal is to reduce inequality in urban communities. The study used participatory action research (PAR) and community-based research (CBR) methods to collect data. The study included 77 participants: 19 public health volunteers, 20 elderly individuals, 5 community leaders, 10 teachers and students, 3 officials from the Dusit District Community Development and Social Welfare Department in Bangkok, and 20 lecturers and students from Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University. The research findings identified the key components of urban communities as households, temples, and schools, referred to as the “H-T-S Ecosystem.” In this urban setting, working adults leave early and return late from work. During the day, grandparents managed household chores, cared for children, and monitored the community. However, the elderly did not want to burden their children and wished to contribute additional income to their families and communities. Despite this, they lacked the knowledge to develop community products. To address this issue, the research introduced a full-service herbal product called “Phaya Yor Green Oil.” This product enabled the elderly to support themselves without government assistance, leading to improved urban quality of life and increased community income through self-sufficiency.

Assessing Child Maintenance Cases in Ghana: What Do Social Workers Consider?

While one of the key responsibilities of social services in Ghana is to conduct maintenance arrangements so that the nonresident parent is committed to making financial contributions to the well-being of the child, little is known about what informs social workers’ assessments in child maintenance cases. The aim of this study was to determine what social workers consider when undertaking child maintenance assessments. A qualitative practice research study was conducted with 13 social workers and 12 parents involved in a child maintenance case with three agencies of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development in Ghana. The study showed that corroborating the existence of nonpayment for maintenance in the family is the first step in assessing other factors, such as the parent’s income, occupational status and maintenance amount. Even after the maintenance amount was decided upon, social workers were often unable to follow-up on nonresident parents to ensure that they complied with the maintenance arrangements. Given that no assessment instrument exists in Ghana for addressing child maintenance cases, the study’s findings can provide useful information that can aid in the development of an instrument or framework to assist social workers in their assessments.

When Social Workers Are Given Dual Mandates: Child Maintenance and the Complexities of Family Situations in the Ghanaian Child Protection System

Abstract Custodial parents, often single mothers, face challenges regarding child maintenance, including a lack of financial commitments from non-custodial parents for their children’s welfare. The evidence suggests that there is a strong link between child maintenance and poverty as well as other family violence issues. In addition to their primary child and family protection duties, child protection practitioners in Ghana have a mandate to assess child maintenance concerns. This dual responsibility may have the advantage of promoting holistic child and family practices, but it could also negatively impact families when practitioners overly focus on one responsibility at the expense of the other. We sought to understand and show whether families who reported child maintenance concerns to the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development in Ghana experienced challenges beyond child maintenance and whether practitioners identified these primary protection concerns in their assessments. Findings from qualitative in-depth interviews with seventeen parents show that these families experienced domestic violence, marital conflict and child abuse and neglect beyond the scope of a standard child maintenance case. The findings highlight the importance of child protection workers conducting comprehensive family assessments to resolve ‘hidden’ family difficulties when establishing child maintenance arrangements.

Factors Associated with Intention to Report Child Abuse among Early Childcare Providers in North-eastern Preschools, Malaysia

INTRODUCTION: Despite the rising number of child abuse in Malaysia, there are only few studies documenting early childcare providers' (ECPs') intention to report child abuse. ECPs play a vital impact because they closely interact with the children and nearly daily observe them. They should take the lead in ending the cycle of abuse in order to safeguard the children. The aim of our study was to determine the factors that influence ECPs' intentions to report child abuse. MATERIALS AND METHOD: 457 ECPs working in preschools registered under the Community Development Department in Kelantan, the North-eastern part of peninsular Malaysia participated in a cross-sectional study utilising the Early Childhood Educators Child Abuse Questionnaire (ECECAQ) in Malay, which has been validated. RESULTS: Increasing knowledge was significantly associated with the intention to report to the authorities as revealed by multiple logistic regression. CONCLUSION: Our findings justify the need for a comprehensive module and integrated standardized training on child abuse for ECPs in Malaysia to improve their knowledge, thus empowering them to report any child abuse case.

Meningkatkan Kecintaan Budaya Lokal melalui Pelatihan Membaca Naskah Kuno Beraksara Pegon di Kampus IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon

Purpose: Improving local culture by preserving heritage from the ancestors namely manuscripts and improving skill of reading manuscripts in Pegon script. Methodology: The training was held online and attended by 34 participants, 31 participants from students, and 3 participants from lecturers. The method consists of lectures, questions and answers; demonstrations, and practice, by first identifying the problem to formulate the form of the training to be carried out. Results: The training participants consisted of 5 majors, namely Arabic Language and Literature, Islamic History and Culture, Al-Qur'an Studies and Tafsir, the Islamic Community Development Department, and the Social Sciences Education Department. The participants are from Islamic boarding schools and public schools background and have the ability to speak the Javanese language or not. This is to group the training which consists of elementary and intermediate classes. As a result, the ability to read Pegon's script texts is increased, so that they can independently research Pegon's script directly to explore the contents of manucripts. Conclusion: The training activities went well. It is hoped that after participating in this training, participants will be able to independently learn to read Pegon texts through digital manuscripts on internet pages that provide digital manuscripts for free so that they continue to practice reading and become fluent. Keywords: 1. Improve Local Culture 2. Training 3. Manuscripts

Parenting support and community development effects of public all-weather playgrounds where children can freely gather indoors

The internet and technological advances mean children are spending more and more time in front of screens and are increasingly engaged in online rather than in-person interactions. Digital interactions are different to those that take place in the physical world. Public indoor playgrounds have been found to be beneficial for children and communication and interactions in public indoor playgrounds can be effective in supporting the rearing of children. This is the premise of Professor Seiki Tagawa's latest research, in which he and his team in the Department of Community Development, Tokai University, Japan, are exploring how these playgrounds can help support parents and improve community development. Tagawa believes in the potential of public indoor playgrounds that are tailored to the circumstances of different countries to help improve the environment for families struggling with child rearing and marginalised children. There is also potential to link these playgrounds with social work service to help address more difficult challenges. Tagawa's research is based on questionnaire surveys of local governments and thorough observational surveys in the field to verify the most effective kinds of playgrounds, identify operational problems and assess maintenance costs. Beyond fun playground equipment, comprehensive design is important. So far, Tagawa has confirmed links between playgrounds and effective social work.

Testing the Compressive Strength of Concrete with the Addition of Coconut Shell Waste

The purpose of this study was to (1) analyze the characteristics of fresh concrete with the addition of coconut shell waste (2) to analyze the compressive strength of concrete with the addition of coconut shell. The research location for making concrete was carried out at the Laboratory of the construction of the water resources and community development department of the Southeast Sulawesi provincial government. There were 24 specimens printed in the form of a cylinder with dimensions of 30cm x 15cm with the composition of adding 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% coconut shell waste. Which was then tested for compressive strength at the age of 7, 14, and 28 days. Based on the compressive strength test with a quality plan of f'c 20 MPa, on the 28 day test with the addition of 0% is 23.71 MPa, the addition of 5% is 20.59 MPa, the addition of 10% is 19.97 MPa, and an additional 15% is 13.53 MPa. Coconut shell as a substitute for coarse aggregate for quality f'c 20 MPa can only be used under 10% of the amount of coarse aggregate.

Examining the Role of Clean Drinking Water Plants in Mitigating Drinking Water-Induced Morbidity

Access to clean drinking water is essentially required for human existence. It is a formalized fact that contaminated drinking water poses a serious threat to human life as the endowment of unpolluted drinking water to Pakistan’s inhabitants is the local government’s foremost duty. Thus, to conquer this purpose, the local government, with the coordination of the community development department (CD), fixed drinking water filtration plants at several places in Lahore. This study aimed to discover the health threats and health-associated costs endured by households in the target study areas and the effects of drinking water on infants’ and children’s health in areas having and lacking water filtration plants by employing the health lifestyle model. Moreover, this study compared waterborne disease incidence in households in targeted areas with and without local government filtration plants. For this purpose, a multistage random sampling technique was employed to collect the data from 300 households residing at different locations in Pakistan. This study revealed that people who make life choices to drink filtration plants’ water installed by the local government are less likely to contract waterborne diseases. Besides, class circumstances such as the size of the family, education of the family head, and plant water usage are highly correlated to the quality and use of drinking water and, ultimately, to the health-associated outcomes by improving a healthy lifestyle. In contrast, the age of the household head was found to be insignificant in making choices regarding drinking water choices and reducing waterborne illness. The more the education of the family head, the fewer family members found to indulge in practices for using plant water. Thus, infants/children and other people are less likely to contract waterborne incidents in areas equipped with these filtration plants. Moreover, the probability of contracting waterborne illness is higher in males than in females in areas lacking filtration plants.

Early Childhood Education of Children with Special Needs in Malaysia: A Focus on Current Issues, Challenges, and Solutions

This study aims to examine issues, challenges, and solutions concerning the current practices of teachers and operators of early childhood education teachers and operators of both public and private sectors in Malaysia. This research was based on a qualitative method involving a series of interviews, which were carried out at the Department of National Unity and Integration (Jabatan Perpaduan Negara dan Integrasi Nasional, JPNIN), the Department of Social Welfare (Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat, JKM), the Community Development Department (Jabatan Kemajuan Masyarakat, KEMAS), and several public and private preschools (for children aged 5-6 years) and childcare centers (for children aged 1 – 4 years). The sample of the study consisted of xxx practitioners, namely teachers, supervisors, operators, trainees, and officers, who were selected from several TASKA and TADIKA centers in Malaysia. In this study, Malaysia’s provisional Early Childhood Career Educator (ECCE) National Quality Framework (NQF) was analyzed, which helped highlight four critical standards relating to leadership, organization and management, children’s experiences, and learning opportunities, which have become a major concern among practitioners. Through the interviews, the researchers were able to record and interpret ECCE teachers’ perceptions of the need for a policy that emphasizes their professional and career development. As revealed in this study, practitioners had to face a host of challenges and issues relating to leadership, organization and management, children’s experiences, and learning opportunities, which could adversely affect their current practices. In tandem, several solutions were identified to help them overcome such problems. In summation, the findings suggest that teaching children with special learning needs can be extremely challenging that entails all concerned to take appropriate measures, with each party having to focus on its role to help provide equal access to education to all children. Surely, through concerted efforts, special needs education in Malaysia can be further improved to help children with learning disabilities to learn as efficacious as their mainstream counterparts.

Experiencing the Unprecedented COVID-19 Lockdown: Abu Dhabi Older Adults' Challenges and Concerns.

This study focused on older adults (60+ years old) of both genders in Abu Dhabi during the COVID-19 pandemic before vaccines were made available (age ranged from 60 years to 75 years). They faced more strict rules of movement restriction and isolation that might have resulted in certain psychological feelings and social reactions. The main objective was to understand Abu Dhabi older adults’ psychological feelings during the pandemic and to identify their main concerns and challenges considering the various COVID-19-related policies and restrictions. The psychological feelings focused on fear, loneliness, sadness, irritability, emotional exhaustion, depressive symptoms, sleeping disorders, overeating, and excessive screen use. The objectives also included the changes in the psychological feelings concerning time. Other objectives covered better understanding the differences in (some activities) compared to the other age categories. Data were gathered through an online survey of community members from February to July 2020 as part of government initiatives (Department of Community Development). Responses were collected from 574 older adults in Abu Dhabi (60.1% male and 39.9% female). The analysis mainly used descriptive analysis, t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and simple trend analysis. For all tests, a p-value less than 0.05 was used for significance. The results pointed to the significant rise in feelings related to excessive screen use, fear, loneliness, and stress. The most significant concerns were related to more restrictions being imposed and not being able to see the grandchildren.The impact of new technologies on their quality of life was significantly reflected by respondents. The influence of the pandemic on older adults’ health and weight was also investigated. Analysis of variance, t-tests, and regression analysis with relevant tests were employed. The relevant results showed that some negative psychological feelings were common among older adults during the pandemic. However, the psychological feelings did not portray significant changes with time, except for sleeping disorders and overeating. Overall, older adults scored significantly different from other age groups on many challenges, concerns, and views regarding new technologies during the pandemic. No significant differences were observed regarding gender and marital status for the challenges and concerns. The research summarizes some policy guidance while noting some limitations of this study and future research directions.

Obituary: Paul Edward Bowman, recovery advocate

Paul Edward Bowman Jr., 58, a treatment and recovery advocate who has often been a source for ADAW, died Nov. 22. A Massachusetts resident, Bowman worked for the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development on housing and homelessness. He retired and went on to become a peer recovery coach for Massachusetts General Hospital, South End Community Health Center and, finally, at the time of his passing, Boston Medical Center. Bowman received the Richard Lane/Robert Holden Patient Advocacy Awardfrom the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence in 2018 (see Christie gives powerful speech at AATOD awards banquet, March 19, 2018; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.31902); spent many hours at dog shows with his Great Dane, Natalie; and drove Nellie the Clydesdale through his beloved Boston. Bowman became a Certified Medication Assisted Treatment Advocate (CMA) with NAMA Recovery, taught CMA classes, served as chapter director of Boston NAMA Recovery, served on the NAMA Recovery Board of Directors and became a peer recovery coach as well as being involved in activities with addiction research, education, decreasing stigma and overdose prevention. Donations in his memory can be made to The Paul Bowman Memorial Fund for Housing Support at Boston Medical Center at http://bmc.convio.net/goto/paul_bowman, and to The Great Dane Rescue of New England at gdrne.org. Bowman's death was due to overdose, yet another sign that nobody is immune. Nobody.

APRIORI ALGORITHM FOR FINDING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STUDENT SELECTION PATHWAYS SCHOOL DEPARTMENTS WITH STUDENT GRADUATION LEVELS

The selection process for New Student Admissions (PMB) of State Islamic Universities in Indonesia, especially at UIN Raden Intan Lampung for undergraduate (S1) programs, is pursued through 3 (three) different selection patterns. Selection of SPAN-PTKIN, UM-PTKIN, and UM independent. The three entry paths have their own character, according to their functions and objectives. With these differences, this study identifies the relationship between student entry pathways, majors/types of previous high-level schools with GPA scores, and the length of the study period of students. Data mining in this study is to uses a priori algorithm. The Apriori algorithm is one of the classic data mining algorithms. The a priori algorithm is used to determine the most dominant factor in predicting student graduation rates. A priori algorithms are used so that computers can learn association rules, looking for patterns of relationships between one or more items in a dataset. The data in this study were taken from student data in SIAKAD, namely the student data of Raden Intan Lampung State Islamic University (UIN), Islamic Community Development Department, Class of 2015, the data used included the type of school of origin, entry route, GPA, and length of time. study period. From the results of the research, it is found that the rules or regulations that graduate students with a study period of 4 years / less and a GPA of 3.51 - 4.00 are students who enter through the Academic Interest (PMA) search path and from their school of high school (SMAN) with Value Support. 14,286 and 60% confidence value. These results can be used by universities in encouraging students from other entry paths and from other schools to graduate on time, such as students who entered through the PMA route and from high school from SMAN with certain efforts.

Fusing Community-Engaged Learning & Transdisciplinary Curriculum for Undergraduate Community Development Education.

The Department of Community Development and Applied Economics at the University of Vermont embraces a transdisciplinary approach to community development education that provides students with real world experiences through community-engaged learning opportunities. The department was originally formed by an administrative decision that merged three departments in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences intending to save financial resources. Over 25 years, we have developed a transdisciplinary approach that fills gaps that exist between disciplines that have yet to be closed while engaging with a variety of community partners to co-produce solutions to promote positive change. This article describes the evolution of our transdisciplinary curriculum that integrates a three-phased approach to service-learning. This framework enables faculty to offer appropriate service-learning experiences that provide meaningful interactions between students and community partners. CDAE has both honed and expanded curricular offerings to meet student interest and to better address community-based issues at the local, national, and global level.

“I Would, If Only I Could” How Cities Can Use California’s Housing Element Law to Overcome Neighborhood Resistance to New Housing

Author(s): Elmendorf, Christopher S.; Biber, Eric; Monkkonen, Paavo; O’Neill, Moira | Abstract: City councils are on the front lines of California’s housing crisis. But local lawmakers who understand that California needs to accommodate a lot more housing are stuck in a political bind. Wherever they might put new housing, neighborhood groups spring up and oppose it. The same groups will have money to spend or voters to turn out at the next election. What’s a well-meaning city councilperson to do? Our answer: California’s “housing element” process provides a way forward. California requires cities to periodically adopt a state-approved plan, called a housing element, which accommodates the city’s share of regional housing need. These plans are reviewed and certified for compliance by the state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Cities across the state will adopt new housing elements between 2020 and 2022, guiding development for the next eight years. This process hasn’t always worked well in the past, but the legislature and HCD have recently strengthened the framework. There are now substantial political advantages for city officials to pursue pro-housing policies through their housing element, rather than through the normal municipal lawmaking channels.

Building Sustainable Communities Through Engaged Learning: A University-Community Partnership for Sustained Change in a Central Pennsylvania Coal Town

University-community partnerships have become more collaborative, decentered, and mutually beneficial in step with changing conceptualizations of knowledge production. However, the implementation of partnerships and projects remains challenging. Models for collaboration are needed in the rural context and for smaller liberal arts universities. This article uses the partnership between Bucknell University and the City of Shamokin to argue for the utility of the sustainable communities framework for conceiving and implementing service-learning. The City of Shamokin previously hosted a prosperous and vibrant downtown district, but the closing of anthracite coal mines and factories has left Shamokin in a decades-long state of economic and population decline. Today, Shamokin faces many challenges brought by this decline: a large elder population, high rates of home and business vacancy, legacies of environmental degradation, and high rates of poverty. In 2014, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development declared Shamokin an Act 47 Distressed City, rendering the city bankrupt. In this complex landscape, Bucknell University and its Coal Region Field Station are partnering with and across various local entities, including the city, the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, Northumberland County Planning Department, and the newly formed sustainable development group Anthracite Region for Progress. The sustainable communities framework emphasizes four pillars—economic, social, cultural, and environmental—that serve as a guide for facilitating these ongoing collaborations. These partnerships form the basis of collaborative initiatives developed through community-engaged classroom projects and faculty-led research projects that seek to contribute to partners’ visions for a sustainable community.

LEARNERS’ INTEREST IN NEW NORMAL

This study aims to know learners’ interest with blended learning at new normal period at the second, fourth, and sixth semesters of English Department, Islamic Religion Department, Islamic Banking Department, Islamic community Development Department of STAI Hubbulwathan Duri. This research used quantitative approach. The design of the research was a survey research. Total population was 260 respondents. The undergraduate students have the same qualification and academic background before doing survey. They had ever learned by using blended learning in a new normal situation. Sample of this research was 155 respondents. The total rating percentage of learners’ interest in involving in the blended learning was 69.98 %. it was in “agree category”. This category showed the respondents’ interest in blended learning process. Based on overall mean is 2.82 and standard deviation is 0.54. The respondents agree used to have the blended learning activities in their learning process. It means that the learners’ had good interest in their blended learning activities.

A Study on Measures to Promote Rural Community Empowerment Project for Residents in Jinja, Uganda: Focused on On-Site Investigation on the Feasibility of Creating a Tourism Agriculture Complex

The purpose of this research is to strengthen rural community empowerment by creating a tourism farm as a plan to reduce relative poverty and to improve the quality of life by creating jobs and increasing the income of local residents in underdeveloped countries. To do so, literature review, stakeholder interviews, on-site investigations, focus-group interviews, a project meeting for residents and a questionnaire survey were performed and analyzed and the results were as follows. First, Uganda has the potential to increase agricultural production based on its warm climate, fertile land and abundant natural resources. The quality of life of local residents is expected to be improved by realizing high-added values through the convergence of the conventional existing agricultural industry and other industries if the agricultural technology is properly transferred based on abundant labor force and low labor expenses. Opportunities for the success of the project can be spread to other rural villages across the country. Second, since local residents are now cultivating sugar cane, cassava, matoke, banana, coffee and so on as a farm owner, tourism agriculture with high-added values can be promoted by vitalizing communities based on farming technology to be transferred and a cooperative farm. It is also necessary to implement a rural community empowerment project to do so. Third, the university that is the cooperative partner of the project is positively considering to train experts by establishing a community development department, and, if necessary, a technical training center to educate the general public, which is expected to create synergic effects through the convergence of education, agriculture and tourism. Key words: community vitalization, improved quality of life, rural development