Community Institutions Research Articles

Parents’ initiative in community-based support for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities: The Ahada non-profit model

ABSTRACT Background The birth of a child with an intellectual or developmental disability inherently presents challenges to parents regarding the child’s long-term future. This qualitative study examined the perceptions of parents who are kibbutz members, focusing on the non-profit organisation they established and the socioeconomic model they developed to ensure the future wellbeing of their children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Method In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 participants and used a thematic analysis based on case study methodology. Results The socioeconomic model developed by kibbutz parents helps alleviate their concerns, but also gave rise to challenges related to kibbutz privatisation and the requirement for programs to be tailored to individual needs. The study highlighted how cooperation among families, the community, and government institutions can contribute to individual and collective solutions for people with disabilities. Conclusion These insights expand our understanding of parental social entrepreneurship within intentional communities and other contexts.

Model of Multisector And Multidimensional Approaches: An Effort to Stunting Prevention Education in Kuantan Singingi Regency, Indonesia

This study aims to determine how the multisector and multidimensional approach model is in efforts to prevent stunting in Kuantan Singingi Regency. The method used qualitative descriptive approach. The selection of informants using a purposive sample of 5 people : 1 person from the Population Control, Family Planning, Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Service (DP2KBP3A), 1 person Health Service, 1 person Health Center, 1 person the Stunting Acceleration Team (TPPS) and 1 person from the head of Posyandu. Data collection used in-depth interviews, participatory observation and documentation studies. Data analysis used qualitative analysis. The results showed that the multisector approach model was integrated from the central level, provincial level, district/city, external to village. Collaborating with the Education, Health, social, economic, agricultural, plantation sectors, etc. involving the central and regional governments, Community Institutions, community leaders and the general public. Multidimensional targets are mothers, toddlers, teenagers, prospective brides, pregnant women, children, and the elderly. The results show that stunting rates are decrease. Supporting factors are government support and an integrated stunting prevention education model with various sectors. Obstacles factors are the quality of human resources, the social culture of the local community and the stigma of stunting as negative

Protecting the Well-Being of Households: Delineating a Social Takāful Fund Initiative for Positive Social Impact

Purpose — This study aims to examine the social takāful fund (STF) initiative, developed by Islamic Business School–Universiti Utara Malaysia (IBS–UUM) in collaboration with FWD Takaful Berhad in Malaysia, as a measure to address economic uncertainties and vulnerabilities by enhancing household well-being. It also analyses the potential impact of the STF on marginalised communities. Design/Methodology/Approach — This study employs a case study method to generate an in-depth understanding of the STF. A semi-structured in-depth interview was conducted with the manager of the STF, and the responses were transcribed and examined based on content and thematic analysis. Findings — The STF initiative is being applied for the benefit of the community in the state of Kedah in Malaysia before it can be extended to all other states in the country. It fosters inclusivity and resilience by pooling resources to provide a safety net for disadvantaged households. The model promotes collective responsibility and has the potential to enhance societal well-being and sustainable development. Utilising the fund for four main programmes (notably, community outreach, educational empowerment, the takāful lab, and takāful subsidy programmes), this initiative addresses economic uncertainties and vulnerabilities especially among the unserved and underserved communities through income improvement, empowering financial knowledge and takāful protection. Originality/Value — This study offers an innovative approach to social finance by introducing an STF model. The initiative is unique in its alignment with Islamic finance and community support principles, providing a new perspective on collective social protection and broadening the scope by positioning takāful as a comprehensive community empowerment strategy. Research Limitations/Implications — The implementation of this model requires further investigation into the regulatory framework for such an initiative and the sustainability of funding sources to ensure long-term impact. Practical Implications — The initiative suggests that community, financial, and government institutions can collaborate effectively to implement and sustain social support programmes, contributing to the overall resilience of vulnerable households. Social Implications — The STF initiative has the potential to create a culture of compassion and mutual support within communities, addressing social disparities and fostering a sense of collective responsibility for well-being.

Analisis Keterampilan Berbahasa Inggris di Bidang Industri Pariwisata untuk Pemula

This study explores the importance of English language proficiency in supporting the development of the tourism industry, especially for beginners in the sector. The approach used is qualitative, with data collection through observation and interviews. Various relevant references, including scientific journals and books related to this topic, were collected and analyzed in depth to answer various questions that emerged in the study. The results of this study indicate that good English language skills are essential for tourism industry players to provide a satisfying experience for guests. This certainly contributes positively to increasing revenue and profits for hotels or tourist destinations. In addition, English language skills also affect job opportunities, career promotions, and improving the positive image of employees in the hotel and other tourism sectors. Given the importance of English language proficiency in the tourism industry, it is very important for the community, government, and educational institutions focusing on the tourism sector, such as vocational schools, tourism colleges, and training institutions, to prepare students with adequate English language skills. This effort can be done by providing more focused and quality English education.

Development of a Cooperative Institutional Model in Reducing Poverty in Coastal Communities at KUD Mino Saroyo, Cilacap Regency, Indonesia

This study aims to analyze how the Village Unit Cooperative (KUD) Mino Saroyo in Cilacap Regency, Central Java Province in developing strong institutions to provide solutions for poverty reduction in the Coastal Area of Cilacap Regency. This research uses qualitative research methods, this research challenge Scoot's institutional theory (2008) which reveals that there are three pillars in institutional capacity building, including coastal community institutions, namely the Regulative pillar, Normative pillar and Cultural-Cognitive pillar. The results showed that KUD Mino Saroyo is an independent cooperative with many business units with turnover reaching tens of billions. KUD Mino Saroyo is an example of a cooperative with innovation in managing business units to successfully obtain large profits and help reduce poverty in the coastal region of Cilacap. Suggestions of this study, required the management of business units by personal competent per the field of business units. The theoretical implication is that there needs to be an additional competency factor in Merilee S. Grindle's theory. In determining the leader, the Normative aspect in Scott's theory needs to be differentiated in a society that still tends to choose leaders based on image and not based on competence. The election of the highest leader remains by the voting community per the values and norms believed by the community, but for the lower leaders who need special competence, for example to lead a cooperative business unit. The values and norms are not submitted to the voting community, but are determined by a competent and authorized institution, which is then appointed and appointed by the highest leader.

Implementation of Kanorayang Customary Sanctions Imposed on Village Credit Institution Treasurers Kedewatan Traditional Village Ubud District, Gianyar

Given the increasingly urgent need for capital for rural communities, the local government, especially the Bali Provincial Government, has begun to develop financial institutions in rural communities known as Village Credit Institutions (LPD). The formulation of the problem in this study is: How is the Process of Implementing Kanorayang Sanctions by the Kedewatan Traditional Village, Ubud District, Gianyar Regency related to the Misappropriation of Customer Funds of the Kedewatan Traditional Village, Ubud District, Gianyar Regency and What steps were taken by the Head of Kedewatan Traditional Village, Ubud District, Gianyar Regency after the Kanorayang Sanction Decision. The type of research used by the author is empirical legal research. The conclusion of this study is as follows: The process of implementing Kanorayang sanctions by the Kedewatan Traditional Village, Ubud District, Gianyar Regency related to the Misappropriation of Customer Funds from the Village Credit Institution (LPD) of the Kedewatan Traditional Village, Ubud District, Gianyar Regency, which began with the financial report of the Village Credit Institution (LPD) reporting that the funds of the Village Credit Institution (LPD) of the Kedewatan Traditional Village, Ubud District, Gianyar Regency that were deposited in the Gianyar BPD were around 10 billion, after being investigated, it turned out that I Nyoman Ribek Adiputra admitted to using the LPD funds personally. The steps taken by the Bendesa of the Kedewatan Traditional Village, Ubud District, Gianyar Regency, included conducting an internal audit by the LPD, found irregularities and providing solutions to the LPD treasurer but were not implemented and finally at the time of the marriage of his son, I Nyoman Ribek Adiputra, was not given customary facilities and the status of his house was confiscated.

A Qualitative Analysis of Rural Community Vaccination Barriers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Rural communities in the United States experience increased disparity of care for both general healthcare services and access to routine vaccines. Previous research has indicated a 40% lower vaccination rate in rural communities, as compared to urban counterparts. Having a better understanding regarding factors influencing lower vaccination rates in rural areas could help public health officials prepare for future vaccination efforts. This research sought to gather and evaluate the opinions of people who live and work in rural areas regarding barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake. A semi-structured qualitative key informant interview design was utilized by researchers to gather opinions from university Extension staff in Washington State. Interview transcripts were analyzed using the Theory of Planned Behavior (ToPB) framework to evaluate COVID-19 vaccination-related intentions and motivational factors that the Extension staff observed among rural populations in their communities. Twenty-one participants representing 34 out of the 40 Extension offices responded and were interviewed during fall 2023. Using the ToPB constructs, nine barriers were identified. Attitude-related barriers included the following: inherent social distancing in rural location negating vaccine necessity; lack of early vaccine availability in rural locales; concerns regarding ineffectiveness of the vaccine; and inadequate dissemination of vaccine information to non-English language speakers and those with limited access to technology. Subjective norm barriers included the following: perception of exclusion of rural populations' unique needs during design and implementation of vaccine mandates; exertion of social pressures on rural individuals' vaccine uptake decision; and highly visible breakdown in standard trust in core community institutions and leadership. Barriers related to loss of perceived behavioral control included vaccine mandates impacting self-perceived loss of autonomy and limitations in vaccine technology information impacting perception of vaccine safety. By identifying barriers to vaccination in rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, future outreach efforts can be designed to improve intention and lead to stronger vaccination uptake.

Collaborative Governance for Inclusive Education: LKIS and The Struggle for The Right to Education for Believers of Indigenous Faiths in Yogyakarta

Education is a fundamental right possessed by every citizen. As a rule-of-law state, Indonesia has established various regulations regarding education to ensure it runs smoothly and inclusively. However, the reality on the ground often contradicts what most people envision today. Many citizens still do not have access to their educational rights, particularly in the case of religious and belief education experienced by students from belief communities in Yogyakarta. LKIS, as one of the NGOs in Yogyakarta, plays a central role in advocating for this issue. This research will further explore a collaborative movement carried out by LKIS, the government, and other community and state institutions. The study employs a qualitative research method with a case study approach. The findings of the research show that, in its struggle, LKIS adopts both top-down and bottom-up approaches, which later form the foundation for cross-sector collaboration. This collaboration marks the beginning of a movement, driven by LKIS and other NGOs, to address and support issues and actions for the belief community.

Pathways to Healing: Forgiveness and Spiritual Growth for Domestic Violence Survivors in Islam

Forgiveness plays a crucial role in the psychological recovery of domestic violence (DV) survivors, and within the framework of Islamic teachings, it is seen as a means of attaining inner peace and spiritual healing. This study explores the role of forgiveness in the psychological and spiritual healing of domestic violence (DV) survivors within an Islamic framework. Employing a qualitative case study approach through in-depth interviews, semi-structured interviews, and observations with a single female DV survivor in Solo, Indonesia, to gain insights into the complex, non-linear journey of forgiveness. This study investigates the forgiveness process that aligns with Islamic principles of mercy (rahmah), patience (sabr), and divine justice. The findings reveal that the process of forgiveness is complex, non-linear, and influenced by various dynamics, including feedback and feed-forward loops, with survivors revisiting earlier stages. This process is often unpredictable, with survivors revisiting previous stages they thought were overcome, accompanied by changes in attitude. Victims' motivation to forgive is frequently influenced by a desire to accept the situation sincerely, often aligned with religious teachings. Additionally, releasing negative emotions is a significant driving force in the forgiveness process. Social support from family, community, and religious institutions is crucial in encouraging victims to engage in forgiveness, providing the necessary encouragement and understanding to navigate this challenging journey. The study underscores the importance of integrating religious guidance with psychological support, highlighting the significant psychological benefits of forgiveness for DV survivors, including improved emotional well-being and interpersonal relationships.

Pervasive Indigenous and local knowledge of tropical wild species.

The promise of Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) for conservation policy depends on how pervasively ILK is held among local people. In the Peruvian Amazon, we conducted a landscape-scale concordance analysis between (1) ILK for game, timber, and fish species collected by the largest representative ILK survey as yet undertaken in tropical forests, and (2) remotely sensed land cover as proxies for species habitat. From our survey among 4000 households in 235 communities, we find that concordant ILK is highly pervasive across gender, age, place of origin, and social status, irrespective of species and people's indigeneity. Resource users possess more concordant knowledge than nonusers for timber and fish, not game. Concordance between ILK for fish and remote sensing is associated with cooperative forest clearing in shifting cultivation-an informal community institution in which forest peoples engage with nature. Our findings point to the promise of ILK for large-scale tropical conservation.

EFFORTS OF THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN PROTECTION UNIT (PPA) IN RECOVERING PSYCHOLOGICAL AND DEEP TRAUMA IMPACTS ON VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AT THE LOMBOK TIMUR POLICE STATION

The Women and Children Protection Unit is one of the institutions responsible for upholding the law. The PPA Unit is required to participate in supporting the realization of protection and overcoming criminal acts of violence against children, therefore the government has passed Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection and Law Number 23 of 2004 concerning the Elimination of Domestic Violence, so that the Women and Children Protection Unit of the East Lombok Resort Police is required to be able to assist in the process of resolving and dealing with criminal acts of violence against women and children. The aim of this research is to analyze and understand the optimization of the services of the Women and Children Protection Unit (PPA) in recovering from the psychological impacts and deep trauma of victims of sexual violence at the East Lombok Police and to analyze and understand the obstacles to the Women and Children Protection Unit (PPA) of the East Lombok Police in Providing Recovery Services for the Psychological Impact and Deep Trauma of Sexual Violence Victims. The research method used in this research is Empirical Law. The results of this research are that the number of women who experience sexual violence is still very high. The state in its constitution is responsible for the protection, promotion, enforcement and fulfillment of the human rights of every individual as explained in Article 28I of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. The state's protection for victims of sexual violence can also be seen from the formation and ratification of the Law. Number 12 of 2022 concerning Crime of Sexual Violence. In handling cases of sexual violence, a Women and Children Protection Unit was formed, this unit is specialized in handling victims, witnesses or suspects involving women and children who require special handling. The efforts that have been made by this unit to deal with cases of violence experienced by women and children are non-penal and penal efforts. The PPA Unit's optimization of victim recovery can also be seen in the case handling process as well as collaboration with community institutions and psychologists. Obstacles to victims' recovery are quite frequent and pervasive in society

Generalizability of consensus regarding standardized letters of evaluation competitiveness: A validity study in a national sample of emergency medicine faculty.

Standardized letters of evaluation (SLOEs) are an important part of residency recruitment, particularly given the limited availability of other discerning factors in residency applications. While consensus regarding SLOE competitiveness has been studied within a small group of academic faculty, it remains unexplored how a more diverse group of letter readers interpret SLOEs in terms of competitiveness. A sample of 50 real SLOEs in the new SLOE format (2022 eSLOE 2.0) were selected to match the national rating distribution and anonymized. These SLOEs were ranked in order of competitiveness by 25 faculty members representing diverse demographics, geographic regions, and practice settings. Consensus levels were assessed using previously defined criteria and compared to prior results using a cutoff of ±10% to define a significant difference in consensus levels. Two models were tested to determine their ability to predict consensus rankings: a point-based system and a linear regression model. Faculty consensus in this diverse cohort was slightly below the level measured among academic emergency medicine faculty in the prior study, though no differences were greater than the ±10% cutoff. Prediction models also performed similarly to a previous study except at the tight level of agreement, where consensus was stronger in this study compared to previous results. There is greater consensus among faculty at academic institutions than at community institutions, and years of experience was not correlated with higher consensus. The degree of consensus regarding competitiveness using real SLOEs was similar in this diverse national sample compared to a prior study in a smaller and more homogenous group ranking mock SLOEs. Consensus ranks were predicted with good accuracy using both the point system and the regression model.

Real-World and Clinical Trial Validation of a Deep Learning Radiomic Biomarker for PD-(L)1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Response in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

This study developed and validated a novel deep learning radiomic biomarker to estimate response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using real-world data (RWD) and clinical trial data. Retrospective RWD of 1,829 patients with advanced NSCLC treated with PD-(L)1 ICIs were collected from 10 academic and community institutions in the United States and Europe. The RWD included data sets for discovery (Data Set A-Discovery, n = 1,173) and independent test (Data Set B, n = 458). A radiomic pipeline, containing a deep learning feature extractor and a survival model, generated the computed tomography (CT) response score (CTRS) applied to the pretreatment routine CT/positron emission tomography (PET)-CT scan. An enhanced CTRS (eCTRS) also incorporated age, sex, treatment line, and lesion annotations. Performance was evaluated against progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Biomarker generalizability was further evaluated using a secondary analysis of a prospective clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02573259) evaluating the PD-1 inhibitor sasanlimab in second or later line of treatment (Data Set C, n = 54). In RWD Test Data Set B, the CTRS identified patients with a high probability of response to ICI with a PFS hazard ratio (HR) of 0.46 (95% CI, 0.26 to 0.82) and an OS HR of 0.50 (95% CI, 0.28 to 0.92) in the first-line ICI monotherapy cohort, after adjustment for baseline covariates including the PD-L1 tumor proportion score. In Clinical Trial Data Set C, the CTRS demonstrated an adjusted PFS HR of 1.03 (95% CI, 0.43 to 2.47) and an OS HR of 0.33 (95% CI, 0.14 to 0.91). The CTRS and eCTRS outperformed traditional imaging biomarkers of lesion size in PFS and OS for RWD Test Data Set B and in OS for the Clinical Trial Data Set. The study developed and validated a deep learning radiomic biomarker using pretreatment routine CT/PET-CT scans to identify ICI benefit in advanced NSCLC.

A ‘Heinous Offence’: Rural Schoolmasters and Sexual Assault in Victorian Scotland

Through a close examination of two cases in which rural schoolmasters in Victorian Scotland were accused of sexually assaulting their pupils, this article explores the gendered social and power dynamics, attitudes towards teachers and the nature of schools as spaces and institutions in rural communities. The sense of authority that community members felt over schoolmasters made them subject to scrutiny and pressure from the community, especially the mothers of pupils, in ways that allowed the community to assert at least some authority over schoolmasters. However, both rural schoolmasters examined here were able to leverage their professional prestige, gender and the preference many communities had to handle potentially scandalous matters quietly and locally to mitigate substantially the consequences they faced.

Community and Correctional Relations Management: Building Trust and Social Security

This study aims to analyse the effectiveness of relationship management strategies and practices between Teluk Penyu Beach community and Nusakambangan correctional institution in building trust and reducing social stigma against inmates. The methods used in this study include literature studies and field surveys. Literature studies were conducted to review relevant literature, while in-depth surveys and interviews were used to obtain empirical data from the surrounding community, correctional staff, and former inmates. The results of the study show that the geographical proximity between Teluk Penyu Beach and Nusakambangan requires strategic relationship management. The measures taken, such as managing public perception, improving communication, developing empowerment programs, and operational transparency, have proven effective in reducing social stigma. Stigma analysis graphs reveal that the "Passing and Covering" strategy is most dominant used to manage stigma, while "Discrediting" and "Spoiled Identity" remain significant but less dominant. This study concludes that a holistic and tolerant approach to relationship management between correctional institutions and communities plays an important role in creating harmonious relationships and supporting the social reintegration of ex-convicts.

Law Enforcement against Perpetrators of Child Grooming Sexual Abuse at the Tebing Tinggi Police Resort: An Islamic Criminal Law Perspective

This study aims to identify cases of child grooming sexual abuse in Tebing Tinggi City, identify the types of sanctions that can be imposed on groomers from the perspective of Islamic criminal law, and examine the law enforcement efforts undertaken by the Tebing Tinggi Police Resort in handling these cases. This research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining field research and normative legal analysis. The collected data is then analyzed qualitatively to describe the issue and address the research objectives. The results show that child grooming cases at the Tebing Tinggi Police Resort fluctuated throughout 2019-2024, with a significant surge of 70 cases in 2023. The standard modus operandi involves establishing an emotional relationship and trust between the groomer and the victim, which the groomer then exploits to commit sexual abuse. From the perspective of Islamic criminal law, groomers can be subjected to hadd punishment if sexual intercourse occurs or ta’zir punishment if only sexual abuse without intercourse takes place. Simultaneously, the Tebing Tinggi Police Resort has carried out its law enforcement function both repressively, through the process of investigation, inquiry, and determination of suspects based on the provisions of Law Number 8 of 1981 and Law Number 23 of 2002, and preventively, through education and outreach programs. Therefore, it is recommended that the Tebing Tinggi Police Resort, the Tebing Tinggi City Government, community institutions, religious leaders, families, and parents enhance their efforts in preventing and handling child grooming comprehensively and continuously.

The main vectors of the development of the ethnopolitical process in modern Russia

Relevance. The problem of the evolution of the ethnopolitical process is one of the factors of the stable political development of modern Russia. The actual state of ethnopolitical relations in the Russian Federation practically does not correspond to the most common expert assessments of the past years. Guided by these largely outdated ideas, state institutions are experiencing difficulties in finding effective tools for regulating interethnic relations in Russia of the 21st century.The purpose of the study is to analyze the main vectors of the development of the ethnopolitical process in the modern Russian Federation Research objectives: to systematize the main scientific approaches to the problem of nation-building, to identify the prerequisites for the causes of contradictions in the field of interethnic relations in post-Soviet Russia, to consider the main vectors of development of the modern ethnopolitical process.Methodology. Structural-functional, historical, and comparative methods were used to solve the research tasks. To clarify the parameters of the transformation of ethnopolitical relations in the Russian Federation, the provisions of the conflictological, primordialist and constructivist approaches were used.The results of the study. The content of the modern ethnopolitical process in Russia is determined by the collision of vectors of endogenous and exogenous content. The dominant problem remains the unwillingness of the expert community and state institutions to reconsider the concepts of the state national policy that have not justified themselves. The vectors of the ethnopolitical process in the Russian Federation in the foreseeable future will be determined by the collision of such leading strategies as "civil identity", "multiculturalism" and the project "Russian political nation". Conclusions. The main prerequisites and causes of contradictions in the interethnic relations of Russian society are revealed. They are associated with the influence of globalization processes and the specific conditions of political, economic and socio-cultural relations in the Russian Federation. The need to adjust traditional approaches to the implementation of state national policy in the modern Russian Federation is argued.

“They pulled that funding away and we’re not recovering. it’s getting worse”: deaths of despair in post-austerity north east England

BackgroundDeaths related to suicide, drug misuse, and alcohol-specific causes, known collectively as “deaths of despair” are of growing interest to researchers in England. Rates of death from these causes are highest in deprived northern communities and are closely tied to the social determinants of health and the policy decisions that have shaped them. The aim of this paper is to explore how stakeholders and community members living in Middlesbrough and South Tyneside, two Northern towns with above average rates of deaths of despair, understood the relationship between austerity policies and rates of deaths from these causes in their areas.MethodsI conducted interviews and one focus group with a total of 54 stakeholders and community members in Middlesbrough and South Tyneside. Data were analysed using the iterative categorisation technique and the findings were interpreted through thematic analysis.ResultsThe findings highlight four primary ways through which austerity exacerbated rates of deaths of despair in Middlesbrough and South Tyneside: reduced access to mental health services, diminished substance abuse treatment capacity, loss of youth services, and the closure of community institutions. Participants linked these cuts to rising social isolation, declining mental health, and increased substance misuse, which collectively deepened geographic inequalities in deaths of despair.ConclusionsThis study underscores the urgent need for reinvestment in local services to reduce inequalities and prevent further unnecessary deaths due to drug, suicide, and alcohol-specific causes. Prioritising the restoration and enhancement of services lost to austerity is critical. Such reinvestment will not only help to alleviate some of the most immediate need but also form a foundation for addressing the wider structural inequalities that perpetuate deaths of despair.

Between Communes, Signorie and Papal Government: Public Palaces in the Papal State (Late 14th to Early 15th Centuries)

The takeover of the Papal State by the Pope himself during the 15th century brought an end to the domination of many powerful lordly families. Communal institutions were often reestablished, and controlled by a representative of the pope but just as the development of urban lordships had not seen the disappearance of communal institutions and their old public palaces, the arrival of the papal administration did not always lead to the construction of new buildings. Based on cases situated mainly in the two provinces of the Duchy of Spoleto and the March of Ancona, this article shows how different urban governments (both seigneurial and pontifical) of the late Trecento and early Quattrocento were able to use the buildings created by a power they were trying to replace or with which they had to collaborate for their own benefit. Communal palaces received special attention from the new rulers: they were part of urban identity and symbolized the idea of a government based on the consent of the people, necessary for the legitimacy of any kind of leadership.

Keep it Movin’: Design and methods of a church-based physical activity program to improve physical function among midlife and older black adults

BackgroundOlder Black adults have high rates of physical function (PF) limitations. Physical activity (PA) is effective for improving PF and reducing mobility disability risk; however, community-based PA interventions focused on improving PF for older Black adults are lacking. Given the importance of churches as trusted institutions in Black communities, church-based interventions developed through community collaborations may help increase access to PA interventions. MethodsKeep it Movin’ is a church-based cluster randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of a 24-week group-based (intervention arm) versus a self-guided (comparator arm) program in improving PF among Black adults aged ≥ 40 years with PF limitations (short physical performance battery [SPPB] score ≤ 9). A church-wide virtual walking program is available to congregants in both arms. The intervention arm receives weekly group-based classes held at the church that include education, goal setting, and structured PA (walking, lower-extremity strength, balance, and stretching). The comparator arm receives educational materials about PA appropriate for people with PF limitations. Outcomes are assessed at 6 (program completion) and 12 months (maintenance). The primary outcome is PF change as measured by the SPPB at 6 months. Secondary outcomes include change in moderate-to-vigorous PA, social support and self-efficacy for PA, quality of life, and self-reported PF. Factors related to successful adoption, implementation, and maintenance are assessed using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. ConclusionThis is the first study to evaluate the effectiveness of a group-based PA program delivered in Black churches to improve PF.