Community Support Research Articles

Defiant school choice? Educational freedom, access, and Arkansas’s AP African American studies controversy

On August 11, 2023, the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) notified schools just before the fall semester’s start that they would no longer support the college-board-approved AP African American Studies (APAAS) course. Subsequently, all five districts offering the course declared their intent to proceed despite the lack of state funding and course credits. We conduct a document and qualitative thematic analysis in this mixed methods study. In documents, we find distinctive shifts in how the significance of APAAS is portrayed within differing contexts. Using interviews with Arkansas superintendents, teachers, students, and stakeholders, we find four major interview themes: the role of education in preserving democratic values, equity concerns, the significance of community support and advocacy, and the impact of political influences. Documents and stakeholders interviewed perceive the ADE’s withdrawal of support as politically motivated, while superintendents, teachers, and students are primarily motivated by the curriculum, student welfare, and community interests in offering APAAS. We conclude by suggesting that greater consideration of factual knowledge, coupled with choice within and between schools, could defuse such controversies.

The informational relevance of social accounting for the management of financial institutions. A case study: Banca Transilvania Financial Group

This paper analyzes the relevance of social accounting information for managing financial institutions, using Banca Transilvania Financial Group (BTFG) as a case study. It explores how social accounting data can enhance decision-making processes within these institutions. Social information from BTFG’s annual integrated reports was used to construct a social balance sheet, and financial data was collected to calculate economic value added (EVA) and social value added (SVA). Research question include: Does social accounting represent a lever for substantiating the managerial decision in financial institutions? Results show that SVA is a valuable indicator for financial institution managers, reflecting the institution’s contributions to social well-being, environmental impact, and community support. Policy implications suggest regulatory bodies should mandate the inclusion of social accounting metrics in financial reporting standards to encourage socially responsible practices, enhance transparency, and incentivize institutions achieving high SVA. This paper contributes to the literature by demonstrating the practical application of social accounting in financial institutions and highlighting the importance of SVA as a managerial tool. It aligns with existing research on integrating corporate social responsibility (CSR) metrics into financial decision-making, enhancing the understanding of combining social and economic indicators for comprehensive performance assessment The abstract covers motivation, methodology, results, policy implications, and contributions to the literature.

The Role of Nutrition in the Nursing Management of Pressure Ulcers in Adult Community Settings: A Systematic Review Protocol.

The aging population drives a growing demand for care, particularly in Europe. It is estimated that approximately 1.5-2 million individuals have a chronic wound. Among these, pressure ulcers (PUs) are one of the most prevalent complications in vulnerable individuals. Malnutrition is a primary risk factor, yet it can be mitigated through proper nutrition and adequate community support. The community nurse plays a crucial role in managing chronic conditions and nutrition through constant and professional monitoring. This article presents a comprehensive systematic review (SR) protocol to examine the role of community nursing of nutritional intervention of frail population with wound care. A SR will be conducted according to international standards and reported following the PRISMA Guidelines for SRs. The search will be conducted in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, and CINAHL, supplemented by grey literature sources. The methodological quality and risk of bias will be assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) framework. The protocol has been registered in the Open Science Framework (OSF). It is anticipated that the findings of this SR will provide new evidence on the relationships between nutritional nursing interventions and wound care management primarily in the community setting.

A Situational Analysis of Attitudes toward Stray Cats and Preferences and Priorities for Their Management.

Current cat management approaches are outdated and ineffective, failing to reduce stray cat numbers or related complaints and negatively impacting the job satisfaction and mental health of veterinary, shelter, and municipal staff. We undertook a situational analysis prior to implementing a Community Cat Program based on free sterilization of owned, semi-owned, and unowned cats in the city of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. The study involved 343 residents in three suburbs in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia with high per capita intake of cats into the receiving shelter and municipal pound. We investigated the prevalence and impacts of free-roaming cats in urban areas, focusing on sightings, associated issues, and community preferences for cat management. Stray cats were observed by many respondents (71%), primarily at private residences (52%) and in alleyways or streets (22%), which caused serious or moderately serious problems for 38% of those who saw stray or wandering cats. Key concerns included the killing of native birds (38%) and animals (35%), noise (33%), and soiling (32%). Actions taken by respondents who saw stray or wandering cats included chasing them away or using deterrents (25%), capturing the cat for removal or calling council (18%) and preventing home entry (14%). Respondents' priorities for the local government management of cats included preventing kittens from being born (94% of respondents) and stopping cats from preying on native animals (91%); reducing disease spread to pets (89%), wildlife (89%), and humans (87%); decreasing stray cat numbers (75%); and preventing cat fights (70%). Respondents favored sterilization (65%) over euthanasia (35%), aligning with the results of previous research. Cat ownership and feeding unowned cats were predictors of management preferences. Only 29% of respondents were satisfied with the current local council management of the problem. Information on the benefits of management by sterilization could further enhance community support.

To What Extent Do Young Adults Meet the Five Needs for Independence? A Latent Class Analysis

Young adults determined five needs which must be met to transition to adulthood: support, housing, study and work, income, and well-being. This study aimed to identify and describe subgroups of young adults and determine to what extent they meet the needs for independence, and to assess relations between subgroups and demographic characteristics. We conducted secondary data analysis of a population-based questionnaire, which included 2291 young adults (M age = 20.8 years, 71% female) living in South Limburg, the Netherlands. We adopted a person-centred approach, that is, latent class analysis, and identified four classes: Thriving (39%), Lacking support and well-being (29%), Widely struggling (18%) and Financially challenged (14%). Females and non-university students/graduates had higher odds of being members of the least thriving classes. Future research should focus on how support and cumulative disadvantage affect later life outcomes. We should broaden community, educational and institutional support systems to encourage and sustain meaningful relationships.

Motivators of and barriers to in-person health care and video telehealth utilization among older Black adults: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT Objective Older Black adults continue to experience heightened rates of chronic illness and poor health outcomes. Further, older Black adults must navigate interlocking systems of oppression (e.g. racism, ageism, ableism, and classism etc.) that impact their healthcare utilization. Telehealth has emerged as a common health care modality, which presents unique concerns for aging populations. Design The present study explored the motivators of and barriers to in-person healthcare and video telehealth use among a sample of predominantly lower-income, older Black adults. The researchers collaborated with community scientists to recruit, facilitate focus groups and provide technological support for participants. Sixteen virtual focus groups were conducted (n = 147) with older Black adults aged 55–84 years. The researchers utilized a thematic analysis approach to identify twelve distinct themes. Results Participants identified the following as motivators to using in-person health care: improved patient-provider relationships, increased community support, and more culturally sensitive resources. Limited accessibility, discrimination and resulting distrust, and poor patient-provider communication were identified as barriers to in-person health care use. E-health literacy and accessibility both emerged as motivators of and barriers to using telehealth, while disinterest in telehealth and impersonal patient-provider relationships were noted as additional barriers. Conclusion These findings provide key implications for reducing the burden of health care inequity for older Black adults. Future implementation research should use equity-focused frameworks such as the patient-centered culturally sensitive health care (PC-CSHC) model. Additionally, collaboration with the community is necessary to create and implement the necessary culturally sensitive health interventions.

A First-Person Account of Caring for a Parent With Dysphagia.

Research has shown that caregiver burden is compounded by dysphagia experienced by the care recipient. However, little is known about the caregiver perception of the caregiving experience, highlighting both the positive and negative experiences. As such, the purpose of this clinical focus article was to provide a first-person account of an adult caregiver of an aging parent with dysphagia and relate their experiences to current literature to inform clinical practice. The caregiver provided a detailed account of her experiences caring for her father with dysphagia. Her account was analyzed to identify recurring themes in the literature regarding the caregiving experience and to identify gaps in dysphagia-related caregiver support. The caregiver's story is organized into seven main sections: (a) life before dysphagia, (b) dysphagia onset and diagnosis, (c) dysphagia management and support, (d) community support, (e) impact on family relationships, (f) social and emotional health, and (g) current perspectives on the caregiving experience. The challenges associated with caregiving clearly impact the caregiver's overall well-being, but she received abundant support from her family, community-based speech-language pathologist, and caregiver support groups. The caregiver's experiences, while not applicable to every caregiver caring for a loved one with dysphagia, can offer valuable insights to clinicians and other caregivers facing similar situations.

A Study on Factors for Religious Faith of Muslim Youth in China

This study investigates the factors influencing the religious faith of Hui Muslim youth in China, focusing on internal and external elements. The study used a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews done in multiple mosques in Shanghai. Examined include external elements such as social integration, governmental policies, and educational environments, as well as internal factors such as personal beliefs, family influence, and community support. The results show that among young Hui Muslims, self-interest and family support are strongly associated with stronger religious faith. Moreover, the employment of digital media and virtual communities has emerged as a crucial component in fostering religious engagement, offering new avenues for religious education and community building. This study provides insights for policymakers, educators, and religious leaders to better support the religious and cultural needs of Hui Muslim youth in China.

Identification of topical issues of the energy transition in publications of the scientific content aggregator Scilit. Part 2. Keyword clustering

Background. The access of Russian researchers to Scopus and Web of Science has become restricted, so the use of open reference databases becomes relevant. Objective. Identification of topical problems of energy transition in publications presented in Scilit, a content aggregator for scientific publications with free access. Materials and methods. The study utilized 10,121 bibliometric records of articles from 2019–2023. Publications were systematized using Gibbs sampling algorithm for Dirichlet mixture model. The topics of publications within the obtained clusters were analyzed using the demo version of the Carrot2 program. Publications were ranked using the sumy utility with the lex-rank algorithm. Results. The identified topical topics are devoted to systemic problems of energy complexes, including integration of different sources of energy generation, energy storage in “accumulators” or “green hydrogen” and optimization of their operation. Much attention is paid to the social aspects of the energy transition, especially relevant for rural areas and regions with a low level of economic development. Conclusions. Without financial support and appropriate infrastructure for local energy communities, the energy transition may be rejected by them. Households should be encouraged to use cleaner energy sources that are less harmful to health and the environment.

Symbolic Meanings in the Social Interaction of <i>Santri</i> in the <i>Pesantren</i> Environment

This study examines the symbolic meaning of students' social interactions with ustadz, teachers, fellow students, and parents at the Muhammadiyah Boarding School Al-Manar South Sumatra. Using a descriptive qualitative approach based on case studies, this study used observation, interviews, and documentation as data collection techniques. Analysis techniques included coding and categorizing the collected data to identify related patterns and themes. This study's findings revealed that students' interactions with ustadz and teachers are symbolized by bowing and kissing the hand, reflecting respect, religious obedience, and social hierarchy. These traditions strengthen the cultural and spiritual bonds between students and their teachers. Among fellow students, calling each other akhi (brother) and ukhti (sister) symbolizes respect, unity, and leadership development. These interactions help strengthen social structures and foster character development. Interactions with parents expressed through hand kissing and santri sambangan (visits) reflect respect, emotional connection, and community support. This symbolic interaction serves as character education for the students, instilling social ethics and cultural continuity. However, the focus of the study on one pesantren limits its generalizability. Future research should explore symbolic interactions in other pesantren to provide a broader perspective. The originality of this study lies in its focus on the role of symbols in shaping hierarchies and social identities in pesantren. By examining the pesantren educational environment, this study offers new insights into how symbols influence the dynamics of power, order, and communal values.

Role of online health communities in patient compliance: a social support perspective

Purpose Online health communities (OHC) can transform the healthcare industry, particularly in developing economies. Technology advancement and increased health literacy pave the way for these communities to become powerful tools for empowering patients. The purpose of this study was to empirically validate the linkages between social support and how it overarchingly influences patient compliance. Following social support theory, this study delineates how support from the community affects the patient–physician relationship (PERP) and consequently patient compliance regarding the treatment plan. This study also invents the role of patient trust in an OHC in moderating the relationship between PERP and engagement. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on social support and empowerment theories to investigate the importance of social support in improving patients’ health behaviours and health outcomes via patient empowerment, patient engagement and patient compliance. The authors surveyed users from three Facebook cancer communities in India to collect data. The authors used partial least squares structured equation modelling and necessary condition analysis (NCA) with 265 participants to support the proposed model. Findings The result demonstrates that PERP is a crucial factor for patient engagement in OHC, and patient engagement has a significant effect on patient compliance. The results also showed that trust was a significant moderator between PERP and engagement. The NCA analysis shows all the relationships are significant; however, emotional support is not a necessary condition for PERP. Research limitations/implications By empowering cancer patients and enabling them to meet their emotional and informational needs through OHCs, the study model can aid in the development of solutions that will improve compliance with their treatment in an emerging economic context. The findings indicate the potential chain reaction of social support and PERP in online cancer health communities. This study also contributes to quantifying the social impacts of online healthcare services and how to enhance the healthcare compliance framework. Originality/value This study combines social support and empowerment theory with patient, physician, and technology to provide a fine-grained picture of PERP in OHC. It explains how social support in OHC promotes self-care behaviour. This linkage validation enables readers and the community at large to gain a more nuanced understanding of how social support – through PERP, engagement and trust – enables patient compliance using primary data.

The positive impact of daily well-being practices on individual veterinary professionals' professional quality of life self-assessment scores within an emergency and specialty hospital.

Our study set out to identify the benefits for veterinary workers of structured daily well-being practices on compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. Suggested origins of high rates of psychological stress and burnout are significant occupational concerns for veterinary workers. Many professional helpers experience an extreme state of tension and preoccupation from exposure to the suffering of those being helped. Veterinary workers are further impacted by negative associations and moral distress experienced due to limitations in the provision of quality medical care for veterinary patients. These negative experiences exist despite veterinary professionals' work being worthwhile and highly valued. A randomized controlled study was performed over 6 months. Volunteer participants were members of a team of veterinary workers at a 24-h emergency and specialty hospital. Study participants were asked to incorporate daily well-being practice(s) into existing routines whereas control participants were not. Measures of well-being and the negative impacts of serving as veterinary helpers were assessed by having participants complete the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) self-assessment at baseline and at 1, 3 and 6 months. Composite scores for compassion satisfaction, burnout and secondary traumatic stress were calculated. Baseline ProQOL scores were similar between study participants and controls. Baseline compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout scores (BS), and secondary traumatic stress (STS) scores for those instituting well-being practices were 37.6 (+/- 3.6), 26 (+/- 5.3), and 26.6 (+/- 5.2). Study participants had higher compassion satisfaction scores at 6 months with mean CS scores (n = 15) of 40.1 (+/- 6.8) and adjusted scores that were on average 3.0 (95% CI 0-6.1) higher than the control group (p = 0.048). Significant differences in BS or STS scores were not seen. Improvements were seen in CS but not BO/STS for those caregivers who implemented well-being practices into their daily routines. Factors that likely contributed to successful implementation of well-being practices include educational resources, supportive leadership, accessibility, and consistent acknowledgement and positive rewards. Proposed supportive elements and resources for maintenance of well-being practices within a team of veterinary workers include provision of a psychologically safe community and team support (including formal or informal "buddy systems").

Predictive model for the risk of paediatric intensive care utilization in children with medical complexity: A longitudinal retrospective cohort study.

Children with medical complexity (CMC) are at increased risk of admission in intensive care. Despite improvements in mortality rates, there remains a burden of morbidity, long-term health care needs and hospital readmissions. Beyond clinical factors, socio-demographic determinants could impact utilization of acute services. To identify risk factors that can differentiate CMC who are admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). A 6-year longitudinal retrospective cohort study evaluated clinical, socio-demographic and health care utilization. A total of 248 CMC were included, with a median age of 13 years (9.75-17.00). Intensive care admission rate was 47.2%. The risk of PICU admission was higher for children undergoing surgical interventions (HR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.34-1.86, p < .001) and those using medical devices (HR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.54-2.13, p < .001). Mother's higher educational level was a protective factor (HR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.55-0.79, p < .001). Multivariable analysis revealed significant associations between risk of admission and the presence of malignancy, comorbidities, home medical devices, surgical procedures and higher health care utilization. Children's age and higher maternal educational level acted as protective factors. Socio-demographic factors should be considered in the provision of care to CMC. Individualized assessments to guide supportive interventions adapted to socio-economic factors may prevent PICU admissions. This study highlights the importance of integrating individualized assessments of socio-demographic risk factors, such as maternal educational level, into the clinical practice of paediatric nurses. Moreover, targeted interventions, including educational resources and community support programmes, may optimize care.

PPL Foundation awards $1 million in community support for central Pennsylvania

PPL Foundation awards $1 million in community support for central Pennsylvania

Quantifying the experiences of Black and Dual Heritage young people in a forensic child and adolescent mental health service.

Young people from racialised backgrounds are overrepresented in justice services. This study explored differences in community support offered to young people from racialised groups referred to a forensic child and adolescent mental health service. We compared support offered to 427 young people, according to five ethnic groups. Over 20% of young people referred were Black (compared with 14% of the local population) and 15.8% were Dual White and Black Heritage (compared with 4% of the local population). Odds ratios showed that Black and Dual Heritage groups were more frequently involved with youth offending services (Black: 2.59, Dual Heritage: 2.88), gangs services (Black: 4.31, Dual Heritage: 7.13) and have a national referral mechanism (Black: 3.61, Dual Heritage: 4.01) than their White peers, but were less often in mainstream education compared with their Asian peers (Black: 0.26, Dual Heritage: 0.29). Black (odds ratio 0.35) and Dual Heritage (odds ratio 0.40) young people were less frequently diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder than their White peers. Those from Black and Dual Heritage backgrounds were disproportionately disadvantaged.

Mental Health Literacy Reduces Mental Disorder Stigma in Society

The general background mental health issues remain a major global health challenge, including in Indonesia, where mental illness is often stigmatized. Specific background mental illness stigma is prevalent in society, manifesting in negative attitudes towards individuals with mental disorders, thus affecting their acceptance and treatment. Knowledge gap there is limited research exploring the relationship between mental health literacy and mental illness stigma within community settings in Indonesia. This study aims to investigate the correlation between mental health literacy and mental disorder stigma among residents of a selected community. Results the findings reveal a significant negative correlation between mental health literacy and mental disorder stigma, indicating that higher levels of mental health literacy are associated with lower levels of stigma. Novelty this study contributes to the limited body of knowledge by demonstrating that improving mental health literacy can effectively reduce mental disorder stigma in community settings. Implications these results suggest that public health interventions focusing on mental health education may help reduce stigmatization, fostering a more supportive environment for individuals with mental health disorders, which may ultimately lead to better access to mental health services and outcomes. Highlights: Higher mental health literacy lowers mental disorder stigma. Stigma reduction improves mental health support in communities. Public health education can reduce mental disorder misconceptions. Keywords: Mental Health, Mental Disorder, Stigma, Community Attitudes, Education

Together, alone: Personal experiences of virtual funeral attendance during the COVID-19 global pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic caused profound distortions in how deaths were marked by those left to mourn their passing. Public health restrictions prohibited gatherings of friends and families for traditional funerals, causing an upsurge in reliance on virtual alternatives. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of individuals attending virtual funerals following a death of any cause, including reasons for choosing virtual attendance, perceived differences relative to in person attendance, and the extent to which mourning practices were accommodated. Between May 2021 and June 2022, we identified 57 participants with virtual funeral attendance experience. They identified many shortcomings of virtual funerals, captured under themes including, socialization, community support, sharing food, physical contact, consoling the bereaved, sharing memories, and connection. There were features of virtual funerals that participants appreciated, summarized by themes including, accessibility, taking part or marking the event, closure, technological advantages and privacy. Despite a sense that virtual funerals provided an opportunity to grieve “together, alone,” most conceded it was better than not being able to take part at all. This study provides detailed information about participating in virtual funerals, identifying features of this experience that should be examined to determine how those may influence grieving processes and bereavement outcomes.

Community readiness to host a world-class tourism destination: Insights from lake Toba

The research focuses on the potential of the Lake Toba area for internationally recognized tourism and explores whether its local people are prepared to welcome foreign travellers. It also discusses whether traditional customs and behaviour of people around Lake Toba have limited tourism. A web survey was conducted with the aim of gathering information from visitors and locals in Lake Toba and North Sumatra to verify if they knew that the lake has been identified as a Super Priority Destination. The results were analysed based on a six-step content analysis. It is from these results that there will be the potentiality of Lake Toba to be a top-class tourist destination for all, something that should really get and inspire everybody: natural beauty, a variety of fauna and flora, nature preservation, improving infrastructure, and cultural diversity. Community welcoming and support of local culture and ways of living enhance the experience of the visitor in this tourism sector. A good number of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) concur with the research. SDGs 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and 15 (Life on Land) all give priority to conservation and nature's beauty. These two SDGs encourage sustainable operations. SDG 11, which is Sustainable Cities and Communities, stipulates that local culture integrated into tourism supports sustainable cities and communities’ development actions.

HeritageRoots: Developing Interconnected Immersive Experiences for Cultural Preservation and Education

In this paper, we present technical implementation details, describe the virtual world procedural generation pipeline, and discuss potential uses in cultural preservation, museum exhibits, and education of HeritageRoots, an innovative software infrastructure designed for preserving indigenous narratives and oral histories. HeritageRoots consists of two interconnected systems - (1) a web-based knowledge graph (KG) data collection and management system which stores, connects, and presents indigenous traditional knowledge (ITK) in the form of narratives, myths, and testimonies from multiple cultures and languages; (2) a virtual environment rendering pipeline which utilizes large language models (LLM), Unity3D, and Meta Quest software development kit (SDK) to procedurally generate virtual worlds from the KG data. Preliminary system evaluation with Ecuadorian Kichwa narratives showed promising results in (1) academic community interest and support, (2) the possibility of developing an infrastructure capable of connecting indigenous narratives with modern scientific knowledge via KGs and (3) procedurally generating virtual worlds from KG.

Parental Perceptions of Community and Professional Attitudes Toward Autism.

The purpose of this study was to examine parent perceptions of professional and community attitudes about autism through the lens of parenting their autistic children from birth through adulthood. Implications of this research may assist with future development and study of professional and community supports of individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. The study participants consisted of 51 parents who had an adult-aged child on the autism spectrum. One-on-one interviews were conducted with parents about their experiences raising a child with autism. Data were double-coded and analyzed using a qualitative, phenomenological approach to explore parents' experiences with and perceptions of society members' attitudes towards autism. Positive and negative themes were identified across parents' perceptions of professionals and of community members. Themes regarding professional attitudes included cooperating with family requests, presuming competence of individuals with autism, complacency towards the needs of families and individuals with autism, and discrimination towards the individual with autism based on age or level of need. Themes regarding community member attitudes included valuing the strengths of individuals with autism, accommodating autistic differences, intolerance of autistic traits, and prejudice towards individuals with autism. Findings indicate that professional and community members presented with both positive and negative attitudes towards autism and individuals on the autism spectrum, with negative attitudes proving more prevalent in parent recollections. Results suggest a need for further research and related training to improve interactions with and support of individuals with autism and their families.