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Publication Adolescents’ interpretations of e-cigarette advertising and their engagement with e-cigarette information: results from five focus groups(Routledge, 2019-08-16) Chen, Yvonnes; Tilden, Chris; Vernberg, Dee KatherineOBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to explore adolescent non-e-cigarette users’ interpretations of e-cigarette advertising and their engagement with e-cigarette information. Given adolescents’ lack of persuasion knowledge and the association between advertising and behaviour, insights from non-users who are heavily targeted by the industry add evidence to a field that mainly focuses on risk perceptions and reasons for experimentation. DESIGN: Five focus groups were conducted with 39 adolescents (mean = 14.21 years, age range = 12–17, 80% female). Data were analysed using the thematic approach. Results: Three themes were emerged: (1) advertising motivates nonsmokers to use e-cigarettes, (2) there is fascination with the technical and emotional appeals featured in commercials and (3) searching for information about e-cigarettes involves little validation. Adolescents also recalled health and social appeals that are consistent with content analysis of e-cigarette advertising. Further, adolescents used digital platforms and interpersonal sources for information on e-juice ingredients, health effects, accessibility, and price to satisfy their curiosity and justify their use. Very few, however, questioned the trustworthiness of the information. CONCLUSION: Findings provide support for the implementation of strategies, such as media literacy in public health and media campaigns, and the development of regulations vis-à-vis advertising and access to e-cigarette products to reduce future uptake.Publication Kansas Early Childhood Transition Task Force Tour: Preliminary Results from Community Engagement Tour(Center for Published Partnerships and Research, University of Kansas, 2023-08) Hamilton, Stephen N.; von Esenwein, Silke A.; Counts, Jacqueline MarieKansas Executive Order 23-01 established the Early Childhood Transition Task Force (ECTTF) and tasked the group with holding a series of meetings across the state to generate public feedback and responses to Kansas’ current early childhood system. To better understand the current situation of early childhood efforts in the State of Kansas, the Kansas ECTTF conducted a statewide tour with virtual and in-person opportunities for participants to reflect on Kansas’ early childhood system. The participants’ responses were prompted by questions in three different categories: Needs and Barriers, Bright Spots, and State’s Efficiency in Early Child Care and Education. Participants were also asked to rate how hopeful they are that Kansas is going in the right direction in early childhood. The average hope score was high, which conveys trust and confidence from those in attendance. Based on these findings, the Task Force developed recommendations to improve Kansas’ current early childhood system and the state’s role in it.Publication Linking Community Resilience to Health and Wellness(2023-06) Vaziri, Natalie; Bonnett, Michaela; Kennedy, Meaghan; Garstka, Teri A.Community Resilience (CR) is a topic on many people’s minds these days, and represents a community’s and an individual’s ability to weather adversity, as well as to adapt and recover. It also represents a community’s strength and readiness to respond to changes and capitalize on opportunities. Adaptation and recovery are intrinsically linked to the health and wellness of a community or individual, and measuring the link between CR and a community’s health is a point of key importance. Community resilience is complex, so scholars and stakeholders have developed a variety of models and metrics to measure and identify it. Many of these are linked to health and wellness outcomes within the community, providing a foundation for the link between the resilience of a community and the health of the people. Further research is required as the nature of CR is better defined, but current results provide support for using the measurement of CR to identify key points of intervention to improve the health and wellbeing of communities.Publication Using Social Network Analysis to Link Community Health and Network Strength(2023-06) Bonnett, Michaela; Ezeigwe, Chimdi; Kennedy, Meaghan; Garstka, Teri A.Social network analysis (SNA) is a technique used to analyze social networks, whether it be composed of people, organizations, physical locations, or objects. It is being increasingly applied across a variety of sectors to gain insight into patterns of behavior and connectivity, the flow of information and behaviors, and to track and predict the effectiveness of interventions or programs. A key area associated with network strength using SNA is the health and wellness of individuals and communities. Both network strength and health and wellness are measured in many ways, which can obfuscate the association, so more consistency and further research is required. Despite this, the existing research using SNA to link characteristics of social networks to health and wellness find that stronger, more connected networks tend to be associated with better health outcomes. These results also present opportunities and insights for effective program implementation in response to disasters, to increase resilience, and to improve outcomes for individuals and communities.Publication Involvement in the criminal justice system among attendees of an urban mental health center(BMC, 2015-02-25) Anderson, Allyson; von Esenwein, Silke; Spaulding, Anne; Druss, BenjaminBackground Incarceration rates for people with serious mental illnesses are higher than the general population. However, research has been limited in regards to patterns of incarcerations for patients treated in public mental health settings. This study examines differences in lifetime imprisonment rates among patients of a U.S. urban Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) and national samples, within gender, race and education subgroups. Findings Participants were interviewed about their criminal history. Analyses compared lifetime incarceration history in this sample to a group with similar demographics. A majority (69.6%) of the sample had been incarcerated and 34.0% had been incarcerated with a felony charge as compared with 2.7% expected for the control sample. Conclusion Within every racial and educational subgroup, incarceration rates were high compared to the general population. Though racial and educational factors partly explained added incarceration risk, presence of a serious mental disorder heightened the incarceration risk within all strata in this public sector setting.Publication Kansas Infant-Toddler Services (Part C): Needs Assessment 2019(University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships & Research, 2019) Tilden, Chris; Kuhn, Nathan; Gillam, RebeccaPublication MCH 2025 Title V Needs Assessment: Priorities and Action Plan 2021-2025(Kansas Department of Health and Environment, 2021) Tilden, Chris; Gillam, RebeccaEnacted by Congress in 1935, Title V of the Social Security Act committed federal support to states to ensure adequate health services for maternal and child health populations, including an emphasis on Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) and their families. The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant is predicated on life course theory and the knowledge of the importance of critical stages, beginning before a child is born and continuing throughout life, which can influence lifelong health and well-being. Title V MCH continues to be the only federal grant program solely focused on improving the health of all mothers and children. Title V legislation and the MCH Services Block Grant Program enables states to: --Provide and assure mothers and children access to quality MCH services --Reduce infant mortality and the incidence of preventable diseases --Provide rehabilitation services for blind and disabled individuals --Provide and promote family-centered, community-based, coordinated care, and facilitate the development of community-based systems of services. In Kansas, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Bureau of Family Health (BFH) administers the Title V (MCH) Program.Publication Trends in Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment Utilization and Location from 2008 to 2017(Psychiatry Online, 2022-09-01) Larsen, Aidan R.; Cummings, Janet R.; von Esenwein, Silke A.; Druss, Benjamin G.Objective: Little is known about recent trends in treatment for alcohol use disorder. The authors used national data to examine treatment trends among individuals with alcohol use disorder. Methods: A sample of nonelderly adults (ages 18–64 years, N=36,707) with alcohol use disorder was identified from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine trends in treatment for alcohol use disorder in 2008–2010, 2011–2013, and 2014–2017 in any medical setting (hospitals, rehabilitation centers, mental health centers, emergency departments, and private doctors’ offices), self-help groups only (no medical setting), and no setting (i.e., no treatment). Additional analyses investigated trends in mental health treatment. Regression models adjusted for predisposing, enabling, and need-related characteristics. Results: Among those with an alcohol use disorder, the percentage who received any treatment was significantly lower in 2011–2013 (5.6%) than in 2008–2010 (6.9%) (p<0.05). In adjusted analyses, the probability of receiving no treatment increased by 1.5 percentage points in 2014–2017 (95% CI=0.5–2.5) compared with the 2008–2010 baseline. Significant declines were observed in the receipt of any treatment in a medical setting (marginal effect [ME]=−1.0%, 95% CI=−2.0 to −0.0) and self-help treatment only (ME=−0.5%, 95% CI=−0.8 to −0.1) in 2014–2017 compared with the baseline period. The probability of receiving any mental health treatment did not change during the study period. Conclusions: Among persons with an alcohol use disorder, treatment declined from 2008 to 2017. Future studies should examine the mechanisms that may be responsible for this decline.Publication Triadic Interactions in MIECHV: Relations to Home Visit Quality(Springer, 2018-06-12) Peterson, Carla A.; Hughes-Belding, Kere; Rowe, Neil; Fan, Liuran; Walter, Melissa; Dooley, Leslie; Wang, Wen; Steffensmeier, ChloeObjectives This study was conducted to look inside home visits to examine active intervention ingredients used and their relations with ratings of home visit quality. In particular, triadic interactions that engage the home visitor, parent, and child together and provide a context for home visitors to facilitate parent-child interactions by observing, modeling and coaching behaviors that promote optimal child development were examined. Methods Observations were conducted to describe intervention activities (with the HVOF-R) and rate quality of home visit practices and engagement (with the HOVRS A+). Results Analyses revealed the majority of home visit time (71%) was spent in home visitor-parent interactions with only a small proportion of home visit time (17%) spent in triadic interactions and an even smaller proportion of time (2%) during which home visitors actively coached parent-child interactions. Amount of time spent in triadic interactions was related positively to quality ratings of home visit practices and engagement. Moreover, time spent coaching parent-child interactions uniquely predicted home visit quality after accounting for visit length and home visitor time spent observing and modeling. Conclusions for Practice Increasing the percentage of home visitors engage the parent and child in triadic interaction should be a focus for home visiting programs. Home visitors will likely need professional development and supervisory support to enhance their skills in coaching parent-child interactions during triadic interactions.Publication Recruitment and Retention of School Mental Health Providers: Strategies and Key Resources(Southeast Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (Southeast MHTTC), 2021-06-08) Zhang, Yidan Xue; Wilk, Adam S.; von Esenwein, Silke A.; Cummings, Janet R.This report describes organizational and policy strategies to improve recruitment and retention of school mental health providers. Additionally, it identifies resources developed by reputable organizations to facilitate implementation of these strategies. The report aims to provide useful guidance on developing and maintaining the school mental health workforce for organizations (e.g. schools, school districts, and community mental health agencies) and policy makers involved in school mental health efforts.Publication Effects of extreme weather events on child mood and behavior(Wiley, 2021-03-15) Barkin, Jennifer L.; Buoli, Massimiliano; Curry, Carolann Lee; von Esenwein, Silke A.; Upadhyay, Saswati; Kearney, Maggie Bridges; Mach, KatharineExtreme weather events (EWEs) are increasing in frequency and severity as the planet continues to become warmer. Resulting disasters have the potential to wreak havoc on the economy, infrastructure, family unit, and human health. Global estimates project that children will be disproportionately impacted by the changing climate – shouldering 88% of the related burdens. Exposure to EWEs in childhood is traumatic, with ramifications for mental health specifically. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety have all been associated with childhood EWE exposure and have the potential to persist under certain circumstances. Conversely, many childhood survivors of EWE also demonstrate resilience and experience only transient symptoms. While the majority of studies are focused on the effects resulting from one specific type of disaster (hurricanes), we have synthesized the literature across the various types of EWEs. We describe psychological symptoms and behavior, the potential for long-term effects, and potential protective factors and risk factors.Publication Reasoning Exercises in Assisted Living: a cluster randomized trial to improve reasoning and everyday problem solving(Dove Medical Press, 2014-06-25) Williams, Kristine; Herman, Ruth E.; Bontempo, Daniel E.Purpose of the study Assisted living (AL) residents are at risk for cognitive and functional declines that eventually reduce their ability to care for themselves, thereby triggering nursing home placement. In developing a method to slow this decline, the efficacy of Reasoning Exercises in Assisted Living (REAL), a cognitive training intervention that teaches everyday reasoning and problem-solving skills to AL residents, was tested. Design and methods At thirteen randomized Midwestern facilities, AL residents whose Mini Mental State Examination scores ranged from 19–29 either were trained in REAL or a vitamin education attention control program or received no treatment at all. For 3 weeks, treated groups received personal training in their respective programs. Results Scores on the Every Day Problems Test for Cognitively Challenged Elders (EPCCE) and on the Direct Assessment of Functional Status (DAFS) showed significant increases only for the REAL group. For EPCCE, change from baseline immediately postintervention was +3.10 (P<0.01), and there was significant retention at the 3-month follow-up (d=2.71; P<0.01). For DAFS, change from baseline immediately postintervention was +3.52 (P<0.001), although retention was not as strong. Neither the attention nor the no-treatment control groups had significant gains immediately postintervention or at follow-up assessments. Post hoc across-group comparison of baseline change also highlights the benefits of REAL training. For EPCCE, the magnitude of gain was significantly larger in the REAL group versus the no-treatment control group immediately postintervention (d=3.82; P<0.01) and at the 3-month follow-up (d=3.80; P<0.01). For DAFS, gain magnitude immediately postintervention for REAL was significantly greater compared with in the attention control group (d=4.73; P<0.01). Implications REAL improves skills in everyday problem solving, which may allow AL residents to maintain self-care and extend AL residency. This benefit is particularly important given the growing population of AL residents at risk for cognitive and self-care decline.Publication Translating Evidence-Based Policy to Practice: A Multilevel Partnership Using the Interactive Systems Framework(Alliance for Children and Families, 2013) Brodowski, Melissa L.; Counts, Jacqueline Marie; Gillam, Rebecca J.; Baker, Linda; Collins, Valerie S.; Winkle, Edi; Skala, Jennifer; Stokes, Kathy; Gomez, Rosie; Redmon, JamesDespite increases in federal allocations, little is known about how to ensure successful implementation of evidence-based programs. This descriptive case study using the Interactive Systems Framework for Dissemination and Implementation illustrates the Prevention Support System (PSS) implemented for one federal evidence-based policy initiative. Exploring perspectives of intermediary organizations, the article describes the impetus for promoting evidence-based programming, multilevel systemic change, and the collaborations to develop strategic partnerships between national and state entities. Two early adopters, Kansas and Nebraska, illustrate the general capacity-building technical assistance activities conducted to build a multilevel PSS. The article concludes with outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations for building stronger implementation capacity.Publication The Costs of Doing Two Things at Once for Young and Older Adults: Talking while Walking, Finger Tapping, and Ignoring Speech or Noise(American Psychological Association, 2003-06) Kemper, Susan; Herman, Ruth E.; Lian, CindyYoung and older adults provided language samples in response to questions while walking, finger tapping, and ignoring speech or noise. The language samples were scored on 3 dimensions: fluency, complexity, and content. The hypothesis that working memory limitations affect speech production by older adults was tested by comparing baseline samples with those produced while the participants were performing the concurrent tasks. There were baseline differences: Older adults' speech was less fluent and less complex than young adults' speech. Young adults adopted a different strategy in response to the dual-task demands than older adults: They reduced sentence length and grammatical complexity. In contrast, older adults shifted to a reduced speech rate in the dual-task conditions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)Publication Revealing language deficits following stroke: the cost of doing two things at once(Taylor & Francis (Psychology Press), 2006-01) Kemper, Susan; McDowd, Joan M.; Pohl, Patricia; Herman, Ruth E.; Jackson, SusanThe costs of doing two things were assessed for a group of healthy older adults and older adults who were tested at least 6 months after a stroke. A baseline language sample was compared to language samples collected while the participants were performing concurrent motor tasks or selective ignoring tasks. Whereas the healthy older adults showed few costs due to the concurrent task demands, the language samples from the stroke survivors were disrupted by the demands of doing two things at once. The dual task measures reveal long-lasting effects of strokes that were not evident when stroke survivors were assessed using standard clinical tools.Publication Automatic measurement of propositional idea density from part-of-speech tagging(Springer, 2008-05) Brown, Cati; Snodgrass, Tony; Kemper, Susan; Herman, Ruth E.; Covington, Michael A.The Computerized Propositional Idea Density Rater (CPIDR, pronounced “spider”) is a computer program that determines the propositional idea density (P-density) of an English text automatically on the basis of partof-speech tags. The key idea is that propositions correspond roughly to verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and conjunctions. After tagging the parts of speech using MontyLingua (Liu, 2004), CPIDR applies numerous rules to adjust the count, such as combining auxiliary verbs with the main verb. A “speech mode” is provided in which CPIDR rejects repetitions and a wider range of fillers. CPIDR is a user-friendly Windows .NET application distributed as open-source freeware under GPL. Tested against human raters, it agrees with the consensus of two human raters better than the team of five raters agree with each other [r(80) = .97 vs. r(10) = .82, respectively].Publication Aging and the vulnerability of speech to dual task demands(American Psychological Association, 2010-12) Kemper, Susan; Schmalzried, RaLynn Cheri; Hoffman, Lesa; Herman, Ruth E.Tracking a digital pursuit rotor task was used to measure dual task costs of language production by young and older adults. Tracking performance by both groups was affected by dual task demands: time on target declined and tracking error increased as dual task demands increased from the baseline condition to a moderately demanding dual task condition to a more demanding dual task condition. When dual task demands were moderate, older adults' speech rate declined but their fluency, grammatical complexity, and content were unaffected. When the dual task was more demanding, older adults' speech, like young adults' speech, became highly fragmented, ungrammatical, and incoherent. Vocabulary, working memory, processing speed, and inhibition affected vulnerability to dual task costs: vocabulary provided some protection for sentence length and grammaticality, working memory conferred some protection for grammatical complexity, and processing speed provided some protection for speech rate, propositional density, coherence, and lexical diversity. Further, vocabulary and working memory capacity provided more protection for older adults than for young adults although the protective effect of processing speed was somewhat reduced for older adults as compared to the young adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)Publication Tracking Talking: Dual Task Costs of Planning and Producing Speech for Young versus Older Adults(Taylor & Francis (Psychology Press), 2011-05) Kemper, Susan; Hoffman, Lesa; Schmalzried, RaLynn Cheri; Herman, Ruth E.; Kieweg, DouglasA digital pursuit rotor was used to monitor speech planning and production costs by time-locking tracking performance to the auditory wave form produced as young and older adults were describing someone they admire. The speech sample and time-locked tracking record were segmented at utterance boundaries and multilevel modeling was used to determine how utterance-level predictors such as utterance duration or sentence grammatical complexity and person-level predictors such as speaker age or working memory capacity predicted tracking performance. Three models evaluated the costs of speech planning, the costs of speech production, and the costs of speech output monitoring. The results suggest that planning and producing propositionally dense utterances is more costly for older adults and that older adults experience increased costs as a result of having produced a long, informative, or rapid utterance.Publication Indefinitely Repeated Games: A Response to Carroll(Springer, 1990) Cudd, Ann E.; Becker, Neal C.Publication Stereotype traits of older adults generated by young, middle-aged, and older Chinese participants(Baywood Publishing Company, 2002) Zhang, Yan Bing; Hummert, Mary Lee; Garstka, Teri A.This study examined stereotype traits of older adults elicited from 40 young (M age = 19.6), 40 middle-aged (M = 36.8), and 40 older Chinese adults (M = 64.7). Trait lists were compared across age groups and to traits reported by U.S. and Chinese New Zealand participants in earlier research (Hummert, Garstka, Shaner, & Strahm, 1994; Ng, Liu, Loong, & Weatherall, 1999). Results indicated considerable overlap between stereotype traits of these Chinese participants and those from the earlier studies with Western participants, but also revealed 22 stereotype traits unique to Chinese culture. Participants of all ages reported more positive age traits than negative ones, with young participants reporting the highest number of positive traits. Consistent with Ng et al. (1999), the latter result suggests that views of aging are more positive in Chinese than in Western cultures. Discussion focuses on age stereotypes in the context of Chinese culture.