Serving the Underserved


Book Description

Focusing on needs and services outside the library walls, this book outlines a fresh approach to how libraries can think about and effectively reach underserved populations. Readers will discover strategies for identifying information needs where underserved populations are and learn about many successful services, programs, and partnerships. Underserved populations frequently do not have access to a library--or they may even be unaware that they have an information need. How can we as a profession effectively reach them? This text, geared to both graduate and undergraduate LIS students as well as practicing librarians and library staff, provides contextual information on historically underserved populations as defined by the ALA Office for Diversity, Outreach, and Literacy Services (ODLOS), explores information use behaviors for these groups, and presents examples of successful strategies and programs. Readers will understand the history, background, and demographics of ALA-identified underserved population groups, which include refugees and immigrants, rural or isolated communities, historically disadvantaged racial or ethnic groups, LGBTQAI+ teens, people with mental health challenges, and those experiencing homelessness; find ideas from real-world practice for effectively serving those population groups in their community; learn about concepts such as Reijo Savolainen's everyday life information seeking (ELIS) and Elfreda Chatman's small world lives and life in the round, theories that consider how a person's circumstances affect their information needs, searching habits, and information authorities; see why misconceptions, stereotypes, and implicit biases about underserved populations can act as barriers to people accessing the information they need; be introduced to the concept of the "community information liaison," a librarian who addresses information-seeking of their community outside of the library walls; and have information about support organizations and additional resources for further learning. The text features contributed chapters from noted authorities such as Paul T. Jaeger, Ana Ndumu, Helen Chou, Bharat Mehra, Jeanie Austin, Emily Jacobson, Julie Hersberger, Carrie Scott Banks, Barbara Klipper, JJ Pionke, Nicole Dalmer, and Vanessa Kitzie, plus an afterword by Nicole A. Cooke.




Communities in Action


Book Description

In the United States, some populations suffer from far greater disparities in health than others. Those disparities are caused not only by fundamental differences in health status across segments of the population, but also because of inequities in factors that impact health status, so-called determinants of health. Only part of an individual's health status depends on his or her behavior and choice; community-wide problems like poverty, unemployment, poor education, inadequate housing, poor public transportation, interpersonal violence, and decaying neighborhoods also contribute to health inequities, as well as the historic and ongoing interplay of structures, policies, and norms that shape lives. When these factors are not optimal in a community, it does not mean they are intractable: such inequities can be mitigated by social policies that can shape health in powerful ways. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity seeks to delineate the causes of and the solutions to health inequities in the United States. This report focuses on what communities can do to promote health equity, what actions are needed by the many and varied stakeholders that are part of communities or support them, as well as the root causes and structural barriers that need to be overcome.




Supporting Underserved Students


Book Description

Enhance your positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) to do what's best for all students. With this equity-focused guide by Sharroky Hollie and Daniel Russell, Jr., you will discover a clear roadmap for aligning PBIS with cultural and linguistic responsiveness (CLR). Dive deep into why there is an urgent need for this alignment and then learn how to move forward to better serve your learners, especially those from historically underserved populations. Integrate culturally and linguistically responsive teaching with your PBIS strategies: Learn where PBIS falls short and why issues around discipline persist, especially with Black and Brown students. Gain clarity around culturally and linguistically responsive (CLR) teaching strategies in the classroom. Understand the difference between authentic and inauthentic CLR alignment to PBIS. Acquire practical steps, suggestions, and recommendations for being culturally and linguistically responsive in the classroom as well as across schools and districts. Give students the language, activities, and procedures to be situationally appropriate for school situations affected by PBIS in the classroom. Contents: About the Authors Introduction: The Ubiquity of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Part 1: The Why of Culturally and Linguistically Responsive PBIS Chapter 1: The Basics of a CLR-Managed Classroom Chapter 2: PBIS and Authentic Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness Chapter 3: The Need for Authentic Culturally and Linguistically Responsive PBIS Part 2: The How of Culturally and Linguistically Responsive PBIS Chapter 4: CLR PBIS Alignment, Assessment, and Activation Chapter 5: Situationally Appropriate Opportunities Within PBIS Chapter 6: The Language of Situational Appropriateness Within PBIS Final Thoughts: A Change in Mindset to Enhance PBIS Appendix: Helpful Abbreviations for Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness




Bringing Psychotherapy to the Underserved


Book Description

"Providing psychotherapy services to the underserved is a significant problem with far reaching consequences. This book brings together discussions of multiple groups of underserved, some of whom are generally neglected by much of the literature. This book is designed to help mental health professionals who provide psychotherapy increase their awareness of the key issues related to many different peoples. Zimmerman, Barnett and Campbell bring together contributors who focus on many underserved communities, in their many different forms, both within and outside the United States. This wide-ranging discussion of the issues of many underserved peoples has chapters written by experts in their respective fields, offering their thoughts and very practical advice. The first four sections of the book focus on systemic factors, discrimination, people in transition and people who are often overlooked or are "invisible". Each of these chapters follows the same format to bring you a more consistent reading experience. The authors begin by discussing the scope and offer a description of the problem area they are addressing. They then discuss barriers to service delivery, how to create or improve cultural competence, and effective strategies and empirically-supported treatments for best meeting the treatment needs of this population. They conclude by discussing future steps. The fifth section addresses other challenges related to ethics and research. Overall, whether you read this book cover-to-cover, or pick individual chapters that are of particular relevance or interest, Bringing Psychotherapy to the Underserved is a valuable resource for you as you strive to approach underserved communities in socially responsible, culturally sensitive, ethical, and effective ways"--




Emerging Domestic Markets - How Financial Entrepreneurs Reach Underserved Communities in the United States


Book Description

Gregory Fairchild introduces readers to the rising set of entrepreneurs whose efforts to reach marginalized groups are reshaping the emerging markets of the United States. He explores how minority-owned and community-development institutions are achieving innovations in financial services to further economic development and reduce inequality.




Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Vulnerable and Underserved Populations


Book Description

Access to oral health care is essential to promoting and maintaining overall health and well-being, yet only half of the population visits a dentist each year. Poor and minority children are less likely to have access to oral health care than are their nonpoor and nonminority peers. Older adults, people who live in rural areas, and disabled individuals, uniformly confront access barriers, regardless of their financial resources. The consequences of these disparities in access to oral health care can lead to a number of conditions including malnutrition, childhood speech problems, infections, diabetes, heart disease, and premature births. Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Vulnerable and Underserved Populations examines the scope and consequences of inadequate access to oral health services in the United States and recommends ways to combat the economic, structural, geographic, and cultural factors that prevent access to regular, quality care. The report suggests changing funding and reimbursement for dental care; expanding the oral health work force by training doctors, nurses, and other nondental professionals to recognize risk for oral diseases; and revamping regulatory, educational, and administrative practices. It also recommends changes to incorporate oral health care into overall health care. These recommendations support the creation of a diverse workforce that is competent, compensated, and authorized to serve vulnerable and underserved populations across the life cycle. The recommendations provided in Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Vulnerable and Underserved Populations will help direct the efforts of federal, state, and local government agencies; policy makers; health professionals in all fields; private and public health organizations; licensing and accreditation bodies; educational institutions; health care researchers; and philanthropic and advocacy organizations.




Challenges and Successes in Reducing Health Disparities


Book Description

In early 2007, the Institute of Medicine convened the Roundtable on Health Disparities to increase the visibility of racial and ethnic health disparities as a national problem, to further the development of programs and strategies to reduce disparities, to foster the emergence of leadership on this issue, and to track promising activities and developments in health care that could lead to dramatically reducing or eliminating disparities. The Roundtable's first workshop, Challenges and Successes in Reducing Health Disparities, was held in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 31, 2007, and examined (1) the importance of differences in life expectancy within the United States, (2) the reasons for those differences, and (3) the implications of this information for programs and policy makers.




Reaching the Underserved


Book Description

Why are some needy populations so difficult to reach by mental health agencies? Original essays examine specific ethnic and other underserved groups such as the aged, rural people, or chronic patients. What is the role of such factors as distance to be travelled, inhospitable presentation, an unsophisticated view of mental health, and inability to pay? What are the factors in mental health services themselves that can be improved? Contributors also review the efforts taken over the last 20 years to reach the underserved and suggest new directions for reform. 'This is a superbly good book on a vital subject and deserves the attention of every person in the field of mental health and especially those in the field of community




The Pedagogy of Empowerment


Book Description

This new study weaves anthropological detail with hard facts and analysis as it takes the reader to visit the community schools of Upper Egypt. It offers a historical understanding of the initiative whilst carefully embedding it in the political and economic global context of the late twentieth century. The author first introduces the movement approach to development and carefully develops the notion of learning as a countermovement to the disintegrating world of today. She then moves on to describe how a community schools movement developed in the most deprived areas of rural Egypt and how such a movement is planned, mobilized and sustained and details the strategies and activities of the initiative. In the third part of the work the author describes the impact of the movement on people’s lives. The last chapter places the community education movement within the political economy of Egypt’s educational reform and attempts to forecast the movement’s long-term impact on the educational system. The work will be of interest to anthropologists, educationalists, feminists, practitioners working in the field of development, and policymakers.




Before and After School Physical Activity Programs


Book Description

This is the first book to offer a critical examination of the delivery of before and after-school physical activity programs, from global perspectives. It introduces key theory and best practice in before and after-school physical activity research and programming, and is an essential resource for educators involved in the design and implementation of after-school programs. With contributions from leading international researchers and practitioners in the field of health and physical education, the book provides an overview of research methods in before and after-school physical activity. It offers insight on theoretical frameworks and the implementation of programs as they relate to policy in schools, as well as an overview of social and emotional learning in after-school programs. The book also explores inclusive before and after-school physical activity programming for underserved communities, covering key topics from Positive Youth Development and urban programming to developing adult leaders and working with LGBTQI populations and children with disabilities. This book is important reading for researchers in health and physical education, and policy-makers, teachers, youth workers and coaches working with children in physical education, health education, physical activity or sport.