Innovation Showcases
Place-Based ePortfolios: Sovereignty of Standards
Innovation Showcase Deborah K. Zuercher, Ivy Yeung
It is important to reimagine what equitable standards-based assessment means and how it is delivered, especially across diverse Pacific regions. In this era of imposed standardization, the use of ePortfolios is an inclusive practice that enables master-level graduate teacher candidates to have a voice and choice of how to integrate place-based and indigenous culturally responsive exemplars with newly developed national and state standards. University of Hawai`i instructors share self-study findings on the use of ePortfolios as the culminating capstone masterʻs degree assessment in the PACMED Program. PACMED is an award-winning program that facilitates a hybrid online masterʻs degree program for candidates across the Hawaiian Islands, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. A collaborative, multicultural program, PACMED was created on the foundational United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007) that Pacific leaders are willing and able to solve Pacific problems. The ePortfolio involves a reflective practice where candidates are empowered to showcase their understanding of professional standards, cite relevant research literature to support the standards, contextualize examples of how they met the standards, and include a self-evaluation of the effects of their professional practice to prompt continuous improvement. ePortfolios give candidates ownership of artifacts, experiences, and learning while validating cultural intelligence (Kirkpatrick et al., 2007). Presenters discuss exploratory self-study findings of ePortfolio.
The Relationship between Religious Coping and Multiple Dimensions of Social Support and Psychological Symptoms in Arab Pregnant Women View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Sawssan Ahmed, Medhat Alberry, Sara Buhmaid
Pregnancy can be viewed as a stressful time in a woman’s life due to multiple physical and psychological changes. The use of positive religious coping and social has been associated with positive mental health outcomes. However, little is known about the relationship between religious coping and different dimensions of social support and mental health in pregnant women, particularly in diverse samples including those who are Arab. This study explores the relationship between religious coping, social support (spousal, family and friend) and anxiety and depression symptom in pregnant women of Arab descent residing in Qatar. Participants were a mostly Muslim (99%) sample of 402 pregnant women of both Qatari (64%) and non-Qatari Arab (36%) descent residing in Qatar. Women were recruited from prenatal clinics and asked about depression and anxiety symptoms, social support, religious coping and other health factors. Women who reported more use of positive religious coping reported less depression and anxiety symptoms. Reporting more spousal, familial and friend social support was related to less depression symptoms. Reporting more spousal and friend social support was related to less anxiety symptoms. Results indicate the importance of positive religious coping and spousal, friend and familial social support for pregnant mostly Muslim Arab women. The final analyses explores whether religious coping and social support buffers the relationship between perceived stress and depression and anxiety symptoms. Interventions that utilize spirituality and social support with pregnant women to improve psychological well-being are discussed.
Providing Antiracist and Anti-oppressive Telemental Health Services to African American Clients
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Allen Lipscomb, Wendy Ashley
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the need for antiracist and anti-oppressive approaches in mental health services. However, these approaches are particularly critical when providing telemental health services to African American clients. This paper highlights the importance of adopting antiracist and anti-oppressive practices in telemental health and provides practice tools for achieving culturally responsive care utilizing qualitative case study methodology. This study focuses on equipping mental health professionals with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to provide antiracist and anti-oppressive telemental health services to African American clients using. It explores the historical and contemporary factors that contribute to mental health disparities and systemic oppression experienced by African Americans, and the specific challenges they may face in accessing quality mental healthcare. By providing antiracist and anti-oppressive telemental health services to African American clients, mental health professionals can contribute to reducing disparities and improving outcomes. This study may empower mental health practitioners with the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver culturally responsive care and create a more inclusive and equitable mental health system based on empirical practice-based research.
The Essence of Wellbeing: Clarity in a Concept to Reduce Stress and Prevent Burnout: Clarity in a Concept to Reduce Stress Reduction and Prevent Burnout View Digital Media
Innovation Showcase Christine Kaford
Stress, burnout and poor mental health in the workplace and home are an ongoing concern as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the application of wellbeing practices in the personal and professional setting requires further exploration as one possible response to addressing concerns. Frontline workers and healthcare practitioners use this concept in limited ways, and subsequently requires conceptual clarity to further identify the significance, use and applications in life. Wellbeing measured by PERMAH (positive emotion, engagement, relationship, meaning, accomplishment, health) as a recipe to build upon self care practices is explored and implemented. With access to training, individuals can gain personal experience to gauge wellbeing, giving them tools to promote holistic health practices at work and home. Integrating PERMAH and wellbeing habits more intentionally can assist healthcare practitioners and clients develop a particular way of being present for themselves and others, and shift from a purely theoretical way of knowing to one that is embodied and holistic.
