Social workers employed in county child welfare agencies experience large and complex caseloads, high rates of burnout and consistently high rates of turnover. The California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Project provides BSW and MSW students with additional training in child welfare and a stipend of $18,500 per year in exchange for a year’s work in a county or state child welfare or Tribal agency upon graduation. Data was collected through an electronic survey, completed by county and state child welfare social workers who had participated in the Title IV-E program in order to assess their wellbeing, preparedness and longevity in the position.

In the Arcata Community Forest, many moles (Talpidae) and shrews (Soricidae) have been found dead along walkways. I investigated starvation, cold temperatures, age and toxin exposure as possible causes for these mortalities. I performed necropsies on 12 specimens including Trowbridge’s shrew (Sorex trowbridgii), shrew mole (Neurotrichus gibbsii) and coast mole (Scapanus orarius). and sent tissues as well as 3 additional specimens to UC Davis for toxicological screening. Body condition, cold temperatures and age did not appear to be linked to mortalities. The toxicological screens were negative for tested organic chemical compounds. The mortalities of these insectivores is still a mystery.

Humboldt County is home to a uniquely large and diverse Cannabis industry comprised of a variety of operation styles, leading to different associated energy intensities and carbon emissions. This project aimed to deploy a detailed, accessible carbon accounting model for Cannabis operations - one which is adaptable to various operation styles and industry practices. Our Cannabis Carbon Accounting Model, is a fully-functional user-friendly tool for the rapid assessment of Cannabis operations carbon footprints. Understanding the extent of Cannabis operation emissions and their source will allow governments, businesses, and the general public to find ways to lower their environmental impact.

We are assessing movement of juvenile Coho and adult straying among Freshwater Creek and two other Humboldt Bay tributaries using PIT tags and mark-recapture multi-state modeling. As salmon habitat becomes more fragmented through human actions, the need to better understand interactions between connected salmonid populations only grows. This research will focus on quantifying the frequency of juvenile dispersal between nearby watersheds to evaluate the need for changes in both management and monitoring. If there is significant movement between these watersheds, effective management and monitoring strategies of Freshwater Creek may need to be expanded to include nearby streams.

Ladder training is a form of multidirectional lower limb plyometric training utilized by coaches and athletes in a variety of sports. Researchers have not examined how ladder training improves sprint and COD performance. The addition of 4 weeks of LT to a conventional pre-season strength and conditioning program seems to represent a time-efficient stimulus for improvement in sprint performance, stride frequency, and ground contact time. LT should be implemented as a warm up or neural priming exercise. These findings offer practitioners and athletes the ability to improve performance and induce kinematic adaptations at a desired period within the macrocycle.

This poster presents findings and recommendations based on a process evaluation of an AY 2019-20 CAHSS scale up of major-based peer mentoring. The evaluation is based on field notes and interviews with peer mentors, students, and department leaders. MB peer mentors serve as resource bridges, a source of street knowledge, and a conduit for major academic integration. This model is informed by: (1) research on socio-cultural capital in higher education; (2) student success research on the unique needs for academic and career integration in the middle years; and (3) critical theories of student integration that center minoritized students, first-generation students, and all students broadly.

Tri-Mindful is a community wellness event that will raise money for our Mother (Earth) and our Sisters (Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women). The mindfulness triathlon will consist of: 3k fun run/walk or 5k race, grounding exercise, and a guided meditation. The event will culminate to a space with Indigenous artists, speakers, and activities. By partnering with Seventh Generation Fund, our aim is to promote: (1) social, economic, and environmental justice for sovereign Tribal communities; (2) community wellness; and (3) holistic healing through the Indigenous traditional contemplative practice.

My dad Ricky Wayne Fischer died on September 8th, 2024, after a lifetime struggle with addiction. An estimated 28.9 million Americans had an Alcohol Use Disorder in 2024 (NIAAA, 2024). Families who have a parent with a Substance Abuse Disorder are “characterized by an environment of secrecy, loss, conflict, violence or abuse, emotional chaos, role reversal, and fear.” (Lander, 2013). To tackle the wicked problem of addiction, this paper focuses on the psychological, biological, sociological, economic disciplines, and my own primary source of having a parent with a Substance Abuse Disorder. Additionally explored, are the creative disciplines of photography and writing to honor his life.

In 1947, at the West Point Military Academy, the first ever National Debate Championship pitted dozens of students from numerous colleges and universities across America against each other in a contest of research, notation, listening skills, and advocacy. Every year since schools world-wide have utilized "competitive forensics" to develop these crucial capabilities. Starting in 1955, HSU has one of America's best-known programs, yet few at HSU know much about it - this presentation will explore the justification, founding, history, methodologies and current status of this nationally-recognized program.

COVID-19 brought about unprecedented difficulties for college students. Challenges associated with online learning, such as one-way interactions, presented obstacles to college engagement. We explored the role that instructors play in fostering greater academic involvement. Specifically, we examined the effects of autonomy support. Autonomy support involves encouraging students to explore their own interests and self-regulate. We posited that autonomy support would predict, respectively, greater self-esteem and mastery-approach goals for students. In turn, we expected that these effects would predict greater engagement. Our findings highlight the importance of autonomy support.