Reduction of Secondary Trauma Among Mental Health Interpreters

College of Professional Studies

Humboldt County currently has an interpretation program to assist clients with Limited English Proficiency needs who seek local mental health services. This working alliance of the mental health provider, the mental health interpreter, and the client currently has no systematic support for mental health interpreters to reduce and cope with secondary trauma. The purpose of this project is to provide a resource guide on best clinical practices regarding this working alliance, the implementation of an Interpreter Coordinator for the county, and systemic structural recommendations in order to reduce secondary trauma among mental health interpreters.

Redwood Coast Beer Trail

Matthew Gerber, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

From the primitively-brewed ‘steam beer’ of 19th century Eureka taverns, to the nano-brewed Hazy DIPA in a Crescent City warehouse today -- brewing culture remains a key social element and economic driver in Northern California's Redwood Coast. The Redwood Coast Beer Trail is an experiential destination marketing campaign that applies the principles of gastrotourism to advertise the robust craft brewery scene of Humboldt and Del Norte counties as distinct tourism assets. The Redwood Coast Beer Trail poster is a self-guided, self-paced wayfinding aide that empowers local and non-local visitors to experience the unique oddities and attributes of the region’s craft beer and cider producers.

Relapse Prevention/Substance Use Disorder Group

College of Professional Studies

This project concists of my participation as a co-facilitator in a substance abuse relapse prevention group through the Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA) located at Waterfront Recovery Services in Eureka. This group meets once a week with participants who are in the early stages of recovery and who are ready to learn new coping skills that will enhance the rate of success and minimize relapse incidents. Evidence-based practice methods as they pertain to the five models of group therapy used in substance abuse treatment is being utilized in addition to traditional cultural elements congruent with the Native American worldview.

Reliability and Validity of a Self-Rating Scale for Fear of Social Rejection

College of Professional Studies

The present study was conducted to develop a measure that indicates a fear of social rejection among students. Participants were 116 college students receiving credit in their psychology classes. Reliability was established through test retest and internal consistency. Validity used criterion, convergent, and discriminant validity: Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire, Social Phobia Inventory, and Yale Food Addiction Scale. Internal consistency and test retest were significantly high. Results from the RSQ and FSRS showed high correlation r=-.63, p<.001. The SPIN had a high correlation with FSRS r= -.74, p <.001. The results of the study indicated that the FSRS had validity and reliability.

Reliability and Validity of the Attitudes Towards Environmental Activism Scale

College of Professional Studies

In this study environmental activism attitudes were defined as the positive view of pro-environmental behaviors as mediated by egoistic, social, and biospheric motivators. This investigation reports on the development of the Attitudes Towards Environmental Activism Scale (ATEAS), a 26-item measure of attitudes towards environmental activism. In this sample the internal consistency reliability of the ATEAS was r = .92, with one-week test-retest reliability of r = .90 in a retest sample of 15 students. Participant differences were found in the results. The ATEAS scale can be used to provide a basis for research in future environmental education.

Reliability and Validity of the Humboldt Appreciation of Humor Scale

College of Professional Studies

This study was conducted to assess the reliability and validity of the Humboldt Appreciation of Humor Scale (HAHS). The HAHS was assessed with undergraduate and graduate students from Humboldt State University. The scale is a 21-item Likert-type measure that was found to have good internal consistency (r = .93) and good test-retest reliability (r = .86). It was validated with a criterion-related measure, Humor Styles Questionnaire (r = .53), a discriminant measure, substance use questionnaire (r = .19), and a convergent measure, Beck’s Hopelessness Scale (r = .55).

Reserve, Symptoms, Sex and Outcome Following a Single Sports-Related Concussion

College of Professional Studies

The study addressed reserve and symptoms following a single sports-related concussion (SRC). Reserve is the biological/cognitive differences between individuals that protect against cognitive changes following a SRC. A SRC can lead to brain damage, and thus a loss of reserve. The ImPACT is a neurocognitive test taken before an athletic season and following a SRC, which was used as a proxy for reserve. Symptoms were explored using PCSS, a symptom checklist. It was found that those with low pre-SRC reserves had better outcomes that those with high pre-SRC reserves, and that females reported more symptoms than males. Reasons for these findings and suggestions for SRC management were explored.

Resilience, Protective Factors and Sustainability in Child Welfare Workers

College of Professional Studies

The preliminary findings of this research highlight the resiliency, retention, and protective factors of Title IV-E child welfare workers. This study aims to better understand the relationship between the effects of working in a field with high exposure to vicarious trauma, and a social worker's own personal resiliency and coping strategies. The implications of our research suggest several ways agencies and educators can increase the well-being and sustainability of social workers. Improving the well-being of child welfare workers can have a substantial impact on the experiences and outcomes of children and families in our communities.

Resiliency of Homeless College Students in Humboldt County

College of Professional Studies

The prevalent issue of students experiencing homelessness at Humboldt State University is addressed in our project. We  found that students have the resiliency to stay in school and continue pursuing a higher education despite the insecurities of homelessness. We interviewed ten amazing students who gave testimony to the housing crisis affecting Humboldt County. These students found resiliency in their families, their community, their friends, and other effective resources. Their dedication to school was met with integrity, overcoming the barriers preventing them from housing all while pursuing a degree .

Resistance Training and Kinesiophobia Post Hip Replacement

Ian Blank, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

A research review looking into the role that progressive resistance training plays in improving kinesiophobia outcomes in post operative hip replacement patients.