Best Practices in Adolecent Alcohol and Other Drug Interventions

College of Professional Studies

This project explored alcohol and other drug interventions that could be successfully implemented in our rural community, while also focusing on the special needs of foster and homeless youth. My goal was to focus on interventions for youth that are actively using alcohol and drugs, and to pay particular attention to interventions that focused on rural and indigenous youth. Interventions were screened using 6 key criteria. A total of 17 interventions met criteria to be included. Effective interventions were found to be school-based, peer-driven, built community within the school, and focused on developing positive coping skills among youth who participated.

Beyond Surviving—Thriving: A Study of Resilience Protective Factors in Child Welfare Social Workers

College of Professional Studies

The nature of the child welfare social work exposes workers to various forms of trauma impacting the sustainability of this workforce. The retention of social workers has a direct impact on the success or failure of families and children engaged with the child welfare system. Examining protective factors for these workers will increase information about where to focus agency and personal efforts. This is a quantitative study of resilience protective factors measuring resilience, personal meaning, quality of life and post traumatic growth. Findings will help us explore ways to support this workforce and how these factors may impact child welfare worker’s intention to continue in this field.

Beyond the Impact: Traumatic Brain Injuries and Long-Term Association with Neurodegenerative Diseases

Andrea Lugo, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

A comprehensive overview of the relationship between traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The poster delves into the critical roles that the proteins tau and beta-amyloid play in the neurodegeneration associated with TBI, suggesting a strong link between TBI and subsequent neurodegenerative conditions. It calls for increased research into treatment strategies and an improved understanding of TBI’s long-term effects.

Bicycling for Exercise Helps Maintain a Youthful Metabolic Cost of Walking in Older Adults

College of Professional Studies

Healthy older adults have been shown to have a 15-20% greater metabolic cost of walking compared to young adults. However, a recent study suggests that older adults who routinely run for exercise have a lower metabolic cost of walking compared to older adults who walk for exercise. It remains unclear if bicycling elicits similar improvements among older adults. PURPOSE: To determine if regular bicycling exercise affects metabolic cost of walking in older adults. RESULTS: Across the range of walking speeds, older bicyclists had a 9-17% lower metabolic cost of walking compared to older walkers. CONCLUSION: Bicycling exercise mitigates the age-related deterioration of walking metabolic cost.

Billing Medi-Cal for Indigenous Cultural Practices

College of Professional Studies

Two Feathers Native American Family Services is becoming a Medi-Cal provider through Humboldt County Mental Health. This will provide new revenue streams for their services but also requires navigating the Medi-Cal billing system. For my masters project, I helped research and compile best billing practices so Two Feathers can effectively bill for their many culturally-based interventions. My poster will highlight the important work Two Feathers is doing and will explain the importance of culturally-based interventions.

Blue Lake Roller Rink Practicum

College of Professional Studies

This project showcases the practicum I completed this semester at Blue Lake Roller Rink and what I gained from this experience.

Boobs and Beakers: Gender-Science Stereotypes Predict Implicit Attitudes Toward Women in Science

College of Professional Studies

Women have always faced discrimination , but have made great strides, particularly in the workforce. Though more women are entering male dominated fields, these jobs are still seen as inherently male. Specifically, STEM fields have been slow to integrate women into its elite ranks. The field of sciences are traditionally male dominated and associated with masculinity. This is mostly attributable to sociocultural influences rather than biological differences or ability. Stronger implicit association of men with science promotes differences in academic and career outcomes. The current study aims to investigate gender differences in the masculine association with science.

Bridging Gaps in Rural Diabetes Care

Ashley Sciple Cron, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

This quality improvement project aims to reduce disparities in diabetes care by improving access to Tirzepatide through individual, community, and policy-level interventions. Set in a rural clinic, the project focuses on providing culturally tailored telehealth education, peer mentorship, and advocacy for expanded medication coverage. The goal is to improve patient outcomes by increasing diabetes knowledge, medication adherence, and access to evidence-based treatment. Guided by the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice, this approach supports safe, equitable care and long-term sustainability through data-driven evaluation and community engagement.

Bringing ADA Compliance to CAPS in the Era of COVID-19

College of Professional Studies

HSU’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) promotes student well-being by making individual counseling and support groups free and easily accessible to students, which combats the widespread stigma associated with mental health services. As part of the campaign to improve student mental health, CAPS maintains an expansive website with a variety of self-help resources. Our team of Abnormal Psychology students collaborated with CAPS to increase website accessibility by updating slideshow presentations to comply with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA enforces access to civil life for people living with disabilities and, as relevant to this case, requires slideshow

Buddy Bench and Buddy Squad Programs

Maddie Pyles , Social Work Graduate Student

College of Professional Studies

Many students continually still face with adverse mental and social-emotional health around school educations today. The buddy bench and buddy squad programs address adverse mental and social-emotional health for pre-k to fifth-grade students (e.g., depression, anxiety, stigma, shyness, coping skills, bullying, loneliness, and social isolation). Both of the programs help with positive mental and social-emotional support, creating new friendships, building social skills (e.g., problem-solving, conflict resolution, and other coping skills), and fostering students’ community. Both of the programs are excellent ways to promote positive outreach for every school.