Leonard A. Jason - Böcker

The field of community psychology has focused on individuals' and groups' behavior in interaction with their social contexts, with an emphasis on prevention, early intervention, wellness promotion, and competency development. Over the past few decades, however, community-based applications of the newest research methodologies have not kept pace with the development of theory and methodology with regard to multilevel data collection and analysis. The Handbook of Methodological Approaches to Community-Based Research is intended to aid the community-oriented researcher in learning about and applying cutting-edge quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. The Handbook presents a number of innovative methodologies relevant to community-based research, illustrating their applicability to specific social problems and projects. These methodological approaches explore individuals and groups in interaction with their communities and provide examples of how to implement and evaluate interventions conducted at the community level. The chapters discuss how particular methodologies can be used to help gather and analyze data dealing with community-based issues. Furthermore, they illustrate the benefits that occur when community theorists, interventionists, and methodologists work together to better understand complicated person-environment systems and the change processes within communities.

The efforts of social activists and mental health professionals to institute population-level social change, such as reducing poverty, building better schools, and establishing more effective substance abuse programs, often fail. They tend to focus on individuals and not real-life community conditions; they fail to take into account stakeholders' efforts to maintain the status quo; and they do not develop concrete strategies to build coalitions to alter policies. These unsuccessful attempts at change can leave citizens, community groups, and healthcare professionals feeling dispirited and overwhelmed.Principles of Social Change is written for those who are impassioned and driven by social justice issues in their communities and seek practical solutions. Leonard A. Jason, a leading community psychologist, demonstrates how social change can be accomplished and fostered by observing five key principles: (1) determine the nature of the change desired, (2) identify who holds the power, (3) create coalitions, (4) be patient but persistent, and (5) measure your success. Describing these principles through first-hand accounts of the experiences of people who have worked on a range of social justice issues, Jason gives unique insight and presents a comprehensive approach toward the development of social and community interventions, such as protecting the well-being of children, providing affordable housing, combating abuses of power, and cleaning up the environment. Principles of Social Change provides answers about what citizens and community action groups can do in collaboration with healthcare professionals to address these seemingly intractable problems. It is essential reading for community psychologists, social activists, policy makers, and students and trainees in these fields.

Learn to create a positive research/action alliance similar to that of DePaul University and the Oxford House communityThis book reviews important research conducted in a 13-year collaborative partnership between Oxford House (a community-based, self-run residential substance abuse recovery program) and DePaul University. It also presents practical guidelines for developing effective action research collaborative programs that can cultivate and maintain mutually beneficial community/research partnerships.Creating Communities for Addiction Recovery: The Oxford House Model presents and examines:practical guidelines for developing effective action research collaboratives focusing on the development of trust, respecting the personal experiences of the community members and the group, commitment to serving the community, validating findings with organization members, and accountability the experiences and attitudes of Oxford House community members in light of their participation in the collaborative research projects described in the book the essentials of designing and creating an efficient and productive yet homey residential community environment for addicted persons the factors that make Oxford Houses in the United States and Australia safe and sober settings for persons in recovery the differential growth among self-governed substance abuse recovery homes for men and for womenwith a focus on the impact of state loan programs and the utilization of technical assistance in relation to the expansion of women’s houses as compared with men’s the economic advantages of the Oxford House model as compared with other treatment and incarceration alternatives the roles of ethnicity and gender in substance abuse recovery the structural social support of Oxford House menand the impact of parenthood on these men’s substance use patterns and recovery attempts the medical care (need and utilization) patterns of a substance abusing and recovering population how Oxford House’s African-American community functions as a source of abstinent social networks the sense of community among women and women with children living in Oxford Houseswith emphasis on how the presence of children impacts the household perspectives of leadership by women (some with children, some without) affiliated with Oxford HousesThe information in this book shows that the rules of the game have changed. Substance abusers now can take charge of their own recovery in effective and efficient ways, and practitioners can find low-cost housing options for their clients with substance abuse problems. As a part of your professional/teaching collection, Creating Communities for Addiction Recovery can help you or your students take understand and make effective use of this rapidly evolving paradigm of community-based recovery.

Learn to create a positive research/action alliance similar to that of DePaul University and the Oxford House communityThis book reviews important research conducted in a 13-year collaborative partnership between Oxford House (a community-based, self-run residential substance abuse recovery program) and DePaul University. It also presents practical guidelines for developing effective action research collaborative programs that can cultivate and maintain mutually beneficial community/research partnerships.Creating Communities for Addiction Recovery: The Oxford House Model presents and examines:practical guidelines for developing effective action research collaboratives focusing on the development of trust, respecting the personal experiences of the community members and the group, commitment to serving the community, validating findings with organization members, and accountability the experiences and attitudes of Oxford House community members in light of their participation in the collaborative research projects described in the book the essentials of designing and creating an efficient and productive yet homey residential community environment for addicted persons the factors that make Oxford Houses in the United States and Australia safe and sober settings for persons in recovery the differential growth among self-governed substance abuse recovery homes for men and for womenwith a focus on the impact of state loan programs and the utilization of technical assistance in relation to the expansion of women’s houses as compared with men’s the economic advantages of the Oxford House model as compared with other treatment and incarceration alternatives the roles of ethnicity and gender in substance abuse recovery the structural social support of Oxford House menand the impact of parenthood on these men’s substance use patterns and recovery attempts the medical care (need and utilization) patterns of a substance abusing and recovering population how Oxford House’s African-American community functions as a source of abstinent social networks the sense of community among women and women with children living in Oxford Houseswith emphasis on how the presence of children impacts the household perspectives of leadership by women (some with children, some without) affiliated with Oxford HousesThe information in this book shows that the rules of the game have changed. Substance abusers now can take charge of their own recovery in effective and efficient ways, and practitioners can find low-cost housing options for their clients with substance abuse problems. As a part of your professional/teaching collection, Creating Communities for Addiction Recovery can help you or your students take understand and make effective use of this rapidly evolving paradigm of community-based recovery.

An effective treatment to help those with addictionsVictims of drug addiction, chronic illness, and mental illness all too often are overwhelmed with the affliction called hopelessness. Oxford Houses succeed because their substance abuse treatment approach instills the most powerful medicine—hope for recovery. Rescued Lives: The Oxford House Approach to Substance Abuse provides a comprehensive thought-provoking look at just how the innovative Oxford House model inspires positive action on one of our country’s most serious problems—substance abuse. This powerful book presents the success stories of the people living in these community homes and explains just how it has worked for them.Rescued Lives: The Oxford House Approach to Substance Abuse gives an insightful review of Oxford House’s history and the development of the approach. Residents’ stories reveal the treatment process on the road to recovery, allowing readers to glimpse the path each individual must travel to gain entrance and assimilate into the House community. As the residents gain more control over themselves living substance free, the reader discovers the importance of relationships and reframing of self in the recovery process. This powerful book can provide hope to those individuals who feel they have lost themselves in alcohol, drugs, and mental illness. Foreword by substance abuse scholar Bill White.Topics in Rescued Lives: The Oxford House Approach to Substance Abuse include:• an overview of substance abuse in today’s society• a history of Oxford House to the present• substance abuse treatment approaches• the process of a resident’s entrance and assimilation• providing hope and living substance free• the nationwide expansion of Oxford Houses• recovery, and what it means to women, children, and families• criminal offenders in Oxford House• how the Oxford House model is constructed in order to help disenfranchised individuals from society• the nine Oxford House Traditions• a review of the strong evidence that Oxford House works—and why• and more!Rescued Lives: The Oxford House Approach to Substance Abuse is enlightening reading for educators and students of psychology, sociology, urban studies, education, and other courses designed to prepare students for careers in the helping professions. This book is also essential for practicing clinicians, anyone concerned with society’s problems and those impacted by substance abuse and mental illness.

An effective treatment to help those with addictionsVictims of drug addiction, chronic illness, and mental illness all too often are overwhelmed with the affliction called hopelessness. Oxford Houses succeed because their substance abuse treatment approach instills the most powerful medicine—hope for recovery. Rescued Lives: The Oxford House Approach to Substance Abuse provides a comprehensive thought-provoking look at just how the innovative Oxford House model inspires positive action on one of our country’s most serious problems—substance abuse. This powerful book presents the success stories of the people living in these community homes and explains just how it has worked for them.Rescued Lives: The Oxford House Approach to Substance Abuse gives an insightful review of Oxford House’s history and the development of the approach. Residents’ stories reveal the treatment process on the road to recovery, allowing readers to glimpse the path each individual must travel to gain entrance and assimilate into the House community. As the residents gain more control over themselves living substance free, the reader discovers the importance of relationships and reframing of self in the recovery process. This powerful book can provide hope to those individuals who feel they have lost themselves in alcohol, drugs, and mental illness. Foreword by substance abuse scholar Bill White.Topics in Rescued Lives: The Oxford House Approach to Substance Abuse include:• an overview of substance abuse in today’s society• a history of Oxford House to the present• substance abuse treatment approaches• the process of a resident’s entrance and assimilation• providing hope and living substance free• the nationwide expansion of Oxford Houses• recovery, and what it means to women, children, and families• criminal offenders in Oxford House• how the Oxford House model is constructed in order to help disenfranchised individuals from society• the nine Oxford House Traditions• a review of the strong evidence that Oxford House works—and why• and more!Rescued Lives: The Oxford House Approach to Substance Abuse is enlightening reading for educators and students of psychology, sociology, urban studies, education, and other courses designed to prepare students for careers in the helping professions. This book is also essential for practicing clinicians, anyone concerned with society’s problems and those impacted by substance abuse and mental illness.

Understanding the Behavioral and Medical Impact of Long COVID serves to expand the research around the illness in order to enable health care researchers and practitioners to address the questions that are imperative to individuals suffering from this condition. Through its multi-faceted approach, the book puts forth a maturation of research and interventions that are theoretically sound, empirically valid, innovative, and creative in the Long COVID area.As a scholarly and scientific compilation of Long COVID symptoms and related disorders, this book offers unparalleled insight into the critical developments across medical areas treating this illness. It helps to fill the space that the pandemic had created for knowledge of the condition, and contributes to the emerging emphasis on translational research blending the social sciences and biological fields. By putting forth the most optimal medical care practices in the treatment of complex Long COVID symptoms, this practical anthology will serve as a guide for practicing clinicians in assessment as well as treatment. It will also benefit researchers aiming to gain more understanding of Long COVID through its discussion around the critical developments in other medical areas treating the condition, and paves the way for the collaboration and future research needed to best support the global effort to mitigate the effects of this illness.This book will be essential reading for academics, practitioners, and researchers. It will appeal to individuals engaging with the fields of medicine, public policy, psychology, and for researchers looking to gain clarity about our current understanding of Long COVID. It will further be of interest to public/government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the general public wanting to gain more information about these ambiguous and evasive symptoms.

Understanding the Behavioral and Medical Impact of Long COVID serves to expand the research around the illness in order to enable health care researchers and practitioners to address the questions that are imperative to individuals suffering from this condition. Through its multi-faceted approach, the book puts forth a maturation of research and interventions that are theoretically sound, empirically valid, innovative, and creative in the Long COVID area.As a scholarly and scientific compilation of Long COVID symptoms and related disorders, this book offers unparalleled insight into the critical developments across medical areas treating this illness. It helps to fill the space that the pandemic had created for knowledge of the condition, and contributes to the emerging emphasis on translational research blending the social sciences and biological fields. By putting forth the most optimal medical care practices in the treatment of complex Long COVID symptoms, this practical anthology will serve as a guide for practicing clinicians in assessment as well as treatment. It will also benefit researchers aiming to gain more understanding of Long COVID through its discussion around the critical developments in other medical areas treating the condition, and paves the way for the collaboration and future research needed to best support the global effort to mitigate the effects of this illness.This book will be essential reading for academics, practitioners, and researchers. It will appeal to individuals engaging with the fields of medicine, public policy, psychology, and for researchers looking to gain clarity about our current understanding of Long COVID. It will further be of interest to public/government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the general public wanting to gain more information about these ambiguous and evasive symptoms.

This volume Psychology of Peace Promotion builds on previous volumes of peace psychology, extending its contributions by drawing from peace research and practices from five continents – Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America. The book discusses emerging disciplinary and inter-disciplinary theories and actions. Each chapter begins with a theoretical framework for understanding peace, followed by a critical review of peace promotion in a specific setting, and concludes with an illustration of psychological principles or theories in either a narrative format or an empirical investigation. This volume develops, as well as guides, its readers on the epistemology of promoting and sustaining peace in varied settings around the world. This book presents relevant, cutting-edge peace promotion strategies to anyone interested in promoting peace more effectively, including peace practitioners, scholars, teachers, and researchers, as well as the general reader. It presents a number of innovative approaches, illustrating their applications to specific social problems, settings and populations. In addition, this volume has much in store for both academic and practice-based scientists in thefield of peace psychology, mental health professionals, administrators, educators, and graduate students from various disciplines. The goal is the promotion and sustenance of peace, using theoretically sound, yet innovative and creative approaches. As expressed by the United Nations Secretary, “peace does not occur by happenstance.” Promoting and sustaining peace requires reflective, thoughtful, and targeted efforts. This book inspires its readers to develop a better understanding of peace and the means of promoting peace in a sustainable way.