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"Earned media" is exactly what one thinks it is. The people who do the necessary work to earn coverage of their issue or battle are the ones who will get their story out to the public. Earning media coverage involves giving careful attention to the mechanics of reaching out to news outlets. Most people can learn the mechanics through workshops, collaboration with those who have already done it, and practice. But one will find the going very tough unless one's organization--one's union local, chapter, or association--makes certain choices that will clear the way. In this article, the author discusses the importance of media coverage. It can have an impact on policy makers, university administration, students and staff, the public--and the faculty itself.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation created Starting Smart and Strong, a 10-year, place based initiative in three California communities, to develop and test solutions that support parents, caregivers, and educators as they prepare young children to be healthy and ready for school. Seven years in, the authors offer key insights into their experiences as program staff managing this complex initiative and how their approach to scaling impact has shifted over the course of the strategy. Listening deeply to communities and honoring how they define scale and drive their scaling efforts through the systems they built resulted in creative, locally owned solutions to achieve impact. The authors offer insights into how they are thinking about supporting communities’ ownership of their own scaling journeys to sustain lasting change, and how roles changed as the strategy matured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Sequencing of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral genome from patient samples is an important epidemiological tool for monitoring and responding to the pandemic, including the emergence of new mutations in specific communities. Methods SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences were generated from positive samples collected, along with epidemiological metadata, at a walk-up, rapid testing site in the Mission District of San Francisco, California during 22 November to 1 December, 2020, and 10–29 January 2021. Secondary household attack rates and mean sample viral load were estimated and compared across observed variants. Results A total of 12 124 tests were performed yielding 1099 positives. From these, 928 high-quality genomes were generated. Certain viral lineages bearing spike mutations, defined in part by L452R, S13I, and W152C, comprised 54.4% of the total sequences from January, compared to 15.7% in November. Household contacts exposed to the "California" or "West Coast" variants (B.1.427 and B.1.429) were at higher risk of infection compared to household contacts exposed to lineages lacking these variants (0.36 vs 0.29, risk ratio [RR] = 1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–1.64). The reproductive number was estimated to be modestly higher than other lineages spreading in California during the second half of 2020. Viral loads were similar among persons infected with West Coast versus non-West Coast strains, as was the proportion of individuals with symptoms (60.9% vs 64.3%). Conclusions The increase in prevalence, relative household attack rates, and reproductive number are consistent with a modest transmissibility increase of the West Coast variants. Summary : We observed a growing prevalence and modestly elevated attack rate for "West Coast" severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants in a community testing setting in San Francisco during January 2021, suggesting its modestly higher transmissibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to explore variations in family support for Latino dementia caregivers and describe the role of the family in dementia caregiver stress processes. Content analysis is utilized with themes derived inductively from 16 in-depth interviews with Latino caregivers recruited in California from 2002 to 2004. Three types of family support are described: extensive (instrumental and emotional support from family, n = 3), limited (instrumental support from one family member, n = 7), and lacking (no support from family, n = 6). Most caregivers report limited support, high risk for burnout and distress, and that dementia-related neuropsychiatric symptoms are obstacles to family unity. Caregivers with extensive support report a larger family size, adaptable family members, help outside of the family, and formalized processes for spreading caregiving duties across multiple persons. Culturally competent interventions should take into consideration diversity in Latino dementia care by (a) providing psychoeducation on problem solving and communication skills to multiple family members, particularly with respect to the nature of dementia and neuropsychiatric symptoms, and by (b) assisting caregivers in managing family tensions - including, when appropriate, employing tactics to mobilize family support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Care for patients with thyroid nodules is complex and multidisciplinary, and research demonstrates variation in care. The objective was to develop clinical guidelines and quality metrics to reduce unwarranted variation and improve quality. Methods: Multidisciplinary expert consensus and modified Delphi approach. Source documents were workflow algorithms from Kaiser Permanente Northern California and Cancer Care of Ontario based on the 2015 American Thyroid Association management guidelines for adult patients with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer. Results: A consensus‐based, unified preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative workflow was developed for North American use. Twenty‐one panelists achieved consensus on 16 statements about workflow‐embedded process and outcomes metrics addressing safety, access, appropriateness, efficiency, effectiveness, and patient centeredness of care. Conclusion: A panel of Canadian and United States experts achieved consensus on workflows and quality metric statements to help reduce unwarranted variation in care, improving overall quality of care for patients diagnosed with thyroid nodules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late-19th- and early-20th-century families afflicted with mental illness either took care of their family members or institutionalized them when they were no longer able to provide for them. The effects of mental illness on individuals and their families are explored from the perspective of the Finger/Sengstacken family of San Jose, California. Archaeological investigations of an associated deposit yielded a plethora of grooming- and health-product containers that provide unique insights regarding how the family coped publicly and privately with the challenges of caring for a loved one. The artifacts illustrate the type of life that Tillie, her mother, and aunt shared, and how their life differed from other households at this time. The material culture is paired with research into the practices at the local state institution where Tillie died a decade later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beginning of the 20th century saw the establishment of more work-clothing companies fueled by changes in laborers' clothing options and the expiration of the patent on riveted garments. While consumer strategies for buying merchandise revolved around the typical purchaser, generally the female head of the household, particular situations (such as work camps in the western United States) were overwhelmingly comprised of individual men who not only built water or transportation systems but needed to negotiate their way through outfitting themselves for this work. What kind of shopping choices and brand names were available to this consumer while working in isolated areas? Product availability and cost provide a context for examining the buying strategies and fashion choices of work-camp workers. The 393 brand-name buttons from at least 110 work-clothing garments identified during data recovery at the 1912 Alabama Gates Construction Camp in southeastern California is used as the case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]