Search

The proliferation of mobile phones across the world has contributed to the rise of mHealth interventions as a complementary means for improving health outcomes in areas where health facilities are limited. However, community members who do not own or have access to mobile devices feel excluded from such interventions. In this paper, we seek to understand and explore engagement strategies that support the inclusion of non-mobile phone owners in mHealth interventions. We conducted a review of mHealth and community engagement literature to gauge the strategies different studies have employed to engage non-mobile phone owners and users. We further reflected on two Southern African case studies from health and citizen engagement sectors to gain insights on ways non-mobile phone owners may feel included in mHealth interventions. Through a process of thematic analysis, we have identified three areas that mHealth implementers could draw from when designing more inclusive mHealth interventions. These strategies include the need for sensitising communities, using multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral collaboration, and embracing a braided approach to communication technologies. We hope that this paper will inform mHealth project implementers on different strategies they can use to include community members, regardless of whether they own mobile phones or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient/public involvement in health professional education is increasing but remains episodic, narrowly focused, reliant on individual enthusiasts, and lacks supportive institutional infrastructure. There is little evidence-informed practical guidance on how to take a more strategic and formal approach. We undertook a qualitative study to learn from patients and the public how medical schools could engage in an authentic and sustainable way. In 2022 we conducted eight focus groups with patients and members of community organizations. Participants were asked about experiences and perceptions of what needs to happen to enable and support them to participate in medical education, barriers to authentic engagement, and how they might be overcome. Recordings were transcribed and data coded inductively. A summary report was circulated to participants for validation of findings. The focus groups were attended by 38 participants representing a wide variety of perspectives. Participants provided practical suggestions that we categorized into six major themes: inviting participation; preparing for participation; supporting participation; increasing and supporting diversity; recognizing participation; institutional buy-in and support. Individual instructors can enhance authentic patient engagement through recruitment, support and recognition practices. Institutional commitment is required to sustain and widen participation through funding, policies and infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issue Addressed: Regular physical activity is important for children's health. Parkrun supports communities to deliver free, weekly, 5 km events in 22 countries around the world and is the largest physical activity model delivered at scale in the world. Junior parkrun aims to encourage children aged 4–14 years to be active outdoors through providing safe, cost‐free and non‐competitive weekly timed walk, run or jog over a 2‐km distance. The aim of this study is to evaluate the junior parkrun pilot in Australia. Methods: A process evaluation was conducted using routinely collected data of junior parkrun participants, as well as a self‐completed questionnaire. Results: A total of 1827 children had registered and participated in at least one junior parkrun over the course of the pilot period. Participants had, on average, attended 10% of the junior parkrun events including and subsequent to their first participation by the end of the study period. Majority of parents (61%) said that junior parkrun had increased their child's physical activity either a little or a lot, and most agreed or strongly agreed that junior parkrun was fun (90%), enjoyable (91%), energising (85%) and challenging (70%). Conclusion: The junior parkrun pilot appears to show promise in Australia for enabling children to engage in physical activity, in their local communities in a fun and inclusive way. So What: Parkrun junior can co‐exist with other organised sports programs; however, it can also specifically target those not participating in any sports, given the high levels of enjoyment in a non‐competitive, non‐team environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of COVID-19 created a global health crisis that has impacted our everyday lives. Risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) is one of the strategic pillars the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends when dealing with public health emergencies like COVID-19. In Malawi, the COVID-19 RCCE response was coordinated by the country's Ministry of Health and involved various organizations that distributed COVID-19 risk communication materials and engaged communities on important infection preventive practices. Furthermore, the Ministry of Information was involved in ensuring the messages were put across at national and subnational levels. Despite the efforts, most Malawians were reluctant to embrace set public health measures for COVID-19. Guided by a phenomenological approach, we used in-depth interviews with senior officials from 10 organizations, including the Ministry of Health, who were involved in RCCE response in Malawi, to understand the challenges that were faced in the implementation of RCCE activities in Malawi. We also reviewed project reports from three organizations, taken from the same implementing local organizations, to understand the experiences of implementing RCCE strategies in Malawi. We established that misconceptions, poor coordination, lack of political will, low-risk perceptions, and social norms undermined the response in Malawi. The results underscore the need for the authorities in Malawi to invest more in RCCE and strengthen the capacity to handle future epidemics. There is also a need to develop a national RCCE strategy with guidelines and protocols on methods of coordination, flow of communication, responsible ministry, tools for handling dis/misinformation and myths, and community engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article highlights a four-year community engagement project to engage residents in remembering historic and iconic places, which served the community during its heyday, and envisioning future development. The project was realized over four years through a partnership between a capstone community development service-learning course and a community development corporation (CDC), located in North Philadelphia, PA. The CDC was challenged to engage residents in developing a community vision after decades of disinvestment. Engaging residents in storytelling through multiple forms such as historic narratives, memories, and conversations was seen as the root of the projects' success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regular cervical screening can largely prevent the development of cervical cancer and innovative methods are needed to better engage people in screening. In Ontario, Canada, South Asian women have some of the lowest rates of screening in the province. In this study, we used concept mapping to engage two stakeholder groups—South Asian service users and service providers—to identify and prioritize points of intervention to encourage the uptake of cervical screening. After participants brainstormed a master list of statements, 45 participants rated the statements based off 'importance' and 'ease to address' in relation to encouraging cervical screening. A bivariate plot (X-Y graph) that shows the average rating values for each statement across the two rating variables (a 'go-zone' display) was produced to display priorities for implementation. Statements that were considered high priority to address reflected issues around education and awareness including understanding and communication related to cervical screening and preventative care, as well as the need for trusted sources of information. Statements that were considered high priority but challenging to implement were centered around fear, stigma, discomfort, family and personal priorities. This study highlighted that stigma, norms and social relations that impact the uptake of screening must be addressed in order for education and awareness raising to be effective and to move people from conviction around screening to action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social impact assessment can greatly contribute to sustainable regional and urban planning. However, social impact assessment is used primarily in the context of pre-determined projects, while social impact assessment's role in informing regional and urban plans before projects are even conceived is under-estimated. Moreover, a narrow understanding of the social impacts of projects leads social impact assessment practitioners to consider such impacts as being the outcomes only of the technical characteristics and risks of projects and their implementation, rather than also of broader social, cultural and political-institutional processes. In this article, we reflect on these gaps in social impact assessment. We expand the conceptualization of the social impacts of projects to better consider how social impacts are also influenced by the social dimensions of risk and resilience, and by the knowledge processes and governance strategies that inform and regulate projects. We conceptualize these processes and strategies and design new conceptual models to derive the social impacts of projects. Finally, we reflect on the strategic role social impact assessment can have in enabling social learning and sustainability transformation in localities (i.e. community resilience) and across multiple governance levels (i.e. social resilience). With this article, we contribute to building a key role for social impact assessment in disaster risk reduction, climate action and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on student development cautions that social responsibility attitudes may stagnate or decline as students proceed through college. Given the importance of students' future professional obligations to society, identifying ways to reverse this trend is crucial. In turn, an important aim of this study, situated at a large public university, is to evaluate the prospects of community engagement as a strategy to foster professional social responsibility development. The study uses longitudinal results from an instrument known as the Generalized Professional Responsibility Assessment (GPRA) to assess personal and professional social responsibility attitudes. The study's sample includes 128 students who completed a survey both in 2017, when entering college, and in 2019, when near the midpoint of college. Findings indicate that social responsibility attitudes remain stagnant, and that students over that time period attach more importance to salary as compared to helping people when considering job priorities. Yet, results reveal that increased community engagement predicts growth in social responsibility attitudes, even when controlling for students' pre-college social responsibility attitudes and demographic characteristics. Further, a novel contribution of this study is a focus on two sub-categories of community engagement: discipline-based and peer-based. Discipline-based community engagement appears to foster professional aspects of social responsibility, while community engagement experiences tied to peer interaction appear to exert greater impacts for non-White students. An observation derived from the study is that community engagement, particularly when it connects to a student's discipline or draws on peer influences, could be an effective strategy to promote social responsibility development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Innovative, culturally safe strategies are required to address the disproportionate level of poorer health outcomes for Indigenous people in Australia compared to non-Indigenous populations. An emerging body of evidence supports the efficacy of Indigenous-specific health assessments, or health checks, despite poor uptake since their introduction in Australia. This poor uptake is attributed to a range of system, patient and provider barriers. Services have begun to deliver preventative health assessments as a community event to address barriers faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in accessing quality preventative care. However, there is a lack of literature exploring how community events have increased the uptake of Indigenous specific health assessments to date. We expect this review will underpin a larger study to better understand how community engagement supports increased uptake of health checks. The objective of this scoping review was to investigate what is currently known about how community events have been used to increase uptake of Indigenous-specific health assessments. Methods: A scoping review guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews was conducted. A search was completed in eight electronic databases using keywords relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, community engagement and preventative health assessments. Published and unpublished sources of evidence were included in the review. As this study aims to explore the entire published literature on the topic, and given there was an expectation that the subject itself is specific, no date ranges were included in the search criteria. Extracted data were reviewed by numerical analysis and conventional content analysis to conduct a narrative synthesis, allowing a summary of the main findings, and addressing the research question. Results: Eighteen sources met the eligibility criteria and were included in the scoping review. Programs varied widely in the characteristics of program design and delivery across geographical location, setting of delivery, program format and target population. Programs employed a range of methods to engage with community, including incentivising participation, identifying and addressing specific community healthcare needs, and utilising cultural or sporting ambassadors to promote the program. The conventional content analysis identified three key themes regarding how community events have been used to increase uptake of health checks: adapting the program to the community; providing a culturally safe participant experience; and prioritising community engagement. Discussion: The findings indicate that an individualised approach to community events is important to their success. Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Services may be best placed to have responsibility for program design and implementation to ensure community control of programs. Aboriginal health workers play a critical role in ensuring the programs deliver culturally safe healthcare, and a clear role for Aboriginal health workers in program delivery is important in their success. An authentic commitment to community engagement is important for program uptake, including the use of passionate cultural ambassadors and individualised cultural programs. Conclusion: Community events are a promising and wellregarded strategy to increase uptake of Indigenous-specific health assessments. Future research that explores how specific community supports increase engagement with Health Check Day programs and evaluates the delivery of 715 health check programs will strengthen the capacity of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to delivery this intervention effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research note unveils a pivotal, yet underexplored, aspect of festival attendance: the impact of visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel. Employing data from a 2019 attendee survey at the Taste of Little Italy Festival, Toronto, it reveals that 23.3% of respondents were engaged in VFR travel, exhibiting higher spending, yet often providing lower evaluations of their festival experience. The nuanced relationship between VFR travel, spending patterns, and festival experience opens a new avenue for exploration for festival researchers and practitioners. This note aims to encourage festival researchers and practitioners to consider the implications of VFR. A more comprehensive understanding of this topic could reveal strategies to engage this stable demand source, influencing not only event management strategies but also enhancing cultural engagement and community attachment. The note underscores the opportunity for festivals to engage residents and their visitors to optimize both economic and experiential outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria remains a significant public health concern in Nigeria, particularly in the Olorunda Local Government Area (LGA) of Osun State. The study aimed to assess health implications and problems of malaria among adults aged 20-50 years in this region. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire administered to 500 respondents selected through multi-stage sampling. The study revealed a high prevalence of malaria, with 48% of respondents reporting a diagnosis. Chi-square tests identified significant associations between malaria incidence and various factors, including gender, education level, occupation, and environmental conditions. Logistic regression analysis showed that being male (odds ratio = 3.074, p = 0.009), having primary education (odds ratio = 2.323, p = 0.023), being unemployed (odds ratio = 3.660, p = 0.004), and living near stagnant water or bushes (odds ratio = 1.906, p = 0.038) significantly increased the odds of malaria. Bed net use was associated with reduced odds (odds ratio = 0.456, p = 0.026). Home spraying showed an unexpected positive association (odds ratio = 1.711, p = 0.039). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that socio-economic variables explained 42.5% of the variability in malaria incidence. Simultaneously, T-tests demonstrated significantly worse health effects among those who had contracted malaria compared to those who had not (p<0.001). These findings highlight a complex interplay of demographic, socio-economic, and environmental factors in malaria risk. The study recommends strengthening prevention programs, increasing educational efforts, reviewing home spraying practices, and developing integrated strategies to address socio-economic determinants of malaria. These measures are crucial to reduce the burden of malaria in the Olorunda LGA and similar settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many cities, coastal land reclamation (CLR) is viewed as essential due to the impacts of urbanisation and to address the challenges of land scarcity. However, these approaches often involve complex environmental concerns, technological challenges, and community conflict. This study aims to explore socio-spatial conflicts that occur across different levels of cities in Indonesia, considering their unique characteristics and differences in geography, population (homogeneous, mesogeneous, and heterogeneous), and city status (megapolitan and metropolitan). This research focuses on three cities in Indonesia that have proposed CLR solutions to urbanisation: Jakarta, Makassar, and Denpasar. Data were gathered through observations and a desktop literature review. These data were then qualitatively analyzed using the directed content analysis method with ATLAS.Ti software. The study underscores that political interests significantly influence discussions on land reclamation in heterogeneous cities. In contrast, mesogeneous cities are driven by economic and legal factors, while traditional customs and practices dominate homogeneous areas. Comprehending the issues surrounding reclamation will inform the priorities of government policies based on the area's context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating technology into policing has the potential to greatly improve the effectiveness, transparency, and community participation of law enforcement agencies. This study examines the profound influence of technology on the Ghana Police Service, with a specific emphasis on the Greater Accra Region. The main aim of this research is to examine how technological advancements might enhance police results and tackle existing difficulties in the context of law enforcement in Ghana. The study adopts a qualitative research approach and collects data from police officers and community members through the use of semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The investigation involved the participation of a combined total of twenty-six police officials from the Tema and Accra Regional Headquarters, as well as twenty-two community members. The data gathering procedure sought to gather a wide range of viewpoints on the present condition of technology in law enforcement, its advantages, difficulties, and prospects for future advancement. The results demonstrate that the utilisation of technology, such as mobile data terminals and social media platforms, can greatly improve the effectiveness of police operations, promote community involvement, and increase transparency. Nevertheless, the presence of obstacles such as insufficient infrastructure, cultural opposition, and the necessity for extensive training were also acknowledged. The research enhances the current knowledge by presenting empirical evidence on the benefits and constraints of technology in law enforcement, particularly in the setting of Ghana. This study emphasises the significance of making strategic investments in technology infrastructure and training, as well as the necessity of establishing legal frameworks to tackle ethical and privacy concerns. Additionally, it proposes that future studies should prioritise examining the enduring viability of technological advancements in law enforcement and investigating their effects in various geographical areas. The study suggests that politicians and law enforcement organisations should promote the deployment of technology in a way that is successful and build public trust in the Ghana Police Service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary focus of this study is to explore stakeholders' perspectives on how social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter influence land management practices and community engagement. Employing a qualitative methodology, this research delves into the complex interactions facilitated by social media, using thematic analysis to identify key themes related to communication, collaboration, empowerment, and awareness-raising among stakeholders such as local authorities, community members, environmental activists, and urban planners. The findings reveal that social media significantly enhances transparent communication channels, fosters collaboration among stakeholders, empowers local communities, and raises awareness about the importance of urban green spaces. However, challenges such as connectivity and literacy barriers persist, alongside opportunities for greater involvement and innovation. This study emphasizes the critical role of digital platforms in advancing sustainable land management practices, offering valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and community stakeholders. Future research should explore specific communication strategies, the impact of social influencers, and the integration of emerging technologies in urban planning. Ultimately, this research contributes to the understanding of how social media can support the development of environmentally friendly and resilient communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preservation of cultural heritage is crucial for maintaining a nation's identity, and in culturally diverse countries, this task is deeply intertwined with governance frameworks and institutional practices. This study investigates the relationship between governance frameworks and cultural preservation in Indonesia, exploring the policies, institutions, and practices influencing cultural heritage preservation. A content analysis approach was employed, examining legislative texts, policy documents, official reports, UNESCO reports, international agreements, and other relevant documents. Detailed case studies of specific cultural heritage sites and creative industry initiatives were also analyzed. The study shows Indonesia has strong cultural preservation laws, yet their application differs regionally. The Ministry of Education and Culture leads but struggles with interagency cooperation. Community engagement, as seen in Borobudur's conservation, is pivotal. International collaboration, notably with UNESCO, aids preservation. Economically, promoting Batik and similar industries is promising, but equitable benefit sharing requires attention. This study contributes to the existing literature by providing a comprehensive analysis of cultural governance and preservation. It highlights the complexities and challenges in preserving cultural heritage in a diverse and multiethnic country like Indonesia while offering insights into potential solutions and areas for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed methods researchers who make a commitment to use their work for social betterment take a stance that has implications for their designs. This article contributes to mixed methods by illustrating how designs informed by the transformative and Indigenous paradigms provide examples of both the value of pursuing this goal, as well as the challenges that mixed methods researchers face. Social betterment studies engage with marginalized and vulnerable populations, such as Indigenous nations, people with disabilities, women and girls, and sexual minorities. Insights from the transformative and Indigenous paradigms are provided and illustrated by mixed methods studies. Challenges are discussed along with resources that can help address these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The moorland plateau is the defining landscape of the North York Moors National Park in England. It reflects the everyday management decisions of land managers and the complex web of power relations between multiple stakeholders. The moorland is a contested, shared space that poses questions over access, habitat conservation, biodiversity, grouse shooting, land management, and ultimately, the purpose of National Park landscapes. This article draws upon a mixed methods approach and a heritage-landscape perspective to analyse community viewpoints of the management, use, and ownership of this landscape and to demonstrate how power relations frame human-nature synergies in the Park. In doing so, the article highlights new ways that North York Moors communities could be better represented in discussions on how landscapes are perceived, valued, and managed. It proposes a system that amalgamates key decision makers and residents and, therefore, involves a wider range of stakeholders in the landscape decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient and Public Participation (PPP) is key to improving health systems. Yet, studies have shown that PPP implementations across many countries have been largely tokenistic. Particularly, in Ghana, whilst PPP is prioritized in national health policies and legislation, there appears to be little research focused on understanding PPP's role in health system improvement. The aim of this study, therefore, is to examine how PPP is working across the Ghanaian health system levels, as well as to understand the perspectives and experiences of participants on how PPP contributes to health system improvement. The qualitative study was undertaken in six communities in three districts in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Data were collected from semi-structured individual interviews. The selection of participants was purposive, based on their PPP-related roles. As a result, findings of this study may not reflect the experiences of others who are not directly involved in PPP initiatives. Thirty-five participants, mainly health service users and health professionals, were interviewed. Data were transcribed and analysed descriptively using Braun and Clarke's (2006) thematic analysis approach. Overall, participants noted PPP implementation was largely limited at higher health system levels (i.e. national, regional and district levels), but was functioning at the community level. PPP also improved access to health services, responsiveness to patient needs, community-health worker relationships, health-seeking behaviours, empowered healthcare users and improved health outcomes. The study, therefore, recommended the need to undertake PPP across all levels of the health system to maximize PPP's role in health system improvement. Finally, the study suggested prioritizing PPP, especially for resource-poor countries, to complement government's efforts in improving accessibility of healthcare services to many communities and also provide a more patient-centred healthcare system responsive to patients' and public needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little Haven is a rural, community-based specialist palliative care service in Gympie, Australia. Its goals are to provide highest quality of care, support and education for those experiencing or anticipating serious illness and loss. Families and communities work alongside clinical services, with community engagement influencing compassionate care and support of dying people, their families and communities. Public Health Palliative Care promotes community engagement by community-based palliative care services and is grounded in equal partnerships between civic life, community members, patients and carers, and service providers. This takes many forms, including what we have termed the 'citizen organization'. Objectives: This paper reports on an evaluation of Little Haven's model of care and explores the organization's place as a 'citizen' of the community it services. Design: A co-designed evaluation approach utilizing mixed-method design is used. Methods: Multiple data sources obtained a broad perspective of the model of care including primary qualitative data from current patients, current carers, staff, volunteers and organizational stakeholders (interviews and focus groups); and secondary quantitative survey data from bereaved carers. Thematic analysis and descriptive statistics were generated. Results: This model of care demonstrates common service elements including early access to holistic, patient/family-centred, specialized palliative care at little or no cost to users, with strong community engagement. These elements enable high-quality care for patients and carers who describe the support as 'over and above', enabling good quality of life and care at home. Staff and volunteers perceive the built-in flexibility of the model as critical to its outcomes; the interface between the service and the community is similarly stressed as a key service element. Organizational stakeholders observed the model as a product of local activism and accountability to the community. Conclusion: All participant groups agree the service model enables the delivery of excellent care. The construction of a community palliative care service as a citizen organization emerged as a new concept. Plain language summary: 'Citizen organization': an Australian community-based palliative care service model Little Haven is a rural, community-based specialist palliative care service in Gympie, Australia. It aims to provide highest quality of care, support and education for those experiencing or anticipating serious illness and loss. Families and communities work alongside clinical services, with community engagement influencing compassionate care and support of dying people, their families and communities. Public Health Palliative Care promotes community engagement by community-based palliative care services in equal partnerships between civic organizations, community members, patients and carers, and service providers. We undertook an evaluation of Little Haven's model of care by speaking with current patients, current and past carers, staff, volunteers and stakeholders about their experiences of Little Haven. We found that Little Haven's model contains the essential elements of a palliative care service and provides early access to holistic, patient/family-centred, specialized palliative care at little or no cost to users. They have strong community engagement with a strong background in community activism. We identified that Little Haven's 'being in the community' goes beyond service provision or even sentiment. We observed a symbiotic relationship between the organization and the community it supports in what we have termed the 'citizen organization'. The distinctive characteristic of the citizen organization is its inseparability from the community in which it dwells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a documented push to expand nuclear energy in the U.S., the status quo of indefinite in-situ nuclear waste storage is uncertain and increasingly threatened by climate and coastal hazards. Findings from Humboldt Bay, California, one of the nation's most vulnerable nuclear storage sites, informed recommendations for managing emergent climate and coastal hazards. The existing legislative framework was not designed to address climate and nuclear waste interactions, but more effective oversight leveraging existing federal, state, local, and Tribal government authorities could adapt spent nuclear fuel management to a climate-changed world. More effective oversight requires updated regulations and site-specific risk assessments as well as enhanced coordination across jurisdictions, disciplines, and publics to increase legitimacy, trust, accountability, and creativity in light of failed solutions to a multi-decadal issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Engineering professors involved in community projects strive to enhance engagement through a combination of social sciences and engineering methodologies. Recognizing the growing importance of critical methodologies, particularly those rooted in social justice and community design, researchers have explored their impact on fostering meaningful collaborations between engineers, students, and community partners. Methods: This study employs a phenomenographic approach to explore how a cohort of engineering professors, students, and community members conceptualize their participation in community-engaged practices. Results: Our findings reveal a nuanced outcome space comprising five distinct ways in which individuals perceive their community engagement: as interdisciplinary endeavors, addressing community issues, engaging in co-design, and addressing systemic barriers. These conceptual frameworks elucidate a progression in the depth of engineers' involvement with the community, underscoring the significance of systems literacy and social justice in more intricate contexts. Discussion: These results advocate for engineers to adopt an active membership approach, emphasizing collaboration, when working on engineering projects within communities, as opposed to adopting passive roles that may undermine the impact of community engagement. Conclusion: In conclusion, a deeper understanding of the varied conceptualizations of community engagement among engineering professors, students, and community members underscores the importance of adopting proactive roles and fostering collaborative approaches in community projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balancing on a tightrope twenty feet above the ground is outside the comfort zones of many health law professors. Being there forces you to consider in new ways yourself, your skills, and your surroundings. Fears arise, and yet you must still act. And you must trust that the person who offered you this opportunity cared about you and your well-being, and that they would ensure there was a way to get from where you began to the other side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is inspired by the debate on curriculum innovation for graduate training, emerging out of linkages between universities and agribusiness development actors, targeting entrepreneurial action and employability of graduates. Experiences from implementation of a three-year joint project are enriched by a desk review, stakeholder feedback and interpretative analysis of process documents during the development of the regional graduate curriculum on Agri-Enterprise Development for Egerton and Gulu Universities in Kenya and Uganda, respectively. The graduate curriculum at the two universities in East Africa integrated the approaches of roundtable engagement and research as well as value chain cluster mapping and development through interactive sharing with agribusiness development facilitators. Simultaneously, the two implementing universities showcased the feasibility of integrating community engagement and entrepreneurial skills into a new curriculum. They achieved this by adopting two training approaches from their previous, more limited curriculum, which lacked student entrepreneurial experiential learning. The outcome from the first cohort of students in the innovative programs demonstrates significant institutional change in teaching and learning approaches. These changes prioritize a blend of action research and theoretical exposure. At the university-wide level, a student-centered teaching and learning approach has been established, facilitated by models like Student Farm Attachment, Student Enterprise Scheme, and Student Community Engagement. Additionally, university-based research teams have honed their skills in community action research, leading to the identification of relevant challenges and plausible solutions. Furthermore, students’ skills sets have increasingly enhanced employability. Strengthening linkages between universities and community development actors can enhance curriculum orientation toward problem-solving and entrepreneurial capacity building for young graduates. Purposeful engagement with communities by university faculty and students serves as a complementary extension approach and advisory service. Implementing an innovative curriculum has the potential to boost research uptake and foster innovation. This article demonstrates how university)industrial actors’ collaboration can be exploited for curriculum (re)design, review and up-dating for (a) enhanced relevance of universities to community needs and employability of graduates; and (b) improvements in the research uptake pathways that facilitate research-into-use for desired impacts at community level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botanical gardens are addressing urgent biodiversity issues through plant-based capacities including botanical research and data-sharing, conservation horticulture, ecological restoration, seed banking, and more. The Missouri Botanical Garden initiative BiodiverseCity St. Louis, led by the Garden's sustainability division, adds broad community engagement to this mix. This work includes public and professional education, the demonstration and promotion of ecological landscaping and Green Infrastructure practices, citizen science programs, and coordinating communications for a regional network of partner organizations focused on biodiversity. Diverse activity engages businesses, local governments, elementary and secondary (K-12) schools, colleges, and community groups. Community biodiversity work at the Garden is informed by an institutional core of scientific rigor, provides opportunity for internal collaborations, and aligns with global strategies for plant conservation—to ground impactful local work. Missouri Botanical Garden's experience offers a model for public gardens: leveraging modes of community engagement, in concert with diverse institutional strengths, to address biodiversity needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 10–15 years, the Volunteer Program at the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County has undergone an immense transition. This program overhaul tackled historical methodology that had been creating barriers to participation, addressed the changing needs of modern volunteer audiences, and worked to highlight access and inclusion in all aspects of program offerings. Today, the Volunteer Program is one of NHMLAC's largest and most successful community engagement programs, centering the needs and interests of a diverse volunteer cohort by crafting accessible, learning-centered service offerings, while also providing quality support for museum projects. Through this sometimes difficult process of change, NHMLAC partnered closely with longtime docents and other stakeholders to ensure that all parties could move into this new future together. This article outlines the steps of this transition, highlighting the changes, challenges, and opportunities experienced along the way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humanitarian organizations in Bangladesh introduced emergency services to protect Rohingya refugees from COVID-19. This article aims to explore the roles front-line leaders from those organizations played in reducing the spread of the infection and protecting the refugees. By using in-depth interviews with 42 first-line managers (FLMs), it explores the innovative actions and strategies adopted by these managers to implement COVID-19-related programs and services. Initiatives such as training and engaging Rohingya volunteers and developing services promptly in order to raise awareness and manage testing, treatment, and psychosocial interventions contributed significantly to pandemic management in Rohingya refugee camps. Humanitarian groups must realize the crucial role first-line managers (FLMs) play in managing their staff while providing high-quality services in times of crisis. FLMs must be both leaders and managers in order to deal with a pandemic, in which uncertainty and a lack of knowledge create a complicated and demanding environment. Both functions are critical to providing quality services when resources are limited and only a few workers are available. The FLMs focused on mass-level awareness programs with active community engagement and participation, counseling for behavioral change, the provision of information in order to address socio-cultural barriers to community engagement, better utilization of agency services and resources, and pandemic management so as to reduce the spread and the rate of infection of COVID-19 among Rohingya refugees. Senior and middle management commitment was required to help FLMs manage a pandemic, even in the face of uncertainty, unpredictability, ambiguity, and a lack of information about the virus and its cure. They must serve as role models. FLMs should be empowered to fulfill their leadership roles through the better use of community strengths and resources during pandemics or other crises by strengthening local leadership skills, community capabilities, and an overall sense of communal responsibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many years, activists in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) have called for the sector to engage closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities. However, less is documented on how mainstream services might achieve authentic, sustained engagement at a local service level. This paper showcases educators who connect with local Aboriginal community members/Elders as a central plank of their ECEC practice. In sharing their account, we examine what engagement looks like and what makes it possible. We have used Indigenous methodologies and the Theory of Practice Architecture (TPA) as theoretical lenses for exploring the policy, and organisational arrangements that sustained their engagement practices. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia, like in several of the Nordic countries, truth commissions (TCs) are becoming part of the political and educational landscape. These developments are related to a global phenomenon over the past 40-odd years, where states are examining their relations to minority groups and/or Indigenous people, including acknowledging historical mistreatment and addressing remaining injustices. A common aim of these processes is to spread knowledge to the broader public via institutions for education. This paper focuses on ongoing TC processes in the Australian and Nordic contexts, with a specific focus on their potential consequences for teacher education (TE). By addressing barriers and possibilities on systemic, institutional, and practical levels of TE, the paper aims to develop an understanding of (1) how new knowledge produced through TCs meets the organization of teacher training; possible ways for TE to respond to new requirements; and (2) of the pedagogical and didactical challenges that might entail. The main argument is that a closer professional dialogue is needed between scholars engaged in TCs and TEs for TE to better respond to the requirements of TCs and for TCs to better recognize conditions for organizing TE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Codesigning public library spaces is often limited to consulting with end-users rather than giving them a role as actual co-designers. This article advocates for more genuine codesign of public library spaces and critically examines the prevalent challenges in achieving true codesign in public library developments. The article introduces a two-year Australian Research Council Linkage research project, 'Designing for Communities with Communities'. The project aims to provide public library staff with a set of codesign tools they can adapt for their own particular projects. Using comparative case studies, the project will also identify the challenges of integrating codesign into the development of public library spaces, and key factors in the effectiveness of projects that seek their communities' inputs and engagement. This article introduces the theory of participatory and codesign, and sets out the basic conceptual framework for the project. It also reports on its initial stages, including preliminary interviews with key protagonists and preliminary user surveys about existing spaces. Moreover, the article discusses the design of the case studies' community workshops, where most of the actual codesigning will take place, with an extensive discussion and analysis of the activities that could be included in these workshops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although significant progress has been achieved over many decades, sustaining the success of family planning programs in Indonesia requires a deep understanding of the factors that influence community satisfaction among those involved. This study surveyed 503 Family Planning Field Workers (PKBs) across Indonesia's regions to identify the main factors encouraging satisfaction among communities participating in these programs. A structured online questionnaire was distributed to collect data on the sociodemographic factors influencing satisfaction, which were then analyzed using multiple linear regression. The results showed that effective follow-up on community feedback (β = 0.233, p < 0.001), implementing a rights-based approach (β = 0.207, p < 0.001), enabling community participation (β = 0.147, p < 0.001), collaborating with healthcare providers and facilities (β = 0.159, p < 0.001), and monitoring and evaluating programs (β = 0.155, p < 0.001) were significant positive predictors. More notable, the regression model accounted for a considerable 74.7% of the variation in community satisfaction, pointing to how significant the explanatory power of the identified factors was in predicting the level of satisfaction among communities participating in family planning programs. Actions must be developed to enhance reproductive health and manage population growth by focusing on key factors such as responsive communication, rights, integrated services, community involvement, and evaluations, which are what matters most for family planning programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social engagement is changing considerably in its forms and objectives, and it is not always easy to understand this change. Engagement in the local community can be the link between social participation and personal commitment. The purpose of this research was to define and validate the local community engagement (LCE) construct that is the degree of involvement and participation in the local community. The LCE model has eight dimensions: local volunteering, participation in traditions, participation in sports events, local political participation, local activism, protest/NIMBY, community care, and informative participation. The sample comprised 530 individuals residing in a variety of towns/cities of different sizes in Italy. Confirmatory factor analyses and reliability and validity analyses confirmed the proposed model. Further analysis showed a strong relationship between LCE and place identity, sense of community, entitativity and political control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the level of local community engagement in development initiatives in the northeast of Nigeria, highlighting the importance of local community engagement in the successful implementation and sustainability of development projects and their current challenges. The study delves into the existing literature and reports using a desk research methodology, providing a comprehensive overview of current practices and the barriers hindering effective community involvement. This exploration identifies several key research gaps, including the lack of consensus on effective community engagement measurement, insufficient understanding of participation dynamics, and limited investigation into the long-term effectiveness of capacity-building initiatives. In response to these gaps, the article proposes strategies to improve community engagement in the region, such as developing robust metrics for community engagement, implementing inclusive participation practices, and incorporating capacity-building components in development initiatives. The article underscores the critical need for further research in this area and advocates for more inclusive, sustainable, and effective community engagement in Northeast Nigeria’s development efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African Americans continue to have worse health outcomes despite attempts to reduce health disparities. This is due, in part, to inadequate access to healthcare, but also to the health care and medical mistrust experienced by communities of color. Churches and worship centers have historically served as cultural centers of trusted resources for educational, financial, and health information within African American communities and a growing number of collaborations have developed between academic institutions and community/faith entities. Herein, we describe the infrastructure of a true and sustainable partnership developed with > 100 prominent faith leaders within the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina for the purpose of developing or expanding existing health ministries within houses of worship, to improve health literacy and overall health long-term. The Triad Pastors Network is an asset-based partnership between the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and faith leaders in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina that was created under the guiding principles of community engagement to improve health equity and decrease health disparities experienced by African American communities. A partnership in which co-equality and shared governance are the core of the framework provides an effective means of achieving health-related goals in a productive and efficient manner. Faith-based partnerships are reliable approaches for improving the health literacy needed to address health disparities and inequities in communities of color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Coronavirus disease pandemic, many U.S. veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experienced increased symptomology and worsened mental health and well-being due in part to social isolation and loneliness. The Mission Alliance project explored these ramifications and prioritized critical issues expressed by U.S. veterans and stakeholders (N = 182) during virtual regional meetings (N = 32). Field notes created specifically for this project were recorded and thematically analyzed. Emerging themes included: (1) social isolation: missed opportunities, collapsed social circles, work-life balance, fostering relationships, and evolving health care delivery; (2) loneliness: deteriorated mental health, suffered with PTSD together but alone, looked out for each other, ambivalence toward technology, and strained and broken systems; (3) mental health: sense of chaos, increased demand and decreased access, aggravation, implementation of tools, innovative solutions, fear and loss, and availability of resources; (4) wellbeing: sense of purpose, holistic perspective on well-being, recognition of balance, persisting stigma, redefined pressures, freedom to direct treatment, and reconnection and disconnection. A PTSD-related patient centered outcomes research (PCOR)/comparative effectiveness research (CER) agenda was developed from these themes. Establishment of a veteran and stakeholder network is suggested to support, facilitate, and promote the PTSD-related PCOR/CER agenda. Furthermore, enhancement of opportunities for veterans with PTSD and stakeholders to partner in PCOR/CER is required to develop and conduct projects that lead to PTSD-related comprehensive care of veterans affected by traumatic events with the potential to translate findings to other populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governments and other agencies seeking to tackle racism have been calling for better empirical evidence, including complaint data based on reports by people who have experienced racism. This approach requires much of those who face racism, often while offering little effective support or redress for them. There is a need to understand reporting or not reporting experiences of racism as a result of a complex interplay between different factors – as a (non-) reporting journey, rather than as a singular moment of decision. Reporting is at risk of remaining an ineffective strategy for responding to racism where the reporting pathways and support services are not sufficiently aligned with the expectations and needs of those who experience racism. This article discusses the findings of three place-based community engagement and research projects across four local municipalities in Melbourne. The projects examined locally specific community perspectives and expectations in relation to reporting pathways and support services for those experiencing racism. The analysis of this community input resulted in anti-racism roadmaps specific for each local area, which were co-developed with local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young adulthood is an important developmental milestone during which individuals could greatly benefit from health promotion tools. Civic engagement has been linked with positive mental health and well-being; however, little is known about civic behavior among young adults who do not attend college. We investigated the relationship between civic engagement and well-being among non-college-bound young adults (NCYAs). Investigators conducted semi-structured focus groups and interviews with 14 young adults (aged 18–25 years old) who were not enrolled in college. Using qualitative thematic analysis procedures, coders defined five key themes within the data pertaining to the intersection of civic engagement and mental health: (1) experiencing, witnessing, and believing in the fruits of civic engagement labor; (2) managing emotions and conflict; (3) balancing individual needs with those of the collective; (4) garnering social connectedness and support; and (5) acting in alignment with values. Participants described complex, bidirectional relationships between civic engagement and well-being. Participants experiencing empowerment and political efficacy resulting from their civic engagement experiences reported greater well-being. Some participants used civic engagement as a strategy to cope with distressing emotions, while others were civically disengaged to avoid conflict and negative affect. Participants described the need to attend to personal needs first before engaging in actions to help the collective. Connecting with others was a notable promoter of well-being among those who were civically active, although negative peer influence was also a notable detractor. Finally, participants described strong value systems and identities related to civic engagement. Civic engagement can elicit both positive and negative emotional, psychological, and social well-being. The results underscore potential mechanisms that mediate the civic engagement to well-being pathway, which can be used to inform efforts to engage and retain NCYAs in civic engagement. Interventionists should cultivate strong coping and conflict management skills among engagers to manage difficult emotions that arise before, during, and after civic activity if health outcomes are to be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This protocol lays the groundwork for a community-centered investigation into the intersection between climate change and violence against women and girls. Providing a standardized framework, this paper will enable researchers to collect and analyze data on severe weather patterns and their potential impact on violence within communities. The interlinkage between violence and climate is an emerging field of research. There is a need for a comprehensive understanding of the intersection of these two issues focusing on the manifestations of violence, specific vulnerabilities, and coping strategies. This protocol outlines a qualitative research approach employed in Kilifi County, Kenya. The study will include key informant interviews with community leaders and policymakers, along with focus group discussions with women, adolescent girls, and men. Community engagement is a crucial component of this work as it will ensure that the research is conducted ethically and respectfully and ensure that the findings are relevant and applicable to the community being studied. This study will contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics between violence against women and girls and climate change, informing policies, interventions, and advocacy efforts and elevating the voices of women and girls to promote gender equity in the face of climate change challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supermarkets are scarce in many under-resourced urban communities, and small independently owned retail stores often carry few fresh or healthy items. The Baltimore Urban food Distribution (BUD) mobile application (app) was previously developed to address supply-side challenges in moving healthy foods from local suppliers to retailers. In-app opportunities for consumers to indicate demand for these foods are crucial, but remain absent. We sought to understand community members' perspectives on the overall role, function and features of a proposed consumer-engagement module (BUDConnect) to expand the BUD app. A series of initial high-fidelity wireframe mockups were developed based on formative research. In-depth interviews (n = 20) were conducted and thematically analyzed using ATLAS.ti Web. Participants revealed a desire for real-time crowd-sourced information to navigate their food environments safely and effectively, functionality to help build community and social networks among store owners and their customers, opportunities to share positive reviews and ratings of store quality and offerings, and interoperability with existing apps. Rewards and referral systems resulting in the discounted purchasing of promoted healthy items were suggested to increase adoption and sustained app use. Wireframe mockups were further refined for future development and integration into the BUD app, the program and policy implications of which are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The initial outbreak response to the 2014–2016 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa was met with resistance in Liberia. In part, this was because responders failed to account for how the country's colonial history and sociocultural circumstances influenced attitudes and perceptions of the population. We argue that understanding the relationship between the broader structural influences and the subjective aspects–the lived experience of people in the region–is crucial to developing more effective outbreak measures. In this light, we adopt and refine the concept of "riskscape" to highlight how the resistance to response teams shifted as the EVD outbreak unfolded. To illustrate our argument, we consider how the particular historical, cultural, and political forces constituted a "postcolonial riskscape", influencing evolving perceptions of risk and trust in the context of the outbreak response in the West Point informal settlement located in Liberia's capital, Monrovia. As part of that discussion, we demonstrate how the adoption of a bottom-up community-based strategy by response officials, stimulated changes in the riskscape that helped pave the way for the adoption of an improved response strategy that resulted in a relatively swift decrease in EVD prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines community engagement strategies with a view to exploring whether they have contributed to either satisfaction or dissatisfaction by the municipality residents in South Africa. The City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality was selected as a case study because of evidence-based examples of the community engagement strategies used during policy and decision-making processes for community needs. It draws a case study from six Cities of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality. The study adopts a qualitative research approach using focus group discussion as a data collection method and content analysis for data analysis using tabular presentation. The study finds that the purpose of community engagement strategies in public policy and decision-making is not about anticipated and unanticipated results but about the community members being engaged in the affairs affecting their lives. The study concludes that the community engagement process should be open and transparent within each South African community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Community engagement has benefits for cancer centers' work and for its researchers. This study examined the experiences and perceptions of community engagement by members of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC) to create and implement a framework to meet the needs of the entire cancer center. Methods: This study included three phases: 1) Semi-structured interviews with 12 researchers from a basic science program to identify needs and suggestions for the support of community engagement; 2) Preliminary interview results informed the development of a survey of 86 cancer center members' about their awareness of and readiness to integrate community outreach and engagement into their research; and 3) The Case CCC Office of Community Outreach and Engagement reviewed the results from phases 1 and 2 to develop and then utilize a framework of engagement opportunities. Results: In the interviews and surveys, cancer center members recognized the importance of community engagement and expressed an interest in participating in COE-organized opportunities for bidirectional engagement. While participation barriers include communication issues, limited awareness of opportunities, and competing priorities, members were open to learning new skills, changing approaches, and utilizing services to facilitate engagement. The framework outlines engagement opportunities ranging from high touch, low reach to low touch, and high reach and was used to develop specific services. Conclusion: This study identified varying needs around community engagement using an approach aimed at understanding the perspectives of a community of scientists. Implementing the framework enables reaching scientists in different ways and facilitates scientists' recognition of and engagement with opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This mixed-methods investigation aims to help conserve the traditional knowledge of Lao people in Thailand by studying the management process of cultural inheritance and working with the community to develop guidelines for community participation to ensure the sustainability of traditional knowledge management. Data was gathered from documentary review and in-depth interviews with a diverse group of individuals from the target community in Han Sai Sub-District, Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province. These included cultural scholars, community leaders, village headmen, local government officials, civil servants, former teachers, seniors, actors, and youth in the community. The results reveal that the Lao ethnic community has maintained traditional knowledge and culture despite (and partly thanks to) the challenges of modernization and assimilation. This preservation was attributed to community participation in the management and transmission of organic, living traditional knowledge, which serves as a means of cultural identity and contributes to the sustainable development of the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Flint water crisis (FWC) was a public health tragedy caused by crumbling infrastructure, subverted democracy, and indifference toward a predominantly poor and Black community that resulted in lead-in-water exposure, Legionnaires' disease, and emotional and health-related trauma. Through the cooperation of community partners, the Flint Registry (FR) was conceived to track long-term health and improve public health via service connections. Objectives: This study sought to share the FR's community-partnered, multi-tiered engagement strategy and determine the efficacy of this strategy to engage the community and reach Flint residents. Methods: Community engagement and impact were measured by collecting and describing feedback from the community engagement strategies and by comparing the demographics of the enrollees recruited through community-engaged recruitment (CER) and non-CER methods. Enroll-ees indicated how they heard about the FR; CER involved direct interaction with a community member. Results: Community engagement strategies incorporated approximately 1,200 people and 7 funded organizations, impacting 22 key areas of FR design and implementation. More than 50% of enrollees heard about the FR through CER methods. They were, on average, more likely to be younger, female, Black/African American, and living outside of Flint during the FWC. Conclusions: Community engagement elevated voices of those impacted by the FWC. CER methods were as effective as non-CER methods. Although there were no differences in screened measures of social vulnerability, there were in age, gender, and race. CER methods may increase participation and build trust in populations which historically are hesitant to participate in public health efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study encompasses a bibliometric analysis of the classical cultural organizations (museums, libraries and theaters), considering the mainstream academic research documenting the relationships between these organizations and their communities. The first part discusses how these organizations' focus and commitments have shifted from passive cultural aims, observing a social and educational turn towards communities. We observe a redefinition of their core purposes, becoming dynamic community and social spaces that promote sustainable development, social enrichment and wellbeing. They are no longer temples of culture, but complex hubs, spaces for engagement. Mainstream academic research gives more attention to the transformations in the library sector. Nevertheless, overall, it captures the transformations in all cultural organizations investigated, highlighting the importance of technology, community engagement and interdisciplinary approaches, as well as their growing significance in community development and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving water security requires action at all levels of governance, and cooperation among state and non-state actors, including civil society. However, in many places, participatory arrangements to enable cooperation, such as river basin committees or water user groups, have not been created, due to resource constraints or scepticism regarding their effectiveness. Here, we develop a typology of five key 'governance actions' that non-state actors may undertake to address environmental problems. We apply this typology to empirical findings from a water scarcity situation in Johor, Malaysia, where subnational civil society actors undertook a range of responses. The analysis reveals that, despite the absence of formal engagement mechanisms, civil society positively contributed to the governance of water security through 'defining issues', 'creating and sharing knowledge' and 'taking independent action' that could potentially inform wider practice, but faced challenges in 'monitoring and evaluating' or otherwise providing a critical perspective on impacts of water insecurity. The findings indicate possibilities for place-based and interest-based partnerships between government and civil society, and for supporting vertical relationships among civil society actors operating at different levels of governance. The study contributes to debates around power relations, knowledge sharing, and decision making across multilevel environmental governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this philosophical discussion, we take a distinct position on how institutions of higher education should engage with communities. The complex relationship between universities and communities has been a topic of debate for decades. Within U.S. land-grant universities, it is argued the outreach component of their tri-partite mission (teaching, research, and outreach) has been delegated almost solely to the Cooperative Extension Service. Still, we argue community engagement is the responsibility of the entire university. Using symbiosis as a foundation, we contend that university-community partnerships can be parasitic, mutualistic or commensalistic, depending upon how engagement is undertaken, and how the community itself is engaged. The authors provide suggestions on appropriate policy, education, and capacity building changes. Ultimately, if we pay attention to the possibility of a "dark side" of community engagement, we can become better aware of how communities, faculty, students and community developers effectively engage to the benefit of all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the role of Islamic art, specifically Hadroh, in conveying religious messages within communities with limited exposure to spiritual practices and religious studies. Given the prevalence of such circumstances, particularly among individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, alternative approaches to religious communication are essential. In response, the Santri Besek of Surokarsan village, Yogyakarta, have adopted Hadroh art as a means of religious preaching. Through a comprehensive examination conducted in Surokarsan village, utilizing methodologies including in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation, this research explores the effectiveness of using art as a medium for religious communication. The findings reveal significant enhancements in da'wah efficacy, particularly among mothers, teenagers, and children. Participants demonstrated heightened enthusiasm towards fostering mosque prosperity, indicative of the impact of art-based religious communication. Notably, the study identifies a notable shift in the religious practices of mothers, with increased engagement in rhythmic recitations of Sholawat accompanied by Hadroh, even among those previously less active in spiritual activities. Furthermore, children exhibit greater receptivity to religious education when delivered through rhythmic or melodic formats, suggesting the potential for innovative approaches to religious instruction. In conclusion, this research underscores the value of incorporating art, particularly Hadroh, in religious communication strategies, particularly within communities facing limited exposure to traditional spiritual practices. By leveraging artistic mediums, such as music and rhythm, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of how to effectively convey religious messages and promote religious engagement among diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

\nPractical ImplicationsDrawing from an Italian study conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown, in this article we focus on the perspectives of Residential Care for Children (RCC) managers. Our aims are: to examine how they perceive RCC interactions with external stakeholders during lockdown – specifically within Bronfenbrenner’s ecological framework, encompassing meso- and exo-systems –, and to identify managers’ traits affecting communication with the abovementioned systems. The study involved 152 RCC managers on duty during the lockdown, utilizing the EWF Questionnaire – an anonymous, self-administered survey developed ad hoc for this investigation. The analysis employed descriptive statistics and Chi-square analysis. Results indicate that during the lockdown managers had good communication with RCC meso-system. In terms of professional relationships, RCC managers reported a closer affinity with social workers. Managers’ age, tenure in the role and field experience had an impact on the perception of communication within meso- and exo-systems. The number of units managed and their education degree did not show statistically significant impact. In the final sections, we discuss implications for RCC, interprofessional collaboration, and strategies for enhancing intersystem communication. RCC managers’ age, field experience and tenure in the role must be considered, as they influence specific intersystem communication.RCC managers require specific training and organizational support to communicate effectively with meso- and exo-systems.Policymakers should fund interprofessional training programs to enhance relationships between RCC internal and external stakeholders.RCC managers’ age, field experience and tenure in the role must be considered, as they influence specific intersystem communication.RCC managers require specific training and organizational support to communicate effectively with meso- and exo-systems.Policymakers should fund interprofessional training programs to enhance relationships between RCC internal and external stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cameroon is one of the countries with the highest burden of malaria. Since 2018, there has been an ongoing conflict in the country, which has reduced access to healthcare for populations in affected regions, and little is known about the impact on access to malaria services. The objective of this study was to understand the current situation regarding access to malaria services in Cameroon to inform the design of interventions to remove barriers and encourage the use of available services. Methods: A qualitative research study was carried out to understand the barriers preventing communities accessing care, the uptake of community health worker (CHW) services, and to gather perceptions on community engagement approaches, to assess whether these could be an appropriate mechanism to encourage uptake of community health worker (CHW) services. Twenty-nine focus group discussions and 11 in-depth interviews were carried out between May and July 2021 in two regions of Cameroon, Southwest and Littoral. Focus group discussions were held with CHWs and community members and semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with key stakeholders including regional government staff, council staff, community leaders and community-based organisations. The data were analysed thematically; open, descriptive coding was combined with exploration of pre-determined investigative areas. Results: The study confirmed that access to healthcare has become increasingly challenging in conflict-affected areas. Although the Ministry of Health are providing CHWs to improve access, several barriers remain that limit uptake of these services including awareness, availability, cost, trust in competency, and supply of testing and treatment. This study found that communities were supportive of community engagement approaches, particularly the community dialogue approach. Conclusion: Communities in conflict-affected regions of Cameroon continue to have limited access to healthcare services, in part due to poor use of CHW services provided. Community engagement approaches can be an effective way to improve the awareness and use of CHWs. However, these approaches alone will not be sufficient to resolve all the challenges faced by conflict-affected communities when accessing health and malaria services. Additional interventions are needed to increase the availability of CHWs, improve the supply of diagnostic tests and treatments and to reduce the cost of treatment for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dilemma of weak participation and non-participation of rural communities is a universal topic of global development. The rural public space is an important field for local residents to interact, communicate, and engage with each other, and is an important place for the sustainable development of rural areas. However, previous studies have neglected to understand the intrinsic connection between rural public space and community participation from the perspective of community communication ecology. Based on the concept of age-friendly communities, this study's fieldwork in rural Shanghai, China, using the methodology of grounded theory, found that physical, social, and psychological factors all have an impact on community engagement among rural residents. Specifically, environmental quality, facility support, community networks, social participation, call to action, place attachment, spatial perception, and self-transformation are identified as the core elements that significantly influence community engagement among rural residents. This study further reveals that the multiple factors influencing community engagement among rural residents are complex and interdependent rather than operating independently. Spatial support, communicative triggers, and symbolic identification, respectively, operate at the technological level (physical–social factors), social level (social–psychological factors), and discursive level (psychological–physical factors) to promote community engagement among older adults in Chinese rural areas. Through this research, we hope to further the realization of rural civic engagement and the sustainability of local communities and to provide scholarly insights into the promotion of more equitable community life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]