Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Crisis intervention'

There are four main components in this thesis: a literature review of program evaluation, a description and discussion of the current status of program evaluation in the crisis intervention literature, results and discussion of the formative evaluation which is the primary element of the thesis, and a report on the use of the Goal Attainment Follow-up Guide (GAFG) (Kiresuk & Sherman, 1968) and the Brief Derogatis Psychiatric Rating Scale (B-DPRS) (Derogatis, 1978) for community-based mobile crisis intervention programs. The data for the evaluation were gathered using both quantative and qualitative methods. There were 150 participants in the study: 89 females and 61 males. The mean age was 35. The GAFG was completed by 81 of the participants; 33 of the participants were administred the B-DPRS. There were three major findings in this evaluation. the participants contacted significantly more community agencies and spent less time in hospital after using the crisis program and the GAFG and B-DPRS were found to be unsuitable as outcome instruments for a community-based mobile crisis program.
xv, 208 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
First responders protect and serve. They maintain order, prevent chaos, and keep this country safe and secure. Many of the freedoms enjoyed today are the result of U.S. first responders protecting and caring for U.S. citizens. Whether it is a terrorists attack, a criminal victimizing a citizen, or a natural disaster, first responders will be among the first on the scene to deal with the crisis. For this reason, their role in homeland security is so critical. Traumatic stress experienced by first responders may impact their ability to function and handle the next critical incident, as well as obstruct public safety agencies in maintaining a robust and resilient workforce. As a result, leaders of first responder organizations need methods to recognize the different levels of stress their employees are experiencing and identify ways they can support their officers and minimize long-term effects of stress, including absenteeism, early resignation/retirement, depression, post-traumatic stress, substance abuse, and suicide. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is the standard clinical practice most widely utilized by public safety agencies in crisis interventions. CISM is designed to mitigate stress and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Another technique to help the traumatized, now emerging as a preferred response in crisis interventions, is Psychological First Aid (PFA). The empirical evidence is examined comparing CISM and PFA in an attempt to determine the best care for first responders. Another valuable tool examined, and sometimes overlooked as a crisis intervention tool, is the role of trained chaplains in disaster care. The author has responded to numerous traumatic incidents and witnessed firsthand the effects trauma has on first responders. As a result of witnessing the lack of care CISM provides, he was inspired to research and find the best approach to crisis interventions. PFA and trained chaplains may be the answer; however, the author also desires that this paper inspire and challenge other agencies to invest, conduct further research, and ultimately, find the best approach to crisis interventions.

The purpose of this thesis is theory development. It begins by evaluating existing explanations of why states undertake humanitarian intervention. Realists argue that states only intervene when their national interests are at stake. Normative scholars argue that states are at times motivated to save foreign citizens. Neither approach adequately accounts for the pattern of post-Cold War state practice. Building from this conclusion, the thesis conducts research based on two propositions derived from an analysis of existing debates: that examining state motive holds promise for elucidating the weaknesses in current approaches and that studying state argumentation can provide insight into state motives. To better investigate state motives, a theoretical framework is developed to explain how motives translate into state decision-making and manifest themselves in state argumentation. By employing process tracing, argumentation analysis, and elite interviews, this framework is applied to three cases: Northern Iraq in 1991, Rwanda in 1994, and East Timor in 1999. Each case study constructs a theoretically informed narrative, assesses debates between states at the United Nations Security Council, and evaluates the consistency between state discourse and state practice. The cases are then used heuristically to identify opportunities for improving existing theory and developing new theory. This yields several conclusions. First, not only do states often possess mixed motives, but the humanitarian impulse also appears in some cases to have been a necessary condition for humanitarian intervention. Second, the norm of humanitarian intervention does not function as a general rule. Rather, it is a cluster of principles derived from just war theory and international law, but also connected to related norms about sovereignty, human rights, and self-determination. Third, state decision-making is a collective process structured by the prevailing post-Cold War institutional and normative context. The thesis concludes by outlining promising avenues of research for better understanding why states respond to some occurrences of mass atrocities and not others.

The problem addressed in this phenomenological study was the lack of documentation that supported the lived experiences of crisis intervention team (CIT) trained police officers related to their encounters with persons with mental illnesses (PwMI). The purpose of the study was to explore the lived experiences of officers among CIT-trained police officers to address the problem. Using the Giles's communication accommodation theory and Rogers's protection motivation theory (PMT), the purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of CIT-trained police officers of PwMI during CIT encounters. Rogers's PMT was aligned closest with the teachings of CIT training as described by the study's participants. Participants provided data which was comprised of completed questionnaires and transcribed interviews. The method of analysis used was a combination of inductive coding and theme analysis that established the results of this study. Key findings of the study identified a significant amount of frustration expressed in the lived experiences of the CIT-trained police officers. Pushback from the public mental health facilities helped with the frustration experienced by CIT-trained police officers who applied the fundamentals of PMT and attempted to navigate treatment with the limited resources available to help PwMI in crisis. The positive social change produced from this study includes recommendations to police leadership and mental health advocates to encourage certain CIT training-related practices that directly impact CIT field encounters with PwMI in crisis. Specialized training may promote improved departmental outcomes, assist with injury reductions, and enable police officer accountability and reliability.

This thesis examines the theory and practice of humanitarian intervention in the early post-Cold War era. Taking as its basis US policy towards Somalia, Rwanda and Haiti between 1992 and 1994, it develops a theory of humanitarian intervention based on constructivist and scientific realist principles. Using identity as the organising concept, the thesis examines the meta-theoretical precepts of constructivism and scientific realism, which are developed into a methodology for analysing questions of foreign policy. Incorporating critical insights from sequential path analysis, morphogenetic social analysis - the notion of a dynamic mutual constitution of structure and agency - and constructivist social theory, the case studies provide a useful new means of conceptualising humanitarian intervention as a foreign policy practice through an identity-driven analysis. The findings of the research shed much light on this practice and its future prospects. They also suggest new directions for a scientific realist/constructivist research agenda.

Thesis (Ph. D.) -- University of Maryland, College Park, 2005.
Thesis research directed by: Counseling and Personnel Services. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web as a PDF file.

The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which policies and behavioral assessment teams exist at North Carolina community colleges, to determine the perceived ability levels of North Carolina community college counselors when dealing with students in crisis, and to identify the characteristics of community colleges in North Carolina who have implemented policies for the assessment of students in potential crisis. Research Question One sought to analyze policy implementation for the assessment of students in crisis and the implementation of behavioral assessment teams at community colleges in North Carolina. Research Question Two used descriptive data to report the levels of the counselors’ perceived confidence when assessing risk and what they perceive as needs to address crisis intervention and management at community colleges in North Carolina. Research Question Three had the purpose of determining if a relationship is present between the five levels of risk (Sokolow et al., 2009) and the perception of confidence as reported by community college counselors in North Carolina. Research Question Four explored what type of relationship exists between North Carolina community college demographic characteristics and policy implementation level.

The methodology implemented was a mixed-methods design. A purposeful sample of counselors employed at community colleges in North Carolina was used for this study. A survey was developed and was distributed to the sample to collect both quantitative and qualitative data.

This paper summarizes the experience of the Psychological Brigades conducted in 2001 in response to an earthquake that battered the southern part of the country, causing countless human and material losses and leaving over 200 thousand victims. The brigades gathered about 100 people among faculty members, students and graduated students from the Department of Psychology of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, who went to the affected areas to provide psychological support. The complete intervention is presented, including the design previous to the intervention, techniques used during the intervention and the evaluation of the results. These include the impact on the assisted population, the factors that contributed to the intervention success, as well as the impact on the brigades’ members. The assisted population specially remarks the value of feeling heard and accompanied, and of having a space to talk and meditate about its experience, fears and fantasies.
El presente trabajo resume la experiencia de las Brigadas Psicológicas llevadas a cabo en el año 2001 como respuesta al terremoto que azotó al sur del país, causando innumerables pérdidas humanas y materiales y más de doscientos mil damnificados. Las brigadas con­gregaron alrededor de cien voluntarios entre docentes, alumnos y egresados del Departa­mento de Psicología de la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, quienes se movilizaron a las zonas afectadas con el fin de brindar apoyo psicológico. Se presenta la intervención en conjunto: el diseño previo a la intervención propiamente dicha, las técnicas utilizadasdurante la intervención y la evaluación de los resultados. Éstos incluyen el impacto en la población atendida, los factores a los que se atribuye el éxito de la intervención y el im­pacto en los brigadistas. La población atendida remarca de manera especial lo valioso que constituye el sentirse escuchada y acompañada, el contar con espacios para hablar y re­flexionar sobre su experiencia, temores y fantasías.

This thesis lies in the broader topic of the impact of external intervention on the interstate crises and conflicts and each one's duration. The purpose of this study is to address the gaps and contradictions in the related literature. This study achieves this purpose by investigating the factors that drive the duration of intrastate conflicts, and understand why and how the duration of such conflicts may be affected by the role of regional third-party interveners. It focuses primarily on understanding the factors underlying the duration of the Darfur crisis in Sudan by analysing the Gaddafi regime’s role in that crisis during the 2003–11 period. This dissertation investigates the association between the long duration of the crisis and Libyan involvement as a major regional third party, as a form of crisis management and as an aspect of the international management of internal conflicts. In doing so a number of questions were asked regarding the causes of the Darfur Crisis and how they impacted on its duration: what were key Libyan national incentives and agenda behind the Gaddafi regime involvement in the Darfur Crisis; how did the scale of Libyan involvement effectiveness relate to the duration of the crisis in addition to Libyan mechanisms and techniques used; and how might the regime change in Libya affect the resolution of the crisis? In this respect, a new theoretical model was developed from the literature to show the theoretical relationship between external/regional third-party intervention in internal conflicts and the likelihood of ending these conflicts in shorter or longer time. Hypotheses were developed and tested based on the relationships identified in the model. It has been found that the causes of the rebellion in Darfur are multiple and complicated, internal and external, political and economic, social and environmental. All these factors have had a significant impact on the eruption of the Darfur Crisis and its continuation. Thus, any attempts to end this crisis without taking all these dimensions into consideration would be quite meaningless and ineffective. Each regional and extra-regional actor significantly sought to guide the violence in the direction which would allow them to gain certain outcomes. The major research finding was that when an external state becomes (in)directly involved with military, economic or diplomatic manoeuvres with a separate agenda that is independent of the motivations of the domestic fighters, parties, in an intrastate conflict that involves ethnic and tribal societies, and where there are multiple opposition armed groups with independent preferences, the likelihood of prolonging the duration of the conflict is greater. These developed hypotheses were tested and explained by utilising a qualitative case study of Libyan involvement in the Darfur Crisis. This thesis then shows how the Libyan intervention (under the Gaddafi regime), exactly in line with our developed model, has prolonged the duration of the Darfur Crisis in Sudan. This thesis demonstrates that the Gaddafi regime has its own agenda, interests, and ambitions in the Darfur region, and its involvement was a key factor in prolonging the duration of the crisis there. The key incentive behind the Libyan strategy of interference in the Darfur crisis over the past decade or so was founded on the basis of Gaddafi’s desire “to gain from the conflict, not to resolve the conflict.” It is found that Gaddafi appears to have played one of the most complex and ambiguous roles in the crisis as it was dual in nature, and at different times showed how the Libyan leadership influenced the parties to the crisis in Darfur in different ways and levels. The originality of this thesis lies in both what is studied and how it is studied. This study simultaneously combines and employs two different types of literature: material focusing on the Crisis’ historical roots, its domestic, regional, and international implications; and distinguished studies relating to the theoretical framework underpinning this thesis that address the impact of external intervention on the internal crises and conflicts and who long they last. This a comprehensive technique of looking at and analysing primary and secondary data is, to the best of our knowledge, new and has not been used in any other study in the literature. In short, this study contributes to our understanding the causes of the outbreak of the Darfur Crisis and factors underlying its continuation, as well as why the crisis has been prolonged for over ten years. Furthermore, the study analyses the strategies variability to advance knowledge in the field of crisis management. This study attempts to address a gap in the literature which, broadly speaking discusses the impact of outside third parties on the expected duration of intrastate conflicts. This study concludes that the adoption of this particular model would increase the probability of domestic and international dissension-makers and mediators of minimising the worst negative effects of external state intervention on the possibility of making internal crises and conflicts last longer. Both the limitations and the implications of this research as well as recommendations are given, along with possible directions for future research.

The Internet is becoming a more realistic means of accessing support, especially for those who are unable to or are uncomfortable with accessing supports in person. One population that experiences barriers to accessing face-to-face support is youth, and online counselling is an option available for youth to overcome these barriers (King, Bambling, Lloyd, et al., 2006). Online counselling can occur through e-mail and chat services; however, due to the text-based nature of these services, their effectiveness is criticized for having a lack of verbal and nonverbal communication (Cook & Doyle, 2002). Research, however, has suggested that it is possibly this lack of verbal and nonverbal cues that make online counselling effective. Research has also suggested that the effectiveness of counselling can be measured by the working alliance (Fletcher-Tomenius & Vossler, 2009; Hanley, 2009). This study explored if an effective working alliance can be established in online counselling mediums with youth who are in crisis. A quantitative research approach was taken, in which 91 youth completed an online survey that asked how they felt towards online support services. The results of this study suggest that youth respond positively to the lack of verbal and nonverbal cues; youth appear to enjoy an increase sense of anonymity that is created within online support services, which can contribute to open communication. In addition, the results suggest that an effective working alliance is established in online counselling services, as it was found that youth typical felt happy and satisfied with the services they received.
x, 135 leaves ; 29 cm

Police officers are often the frontline responders to calls involving people in mental distress. The lack of specialized mental health training can influence stigmatization and criminalization of people with a serious mental illness (SMI). Crisis intervention team (CIT) training is a tool to provide law enforcement with specialized mental health training to enhance their skills and comfort level when responding to crisis calls. There is a gap in the research examining officers' experiences with CIT training and how they apply that training when encountering people who have a SMI. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore a select group of police officers in Central Pennsylvania who are trained in CIT and how they use the tools learned from CIT training while on the job. Using the social distance theory and procedural justice theoretical framework, the researcher investigated the experiences of CIT officers by using the information gained from CIT training with individuals they encounter with a SMI. This study also examined the components that officers find most valuable from CIT training when responding to individuals who have a SMI. Participants in the study consisted of police officers trained in CIT, from a rural department, and have responded to mental health calls. Key findings showed that CIT training improved officers’ knowledge and understanding of mental health to be able to slow down on crisis calls and show empathy towards people who have a SMI. Implications for positive social change involve policy reform for law enforcement training. The data from this study reveals that CIT training should be utilized across police jurisdictions, as it has shown to improve the interactions between law enforcement and people who have a SMI.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Tufts University, 2003.
Submitted to the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Chair: Robert L. Pfaltzgraff, Jr. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 286-299). Access restricted to members of the Tufts University community. Also available via the World Wide Web;

Crisis intervention is a responsibility of school counselors. Specific training in crisis intervention skills is recommended for performing adequately in crisis situations, however, no generally accepted standards exist for training school counselors in crisis intervention. This exploratory study was conducted entirely online. Participants in the study were recruited via email and listservs and accessed a website to complete a survey. State certified school counselors (n=517) from across the United States (response rate 47%) participated. The following research questions were investigated: (1) Do these school counselors have training in situational crisis intervention skills? (2) What is the format and source of this training? (3) What situational crises have these counselors faced in their work? (4) Do these counselors feel adequately prepared for crisis situations? (5) Do these counselors differ in their preparedness according to demographic variables? (6) What additional training regarding crisis intervention do these counselors believe they need? Results indicate the majority of participants have had training in crisis intervention. Significant differences in level of training were found based on years of experience, age group, and ethnic group. The most frequently cited training topics previously received by respondents are stages of grief, suicide prevention and intervention, and assessment and referral. The most frequently encountered crisis situations are suicide ideation, child physical abuse, child sexual abuse, and suicide gesture. The average percentage of time spent by respondents on crisis intervention is 17%. Over 50% of respondents report being adequately prepared as the result of training for crises related to suicide, violence, accidents, and alcohol/drugs. Forty-six percent report being adequately prepared for crises involving disaster. For each of the five categories of crisis (suicide, violence, accidents, alcohol/drugs, disaster), respondents with 1-5 years of experience report lower perceptions of preparedness as the result of training than the other groups. Elementary counselors report lower levels of preparedness for suicide and alcohol/drug related crises. High school counselors report lower levels of preparedness for disaster. Eighty-nine percent of respondents wish to have additional training in crisis intervention. The most desired training topics are responding to violence, psychological first aid, crisis simulations, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, and legal/ethical issues in crisis intervention.
Ph. D.

Although school counselors routinely provide crisis intervention, minimal research has focused specifically on providing such services in a manner sensitive to multicultural and ethnically diverse students. Responses of a random national sample of school counselors (n = 276, 69% return rate) indicate that approximately half voice some sort of concern related to providing crisis intervention services to students from diverse backgrounds. The purpose of this study is to summarize school counselor's concerns, providing an initial understanding for this aspect of school-based crisis intervention. Additionally, school counselors' comments were further analyzed to examine possible relationships between the type of concern and the practitioners' setting (rural, urban, suburban, rural/suburban, or suburban/urban) and years of practice as a school counselor. Based on school counselor's concerns, recommendations are made to provide more effective school-based crisis intervention for individuals of diverse backgrounds.

L’objectif de cette thèse est d’étudier les divers aspects de la crise financière 2007-09. Dans l’ensemble, les deux types d’objectifs sont poursuivis dans cette thèse: le premier objectif est de déchiffrer les liaisons entre les différents marchés boursiers, immobiliers et pétroliers afin d’évaluer les retombées du rendement et de la volatilité. L’accent dans ce champ est mis sur le niveau d’intégration entre les marchés pendant différents périodes de temps y compris la crise. Ce domaine est examiné par le développement de trois essais distincts. Le premier essai examine la déclaration du gouvernement Russe affirmant que ce sont les chocs initiés par les marchés étrangers qui ont été essentiellement responsables de la panique sur leur marché boursier pendant la période Septembre - Octobre 2008. En utilisant l’approche de la contagion financière, les résultats indiquent que le marché boursier Russe est intégré faiblement avec les marchés Américain et Européen ce qui met à l’écart l’affirmation du gouvernement. Les résultats de la comparaison bivariée des marchés montrent que le marché Russe émet un niveau élevé des chocs en affectant la structure de corrélation entre la Russie et les marchés étrangers tandis que l’inverse est vrai dans le cas des retombées de la volatilité. Il est conclu que les gouvernements ne devraient pas utiliser la justification des chocs étrangers qui affectent les marchés locaux pendant la crise globale. Comme dans l’analyse précédente, nous examinons la transmission des chocs et de la volatilité sur les marchés des sociétés d’investissements immobiliers cotées (SIIC). Etant donné que la loi exige des SIIC de consacrer une grande partie de leurs investissements dans les actifs immobiliers, le rôle des SIIC dans la propagation de la crise hypothécaire des subprimes à travers le globe a été évalué. L’analyse préliminaire démontre que pendant la crise tous les marchés possèdent entre eux des liens de causalité dans le sens de Granger. Ce résultat est en accord avec le point de vue largement répandu que les marchés boursiers se comportent de la même manière pendant la crise globale. Ensuite l’intégration entre les SIIC américaines (USREITs) et les SIIC globales et le S&P500 a été examiné. Les résultats indiquent que les SIIC américaines sont faiblement intégrées avec les SIIC globales impliquant un niveau faible des retombées bidirectionnelles du choc et de la volatilité tandis que l’inverse est vrai dans le cas des SIIC américaines (USREITs) - S&P500. Enfin, l’intégration entre le S&P500 et les SIIC globales a été exploré. Les résultats suggèrent une faible intégration entre le S&P500 et les SIIC globales. Les chocs sont essentiellement transmis du S&P500 vers les SIIC globales. D’une manière générale, l’étude amène à la conclusion que ni les SIIC américaines ni le S&P500 ne peuvent pas créer une panique plus grande sur les marchés des SIIC globales pendant la crise. Ces liens faibles indiquent également les avantages de la diversification d’un portefeuille.En étudiant la crise au niveau suivant, nous analysons la relation à court ainsi qu’à long terme entre le prix du pétrole brut et les marchés boursiers pour le Brésil, la Russie, l’Inde et la Chine (BRIC) dans le cadre des modèles structurels contraints. Nos conclusions indiquent que les marchés boursiers du BRIC suivent dans certaine mesure l’hypothèse de l’efficience des marchés comme dans le cas d’un pays importateur du pétrole un choc positif de prix du pétrole entraîne une chute du marché boursier et l’inverse est vrai pour tous les pays exportateurs du pétrole. Les deux comportements importants ont été identifiés qui sont liés au taux d’intérêt à court terme et à la production industrielle. La montée des prix du pétrole engendre l’inflation qui est enrayée par une hausse du taux d’intérêt à court terme. En même temps, la production industrielle a tendance à s’accroître en termes réels au lieu de diminuer vu le choc des prix du pétrole (une hausse des prix du pétrole). Ce résultat peut être imputé à la couverture du risque d’une hausse des prix du pétrole avec la livraison physique. Dès que le contrat de couverture commence à expirer après 30, 90 ou 180 jours l’impact des prix du pétrole commence à réduire la production industrielle. Le deuxième objectif de la thèse est d’étudier l’intervention gouvernementale particulièrement sur les marchés boursiers et dans l’économie en général. D’un point de vue boursier, nous analysons le cas de l’intervention répétée du gouvernement Russe sur ses marchés boursiers nationaux pendant la fin d’année 2008. En utilisant la méthodologie des études d’événements, les résultats sont peu concluants sur l’efficacité de l’intervention gouvernementale pour protéger le marché boursier contre des chocs financiers extérieurs. Ainsi l’étude préconise aux gouvernements de ne pas intervenir pendant la crise des marchés boursiers.En étudiant le cas de l’économie en général, une nouvelle idée a été développée et lancée concernant l’intervention de la banque centrale pour contrecarrer une Bulle des Prix des Actifs (BPA). Nous avons détecté différents problèmes dans la théorie économique concernant l’intervention de la banque centrale sur le marché monétaire en cas d’apparition d’une BPA comme par exemple, - un décalage dans le temps ne peut pas avoir une incidence sur le secteur formant une bulle spéculative tout seul ainsi que l’inadéquation des canaux traditionnels des prêts bancaires. Pour faire face à ces problèmes l’étude fait avancer l’idée d’une intervention réglementaire basée sur certaines suppositions classiques. L’idée implique que contrairement à l’intervention traditionnelle de la politique monétaire la banque centrale devrait imposer aux institutions de crédit des limites d’exposition au risque de crédit pour chaque secteur. Ces limites devraient être imposées une fois que la banque centrale découvre une hausse anormale des prix dans un secteur économique donné. Nos résultats préliminaires suggèrent que l’idée d’une intervention réglementaire a du potentiel de contrecarrer la BPA
The objective of the dissertation is to study various aspects of financial crisis 2007-09. Overall there are two kinds of objectives that are pursued in this dissertation: the first objective is to decipher the linkages between different stock markets, real estate markets and oil markets in order to assess the return and volatility spillover effects. The focus in this area is on the level of integration among the markets during different periods of time including crisis. This area is investigated through developing three separate essays. The first essay tests the Russian government claim that shocks originating in foreign markets were primarily responsible for its stock market panic during September-October 2008. Using financial contagion framework, the results indicate that the Russian stock market is weakly integrated with the US and European market in turn discarding the government claim. In bivariate market comparison, the results indicate that Russian market emits high level of shocks affecting the correlation structure between Russia and foreign markets while the reverse is true in case of volatility spillover effects. It is concluded that the governments should not use the justification of foreign shocks affecting the local markets during global crisis. Akin to foregoing analysis, we look at the transmission of shock and volatility in the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) markets. Since by law REITs are required to invest a large portion of their investments in real estate, the role of REITs in spreading the subprime mortgage crisis across the globe has been assessed. The initial analysis indicates that during crisis all markets are granger causing each other. The result is in compliance with the widely held view that the stock markets behave alike during global crisis. Next the integration between USREITs and global REITs and S&P500 has been examined. The results indicate USREITs is weakly integrated with the global REITs implying low level of bidirectional shock and volatility spillover while the reverse is true in case of USREITs- S&P500. Finally the integration between S&P500 and global REITs has been explored. The results suggest weak integration between S&P500 and global REITs. The shocks are mainly transmitted from S&P500 to global REITs. Over all the study concludes that neither USREITs nor S&P500 can create a wider panic in the global REIT markets during crisis. These weak linkages points towards portfolio diversification benefits as well.Studying the crisis at the next level, we analyze short-run as well as long-run relationship between crude oil price and stock markets for Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) within a constrained structural modeling framework. Our findings indicate that BRIC stock markets to certain extent follow the efficient market hypothesis such that in case of oil importing country a positive oil price shock cause the stock market to fall and the reverse is true for an oil exporting country. Two important behaviors have been identified related to short-run interest rate and industrial production. The rise in oil prices generate inflation which is countered by increase in short-run interest rate. At the same time, industrial production tends to increase in real terms instead of decreasing in view of oil price shock (increase in oil price). The result can be attributed to hedging oil price risk with physical delivery. Once the hedge contract starts expiring after 30, 90 or 180 days the impact of oil price starts reducing the industrial production. The second objective of the dissertation is to study the government intervention specifically in the stock markets and generally in the economy. From stock market perspective, we analyze the case of Russian government repeated intervention in its national stock markets during late 2008. Using event-study methodology the findings indicate weak evidence that government intervention can in fact prevent stock market from external financial shocks. The study strongly recommends that the governments should not intervene during stock market crisis.Studying the case of general economy, a new idea has been developed and floated regarding central bank’s intervention directed to preempt an Asset Price Bubble (APB). The economic theory regarding central bank monetary policy intervention has been found to suffer from various problems in the event an APB occurs, such as, -time lag, -cannot affect bubbled sector alone as well as –irrelevance of traditional bank-lending channel. To deal with these issues the study brings forward the idea of regulatory intervention based on certain text book assumptions. The idea entails that contrary to traditional monetary policy intervention, the central bank should impose credit exposure limits for a particular sector on credit institutions. These limits should be imposed once the central bank finds out the abnormal increase in prices in a given sector of the economy. Our preliminary findings suggest that idea of regulatory intervention has the potential to preempt the APB

This thesis is concerned with recurring instances of inaction or insufficient action by the United States and the rest of the international community in response to threatened or ongoing situations of ‘genocide’. Its focus is on the factors which have shaped, enabled, or constrained these responses, with specific attention to the domestic policymaking process within the US and to the significance of the ‘genocide’ label. Part I of the thesis investigates imperatives and constraints to international action. Examined first are moral and legal characteristics of the term ‘genocide’ and the normative structures developed to justify and regulate responses to genocidal events, or other types of mass atrocity crimes. Explored next are other recurring factors, mostly constraints to action, which have manifested over the years – internationally or at the state level. Particular attention is given to the relationship between the perceived risks and/or costs of military interventions and the existence or absence of political will for action. In the next two parts of the thesis, the enquiry focuses on the United States as the foremost superpower of the post-Cold War era, and the first and only UNSC Permanent Member (P-5) to have made a political genocide determination on a still ongoing event – the Darfur crisis. Part II examines mutual effects of normative factors and political decision-making in the context of the ‘genocide’ label. This is done by studying primarily the relationship between Presidential discourses and US conduct during past genocides (or alleged genocides), and between professed citizenry support for strong action and alleged cases of ‘society wide silence’ in respond to weak official policies. Moving to the case study of Darfur, Part III considers the supposed alignment between official rhetoric and US policy during 2004, amid the Bush administration’s failure to lead a meaningful international response to the crisis. Examining discursive interactions in the months before and after the September 2004 US ‘genocide’ determination, the thesis looks at how the Administration discussed (framed) issues such as the nature of the crisis; US interests; America’s moral, legal and political obligations to help stop an ongoing ‘genocide’; alternative policy options, and the benefits, costs or risks they portended. After studying the difficulties and the opportunities in the dynamics between moral imperatives, legal norms, and policy responses to genocide and other mass atrocity crimes, the thesis describes in its conclusions how better understanding of these relationships could assist in developing more effective national and international actions to fulfil the promise of ‘never again’.

This thesis set out to explore the experiences of clients and counsellors in immediate crisis intervention shortly after a major earthquake. It explored the experiences and perceptions of change during counselling for both clients and counsellor, all of which were exposed to the disaster. This study supported the idea of counsellors needing to adapt to the context of post-disaster counselling and addressing client’s immediate needs. Having both been through the same disaster meant counsellors were often going through similar experiences and emotions as their clients during this time. This led counsellors to develop a greater sense of connection and understanding of their client, as well as showing more emotional responsivity and self-disclosure. This was experienced as different to their normal therapy engagement. The implications of these counsellor responses were seen to be helpful, but at times had the potential to be hindering for counselling. Clients valued their counsellor’s techniques and personal qualities but often failed to identify what contribution they, themselves, made to change processes. The differing nature of counselling in post-disaster areas, as gauged by this study may help inform expectations and experiences regarding provision of post-disaster acute interventions.

Thesis (M.A. in National Security Affairs)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2003.
Thesis advisor(s): Jeanne Giraldo, Harold Trinkunas. Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-83). Also available online.

Policy and professional guidance in England have emphasised the importance of Therapeutic Relationships (TRs) in community mental health care, yet there is no comprehensive model to guide practice or understand the process through which stronger TRs are generated. This thesis investigated TRs in community mental health for individuals with psychotic disorders and was embedded within the CRIMSON trial: a randomised controlled trial of the Joint Crisis Plan (JCP) intervention. JCPs contain service users’ treatment preferences for future care, which are jointly decided with clinicians. Qualitative analyses addressed participants’ views of TRs and JCPs. Quantitative analyses addressed the predictive utility of TRs for outcomes, associations of TRs and the effect of JCPs on service user and clinician-rated TR. Results suggested that significant ambiguity persists regarding what can and should be provided in community mental health, resulting in unhelpful experiences for service users and clinicians. A new model of TRs - Consistent Respect - was developed; it presents TRs as bi¬directional processes, jointly affected by clinicians’ and service users’ experiences of interactions and their roles defined by the wider context; the latter often being a barrier to the development of strong TRs. JCPs significantly improved service users’ appraisals of TRs by providing a structured protocol through which routine role enactments were limited and clinicians could demonstrate Consistent Respect. Positive effects were lost when there were deficiencies in the implementation of JCPs and/or engagement of clinicians. In conclusion, improving TRs through JCPs could facilitate better outcomes and more satisfactory treatment experiences for service users and clinicians. Changes in policy and practice are indicated to facilitate transparent goals and roles for clinicians and respectful interactions with service users.

Background Persons with severe mental illness (SMI) are vulnerable to mental health (MH) crises in the community. These crises often resulted in costly hospital admissions. Crisis Resolution Team (CRT) was implemented based on limited empirical evidence to address this problem. In 2001, UK implemented a national policy making CRT mandatory nationwide. Since then, more studies were performed on the effectiveness of CRT. It appeared CRT is cost effective in reduction of admissions. There was evidence of positive clinical outcome in comparison with standard care. Hong Kong does not have a specific community crisis program for people with SMI. It is desirable for policy makers to consider alternatives to reduce hospital admissions and to strengthen community support for people with SMI. Aims To evaluate the feasibility on the implementation of CRT Model in Hong Kong as a service to reduce hospital admissions. Method A review of current evidence on the effectiveness of CRT model and assess the feasibility and desirability of such model for implementation in Hong Kong. Results Evidence from observational studies and randomized controlled trials show CRT to be effective in the reduction of hospital admissions and inpatient days in the UK. CRT is also associated with higher acceptance from patients and family members than from standard care. CRT appears to be feasible against other service to address the acute needs of persons with SMI in reducing hospitalization. Conclusion A preliminary assessment ruled out a number of alternatives in dealing with mental health crises in the community. Preliminary results suggested the CRT model might be a feasible and desirable solution. There is evidence on the effectiveness of such teams in the UK. Successful implementation of CRT service in Hong Kong will be a challenge for stakeholders of the mental health system.
published_or_final_version
Public Health
Master
Master of Public Health

Uno degli strumenti più innovativi introdotti dalla Direttiva BRRD è quello del “recovery plan”, un dettagliato documento redatto dallo stesso intermediario finanziario il cui scopo è di assicurare una efficace e rapida attuazione di una o più misure di risanamento al manifestarsi dei primi segnali di significativo deterioramento finanziario. Tale strumento costituisce una novità di rilievo per l’ordinamento italiano e appare dunque opportuno e rilevante approfondirne lo studio. In particolare, nella tesi verrano esaminati la natura, il contenuto e le caratteristiche del piano di risanamento al fine di evidenziarne gli aspetti maggiormente problematici sia da un punto di vista giuridico che applicativo. Infine, la tesi contiene anche un'analisi comparativa dell'implementazione della BRRD in siversi paesi dell'Unione Europea (Italia, Germania, Francia, Olanda, Regno Unito e Spagna).
One of the most innovative tools introduced by the BRRD is the "recovery plan". This is a detailed document drawn up by the credit institution with the aim of ensuring a faster and smoother implementation of one or more recovery measures when the first signs of financial deterioration appear. This tool constitutes a significant novelty for the Italian legal system and it is therefore appropriate and important to deepen its study. In particular in the thesis it will be analyzed the nature, the content and the characteristics of the recovery plan in order to highlight the most problematic aspects from botha legal and operational perspectives. Finally, the thesis includes also a comparative analysis of the implementation of the BRRD in several EU countries (Italy, Germany, France, Netherlands, UK and Spain).

This thesis examines the visual cultures that developed in tandem with the violent crises of power that were endemic to Victorian imperialism. It looks primarily at the colonial artists and photographers who were working in British India and its borderlands from around the time of the 1857 Indian Uprising up until the Amritsar Massacre of 1919, arguing that image making was increasingly instrumental not only in mediating imperial violence, but also in moulding it. Of particular concern is the martial resonance of British aesthetic discourse in moments of crisis, as well as the entanglement of artistic and military imperatives that was characteristic of the photographing- and sketching-in-the-field that took place during episodes of unrest and their traumatic aftermaths. The case studies all lay great emphasis on how the formal conventions of aesthetic practices could affect the nature of the engagement of Briton and Indian alike with imperial violence, encouraging ways of looking and acting within a crisis that were consonant with established visual tropes. While the central focus of this thesis is the aesthetics of colonialism in South Asia, the arguments that are developed intersect with broader histories of illustrated journalism, international exhibitions, and atrocity photography. The material includes everything from draughtsmanship to oil painting, but a particular stress is placed on the agency of photographers as they operated in ways that could stage interventions in the processes of imperial conquest and counterinsurgency. Ultimately, I argue that violent colonial crises functioned to shift the terms in which wide-ranging areas of visual media were viewed and used by the British throughout the Victorian period.

The purpose of the dissertation is to construct an integrated conceptual model of crises intervention for Gikuyu people that would effectively inform the conceptualization of the nature, the methods employed and the purpose of utilizing traditional Gikuyu families and Christian resources for crises intervention. It will also inform the values for integration and the usefulness of systems and the crisis theories for the construction of the model for the Gikuyu. Moreover, the dissertation will report the significance of Christian pastoral resources and the relation to Gikuyu. The model is a strategy in the attempt to revive some of the distorted Gikuyu people's values of family unity (belongingness), which was their norm for intervening into family crises. Family values of unity for the Gikuyu suffered distortion over the years of the Christian missionary work to the Gikuyu in the nineteenth century. The model is limited for use in the Presbyterian Church in Kenya. However, other churches serving Gikuyu people are welcome to use it. The study is intended to be a foundation for the development of authentic literature, focusing upon new approaches toward crises intervention for Gikuyu, intended to mobilize families systems, Christian resources, and other networking systems for better work of crisis intervention. From the systems and the crisis perspectives, the study examines the usefulness of systems and the crisis theories for their relevancy in developing a model of crises intervention for Gikuyu families. It examines the viability of correlation between traditional Gikuyu families resources and the Christian resources, examining how each one is related to the other. The term 'crisis intervention' refers to the usefulness and the effect of the work of correlating resources from the two perspectives. Correlation is the criteria for determining the interdependence of the two sources of intervention. The term 'model' refers to the proposed methods of approaches utilized in reviving values of families interdependency, unity, and belongingness. The term 'differentiation of self' informs the need for family members and significant others to work together for better working crisis, while each maintains individual unique abilities of differentiating intellectual decision-making from those of families emotional fusion. The dissertation uses two methods. The first method is founded on the concepts of families systems and the crisis theories for the construction of an effective model of crisis intervention for the Gikuyu and informing the reasons for its use. Second is the method of correlation which is a theological application to the action of mobilizing and utilizing the traditional Gikuyu resources together with Christian Gikuyu resources. In this second method Christ becomes the common norm of correlation for the purpose of liberation and the giving of hope to the individual and families in crisis. Moreover, through the theological method the integration of the model is accomplished. Before examining the usefulness of systems and crisis theories for analyzing data from the case study of illness, the history of the Gikuyu is examined. The purpose of the history is to inform the guidelines to which this model of crisis intervention should respond. For clarification purposes, these guidelines are the origin of the Gikuyu people, the nature of their corporate living; and the kinship governing principles. As part of the historical motivation of this dissertation, the role which was played by the social protest of the Gikuyu against Europeans and the missionaries is also examined. The protest was a symbol of dissatisfaction of the Gikuyu upon the mistreatment and the abuse of family values. The dissertation has several illustrations of crises intervention based on various concepts of family therapy which include: Uri Rueveni in networking families in crises, Murry Bowen's eight interlocking ideas of family therapy, Edward Wimberly's theory of pastoral care of the Black Church, and also the work of Nancy Boyd-Franklin in multisystems approach to family therapy. In concluding this study, it has been found that Gikuyu family and relational systems can be mobilized to resolve crises within the systems. It has also been discovered that the implication for further research is viable through the analyzing and the questioning of the claims in the data provided in this dissertation.

Thesis advisor: Thanh V. Tran
ABSTRACT This dissertation has the following specific aim: to measure outcomes of social work emergency certificates produced by a Mobile Crisis Team to determine the effectiveness of these certificates at linking clients to services. Linkage to services is a programmatic goal and is achieved by ensuring clients receive adequate crisis and follow up services as a result of Emergency Certificates. In doing so, risks of homicide, suicide and grave disability are mitigated. Under its administrative umbrella, Mobile Crisis Team operates a police-social work collaboration known as Crisis Intervention Team, and both are administered by the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services in southeastern Connecticut. The data comes from 233 consecutive cases that involved Emergency Certificate's to transport clients to the local emergency department for psychiatric evaluation and treatment. Data was gathered post-hoc by reviewing copies of each specific certificate and cross-referencing those certificates with an agency risk management report and an electronic data base that stores demographic data on all clients. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariable analysis, such as cross tabulations and binary logistic regression, were used to analyze the data in this study. Additionally, the chi-square automatic interaction detector (CHAID) was used to construct outcome trees to describe subgroups of interest. This research is a continuation of previously published research on the various permutations and outcomes of mobile crisis programs, and contributes two unique programmatic features: the use by social workers of a legally proscribed coercive tool to send people to the emergency department for assessment, and the effectiveness of police-social work collaborations compared to social work only referrals. Overall, linkage occurs in over 80% of cases, with significant predictors of linkage identified as substance abuse, Hispanic ethnicity, criminal justice involvement, suicide, affective disorders, and insurance status. Implications for program evaluation, future research and limitations of the study are also discussed
Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2009
Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Social Work
Discipline: Social Work

The purpose of this study was to explore the self-perception of compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and burnout by student conduct administrators working in the United States of America. Additionally, this study looked at the years of experience, job responsibilities, on-call responsibilities and direct student contact hours which may impact an individual’s overall professional quality of life. To accomplish the objectives outlined in the purpose statement, the following research questions were explored: 1. What is the relationship between student conduct professionals’ compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress? 2. What is the relationship between student conduct professionals’ years of experience and compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress? 3. What is the relationship between student conduct professionals’ responsibility areas and compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress? 4. What is the relationship between student affairs professionals serving in an on-call capacity and compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress? 5. What is the relationship between student conduct professionals’ amount of direct student contact and the compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress? This study utilized a quantitative methodology to collect data. For the purposes of this study, members of the Association for Student Conduct Administration were selected as the intended sample population. The study sample was comprised of 381 individuals (n=381). The web-based survey included Stamm’s (2010) Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL), closed-ended questions as well as a demographic survey. The study findings indicated that student conduct and behavior intervention professionals exhibited average levels of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. Correlations within the study sample existed negatively between compassion satisfaction and secondary traumatic stress with a positive correlation between burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Statistically significant results included the relationship between compassion satisfaction and the job responsibilities of academic integrity and alternative dispute resolution. Additionally, a statistically significant finding between burnout and the job responsibilities of student organizational conduct and Title IX investigation and adjudication. Lastly, a statistically significant difference between hours of direct student contact hours and secondary traumatic stress as well as a statistically significant predictor between hours of direct student contact hours and compassion satisfaction were established.

This study was undertaken in an attempt to investigate the analogy between the Crisis Intervention Model and the Funeral Rites of the amaXhosa. The latter group includes both traditional as well as Western Christian elements. The study was confined to the geographical area of Ciskei and more specifically the villages in and around Peddie and Ndevana near Zwelitsha, as regards traditional people, and the Black townships of Zwelitsha and Whittlesea,as regards more Westernized people. It is, however, the contention of the study that experiences discussed here are common to Blacks in South Africa irrespective of ethnicity. The justification for this generalisation is based on anthropological commonalities as well as historical vicissitudes among Blacks in Southern Africa. For instance, ritual slaughter performed after death in propitiation with the ancestors is known among all Blacks in South Africa. Also the Politico-historical events as well as socio-economic developments in the country affect Blacks in a more or less similar manner. For example, the changing family structure among Blacks, because of changes from one type of economy to another, is a social process affecting all Blacks in Southern Africa - in particular the working class (Colin Murray, 1980). The Funeral rites under study are postulated as possessing elements of therapeutic and practical value which result in the alleviation of grief and the encouragement of full acceptable means of mourning. The study is chiefly descriptive and anthropological material has been used. Recordings were made from participant observation whenever there was a funeral in the area studied. Information about funerals is easily obtainable as these are announced over Radio Ciskei and Radio Xhosa every evening. Mourners and interveners were interviewed. The former to elicit the needs they had felt, the latter to elicit the needs they had perceived the former to have. The Crisis Intervention Model is fairly simple to understand and uses practical theory. Therefore, it is not surprising that there should be elements of similarity between this model and the funeral rites of the amaXhosa as both deal with people in need of support. These funeral rites are rooted in a culture which has as one of its crucial aspects intimate, face-to-face interaction of its members in constant exchange as regards both emotional support and services. These "credit networks" ensure that a person is never bereft of emotional support. Moreover, temporary services are always accorded to a person in crisis. An effort has been made to relate the Crisis Intervention Model to the South African context of Blacks (both traditional as well as Christian). By necessity this has meant looking at all cultural dimensions of Black society - historical, political, economic and cultural, in order to provide a clearer picture of the people under study. That is, human psychological experiences of grief and mourning are seen as processes related to and developing within the concrete everyday realities. Some of the experiences described have been personally witnessed by the researcher in her personal involvement with cultural practices. Funerals are, of necessity, sad occasions and this study, using participant observation methods sometimes brought on sad memories of the researcher's own losses of loved ones. In the discussion a comparison was made between the traditional methods of grief work, the Crisis Intervention theory and the mourner studied and it was found that these rites do indeed, contain therapeutic and practical elements of dealing with grief and mourning, comparable to the Crisis Intervention Model. Finally in the conclusior a proposal for further areas of study in this field was suggested.

Ministry research project (D. Min.)--Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2004.
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Ministry Degree. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 254-257).

Thesis advisor: Robert Murphy
Thesis advisor: Hiroshi Nakazato
The majority of scholarship surrounding the late 2000s financial crisis explores the enabling factors that contributed to the subprime bubble and caused it to burst. This study’s purpose is to evaluate systemic risk and the near collapse of the financial sector in 2008. Several factors, including derivatives innovation, the rise of a parallel banking industry, and the securitization boom, heightened systemic fragility. I add to financial contagion literature by constructing a stochastic game theory model of institutional decision-making under the auspices of a severe liquidity shortage. Moreover, I will employ this model to evaluate the government’s regulatory program during the crisis. I find that the government’s ad hoc interventions and non-interventions significantly contributed to the atmosphere of uncertainty and exacerbated the crisis’ ill effects. I go on to evaluate the Dodd-Frank Act in light of those conclusions and suggest an alternate method of financial reform
Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2011
Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences
Discipline: International Studies Honors Program
Discipline: International Studies