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Browsing by Author "Ashirifi, Gifty D."
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Item Community- and Systems-level Factors that Contribute to Foster Care Entry: Perspectives from Child-Serving Professionals(Taylor & Francis, 2023-06-12) Mariscal, E. Susana; Victor, Bryan G.; Elliot, Jenna M.; Smith, Jamie K.; Ashirifi, Gifty D.; Commodore-Mensah, Miriam M.Discussions around reasons for foster care entry primarily focus on family-level service needs. However, families exist within social environments that can either increase or reduce risk for foster care entry. This qualitative study draws on interviews (n = 27), focus groups (n = 7), and open-ended survey responses (n = 548) from child-serving professionals in Indiana to identify community- and systems-level factors contributing to entry. Through qualitative coding we identified eight themes at the community- and systems-levels that direct attention toward modifiable dimensions of the social environment that can serve as targets for policy and practice reform.Item How Previously Detained Youths Perceive “Mental Health” and “Counseling”(Elsevier, 2019-07) Brown, James R.; Holloway, Evan D.; Maurer, Erica; Bruno, David G.; Ashirifi, Gifty D.; Aalsma, Matthew C.; Pediatrics, School of MedicineThis study explored previously detained youths' perceptions of the term “mental health” and related stigma. The study also examined how the youth see and compare “mental health” to “counseling” services. Qualitative interviews were conducted with an ethnically diverse, purposeful sample of 19 youth aged 11–17 who scored high on the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument (MAYSI-2) for mental health disorders. Our findings suggest that participants often found it difficult to disclose that they were receiving mental health services to non-primary friends. Overall, there were negative and inaccurate perceptions of mental health. Furthermore, this terminology was not easily understood and was associated with mental health stigma. Given this negative association with “mental health,” our results suggest that this term could represent, in and of itself, a significant barrier to accessing treatment that requires further investigation. These findings should prompt researchers, policy makers, and mental health professionals to evaluate alternative names or descriptions of mental health services to reduce both internal and external stigma.Item Prioritizing the National Aging Policy in Ghana: Critical Next Steps(Taylor & Francis, 2021-06-01) Ashirifi, Gifty D.; Karikari, Grace; Adamek, Margaret E.; School of Social WorkMost developing nations are facing rapid population aging with limited economic and social resources. In Ghana, a National Aging Policy (NAP) was promulgated by the government in 2010 to ensure the well-being of older adults. Since its passage, the NAP has yet to be funded and implemented. In this paper we synthesize key information on policies and programs targeted at older adults in Ghana and identify the challenges that are adversely impacting their welfare, including the non-implementation of the National Aging Policy. To give the NAP needed attention and promote its implementation, a national coordinating body exclusively devoted to older adults is an essential first step. Critical next steps are offered to promote the effective implementation of the NAP and ensure the well-being of older adults in Ghana. With its current foundation of support programs for older adults, Ghana has the opportunity to be the lead nation in Sub-Saharan Africa to establish a national level office dedicated to promoting older adults’ well-being and including them in the nation’s development efforts.