Browsing by Author "Schultz, Kristi"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Addressing Unequal Access to Energy in Indiana
    (Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy, 2022-12-12) Schultz, Kristi; Deitz, Ted; Morris, Cheyenne; Eckert, Marissa
    In 2019, state leaders formed the 21st Century Energy Policy Development Task Force to explore and make policy recommendations addressing Indiana’s energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy alternatives. As part of their charge, the task force is researching the affordability and reliability of energy as well as how these energy issues impact low-income and racially minoritized communities. The definition of energy access varies but often includes the delivery and use of a minimum level of energy a household requires for basic needs, such as heating a home or cooking meals. As renewable energy sources become more widely available, it is important that all communities have equitable access to these resources. Addressing these concerns early and proactively deploying strategies focused on energy transition could foster more equitable access to clean energy. This report discusses unequal access to energy in Indiana and the resulting impact on underserved communities. This brief also highlights several strategies to address these disparities.
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    Closing the Gap: Increasing Community Mental Health Services in Rural Indiana
    (Springer Nature, 2021) Schultz, Kristi; Farmer, Sara; Harrell, Sam; Hostetter, Carol; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Due to the significant need for mental health services in rural Martin County, IN and lack of providers, this study examined the current strengths of the community as well as the barriers preventing mental health service delivery. The goal of the study was to propose community-specific solutions to overcoming the barriers. Using a strengths-based approach (Saleeby in The strengths perspective in social work practice, Longman, White Plains, NY, 1992), the authors first sought to understand Martin County residents’ current experiences with mental health services. Second, the authors sought to understand Martin County residents’ opinions about church/mental health partnerships. As a result of this analysis, the authors comprised a list of feasible and sustainable recommendations for Martin County and similar rural areas that incorporate the strengths in the community, address their identified challenges, and thus created a model for mental health service provision that can be replicated in other rural communities with similar strengths as well as similar challenges.
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    Refugee Resettlement in Indiana (2022)
    (Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy, 2022-08-23) Arun, Nidhi; Schultz, Kristi; Lawrence, Roxy
    There are approximately 27,800 refugees in Indiana. From 1970–2007, between 200 and 500 refugees resettled in Indiana each year. The Syrian civil war led to a 63% increase in refugee arrivals in the Hoosier State from 2011 to 2015. In 2016 alone, 1,934 primary refugees—those who entered the United States through Indiana—resettled in the state. In the most recent count, 202 refugees arrived in the state between October 2020 and September 2021. As refugee populations grow, states must have the necessary infrastructure in place to resettle and support these individuals. This brief describes the unique challenges and barriers of resettling refugees in Indiana, highlights gaps in services, and pinpoints practices and policies that may effectively and sustainably address refugee needs in Indiana.