Spring: Recent submissions
Now showing items 21-27 of 27
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Mental Health Declassified Nonprofit Organization: How well does Mental Health Declassified utilize Instagram for outreachThis study looks at Mental Health Declassified's Instagram analytics to understand audience outreach and engagement effectiveness. Results showed that females, existing followers, users in the United States, and individuals aged 25–34 make up a greater number of engagers on Instagram. While males, non-followers, international users, and age groups (13–24) and (35–65+) engage the least. Knowing the outreach helps understand how Mental Health Declassified can adjust and make Instagram more inclusive to all groups. With a broader outreach, Mental Health Declassified can reach more people who may need help and create a bigger impact on mental health in every community.
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Community-Based Wellness for Adults Living with Brain Injury: Evaluating Engagement and Quality-of-Life Indicators in Neuro-Fit One-on-One SessionsThis internship project explored how community-based wellness programs may support motivation, engagement, and quality of life for adults living with acquired brain injury (ABI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The project took place at Supportive Living Inc.’s Neuro-Fit program, where participants completed individualized one-on-one exercise sessions. A structured observation checklist was developed and used during sessions to measure physical engagement, motivation and effort, cognitive participation, and emotional indicators. Brief reflection questions were also asked to certain participants in order to better understand how the program affected independence, mood, and daily life.
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Northeast Arc Journeys Day Program: Engagement and Social Interaction in Daily Program ActivitiesThis project examined how different activities affect engagement and peer interaction among clients in a community-based internship setting at Northeast Arc. Over two weeks, observations were recorded during morning meetings, basketball, puzzle activities, and food pantry volunteering. Data focused on engagement, peer interaction, and the need for prompting. Results showed that structured and hands-on activities, such as morning meetings and food pantry work, led to higher engagement and more social interaction. Less structured activities, like puzzles, resulted in lower participation and more prompting. Overall, findings suggest that routine-based and meaningful group activities support stronger engagement and communication among clients in community programs.
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Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening Completion Through Alternative Testing: A Quality Improvement Project at Lynn Primary Care CenterThis quality improvement project at Lynn Primary Care Center aimed to increase colorectal cancer screening completion among patients who did not finish their initial Cologuard tests. By identifying incomplete screenings, determining eligibility for a new blood-based test (Shield by Guardant), and conducting clear, culturally responsive outreach, completion rates rose to nearly 80% by mid-April. The project highlighted how language barriers, low health literacy, and insurance changes affect participation. Offering alternative, non-invasive testing options improved engagement and supported preventive care access for the clinic's diverse patient population.
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Visual Behavior Support for Students with Autism: Using a Reinforcement Board to Encourage Positive BehaviorThis project looked at how visual supports can help a student with autism stay focused and improve behavior. During my internship at the SOAR/EMBARK program at Salem State University, I used a reinforcement board with clear expectations and rewards. The goal was to help the student complete tasks and stay engaged during activities. Over time, the student showed improvement by completing more tasks, needing fewer reminders, and showing fewer challenging behaviors. These results show that visual supports can be a helpful and effective way to support students with developmental disabilities.
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No Copay No Way: Improving Patient Compliance Through Smarter Communication At BridgewellIncomplete payment collection creates financial and operational challenges in outpatient behavioral health settings. At Bridgewell’s Sovner Center, missed payments were associated with patient confusion, limited cost transparency, and inconsistent collection practices. This project implemented workflow and communication strategies to improve copayment completion rates and reduce outstanding balances. Interventions included adding copayment reminders to phone calls and emails, embedding payment links into email footers and Zoom-related documents, tracking unpaid balances, and incorporating reminder calls into daily administrative routines. These changes increased patient awareness, improved accessibility to payment options, and strengthened follow-up efforts. The project demonstrated that consistent communication and structured workflows can improve payment adherence and support revenue cycle management.
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Making Your Own Pizza: A Hands-On Cooking Experience For Disabled AdultsThis project explores the effectiveness of a hands-on cooking activity designed to promote independence and life skill development among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Northeast Arc. Grounded in research supporting experiential learning, the intervention involved participants actively engaging in a structured pizza-making activity. The project emphasized skill-building in areas such as following directions, measuring ingredients, teamwork, and social interaction. Data were collected through observation of participation, engagement, and task completion. Findings suggest that hands-on cooking activities enhance confidence, independence, and social connection while reinforcing essential daily living skills. Overall, this project demonstrates the value of interactive, community-based learning approaches in supporting meaningful skill development and improving quality of life for individuals with disabilities .
