Lone woman demonstrates outside Dade County Headquarters

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Anita Bryant after Dade County voters defeated the Gay Rights Bill

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Older woman volunteers at phone bank service at Dade County

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

L-R: Bob Kunst and Dr. Alan Rockway as part of the "Stop Anita Bryant Comm[ission] Leaders from Dade County, Florida

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Access to Better Education: The School Choice Experience of Families Served by Low-Performing Elementary Public Schools in Miami-Dade County

Public school choice education policy attempts to create an education marketplace. Although school choice research has focused on the parent role in the school choice process, little is known about parents served by low-performing schools. Following market theory, students attending low-performing schools should be the primary students attempting to use school choice policy to access high performing schools rather than moving to a better school. However, students remain in these low-performing schools. This study took place in Miami-Dade County, which offers a wide variety of school choice options through charter schools, magnet schools, and open-choice schools. This dissertation utilized a mixed-methods design to examine the decision-making process and school choice options utilized by the parents of students served by low-performing elementary schools in Miami-Dade County. Twenty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with the parents of students served by low-performing schools. Binary logistic regression models were fitted to the data to compare the demographic characteristics, academic achievement and distance from alternative schooling options between transfers and non-transfers. Multinomial logistic regression models were fitted to the data to evaluate how demographic characteristics, distance to transfer school, and transfer school grade influenced the type of school a transfer student chose. A geographic analysis was conducted to determine how many miles students lived from alternative schooling options and the miles transfer students lived away from their transfer school. The findings of the interview data illustrated that parents’ perceived needs are not being adequately addressed by state policy and county programs. The statistical analysis found that students from higher socioeconomic social groups were not more likely to transfer than students from lower socioeconomic social groups. Additionally, students who did transfer were not likely to end up at a high achieving school. The findings of the binary logistic regression demonstrated that transfer students were significantly more likely to live near alternative school options.

Land Use and Water Quality Correlations in Miami-Dade, Florida

South Florida continues to become increasingly developed and urbanized. My exploratory study examines connections between land use and water quality. The main objectives of the project were to develop an understanding of how land use has affected water quality in Miami-Dade canals, and an economic optimization model to estimate the costs of best management practices necessary to improve water quality. Results indicate Miami-Dade County land use and water quality are correlated. Through statistical factor and cluster analysis, it is apparent that agricultural areas are associated with higher concentrations of nitrogen, while urban areas commonly have higher levels of phosphorous than agricultural areas. The economic optimization model shows that urban areas can improve water quality by lowering fertilizer inputs. Agricultural areas can also implement methods to improve water quality although it may be more expensive than urban areas. It is important to keep solutions in mind when looking towards future water quality improvements in South Florida.

Conjugalidade e Parentalidade: estudo sobre a influência das preocupações parentais na satisfação conjugal em pais de crianças com 1 a 5 anos de idade em educação pré-escolar

Segundo a abordagem sistémica, a transição para a parentalidade demarca uma das mais intensas mudanças do ciclo de vida de uma família. A melhor forma de compreender a família, é tentar entendê-la como um sistema, um todo, uma globalidade, como uma rede complexa de relações e emoções que não são susceptíveis de serem pensadas isoladamente (Oliveira, 2002). Porém, é relevante a forma como cada indivíduo, passa pela transição para a parentalidade. Considerou-se pertinente realizar um estudo que englobe a influência que as preocupações parentais apresentam na relação conjugal, tendo como objectivo clarificar a interacção entre as variáveis já referidas e, ainda, a influência que o sexo dos indivíduos, o tempo de casamento e a idade dos filhos exerce nessa interacção. Para tal, recorreu-se a uma amostra de 42 indivíduos, casados e com um único filho, que responderam à Escala de Avaliação da Satisfação em Áreas da Vida Conjugal (EASAVC) (Narciso & Costa, 1996), para avaliação da satisfação conjugal, e à Escala de Preocupações Parentais (EPP) (Algarvio, Leal, & Maroco, in press). Os resultados demonstram que a satisfação conjugal e as preocupações parentais se encontram relacionadas entre si, não apresentando uma forte correlação. Contudo, constata-se que a satisfação conjugal aumenta diante de uma preocupação parental, do mesmo modo, se a preocupação parental for fraca, a satisfação conjugal tem valores médios mais baixos. Os resultados apontam para que o género e os anos de casamento não influenciem os níveis de satisfação conjugal, bem como a idade dos filhos não influência estas preocupações, tendo-se ainda verificado que não existem diferenças entre sexos ao nível das preocupações parentais.

Objetivos de Vida e Satisfação na Vida Conjugal em Pais/Progenitores de Crianças com Autismo

Introdução: A presença do diagnóstico de autismo numa criança é algo marcante no seio familiar. Implica inúmeros desafios para os seus pais/progenitores, podendo influenciar os objetivos delineados para as suas vidas e a satisfação na relação conjugal. Os nossos objetivos foram: caraterizar progenitores de crianças com autismo quanto aos objetivos de vida e satisfação na vida conjugal e explorar as associações existentes entre estas duas variáveis (e com variáveis sociodemográficas e relativas ao apoio recebido). Não deixamos de explorar os níveis de depressão, ansiedade, e stress, vivenciados por estes pais. Metodologia: 66 progenitores (sexo feminino, n = 52, 78,8%; idade média, M = 40,2, DP = 6,45) de crianças com autismo preencheram um questionário sociodemográfico, o Teste dos objetivos de vida/PIL-R, a Escala de Avaliação da Satisfação em Áreas da Vida Conjugal/EASAVIC e a Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21/DASS-21. Resultados: Os progenitores revelaram valores médios de objetivos de vida (PIL-R). Foi na dimensão vivencial (PIL-R) e nas dimensões Comunicação e Intimidade Emocional (satisfação em áreas da vida conjugal/EASAVIC) que os progenitores apresentaram valores médios mais elevados. No caso da DASS-21, foi na escala Stress que os progenitores apresentaram valores mais elevados. Porém, em todas as dimensões da DASS-21, os níveis encontrados foram normais. Não se verificaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas por sexo em todas as dimensões do PIL-R, da EASAVIC e DASS-21. Ambas as dimensões do PIL-R, dimensional e existencial, bem como a sua pontuação total mostraram estar associadas com todas as dimensões da EASAVIC (satisfação em áreas da vida conjugal). As três dimensões da DASS-21 (Depressão, Ansiedade e Stress) revelaram estar associada (negativamente) com praticamente todas as dimensões da EASAVIC e do PIL-R. Os progenitores que pertenciam a associações de apoio apenas se diferenciaram dos progenitores que pertenciam a um grupo (de apoio e partilha) numa rede social na dimensão Ansiedade, com estes últimos a apresentarem um nível mais elevado. Discussão: Neste estudo (ainda que numa amostra de tamanho reduzido), inovador pelo tema explorado, os níveis dos objetivos de vida e de satisfação em áreas da vida conjugal (bem como de sintomas de psicopatologia) pareceram “não sofrer” o impacto associado ao facto dos progenitores terem um filho com autismo. Os objetivos de vida mantidos por estes pais influenciam a sua satisfação com a vida conjugal e vice-versa, indicando a importância das equipas que trabalham com estes pais não esquecerem a promoção destas variáveis. / Introduction: The presence of the diagnosis of autism in a child is something remarkable in the family. Involves many challenges for parents/progenitors, which can influence the goals they define in their lives and their satisfaction with the marital relationship. Our objectives were to characterize parents of children with autism on the objectives of life and satisfaction with marital life and explore the associations between these two variables (and with sociodemographic and support variables). We will not forget to explore the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, experienced by these parents. Methodology: 66 parents (females, n = 52, 78.8%, mean age, M = 40.2, SD = 6.45) of children with autism completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Test of Life Goals/PIL-R, the Areas of Marital Satisfaction Rating Scale/EASAVIC and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21/DASS-21. Results: Parents showed a mean value of life goals (PIL-R). Was in the experiential dimension (PIL-R) and the Communication and Emotional Intimacy dimensions (satisfaction in areas of marital life/EASAVIC) that the parents presented higher mean values. Regarding DASS-21, Stress was the scale in which the parents had higher values. However, in all the DASS-21, levels were “normal”. There were no statistically significant differences by gender in all the PIL-R, EASAVIC and DASS-21 scales. Both dimensions of the PIL-R, dimensional and existential, as well as the total score were found to be associated with all the dimensions of EASAVIC (satisfaction in areas of marital life). The three dimensions of the DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety and Stress) revealed to be associated (negatively) with virtually all dimensions of the EASAVIC and the PIL-R. Parents who belonged to associations only differed from the parents from a social network group (of support and sharing) in the anxiety dimension, with the later presenting an higher level. Discussion: In this study (even if in a small sample size), innovative by the theme explored, levels of life goals and satisfaction in areas of marital life (as well as symptoms of psychopathology) seemed not to suffer from the impact of the parents having a child with autism. The life goals held by these parents influence their satisfaction with marital life and vice versa, indicating the importance of teams working with these parents of not forgetting the promotion of these variables.

“Ela não precisava chamar a polícia...” : anestesias relacionais e duplo-vínculos na perspectiva de homens autores de violência conjugal

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Psicologia, Psicologia Clínica e Cultura, 2015.

Risk Factors and Associations for Hepatitis C Infection among Hispanic/Latino Intravenous Drug Users in Miami-Dade County, Florida

Hepatitis C infection (HCV) continues to disproportionately affect Hispanics/Latinos in the United States. Hispanic/Latino intravenous drug users (IDUs), because of their risky injection and sexual behaviors, are prone to HCV infection and rapid transmission of the virus to others via several routes. With a prevalence rate of approximately 75% among IDUs, it is imperative that transmission of HCV be prevented in this population. This study aims to examine the associations between demographic, injection and sexual risk factors to HCV infection in a group Hispanic/Latino IDUs in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Preliminary unadjusted results in this sample reveal that age (OR=4.592, p=0.004), weekly injection (OR=5.171, p=0.000), daily injection frequency (OR=3.856, p=0.000) and use of a dirty needle (OR=2.320, p= 0.006) were all significantly associated with HCV infection. Being born outside the U.S. was significantly negatively associated with HCV infection (OR=0.349, p=0.004). Additionally, having two or more sex partners in the past three months (OR=0.472, p=0.014) was negatively associated with HCV infection. After adjusting for all other variables, older age (AOR=7.470, p=0.006), weekly injection (AOR=3.238, p=0.007) and daily injection frequency (AOR=2.625, p=0.010) were all significantly associated with HCV infection. Being born outside the U.S. (AOR=0.369, p=0.019) was a significant protective factor for HCV infection, along with having two or more sex partners in the past three months (AOR=0.481, p=0.037). When analyzing the significant variables in a backward regression model, having 2 or more sex partners in the past three months was not significant at the p

BIKE – Bicycle Knowledge Explorer [Miami-Dade]

This route planner, funded by the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization(MPO), is a joint effort by Florida International University GIS Center and University of Florida Geomatics Program at Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center. It is designed as a planning tool for bicyclists. Assistance was received from the Miami-Dade County Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee and various cyclists and transportation professionals.

Population estimates and behavioral analyses of managed cat (Felis Catus) colonies located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, parks

The purpose of my study was to collect data on managed cat (Felis catus) colonies located in two Miami-Dade County, Florida, parks, in order to test the following assertions put forward by proponents of the colonies: 1) Managed cat colonies will decline in size over time and 2) The territorial behavior of cats living in established cat colonies will prevent additional cats from joining. I collected observational and photographic capture-recapture data in order to track colony population dynamics. Behavioral data were also collected in order to understand the role that cat behavior plays in influencing colony population dynamics. My results do not support the assertion that colonies will decline over time. Instead, my findings demonstrate that the establishment of colonies on public lands encourages dumping of cats and creates an attractive nuisance. Furthermore, my behavioral analysis suggests that territorial behavior does not play a role in excluding new cats.