Sunday, March 25, 2012
More Grad School Nerdiness
1 - Political Economy Intervention.
*This would be based on my PRECEDE-PROCEED answer for the mid-term. Essentially that of looking at how to increase health by increasing the strength of the welfare state through electoral change.
2 - Attitude Change Intervention 1.
*Look at increasing positive attitudes toward comprehensive sex education by county staff and interns with APS parents.
3 - Health Equity Awareness and Attitude Change.
*Look at increasing awareness and positive attitude change toward the concept of health equity in Bernalillo County with priority populations being county officials and FaceBook users.
4 - Poverty Elimination Intervention.
*Increase awareness of Poverty and Income Inequity as a Public Health issue in Bernalillo County. Priority population are FaceBook users.
Labels: Grad School
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Political Planning
Dear friends: I’m in grad school for a Masters in Public Health (MPH).
I needed to write about the “PRECEDE-PROCEED” health planning model with an example of my choice for a mid-term exam. I turned in something similar to this. This is a slightly tweaked version from my actual mid-term answer. Enjoy…
One example of a Precede-Proceed application may be an intervention upon the political-economy. There have been studies that suggest that the political-economy influences poverty and income inequities in a society. The political economy is influenced by participation in mass movements, unions, political parties, and electoral systems.
Let’s assume that a mass movement has appeared arguing against the concentration of political and economic power in the hands of a few people in society, maybe the top 1%. Health promotion workers being concerned about the prerequisites of health as mentioned in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion get together to see how they can form a health promotion program in support of this movement. They looked at how to work on healthy policy, supportive environments, community action, individual skills, and reorienting medical services.
The ultimate desired result as expressed by the mass movement is an equitable society. Health promotion workers offer to provide support on these issues and develop a “healthy society” intervention. Listening to participants of the movement, and also having conversations with people from non-profits, social justice organizations with paid staff, the few radical elected officials, and other public health workers the health promotion healthy society team will develop a menu of well-researched issues which contribute to the concentration of power and resources, or toward an equitable society (depending on how research has been done previously), then present that to the stakeholders.
They also look at previous research and decide to provide health education on how political systems, economics, racism, sexism, classism, party in power, unions, and mass movement influence health. There is plenty of scientific evidence that supports the idea that a strong “Left” movement will make a difference in income equity, health, and general quality of life. They take diffusion of innovation theory, theory of freeing, and other health models and apply it to create a strong impact for health education approaches.
Electoral systems, laws around ballot access for political parties, and laws concerning unionization are identified as barriers to implementation of a “healthy society” intervention. Laws around gathering in public are also identified as barriers. Banking laws, especially mortgage lending laws, are seen as huge barriers as well. General distrust of unions, political parties, politicians, and a weakening of democracy by the two-corporate-party system is another huge barrier and interventions specifically around this start getting planned to present back to the group.
This information is taken back to a movement “general assembly” where the information is shared and is then discussed over the course of several meetings. The assembly feels ownership sufficiently to engage the health promotion team with planning around increasing participation in the mass movement, and decreasing the concentration of power through mandatory public financing of all elections. The health promotion team delves back into the literature and begins to design specific interventions that will help get more people involved in the mass movement, and also looks at the process for changing electoral financing laws, and other issues prioritized.
The general assembly creates a “healthy society” working group that meets regularly. Process evaluation is done at every meeting. It is decided that that every three months there will be some impact evaluation. Since this is not a funded project the members of the movement ask the health promotion workers if they would invest time in training a variety of people in evaluation so that an outcome evaluation may be done at the end.
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KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: Grad School, Health, Real Democracy
Sunday, March 11, 2012
3/11/12
Hopefully I'll also get back to posting!
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: Grad School
Sunday, February 26, 2012
2/26/12
May 12th and grad school is over! Don't know why I thought waiting until my kids were out of high school would make this easier...
Had my annual check up - levels are all either good or within acceptable ranges. Blood pressure has ranged from 143/81 to yesterday's 120/80! My computer is on the verge of giving out... If it can hang on until June I can let it rest!
Lots of stuff going on and I will try to post weekly to get the blog back on track!!!
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Oh and a song for election season!!!
Labels: Grad School, Health
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
11/8/11
School have been going good. Looks like I will be able to graduate on time. I just need to decide if I want to design an independent study or take a straightforward class. I'll post that.
In reflecting on lots of stuff it is always interesting how during this period of movement building that lots of middle-class folks are wondering why EVERYONE isn't behind them. Of course if you bring this up they whine about divisiveness. Having conversations aren't divisive. Ignoring issues that are important are. One example is the idea of "Who Gets To Vote?"
Of course the good cheap response is to blame people targeted for the issues they deal with. Its a nice easy out. You see it in the news where poor people are blamed for their problems and in the same news cast you'll see stories trying to make you sympathetic for people losing in the stock market.
Labels: Grad School, Solidarity, Workout
Sunday, May 08, 2011
Presented on health equity and social determinants to a UNM service learning program yesterday. Sounded like it made sense to them.
Still very happy about this year's May Day!
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: Grad School, Musica y Musicos, Woodshedding, Workout
Thursday, March 17, 2011
3/17/11
I have been working on some jazz drills and feeling like "geeze I should have learned these in middle school." Then I noticed on Tuesday during rehearsal and jamming with some friends that I was playing a bit differently. Decent stuff for a couple of weeks of work. I guess I'll have to keep it up!
It has been hard to keep up with current events. Japan, Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Wisconsin, etc.
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: Grad School, Health, Hell In Handbasket, Musica y Musicos
Friday, December 10, 2010
12/10/10
Went for a good walk yesterday. Need to make time for one today.
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: 'Buelo Time, Grad School
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
12/7/10
I think the month off will be good for me. And it might be good for the vote on the Billionaire Bailouts to be over. Then I can stop irritating my Obama-loyalist friends. He's done a decent job overall. Continuing the tax handouts for the super rich will cause a great deal of problems. It definitely shows that we need more than two choices in politics. We have more than two choices in almost everything else.
Keep Lefting!!!
Labels: Grad School, Hell In Handbasket
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
11/30/10
A friend also challenged me to 20 minutes of meditation a day. I've been going at it. Definitely tough.
Turned in two final assignments yesterday and have two more before Monday and my final exam Monday also! Can't wait for this week to be over. I'm going to work with my daughter on her Stats class after next Monday. I'm so proud of her.
She is definitely stretched between work, school, and Chuyito. After my finals I'll also be able to hang more with him. That's always fun. Reminds me what I want to get into better shape for!
KEEP LEFTING!
Labels: 'Buelo Time, Grad School, Routine
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
11/9/10
While leaving the band may be good for me in the long run, there is definitely a mourning period. But I've been able to practice Esteban Jordan songs. Now to start picking out chord changes and all the fun details. It's woodshedding time.
And time to get my projects done.
KEEP LEFTING!!!!
Labels: Esteban Jordan, Grad School, Woodshedding, Workout
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Sept. 30, 2010
Over the weekend I learned how to use Audacity to do a voice over for a school presentation. But I did it with music! Learned a good chunk and could probably become a podcaster now if I wanted to. Maybe once a month do a short rant or review of a song or something. We'll see.
More importantly I've started to do some jumping jacks and walking more. I haven't started with the weights. Mostly just scheduling - familia, homework, organizing, and playing music. Lots of challenging stuff.
I did figure out that if I do want to learn more about Esteban Jordan's music I'll have to start from the bottom and work my way up. Since I only review songs for the bands and don't go into them super deep - hope they aren't upset. I keep trying to improve, but much of the music doesn't drive me.
So back to EJ... if I REALLY want to understand it and get a grasp I'll have to be super slow. I'll start with the lyrics of a song. After that go to the intro and work out the bass as close as I can. Then go back to the beginning of the intro and work it out on the guitar. THEN go back and work out the acordeón. I know I'll work on the acordeón all along, but seeing how the harmony works along with the interesting rhythm changes will help it all make more sense and also allow me to arrange and compose with a different feel.
Wish me luck!
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: 'Buelo Time, Grad School, Health, Musica y Musicos
Sunday, September 12, 2010
9/12/10
Had an interesting gig on Friday. Right before I left there was some drama at the house and I ended up rushing late to the gig. I left my mics at home so played keyboard most of the gig. I realized how little I want to be a keyboard player - people seem to like my keyboard playing, but it doesn't interest me much.
And I still don't play the acordeon to my standards. What a pain that is. But it makes me think that if I had my own band I would play mostly rancheras and would play the English music on the acordeon as well.
Now only if there was more time! But lamenting doesn't help. On to the homework!
Keep Lefting!!!
Labels: Grad School, Musica y Musicos
Saturday, September 04, 2010
9/4/10
I asked a musician friend if he would pick out the chords to some Esteban Jordan music - he wouldn't even try it for money! I don't have lots of time for practicing, so maybe that will be my project for thanksgiving and X-mas.
It is nice that my health disparities book FINALLY got to social and economic factors that influence health, health disparities, and "minority" health.
Keep Lefting!
Labels: Grad School, Musica y Musicos
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
8/31/10
Been able to practice a little... going to have to be patient until the Masters is over.
Attending the 40th Anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium this weekend in East LA. Very good and very interesting. Lots to consider.
Family is a little stressful right now. But overall things are good and should get better.
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: Grad School, Health, Hell In Handbasket, Raza Unida
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Prayers for Esteban Jordan
The busy, well that's usual. I passed my Research Methods class, but with a lower grade than I hoped. I guess I should have pushed harder for make up work. Oh, well. Not that bad, but not fun.
The hardest part is probably that I happened to do an uncommon log in to MySpace and found out that Esteban Jordan is ill. This is an obvious drag for me.
This last week I started speaking David who plays accordion for FYLG and he wants to put together an Accordion Fest. One day in Santa and one day in Burque. He wants to do Scalos or something "classy" - I'm hoping for something more working-class, but he's organizing.
So he wants to showcase someone in each genre. I promoted Miguelito for mariachi and Jimmy Baca or John Mancha for conjunto. He wanted me to play too. So I was trying to think of what songs to do. I figured if I had three songs I would do Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, and Esteban Jordan.
Last night I was driving home from rehearsal with Mezcla Latina. I was listening to a greatest hits collection of Los Relampagos. And I was thinking to myself, "he said 3-5 songs, so there are tons of great songs to do." I was thinking I could do one of two things - work on 5 Esteban Jordan songs, or one song from different Chicano/Mexicano acordeon styles. So I made a CD to listen to and go over. Most of the songs were Esteban Jordan. So I was leaning that way.
Just funny how coincidence works that way.
The best part of the day was delivering a presentation on Health Equity. My professor is out sick and missed it, my two bosses didn't show up. A couple of Chicano elected officials, or their reps missed it, but the turnout was perfect. Had a good response and discussion. I think it will really help me in my future work.
KEEP LEFTING!
Labels: Grad School, Health, Musica y Musicos
Thursday, August 05, 2010
8/5/10
Have meetings and a gig today. Going to meetings most of tomorrow and going to sit in with Felix y Los Gatos for their CD release party. It will be David from FYLG and Jimmy Baca, and I!
Should be fun. Still have one more project to do for this semester and will be glad when it is over. Then I get 8 whole days of no school!!!
Keep Lefting!
Labels: Grad School
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
7/28/10
If I'm going to do a thesis I'll have to see how to make that make sense. It might make sense to skip the thesis (officially) and just work on different learning projects for each semester. Too bad they didn't have a research methods class for social epi or social determinants. I'll have to make that up for myself as I go along.
The sharp focus approach may be useful. I'm still trying to figure out if this ends up being like "thinking in silos"...
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: Grad School, Health
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
7/20/10
Just too many things going on.
I'm also trying to get in to my chiro. What I think will be good about school is my learning how to provide more analysis to our arguments for social determinants of health work. I wish research class would give us more step by step practice. It seems that the assumption is that we had undergraduate research classes. Well, I didn't. Even if I had it was a long time ago.
Catching up will be a slight drag in some ways. But thinking hard about how to add to the data that poverty, housing, participation, etc. impact health, here in Bernalillo County, New Mexico will be worth it.
KEEP LEFTING!
Labels: Grad School, Health
Thursday, July 15, 2010
July 15, 2010
The recognition around the more population based approach comes from co-workers, community, and professors who are not giving me a grade. To be fair, I have had good grades on papers where I talk about the political determinants of health. Just this one class and writing this research proposal is a big gear change. I think I'm grinding the transmission fairly badly!
Let's see what I get to by Saturday. I won't have any time for this on Friday, but after I read what I've found maybe it will fit for this before midnight!!
Keep Lefting!!!
Labels: Grad School
