Authentic Youth and Young Adult Partnerships: Broadening the Narrative of LGBTQ Youth Homelessness

Lived experience generates knowledge not available through formal education and training. If lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth and young adults (YYA) experiencing homelessness are to be effectively engaged, their needs met, and their successful transition out of homelessness facilitated, they must be partners in the creation of solutions meant to help them. That means that everyone working to address LGBTQ YYA homelessness – including policymakers, government officials, advocates, researchers, and service providers – need to understand how to partner authentically with YYA experiencing homelessness. This article will introduce a framework for authentic YYA partnerships, describe the philosophy and values underlying the True Colors Fund’s successful partnerships with YYA, and provide examples of how YYA partnerships have informed our work, and as a result the communities we work with. It will discuss how, through the organization’s partnerships with YYA, we have recognized the importance of (1) broadening the narrative about LGBTQ youth homelessness to include the various intersecting reasons LGBTQ youth become homeless and (2) moving beyond a single paradigm of risk/victimization to include resilience and possibility

Quality of Service-Based Medium Access Control Mechanism for Multimedia Traffic in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

This thesis describes an investigation on the problem of quality of service (QoS) support in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). The decentralized nature of wireless ad hoc networks makes them suitable for a variety of applications where central nodes cannot be relied on. This thesis presents a medium access control (MAC) QoS mechanism for multimedia applications in IEEE 802.11e based MANETs. IEEE 802.11e standard draft includes new features to facilitate and promote the provision of QoS guarantees in wireless networks with a long-term solution based on QoS-architectures. The motivation is driven by the need to support increasing demand of time-sensitive applications such as Voice over IP (VoIP) and video conferencing applications. IEEE 802.11e enhances the Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) and the Point Coordination Function (PCF) of the legacy IEEE 802.11, through a new coordination function: the Hybrid Coordination Function (HCF). Within the HCF, there are two methods of channel access: HCF Controlled Channel Access (HCCA) and Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA). EDCA operates in infrastructure-less ad hoc mode and is widely used in MANETs, unlike HCCA, which further assures QoS provisioning operates in infrastructure mode in the presence of access points (AP). Recent researches showed that EDCA lacks QoS support of real-time traffic in MANETs due to its contention based medium access method. This thesis takes HCCA QoS provisioning potentials to MANETs by implementing a MAC mechanism in which HCCA is employed on top of EDCA to work in infrastructure-less environment like MANET with the help of multiple channels. The mechanism dedicates a unique receiver-based channel to every mobile node. It will act as virtual hybrid coordinator (VHC) to exercise control over the channel in contention-free manner while maintaining a common channel in which all mobile nodes can exchange broadcast and routing related messages. The mechanism can be easily integrated with existing 802.11 systems without modification to existing protocols while ensuring a level of admission control and resource reservation over the medium. Simulation results indicate that the mechanism significantly improves the overall network throughput by 20% at the saturation point and improves average delay by 20% at the saturation point compared to pure EDCA with or without multiple channels. Even with multi-channel EDCA, our mechanism guarantees better performance in terms of throughput and MAC delay for high priority traffic in MANET. The research contribution on MAC layer can be integrated into a larger framework for QoS support in MANETs, which opens a wide range of further research in QoS provisioning in MANETs and solve QoS multi-layer design and implementation issues

Estudio de factibilidad para la implementación de un sistema de planificación académica haciendo uso de tecnologia para intranet

En los últimos tiempos la Internet ha tomado gran fuerza en nuestro medio como una herramienta comercial y de comunicación, bajo este horizonte se ha creado una gran oleada de avances tecnológicos que han permitido darle mayor funcionalidad a las páginas dentro del Word Wide Web. Pero toda esta tecnología actualmente disponible está siendo orientada para dar mayor soporte a las actividades administrativas dentro de las instituciones, independientemente del área de desempeño de la misma. Esta aplicación dio surgimiento a un nuevo concepto, Intranet. En este trabajo se ha presentado una aplicación de sitios dinámicos dentro de intranet, caracterizado por el manejo de datos que se encuentran almacenados en un sistema de gestión de bases de datos y permitiendo la recuperación de información en formatos propios de la gestión de la ESPOL. Las ventajas de una intranet son variadas, proporciona soluciones poco costosas y que pueden ajustarse totalmente a los requerimientos particulares de cada aplicación que se le desee dar, el desarrollo de una intranet para la planificación académica es solamente el primer paso dentro del camino que tiene que recorrer la ESPOL para la automatización de sus procesos bajo un sistema estándar de comunicación y que soporte varias plataformas de desarrollo

Improved fallows in Kenya: history, farmer practice, and impacts

This case study explores the development, dissemination, adoption, and impact of improved tree fallows in rural western Kenya. The processes of technology development and dissemination throughout the region are described and analyzed. To analyze adoption and impact, the paper applies a variety of different data collection methods as well as samples from both pilot areas where researchers maintained a significant presence and non-pilot areas where farmers learned of the technologies through other channels. Sample sizes for the quantitative analysis ranged from almost 2,000 households for measuring the adoption process to just over 100 households for measuring impact indicators. Qualitative methods included long-term case studies for 40 households and focus group discussions involving 16 different groups. The paper describes the ways in which farmers used and modified improved fallow practices. Discussion also examines the types of households using fallows and benefiting from their use.

IMPACTS OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND CUSTOMER COLLABORATION ON INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF SIGMA KUDOS AB

Software and non-software development organizations have increasingly adopted agile because of its good practices. In spite of its success, knowledge of the impacts of agile practices and how it could improve communication and customer collaboration in information development is yet to be well established in most of these organizations. Especially in companies that produces technical documentation ( information development). This article presents the results from a study which examined the impact of agile practices on effective communication and customer collaboration within information development teams. The research was carried out as a case study at Sigma Kudos AB. where eight participants within a project were compared from the communication and collaboration perspective. The goal of the study is see the benefits that the practices brings to the organization and their customer

4-vuotiaan lapsen neurologinen arvio ( Lene)- Ohjausvideo Somalivanhemmille

Tämän opinnäytetyön tarkoituksena on tuottaa ohjausvideo somalivanhemmille lapsen 4-vuotis Lene:stä. Tavoitteena on lisätä somalivanhempien ymmärrystä leikki-ikäisen lapsen neurologisesta arviosta eli Lene:stä sekä lieventää heidän pelkoja. Tilastokeskuksen mukaan Suomessa asui vuonna 2016 noin 20 000 äidinkielenään somalia puhuvaa asukasta. Neuvolapalveluihin hakeutuu yhä enemmän somalialaistaustaisia perheitä. Video on suunnattu somaliperheiden lisäksi myös neuvoloihin terveydenhoitajien työvälineeksi helpottamaan kommunikaatiota kielimuurin vuoksi. Leikki-ikäisen lapsen neurologisessa kehityksessä eli Lenessä on tavoitteena saada selville lapset, joilla on mahdollisesti kehityksessä häiriöitä, viivettä ja riski kehittyä oppimisvaikeuksia, jotta heidät voidaan ohjata oikeanlaisten tukitoimien piiriin. Opinnäytetyö on toiminnallinen. Opinnäytetyön teoreettisen viitekehyksen perustana ovat luotettavat lähteet. Lähteiden valinnassa ja merkitsemisessä olimme huolellisia. Palautekyselyiden perusteella monet Somaliäidit kokivat videon hyödylliseksi. Videotamme arvioi myös somalinkielinen terveydenhoitaja, joka on tällä hetkellä töissä neuvolassa. Hän oli sitä mieltä, että video on hyvin toteutettu ja se on tarpeellinen somalivanhemmille.The purpose of this thesis was to provide a guidance video for Somali parents about a 4-year old child’s Lene. The aim of the video is to increase Somali parents' understanding of the neurological assessment of a child (Lene) and to relieve their fears. According to the statistics in 2016, there were about 20 000 native somali speakers in Finland. Child health services are increasingly attracting Somali families. The video is directed not only to Somali families, but also as a tool for public health nurses to facilitate communication because of the language barrier. The aim of a childs’s neurological development (Lene) is to find out children who may be experiencing developmental disturbances, delays and the risk of developing learning difficulties in order to be able to guide them to the right kind of support systems. The thesis is functional. The theoretical framework of the thesis is based on the literature of the field. Based on the feedback questionnaire, many Somali mothers found the video useful. Our video is also evaluated by a Somali public health nurse who is currently working in a child welfare clinic. In her opinion the video was well executed and it is useful for Somali parents

Présentation : L’ethnopsychiatrie

Cette présentation est une revue de littérature sur les deux principaux modèles d’intervention en ethnopsychiatrie : psychiatrie transculturelle et ethnopsychanalyse. Après avoir distingué conceptuellement ces deux approches, la présentation décrit le concept central dans la psychiatrie transculturelle qu’est la compétence culturelle. Ensuite, elle décrit les principaux paramètres de l’intervention ethnopsychanalytique : les fondements, les problématiques de consultation, le fonctionnement, le rôle du référent, du thérapeute principal et des co-thérapeutes, du traducteur et du médiateur, et la finalité de cette approche.This introduction is a literature review of the two major models of intervention in ethnopsychiatry : transcultural psychiatry and ethnopsychoanalysis. After distinction of these two approaches, the authors describe cultural competence considered as the central concept of transcultural psychiatry, followed by a description of the major parameters of ethnopsychoanalytic intervention : foundations, problems related to consultation, operation, role of professionals who refer, principal therapist and co-therapists, translator and finality of this approach.Esta presentación es una revisión de la literatura de los dos principales modelos de intervención en etnopsiquiatría: la psiquiatría transcultural y el etnopsicoanálisis. Después de haber distinguido conceptualmente estos dos enfoques, la presentación describe el concepto central de la psiquiatría transcultural, que es la competencia cultural. En seguida, describe los parámetros principales de la intervención etnopsicoanalítica: los fundamentos, los problemas de consulta, el funcionamiento, el rol del referente, del terapeuta principal y de los coterapeutas, del traductor y del mediador, así como la finalidad de este enfoque.Esta apresentação é uma visão geral da literatura sobre os dois principais modelos de intervenção em etnopsiquiatria: a psiquiatria transcultural e a etnopsicanálise. Depois de distinguir conceitualmente estas duas abordagens, a apresentação descreve o conceito central na psiquiatria transcultural, que é a competência cultural. Em seguida, ela descreve os principais parâmetros da intervenção etnopsicanalítica: fundamentos, problemáticas de consulta, funcionamento, papel do referente, do terapeuta principal e dos co-terapeutas, do tradutor e do mediador, e a finalidade desta abordagem

Pelko pois! : Kokemuksia yksin maahan tulleiden afganistanilaispoikien kotouttavasta kulttuuri-toiminnasta

Opinnäytetyön tilaajana toimi A-Klinikkasäätiö ja kohderyhmänä tilaajan ylläpitämän pääkaupunkiseudun tukiasumisyksikön asukkaat. Tukiasumisyksikössä asuvat alaikäiset, ilman vanhempia maahan tulleet afganistanilaiset pojat.Yksin maahan tulleilla pojat elävät kahden kulttuurin välissä, jatkuvassa huolessa, toisaalta omasta perheestään kotimaassaan, toisaalta omasta tulevaisuudestaan Suomessa. Poikien arki on pysähtynyttä ja jatkuvaa viranomaisten kanssa asioimista. Poliisin kanssa asioiminen on pojista arveluttavaa, sillä kotimaassaan ja paperittomana pakolaisena heillä on vain huonoja kokemuksia virkavallasta. Ystäviä ei välttämättä juuri ole. Näimme tarpeen poikien arjessa kotouttavalle kulttuuritoiminnalle. Järjestimme Kulttuurikeskus Caisassa afganistanilaisen ruoan ja musiikin illan, johon kutsuttiin afganistanilaisia alaikäisiä turvapaikanhakijoita yhteensä kymmenestä eri vastaanottokeskuksesta. Ohjaajien lisäksi tapahtuma tavoitti lähemmäs 200 henkilöä. Lisäksi järjestimme tilaajamme nuorille luontoretken Vallisaareen ja Suomenlinnaan, jossa he pääsivät tutustumaan Suomen luontoon ja vanhoihin elämäntapoihin kuvakorttibingon avulla. Retkelle osallistui 15 nuorta. Menetelmänä tässä opinnäytetyössä on käytetty kokeilevaa toimintaa ja osallistuvaa havainnointia. Toiminnan onnistumista on analysoitu havainnoinnin lisäksi haastattelemalla. Tapahtumista on tuotettu video ja kuvamateriaalia tilaajan käytettäväksi. Toimintakokeilumme osoittivat, että pojat nauttivat hauskan pidosta yhdessä muiden samaa tilanteessa elävien nuorten kanssa. He saivat uutta tietoa niin afganistanilaisista Suomessa, kuin poliisin toiminnastakin. Lisäksi ohjaajat kokivat nuorten kanssa tekemisen virkistävänä vaihteluna arkeen tukiasumisyksikössä. Luontoretkellä havainnoimme poikia ja heidän suhtautumistaan luontoon ja erityisesti mereen. Pojat oppivat lyhyiden lauttamatkojenkin aikana saamaan lisää luottamusta merimatkailua kohtaan. Vallisaaressa ja Suomenlinnassa pojat tekivät havaintoja Suomen ja Afganistanin luonnon välillä sekä opettelivat suomenkielistä sanastoa. Työn on ajankohtainen sekä kulttuurituotannolle että kansalais- ja järjestötyölle, sillä Suomeen on vuosien 2015-16 aikana tullut aiempaa enemmän alaikäisiä turvapaikanhakijoita. On tärkeää tiedostaa tämän kasvavan vähemmistön olemassa olo Suomessa niin nuorisotyöntekijänä kuin kulttuurituotta-janakin. Erityisesti alaikäisille turvapaikanhakijoille järjestettävää kulttuuritoimintaa tulisi lisätä. Opinnäytetyöstä on hyötyä vastaanottokeskusten ja tukiasumisyksiköiden uusille työntekijöille ja asukkaille. Työ kannustaa tapahtumakokeiluihin monikulttuurisessa ympäristössä.The subscriber of this thesis was A-Klinikkasäätiö. A-Klinikkasäätiö arranges living quarters for a group of unaccompanied refugee minors in the Helsinki Metropolitan area. These boys live between two cultures. On one hand they worry about their families back in Afganistan, on the other hand they have already stated planning their stay in Finland. These boys live a slow phased life filled with official meetings with the immigration office officials. The boys are especially afraid of the police due to their history of being abused by the local police in their home country and by being undocumented after leaving Afganistan. They don’t necessarily have a lot of friends either. Here we saw a need for intergrating cultural activities. We organized an event for Afgan food and music in the cultural center Caisa. Approximately 200 underage refugee Afgans and their instructors were invited. We also organized an event for our subrscibers group of boys an opportunity to experience Finnish nature and sea side of Vallisaari and Suomenlinna. During this event the boys were able to learn about the Finnish nature and some vocabulary with a wildlife bingo. This event had 15 participants. The method of this thesis was experimental activities. We collected our data by observing and participating in the events. We have also interviewed the underage refugee boys about their experience. A video has been produced for the use of our subriber to enjoy and observe. We discovered that indeed the boys enjoy having fun together with other people in the same situation as them. They got information about their opportunities in Finland and had the chance to meet with police officers who weren’t aggressive or scary to them. The intructors of A-Klinikkasäätiö felt that the events were a nice change to their daily life and enjoyed spending time with the boys in a different environment all together. In Vallisaari and Suomenlinna we observed that the boys got a more relaxed idea of the sea and travelling by boat and learned new vocabulary of the nature. They also made observations by themselves about the differences of the Afgan and Finnish wildlife. This thesis is relevant to today’s youth workers and cultural producers because more unaccompanied refugee minors have arrived in Finland between the years 2015 and 2016 than ever before. It is important that this minority group gets recognized. Cultural activitied targeted especially for refugee minors should be endorsed and produced. This thesis will benefit those working with refugee minors, especially the new employees as well as producers and youth workers entering the field