The Institute on Aging and Social Work (the institute) supported directed efforts to enhance the research capacity of academics in gerontology across the nation. Due to my participation in the institute, I received intensive training in aging research from distinguished professors as well as staff from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As a…

Objective: To explore the importance of a theoretical framework, the Empowerment education model (EEM), that can be used in participatory research. A deliberative project in one community in eastern Kentucky exemplifies the use of the EEM in participatory research. Methods: Research techniques include surveys, focus groups, community forums, and…

Geographical, economic, social and cultural barriers to accessing services in rural areas are widely reported. Less widely discussed are dilemmas posed by individual and community reluctance to address sensitive health issues. This article, focusing on the highly sensitive area of mental health, and employing a participatory action approach,…

This paper presents findings of an action-research study that examined the characteristics of schools in eastern Kentucky that were recognized as effective by the State Department of Education. Eighteen students who were in an educational leadership class at Morehead State University, and who held teaching or administrative positions in Kentucky…