The Intergenerational Leadership Institute (ILI) is a yearlong certificate training program developed by Pennsylvania State University for older adults (55-plus) seeking new lifelong learning and civic engagement experiences and opportunities to contribute to innovation and change in their communities. Data from participant surveys and…

PANDAS is characterized by rapid onset of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and/or tics following streptococcal infection in a previously healthy child. PANDAS is frequently misdiagnosed and misunderstood, which affects family quality of life (FQOL). A qualitative phenomenological design was used to examine FQOL in six families with a child with…

Among individuals experiencing internalizing psychopathology, high levels of emotion reactivity--the degree to which they experience emotions strongly or intensely, over extended periods of time, and as elicited by a variety of stimuli--increase risk for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. Researchers developed the Emotion Reactivity Scale…

Background: The changed societal views of persons with disabilities are reflected in the 2006 United Nations "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities". However, what is not specified in the Convention is how to operationalise and measure the Articles composing the Convention, and how to use that information to further…

This study examined the effect of services provided through Maryland's Home and Community-Based Services Medicaid waiver for children with autism on several outcomes related to families, specifically family quality of life (FQoL) and employment. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the services provided through the Maryland autism…

Earning a college degree improves a person's life outcomes in employment, income, health, and quality of life. Thus, it is important to track Baltimore City Schools graduates success in attending and completing college. In this study, the authors sought to summarize college enrollment and completion trends over the past several years. These data…

In the Baltimore region, a successful housing mobility program is providing families living in very disadvantaged inner city communities with a new home and a chance for a new life. Minority voucher holders in the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly titled Section 8) have often been limited to living in "voucher submarkets"…

Using data from adults age 65 and older in the District of Columbia and two adjoining counties in Maryland, we examine the association between community-level structural disadvantage and individuals' subjective assessments of neighborhood problems. In addition, we test whether or not perceptions of relative financial equality or inequality with…

The National Capital Region (NCR) is home to more than one-and-a-half million children and youth (ages birth through 24 years). Although the NCR is known as a place with a highly transient population, if history is any guide, many of these young people will remain in this region and fundamentally shape the quality of life--not only for themselves,…

A crucial national dialogue is under way about higher education and its role in securing America's future. Last fall, a blue-ribbon panel on higher education, established by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, issued a report expressing concerns that the United States could be losing its status as the world leader in postsecondary…

Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are working to improve the quality of life for those with health problems--and career and technical education is working to improve the quality of their training. Training to become a physical therapist requires both an academic and a clinical education with courses in psychology, biology,…

The concept of quality of life currently impacts program development, service delivery, management strategies, and outcome evaluation in the area of intellectual disabilities. Maryland uses peer interviewers to assess consumer-perceived quality of life among adult recipients of MR/DD services and supports. In this article we describe the survey…

Based on facts gathered in 1982-83 and prepared to inform the United States Commission on Civil Rights of the status of migrants in the State of Maryland, this report summarizes findings about housing, health and safety, access/communication/transportation, employment issues, and education. The summary of housing conditions notes that more than…