Barbara Boone
Principal Investigator: Barbara Boone, Center on Education and Training for Employment (CETE)
Co-Investigator: Robert Mahlman
Project Dates: 07/01/2017 – 06/30/2018
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $85,000
Project Sponsor: Ohio Department of Education
Coordination of Regional Family-Community Engagement Network (IDEA)
This project aims to provide state-wide supports, expertise and services to ODE’s 16 State Support Teams (SSTs). The regional SSTs are the means of delivering a unified system of support that meaningfully connects research-based processes to the work of early intervening and prevention, early learning and development and special education functions with a focus on improving instructional practice and student performance on an on-going basis. The project focuses on:
- Supporting Family Consultants, assisting them in establishing broad networks of support for referring families and educators for information, resources and services for students with disabilities,
- Building the knowledge and skills of Family Consultants (and other SST Consultants) through professional development opportunities for supporting family engagement that is linked to student learning and aligned with school and district achievement goals, developing respectful, trusting relationships between home and school, and developing dual capacities of teachers and families to partner,
- Supporting SSTs with aligning and imbedding family engagement into education systems including PBIS, OIP, and Early Literacy,
- Developing resources and learning opportunities for families and educators to equip them with information so they may be effective partners with their child’s teachers,
- Building a cohesive and consistent quality of services of Family Consultants statewide through improved communication and opportunities for collaboration and,
- Supporting the state-wide system of support for families of students with disabilities through effective partnership with Ohio’s Parent Mentors.
Principal Investigator: William Dupont, Department of Human Sciences
Project Dates: 09/01/2017 – 08/31/2018
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $15,000
Project Sponsor: National Strength and Conditioning Association
A Study to Examine the Effects of Resistance Training on Brain Health Function, Plasticity, and Connectivity
The overarching research goal of this study is to quantitatively measure the effects of resistance exercise on brain health, function, plasticity, and connectivity. The objective of this project is to conduct a 10-week study with 1-2 weeks of familiarization, 1 week of baseline testing, 6-weeks of non-linear periodized resistance exercise, and 1 week of post exercise training testing. Our central hypothesis is that resistance training will improve brain health, function, plasticity, and connectivity.
To test our central hypothesis and achieve the overall application goals and objectives, we propose the following specific aims.
Specific Aim 1: To investigate changes in brain connectivity following 6-weeks of resistance exercise training. Our hypothesis is that resistance training will improve brain connectivity.
Specific Aim 2: To investigate changes in brain plasticity following 6-weeks of resistance exercise training. Our hypothesis is that resistance training will improve brain plasticity.
Specific Aim 3: To investigate changes in cognitive function following 6-weeks of resistance exercise training. Our hypothesis is that resistance training will improve cognitive function.
Specific Aim 4: To investigate changes in brain health, using central nervous system inflammation markers, following 6-weeks of resistance exercise training. Our hypothesis is that resistance training will improve brain health by reducing central nervous system inflammation.
At the completion of this project we expect to have determined the effects of resistance exercise on brain health, function, plasticity, and connectivity all of which have been shown to decrease with age. If we show that resistance exercise improves brain health, function, plasticity, and connectivity, then resistance exercise may provide a viable defense against cognitive decline that develops with normal aging. In addition, it may greatly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Xin Feng
Principal Investigator: Xin Feng, Department of Human Sciences
Co-Investigators: Jodi L. Ford, Jen D. Wong
Project Dates: 04/01/2017 – 03/31/2018
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $100,000
Project Sponsor: Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)
Biological and Psychosocial Risk Factors Predicting Maternal Depression and Child Mental Health Problems
Depression is one of the most debilitating mental health problems. It not only leads to impairments and disabilities in a large variety of psychological and physical functioning among the depressed individuals themselves, but also has long-lasting effects on the adverse outcomes of their children. Despite the many approaches to identify risk factors involved, the etiology and maintenance of depression remain poorly understood. In the proposed study, we seek to integrate biological and psychosocial risks of depression, and identify individual risks and risk profiles across multiple domains that predict depressive symptoms in mothers and their children. To achieve this objective, we propose the following aims: 1) to identify maternal biological and psychosocial risks that predict increased probability/level of depression over a 10-year period; 2) to identify maternal profiles of biological and psychosocial factors that are associated with concurrent and future depression; and 3) to examine the concurrent and prospective associations between maternal depression and child mental health problems. We will leverage the existing longitudinal data collected through the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, an ongoing nationally representative study of health and well-being. MIDUS is an interdisciplinary study that examines the influences of biological, psychological, and social factors on psychological well-being and physical health in adults. In the MIDUS study, a broad range of biomarkers were collected. In the proposed project, we will include biomarkers involved in the HPA-axis, autonomic, and inflammatory responses to stress. Although each individual systems have been linked to the etiology of depression, they have rarely been integrated in studies of depression. The hypotheses will be tested using subgroups of the MIDUS study (sample sizes range from 206 to 850). The proposed study addresses MCHB’s strategic issue #IV to promote healthy development of MCH population, and is also in line with Healthy People 2020’s overarching goals to “promote quality of life, healthy development, and healthy behaviors across all life stages,” and “create social and physical environments that promote good health.” The proposed project has the potential to elucidate physiological and psychosocial risk profiles associated with maternal depression and child health.
Sanja Ilic
Principal Investigator: Sanja Ilic, Department of Human Sciences
Co-Investigator: Melanie Ivey
Project Dates: 09/01/2017 – 08/31/2019
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $150,051
Project Sponsor: US Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food & Agriculture (NIFA)
Food Safety Education and Outreach Programming for Plain Growers
Food safety education continues to be a challenge for limited-resource populations. Although Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania are home to over half of the Amish population in the US, state educucational programs are often generic and don’t adequately address specific needs of the Amish. A stakeholder roundtable meeting identified the need for GAPs training that is more relevant to farming practices utilized by Plain growers. While many Plain growers have participated in GAPs trainings in the past and are aware of on-farm food safety hazards, it is evident that program content and delivery methods should be modified to better meet the needs of Plain growers. The objectives of this proposals are to: 1) develop GAPs training adressing the unique farming and handling practices and communication requirements of Plain growers, 2) pilot Plain grower GAPs with distinct settlements in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan (tri-state), and 3) share materials with Plain grower populations through North Central Region Center for FSMA Training. Plain grower GAPs training will be culturally adapted, consider sociolinguistic characteristics and consist entirely of practices utilized by Plain growers. The materials will be designed for settings without electricity. User-friendly presentation materials and food safety plan and recordkeeping templates will be developed for Plain growers. The training will be piloted by Plain growers across the tristate and complement on-going food safety trainings in these states. Completion of this project will allow us to reach a larger number of Plain growers ensuring a greater impact on fresh produce safety in the tri-state region.
Laura Justice
Principal Investigator: Laura Justice, The Crane Center Early Childhood Research and Policy (CCEC)
Project Dates: 07/01/2017 – 06/30/2018
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $88,000
Project Sponsor: Ohio Department of Education
Early Childhood Education Expansion Grant Year 2017-2018
The Early Childhood Education Expansion Program sponsored through ODE will provide funding for 22 children to attend the A. Sophie Rogers School for Early Learning at the Schoenbaum Family Center. Selected programs must provide high-quality early learning opportunities, parent support and linkages to health, social and nutrition services as required by Ohio’s Early Learning Program Standards.
Traci Lepicki
Principal Investigator: Traci Lepicki, Center on Education and Training for Employment (CETE)
Co-Investigator: Robert Mahlman
Project Dates: 07/01/2017 – 06/30/2018
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $770,000
Project Sponsor: Ohio Department of Higher Education
Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) Professional Development Network (PDN) FY 2018
The project aims to provide professional development products and services that support local ABLE programs’ capacity to increase student success including transition to postsecondary education, training and/or the workforce.
Caezilia Loibl
Principal Investigator: Caezilia Loibl, Department of Human Sciences
Co-Investigator: Lauren Jones
Project Dates: 07/01/2017 – 06/30/2019
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $10,000
Project Sponsor: OSU Housing Finance Agency
Homebuyer Education Telephone Counseling
Homebuyer education is a critical piece of the homeownership process designed to help borrowers learn their obligations as homeowners. The goal of OHFA’s Homebuyer Education program is to provide the necessary information to borrowers who otherwise might not have the opportunity to learn about homeownership prior to buying a home. OHFA will strongly encourage each borrower who utilizes the Homebuyer Program to attend classes and/or individual counseling through a HUD Approved Counseling Agency in his or her area. In addition, OHFA will require homebuyer education for borrowers that use the Agency’s programs whether assisted or unassisted.
Robert Mahlman
Principal Investigator: Robert Mahlman, Center on Education and Training for Employment (CETE)
Co-Investigators: James Austin, Brooke Parker
Project Dates: 07/01/2017 – 06/30/2018
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $1,401,271
Project Sponsor: Ohio Department of Education
Technical Testing Project FY 18
The Technical Testing Project is a statewide system that provides data on secondary technical skill attainment for the Ohio Department of Education Office of Career-Technical Education. The system is served to stakeholders across Ohio through an online portal (WebXam) operated by the Center on Education and Training for Employment. The system is aligned to the vision and mission of the Office as articulated in the strategic plan (ODE-CTE website http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Career-Tech), including post-secondary transitions, local report cards, and Federal reporting. This document outlines deliverables for 2016-17 and provides details on how the contractor will accomplish the scope of work.
Helen Malone
Principal Investigator: Helen Malone, Department of Educational Studies
Co-Investigator: Andrew Charles Persch
Project Dates: 08/01/2017 – 07/31/2018
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $64,007
Project Sponsor: Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Buckeye Behavior Analysis Services–FCBDD
The project represents a continued partnership between OSU and FCBDD that will capitalize on current resources and target vocational and community skills training for students served by the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Carla Miller
Principal Investigator: Carla Miller, Department of Human Sciences
Co-Investigators: Jennifer Cheavens, Brian Focht, Kentaro Fujita, Haikady Nagaraja
Project Dates: 09/15/2017 – 06/30/2022
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $3,193,438
Project Sponsor: National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Impact of Augmented Care at the Worksite for Diabetes Prevention
In the U.S., approximately 40% of the population has some hyperglycemic condition. Worksite interventions offer a promising framework for delivering public health interventions to people with prediabetes, since worksites reach a large segment of the population for most of their adult life. The opportunity for long-term follow-up and support may be greater through worksites than through clinic-based programs. Worksite interventions that promote weight loss through lifestyle modification reduce risk for type 2 diabetes among those at high-risk. However, there is heterogeneity in the weight loss response following a standard lifestyle intervention, and early non-response to treatment is an indicator of treatment success. Stepped, or augmented, care can be effective in promoting additional weight loss among early non-responders. Furthermore, effective treatments for weight loss maintenance, especially at the worksite, are not well known. Ongoing contact and support, frequent self-weighing, and skill building in problem solving and barrier reduction offer promise as intervention strategies for weight loss maintenance. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of the standard 16-week, goal-based Group Lifestyle Balance (GLB) intervention for diabetes prevention to an alternate version of the intervention (GLB+) that is restructured with training in cognitive and emotional agency for change, problem solving, and goal attainment. University employees who are at least 21 years old with prediabetes (n=236) will be recruited and receive the first 4 weeks of the standard GLB intervention. Participants who fail to achieve 2.5% weight loss at intervention week 5 will receive the GLB+ intervention for the remaining 12 weeks. The 16-week core intervention phase then will be followed by an 8-month extended intervention phase to promote weight loss maintenance. Following the core intervention phase, matched pairs of participants will be created based on gender and percent weight change from baseline. Each person in the pair will be randomly assigned to either the extended intervention phase of the standard GLB intervention or to the extended intervention phase of the GLB+ intervention. A 6-month no contact maintenance phase will follow the extended intervention phase. The impact of the interventions on percent change in weight (primary outcome), fasting glucose, lipid panel, blood pressure, dietary intake, physical activity, quality of life, and constructs related to problem solving and goal setting will be determined at 4, 12, and 18 months. Cost effectiveness analysis also will be conducted to determine if the benefits associated with weight change justify the costs associated with intervention augmentation. The proposed study will enable evaluation of a practical approach for a sustainable diabetes prevention program at a university worksite and the impact of augmented care on early non-response to treatment and on weight loss maintenance.
Principal Investigator: Nancy Neef, Department of Educational Studies
Project Dates: 10/01/2017 – 06/30/2018
Anticipated Total Award Amount: $10,000
Project Sponsor: Westfall Local Schools
Buckeye Behavior Analysis Services Westfall 2017
The project will provide up to 100 hours of service to Westfall Schools from September 2017 to June 2018 through Buckeye Behavior Analysis Services (BBAS). (Hours will include time in schools, travel, meetings, and report preparation.) Services will be provided by one or more graduate students supervised by faculty and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Services will include functional behavior assessments, development and evaluation of positive behavior support plans, training and support of school personnel, assessment-based intervention plans, observational data collection, report preparation, and attending meetings as needed to promote behavioral and academic goals of referred students of teachers who have requested assistance. The project will further OSU’s land grant mission while benefitting (a) children in Westfall Schools in progressing on behavioral and academic targets, (b) their teachers and aides who receive training and support, and (c) BBAS OSU students who gain experience in skills essential to professional development along with financial support.