University of Nebraska Public Policy Center
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May 25, 2013NU | UNL | UNMC | UNO | UNK | IANR 

News and Events

PPC Graduate Student Appointed to Fellowship Program

Joseph Hamm, a Public Policy Center Graduate research assistant and doctoral student in psychology and law, was one of eight UNL students to be appointed to the Center for Great Plains Studies 2013 Graduate Fellows Program.

According to the press release the program "provides a place for select graduate students to work, meet, obtain support, learn from fellow students, engage with Center faculty and staff, benefit from the center's resources and progress in their studies."

Behavioral Health

Nearly all of us connect to, or know someone who connects to, behavioral health services. Behavioral health is a broad term comprising developmental disabilities (chronic conditions due to mental and/or physical impairments), substance abuse, gambling, addictions, and mental health. Behavioral health issues impact everyone from infants to older populations. Some behavioral health issues may be long-lasting while others may be one-time experiences. Some persons experience behavioral health challenges in everyday life, while others may experience them because of a unusual event, such being impacted by a natural disaster. How public and private agencies organize, finance, deliver behavioral health services impact us all. Effective care for behavioral health issues may be undermined by gaps in services, long waiting lists, cultural and language barriers, and more. The Public Policy Center has worked to improve public policy in behavioral health in Nebraska through projects like the Gambler’s Assistance Program Evaluation, Disaster Behavioral Health research, the Children's Mental Health State Infrastructure Grant, and an initiative to connect people with behavioral health needs to high quality services using the resources of faith-based and community-based organizations. These projects help identify recovery opportunities to behavioral health problems that are consumer directed, comprehensive and individualized, and involve families along with early identification and intervention.

Behavioral Health Projects:
Behavioral Health Publications:

Tomkins, A. J., & Kane, C. (2010).
Foreword Behavioral health services in the new decade Perspectives on practices and policies 2010. American Journal of Community Psychology, 46, 312-313.

After the Storm: The Road to Recovery. (2011)PDF File

Shank, N., Willborn, E., & PytlikZillig, L. Behavioral health providers’ perceptions of health information exchange: Similarities and differences between themselves and medical health providers. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Tomkins, A. J., & Kane, C. (2010)
Behavioral health services in the new decade Perspectives on practices and policies. (2010).
American Journal of Community Psychology, 46, 312-418.

Behavioral Science Guidelines for Assessing Insider Threats. Bulling, Denise, and Scalora, Mario. (2008 July).

MREP Civic Engagement Meetings for Public Scoping Final Report. (2009 Fall).

Vogt, R.J., Cantrell, R.L., Johnson, B.B., & Tomkins, A. (2005). Center for Applied Rural Innovation: A research report—Well-being in rural Nebraska.

Nieuwsma, J.A., Rhodes, J.E., Jackson, G.L., Cantrell, W.C., Lane, M.E., Bates, M.J., Dekraai, M.B., Bulling, D.J., Ethridge, K., Drescher, K.D., Fitchett, G., Tenhula, W.N., Milstein, G., Bray, R.M., & Meador, K.G. (2013). Chaplaincy and mental health in the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense. Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, 19:1, 3-21.PDF File

Cleaning Up After The Storm: Lessons Learned From The Experiences Of Disaster Volunteers After The May 2004 Storms In Southeast Nebraska. (2006 January).

Tomkins, A. J. (2012). Combating food shortages in least developed countries: Current development assistance approaches. Law & Development Review, 5(2), 26-55.

"Dance of Disaster." Walles. C. Plainviews, the e-Newsletter for Chaplains and Others, Vol.3 No. 16 (2006).

Shank, N. & Perkins, T. (2006). Developmental disabilities service coordination in Nebraska (final report).

Shank, N. & Perkins, T. (2006). Developmental disabilities service coordination in Nebraska (summary).

The Dialogue. (2007 Summary)PDF File

Evaluation of Nebraska's Probation Problem Solving Courts. (2008 July).

DeKraai, M. B., Bulling, D. J., Shank, N. C., & Tomkins, A. J. (2009). Faith-based organizations in a system of behavioral health care. Manuscript under review.

DeKraai, M.B., Bulling, D.J., Shank, N.C., & Tomkins, A.J. (2011). Faith-based organizations: A model for participation in the delivery of behavioral health care. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 39,3. 255-67.

Perkins, T. & Shank, N. (2009). Fusion project evaluation (2006-2009). PDF File

Perkins, T. and Shank, N. (2010). Fusion project evaluation (2009-2010).

Perkins, T. and Shank, N. (2012). Fusion Project Evaluation: Telephone Survey – Random Sample of Lincoln Residents.

How to Help Your Community Recover from Disaster: A Manual for Planning and Action. The Society for Community Research and Action. (2011 April).PDF File

Shank, N., Sokol, B., Hayes, M., & Vetrano, C. (2008). Human services data standards: Current progress and future vision in crisis response. Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, USA, 352-361.PDF File

Perkins, T., & Shank, N. (2003). Intermediary service organizations providing personal assistance services: Implementation lessons.

Shank, N. & Perkins, T. (2006). LR 42 services coordination study executive summary.

Shank, N., Hoffman, S., & Perkins, T. (2003). Maternal child health capacity-building models: A summary. PDF File

NEBHANDS Nebraska Behavioral Health Integration Project Semiannual Program Progress Report. (2003 April). PDF File

NEBHANDS Nebraska Behavioral Health Integration Project Semiannual Program Progress Report. (2004 April). PDF File

NEBHANDS Nebraska Behavioral Health Integration Project Semiannual Program Progress Report. (2005 April). PDF File

NEBHANDS Nebraska Behavioral Health Integration Project Semiannual Program Progress Report. (2003 October). PDF File

NEBHANDS Nebraska Behavioral Health Integration Project Semiannual Program Progress Report. (2004 October). PDF File

NEBHANDS Nebraska Behavioral Health Integration Project Semiannual Program Progress Report. (2005 September). PDF File

Nebraska Behavioral Health Guidelines for Medical Isolation. (March 2007).PDF File

Nebraska Drug Courts Evaluation Summary. DeKraai, M. (2008 January). PDF File

Nebraska Final Report on Disaster Response Capacity Expansion Grant. (2006 January). PDF File

Nebraska Gambler's Assistance Program Biennial Report Fiscal Years 2006-2007. PDF File

Nebraska Hospital Preparedness for Psychological Consequences of Public Health Emergencies: Survey Results Summary. (2004 December).

Nebraska Hospital Preparedness for Psychological Consequences of Public Health Emergencies: Survey Results Summary. (2004 December). PDF File

PPW Family Works Final Report_April 2010
SAMHSA
Authors:Carolyn Thiele,Heather Bird

Responding to the Storm: Exploring the Psychological Support of Emergency Responders After the May 2004 Storms in Southeast Nebraska. (October 2006). PDF File

Rural Response Hotline Card. (2011)PDF File

Nebraska Suicide Prevention Summit Final Report. Abdel-Monem, Tarik. (2010 February). PDF File

Survey of Disability and Employment in Nebraska, Fall 2001 Data Analysis and Report. Wolfe, J. K. (2002 May). PDF File
BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH		 GOVERNMENT
SERVICES		 INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY		 PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION		 WATER
RESOURCES