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Impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the mental health of isolated patients
Jun 11, 2020
Penn State researchers provide informed commentary on the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the mental health of hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19.Even with well-established protocols and familiarity, infection isolation protocols may cause significant issues for patients,…
Survey takes the pulse of PA municipal leaders on COVID-19
Jun 11, 2020
As Pennsylvania continues a phased reopening, elected officials and municipal leaders in cities and towns across the commonwealth remain concerned about issues like testing capacity, budget shortfalls and communication with state-level agencies, according to a survey conducted by an…
Impacts of the coronavirus on public understanding
Jun 10, 2020
Penn State researchers examined public knowledge of the pandemic through a mixed-methods survey of Central Pennsylvania residents during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.In early March, Penn State became the first US institution to join an international consortium of higher education…
Global relationships aid Penn State faculty disease expert on COVID-19
Jun 9, 2020
Penn State Professor of Biology Matthew Ferrari wakes up early these days. He has to — Ferrari co-chairs the Public Health and Science Assessment task group responsible for advising senior University leadership as they continue to guide Penn State’s strategic response to the pandemic. Several times…
Virtual speaker series to focus on COVID-19 response and policy impact
Jun 4, 2020
Penn State’s School of Public Policy is hosting a virtual speaker series, “Policy and the Pandemic,” every Wednesday at 2 p.m. beginning June 10, 2020.The series will highlight School of Public Policy faculty research analyzing the response to the coronavirus at the local, state and federal level…
Impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on serving the community
Jun 1, 2020
Penn State researchers provide informed commentary on the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic while serving their community – using Centre County as an example. Situated near Penn State’s University Park campus, Centre Helps provides two core services: a 24/7 emotional support and suicide…
Gathering big data to accelerate the COVID-19 fight
May 29, 2020
Penn State is one of 15 institutions participating in a national collaboration to turn data from hundreds of thousands of medical records from coronavirus patients into effective treatments and predictive tools.The National COVID Cohort Collaborative partners National Institutes of Health-…
Podcast collaboration explores research, policy and democracy during pandemic
May 29, 2020
COVID-19 has sparked a wide range of extreme political actions in the first half of 2020. From inconsistent shelter-in-place orders to unprecedented economic stimulus actions to debates over masks and armed protests at state capitols, the pandemic has brought the relationship between scientific…
Take Note: Penn State Prof. Jenny Van Hook On Coronavirus And The Census
May 27, 2020
SSRI cofund and PRI affiliate Jenny Van Hook is interviewed for WPSU's Take Note on the consequences of a Census undercount. Van Hook is the Roy C. Buck Professor of Sociology and Demography at Penn State and a former member of the Census Advisory Board. She was an expert witness in the legal fight…
Impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on special education services
May 26, 2020
Penn State researchers provide informed commentary on the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on special education service delivery in Pennsylavania. Early reports suggest that students may re-enter school in the fall of 2020 almost a full year behind academically. However, Penn State researchers…
Connell to research impact of social distancing
May 22, 2020
COVID-19 research to evaluate impact of public health responses to pandemic on childrenChristian Connell, associate professor of human development and family studies and associate director of the Child Maltreatment Solutions Network, has been funded by the Social Science Research Institute and …
Why Social Science? Because We Will Need to Do Better in the Next Crisis
May 22, 2020
By John Haaga, PhDThe COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a surge of interest in the press and social media in comparisons with other countries. When did the new virus reach other countries, how did they handle it, and how well did they do? I have lost count of the number of times I have read that the…
COVID-19 Data 4 Action Project will help inform local decision-making
May 20, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented disruption to Centre County, impacting every aspect of our daily lives and economic well-being. A new project will give a voice to community members, allowing them to share their experiences and impact decision-making as the region moves…
Impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on substance abuse
May 18, 2020
Penn State researchers provide informed commentary on the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on those affected by substance abuse disorder. They point out it is essential that treatment and intervention, recovery services, and prevention mechanisms remain accessible, operational, and optimized.…
COVID-19's distinctive footprint on immigrants in the United States
May 14, 2020
Read the op-ed in The HIll, co-authored by Diana Fishbein, on the harsh reality for immigrants - while they assume valuable positions in our society, they accept lower wages and their work poses greater hazards and fewer protections against injury, including the contraction and circulation of…
Pandemic lockdown increases child abuse and family violence
May 14, 2020
Articles in U.S. News, The Atlantic, and the American Psychological Association quote SSRI cofunds Brian Allen, Jennie Noll, and Yo Jackson on how the pandemic is creating situations of isolation and parental stress, which are major risk factors for child abuse.
Information on COVID-19 from WPSU
May 14, 2020
WPSU RadioWPSU Radio produces coronavirus related Health Minute broadcasts:
Handwashing https://radio.wpsu.org/post/health-minute-handwashing
Sleep and Immune System https://radio.wpsu.org/post/health-minute-sleep-immune-system
Social Distancing https://radio.wpsu.org/post/health-minute-social-…
Impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on cancer treatment
May 13, 2020
Penn State researchers provide informed commentary on the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on treating cancer, the leading cause of death in the developed world. Given the potential of COVID-19 to infect both patients and staff members, cancer facilities are currently triaging the care of cancer…
Impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the Criminal Justice System
May 11, 2020
Penn State researchers provide informed commentary on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the criminal justice system (CJS), focusing on its efforts to contain the spread of the virus through the three core components of the CJS — courts, corrections, and policing — as well as opportunities…
COVID-19 Resources website highlights social science response
May 6, 2020
With the spread of COVID-19, Penn State’s Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) has launched a new website that provides resources for researchers, policy-makers and the general public to inform and to address impacts of the pandemic—with a focus on its broader implications for individuals,…
Viral Imaginations: COVID-19
May 4, 2020
Viral Imaginations: COVID-19 is a gallery and archive about Pennsylvanians’ experiences during coronavirus. The goal is to gather expressive work—creative writing and visual art—to capture the experience of PA residents and students during the pandemic, and to serve as a gathering point and, in the…
Free online resources for families address the pandemic
Apr 28, 2020
The Penn State Thrive Initiative is a continuum of evidence-informed parenting programs that are designed to empower parents and caregivers as they nurture children from the prenatal period until 18 years of age. The site contains tips for parents working from home, how to talk to your children…
Census Bureau Launches New COVID-19 Data Hub
Apr 27, 2020
The U.S. Census Bureau released a new resource page on Census.gov to help federal agencies, businesses, and communities make decisions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar to the Census Bureau’s resources pages created during natural disasters, this resource page includes information on…
How to Help People Do What They Need to Do to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
Apr 27, 2020
"You tell me what you need people to do, and I’ll tell you how to help them do it.” Although a simplification, this statement by social and behavioral scientists to our infectious disease colleagues illustrates the nature of our collaboration during an infectious disease outbreak like the current…
Penn State nutritionist shares tips for feeding kids while stuck at home
Apr 27, 2020
Balancing finicky kid appetites with proper nutrition can be a challenge in the best of times. But now, with the majority of schools and day cares closed across Pennsylvania, many parents working from home, and schedules thrown in disarray, it may seem downright impossible.Kathleen Keller,…