Community Care
Asynchronous Session
Self-Organization and Community-Wide Holistic Healing: Post-Disaster Recovery in West Maui, Hawai’i View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Masahide T. Kato
The paper analyzes self-organization as it manifested in the community-wide holistic healing process in the aftermath of wildfires in Maui that decimated the entire town of Lahaina, claimed 115 people’s lives, destroyed 2,000 homes, and displaced over 7,000 people. Through ethnographic methods, statistical data, historical contextualization and the scientific theory of self-organization, the paper focuses on the spontaneous grassroots self-organization by the survivors and community members, supported by an influx of intra-island and inter-island supplies and manpower, which produced five service hubs in West Maui and one in Kahului. The range of services at the hubs reflects the orientation of holistic healing: the provision of no-cost medical assistance, massage therapy, mental health counselling, groceries, meals, household supplies, programs for children, etc. all based on volunteer labor. Each hub is led by Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) and adheres to the foundational cultural values of the land. While the main ethnographical data (participant observation and interviews) is concentrated in one of the service hubs where the author also worked as a volunteer, the comparison with other sites is incorporated for analyzing common themes and uniqueness. Fundamentally, the paper aims to elucidate the complexity that facilitated the organic alignment of community-based governance and holistic healing in the context of post-disaster reconstruction of the community.
Health Promotion and Education: The Brain Boosts Framework View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Laura Bruno, Anne Farrell
The Brain Boosts framework (BBF) introduces a holistic approach to health education, designed to support both cognitive and emotional development in students. By building on the principles of brain breaks and multiple intelligences, this framework aims to support a dynamic learning environment where content is presented in a way that resonates with each individual learner’s strengths and needs. This framework encourages an integration of activities that appeal to diverse intelligences while also considering the emotional and social needs of students. The BBF emphasizes the importance of tailoring lessons to ensure that every student feels safe, engaged, understood, and motivated. Whether through energizing, movement-based activities, creative problem-solving tasks, interactive discussions, or mindful reflection, the BBF promotes a deeper connection to content by addressing not only the intellectual but also the social and emotional well-being of students. This fosters an inclusive learning experience that recognizes the full spectrum of student needs. Beyond cognitive stimulation, it encourages educators to create opportunities for students to engage with one another in meaningful ways, such as through group activities that build trust, empathy, and communication skills. By expanding the traditional concept of brain breaks into activities that boost social interaction and emotional regulation, the BBF cultivates a balanced learning atmosphere. Students are not only challenged intellectually but also supported in developing key social and emotional competencies that contribute to their overall growth. This framework ensures that learning becomes a dynamic, engaging, and supportive process, where every student has the tools to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Proactive Health Policy Framework for Cancer Prevention: A Comparative Analysis of Global Regulatory Approaches and Community Implementation Strategies View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Maria Burns
This research presents a comprehensive policy analysis of proactive health strategies for cancer prevention, conducted via a systematic policy analysis across the EU, the USA, and the UN/WHO. Cancer cases globally are projected to exceed 35 million by 2050, representing a 77% surge from 2022. Using mixed-methods data collection, including policy document analysis, regulatory database mining with R and Python, and historic event modeling, this study reveals significant disparities in preventive health policies and their implementation effectiveness. We posit dramatic regulatory divergences between jurisdictions. The EU adopts the precautionary principle, which requires that substances be proven safe before approval. This stance leads to a health preventative approach to food additives. Contrary, the U.S. system assumes additives are safe until proven harmful, allowing more substances by default. Key policy gaps include restrictions on potentially carcinogenic substances, such as titanium dioxide, potassium bromate, and Red Dye No. 3, which remain legal in the US food system while being banned in EU markets. The research examines three critical policy domains: (1) Regulatory Prevention - food safety standards and chemical oversight, (2) Access-Based Prevention - healthcare affordability and screening accessibility, and (3) Community Prevention – exercise incentives, obesity reduction programs, and healthy living initiatives. The findings suggest that cancer prevention outcomes can be significantly enhanced via proactive policies that integrate AI-driven risk assessment with emotionally Intelligent community engagement. Policy recommendations are based on mandatory pre-market safety evaluations, the elimination of regulatory capture, and community-based prevention initiatives that address the health social drivers and epigenetics.
