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Changing Behavior: Economic Incentives

David Byrne

October 23, 2019 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Mexico

Cities across the world are learning that a tax on sugary drinks can help to shift purchasing habits and reduce the risks of health problems such as diabetes, heart attacks, and stroke. As a Boulder council member explained, modifying the behavior of consumers is possible when you "tax the behavior you don’t want and use the money to encourage behavior you do."

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Treating PTSD

Anna Boiko-Weyrauch

October 15, 2019 |

Finding Fixes |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Washington

Various therapies have shown promise in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, especially for those also suffering from chronic pain or addiction. One method, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, helps those suffering from PTSD address painful memories that may be at the root of their pain and addiction too.

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After the Disaster: The toll storms take on mental health in India

K Rajendran

October 08, 2019 |

Earth Journalism Network |

Documentary |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: India, Kerala

The rise of natural disasters due to climate change in India has had a psychological impact on many, including children, but psychologists in the state of Kerala are working to address the trauma through targeted training. From better equipping school counselors and providing on-site counselors for students, the communities have reported a decrease in fear in the children.

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Do Deportations Lower Crime? Not According to the Data

Anna Flagg

September 23, 2019 |

The Marshall Project |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Nashville, Tennessee

A federal deportation program called Secure Communities has been around off and on since 2008, and is a collaboration between local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). While responding to a perceived connection between illegal immigration and crime, the heavy-handed approach to deportation hasn’t actually had any effect on crime rates, recent studies have shown. The research has also fact-checked another myth about the program – that it helps police solve crimes better – which hasn’t proven to have any distinct correlation.

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This Man Says His Anti-violence Plan Would Save 12,000 Lives

Mark Obbie

September 11, 2019 |

The Atlantic |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Buffalo, New York

With support for a New York-based grant program, Buffalo has been trying various evidence-based approaches to decrease violence, especially gun violence, in the city. The grant program, Gun Involved Violence Elimination, or GIVE, provides funding for police departments to adopt strategies like hot-spot policing, deterring those most at-risk, or street outreach to break the cycle of violence. While such strategies are linked to success, the process of implementing them, gaining support and trust from the community, and waiting for long-term change has proven challenging.

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Class is in session: How South Burlington tackles cellphone distraction with science

April McCullum

August 27, 2019 |

Burlington Free Press |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, South Burlington, Vermont

Teachers in South Burlington High School in Vermont are taking a different approach to dealing with digital distractions in the classrooms. Through short 30-minute lessons getting at the root of cellphone addiction and the effects of apps on the brain, students and teachers approach the topic from a place of understanding as opposed to judgment or punishment.

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This land is their land

April Reese

August 27, 2019 |

Searchlight New Mexico |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Las Cruces, New Mexico

The Outdoor Equity Fund in New Mexico introduces troubled youth across the state to exploration in nature as a sort of informal therapy and mental retreat. The Fund - a first of it's kind across the nation - distributes resources and funding to local outdoor and youth-centered nonprofits to spread the impact of their missions across the state.

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Can Democrats and Republicans Understand Each Other? It Starts With Getting Off Twitter

Monica Humphries

August 23, 2019 |

NationSwell |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Living Room Conversations facilitates civil discourse among people with different political views. The nonprofit encourages in-person meetings of groups of four to seven people with different backgrounds and views, ideally in a comfortable setting like a living room, coffee shop, or park, and provides over 100 guides on their open-source website to help participants engage in thoughtful dialogue. Rather than attempting to problem solve actual issues, the goal of the conversations is to humanize one another. Participants find the skills they learn useful in their personal relationships as well.

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Reimagining New York Jails Without Solitary Confinement

Reuven Blau Rosa Goldensohn

August 19, 2019 |

The City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Solitary confinement was once thought of as one of the only effective punishments for violent prison inmates. As more research surfaces showing the severe damage it does to mental health, the racial bias of those placed in solitary, and its relative ineffectiveness, more cities, like New York City, are exploring alternatives to the practice. In places such as Denver, Chicago, and San Francisco, rather than invoking a punitive approach, city officials are offering positive reinforcement – and seeing positive results.

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Can We Change Our Behavior or are We Stuck?

David Byrne

August 14, 2019 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Australia, Melbourne

When Melbourne, Australia came close to running out of water in 2008, the water utility conducted a behavioral study to launch an effective communications campaign aimed at reducing water usage among city residents. Along with the effective advertising campaign, the city distributed water-efficient shower heads, offered rebates to people who bought water-efficient machines, and used other "nudge" techniques like telling people how much water they used in relation to neighbors.

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