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A key to bridging the political divide: Sit down and talk?

Glenn Gamboa

March 29, 2021 |

Associated Press |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

One Small Step seeks to decrease toxic polarization by bringing people of differing views and backgrounds together to talk. About 800 people have met in pairs in around 40 cities to talk about commonalities, such as family and spirituality, in addition to other issues facing the country. The conversations, which highlight people’s commonalities and help to humanize one another, are based on research that shows bringing people together face-to-face decreases prejudice and discrimination. Some of the recorded conversations become part of the StoryCorps podcast or were broadcast on NPR.

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Unifying America: ‘Braver Angels' Try To Bridge The Political Divide

Natalie Brand

March 18, 2021 |

CBS News |

Multi-Media |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

Braver Angels works to decrease political polarization by pairing up Republicans and Democrats for one-on-one conversations about each other’s political views and experiences. The goal of the conversations is to encourage understanding through talking and listening, not to change anyone’s views. Participants often find they share similar goals but just have different perspectives on how to achieve them. The group has about 15,000 members representing every state. Membership surged after the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capital, after which around 4,500 Braver Angels gathered virtually to try and heal.

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Seattle Is Using Psychology to Help People Avoid City Fines and Fees

Cinnamon Janzer

March 10, 2021 |

Next City |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

By redesigning the notices it mails to people who owe the city money for pet licenses or traffic and parking fines, Seattle's Innovation and Performance project greatly improved payment rates. The effort, based on behavioral economics concepts making payment seem easier and more in tune with social norms, has pumped hundreds of thousands of dollars more into city coffers while sparing residents the hassles and greater costs of not paying fees and fines when they're due.

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Medical Providers Are Taking Nature Therapy Seriously

Jenifer Frank

February 22, 2021 |

Connecticut Health Investigative Team |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New Haven, Connecticut

Medical providers are increasingly prescribing nature therapy – like walks, hikes, or recreational activities – as a way to help children and adults cope with life stressors. First popularized in Japan as "forest bathing," this practice has been shown to decrease a patient's anxiety and depression and increase their ability to concentrate.

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Georgia's Mental Health Champions

Tina (Tiko) Tsomaia Ia Shalamberidze

February 02, 2021 |

Transitions Online |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Georgia

Across Georgia, a community-based mental health care approach has decreased both the duration and frequency of hospitalization for clients. This approach relies on mental health and other healthcare specialists delivering care to clients via mobile teams.

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Why Health Care Companies Are Paying Workers To Get The COVID-19 Vaccine

Chris Iovenko

February 01, 2021 |

The Huffington Post |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakdale, California

A hospital in California is offering employees a cash incentive to receive the Covid vaccine after witnessing widespread vaccine hesitancy amongst the health care staff. Although experts say it is debatable whether incentivizing vaccinations is a worthwhile approach to behavior change, the hospital has reported a "noticeable increase in the number of workers getting vaccinated" since offering the monetary bonus.

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A Tale of Two Karens

Cecily Sailer Jim Tuttle

January 20, 2021 |

Yes! Magazine |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Pennsylvania

Braver Angels formed after the 2016 election to depolarize politics. The group’s Red / Blue Workshops bring together equal numbers of liberals and conservatives for structured conversations to help people build trust, understand one another, find commonalities, and learn lessons to bring back to their communities. It is rooted in couples and family therapy, with an emphasis on active listening and reflecting back what you hear. Instructions for organizing a workshop are on the group’s website and they have about 11,000 members, with a recent online event, Hold America Together, attracting 4,500 viewers.

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NYC Court Summons Redesigned With Human Behavior in Mind

Ben Levine

December 22, 2020 |

Government Technology |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

New York City courts significantly reduced no-shows for court dates by redesigning court summons forms and sending text reminders to people of their upcoming court dates. An estimated 30,000 fewer arrest warrants were issued, thanks to the behavioral "nudges" that researchers designed with one realization in mind: People often miss court dates accidentally, not intentionally. The changes were made to summons systems, used for low-level offenses, but they could also be used in more serious criminal cases.

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Addressing the mental health plights of Swiss migrants

Svet Lustig

December 22, 2020 |

Geneva Solutions |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Switzerland

In parts of Switzerland and Sweden, mental health care professionals are working to implement culturally appropriate psychiatry services that better addresses the needs of migrant populations. Although acquiring funding for these specialized services can be a challenge, the approach has come to be a model throughout Europe and participants have reported positive feedback.

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Biden embraces drug courts, but do they actually work?

Dan Adams

November 02, 2020 |

The Boston Globe |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Drug courts can help some people with serious drug problems who face serious criminal charges, if such court programs are run carefully, based on evidence-based approaches. But, too often, such courts – which push criminal defendants into treatment as an alternative to incarceration – can do more harm than good. The proof of drug courts' effectiveness is mixed, and fairly thin. Thousands of such courts exist, based on widespread political support for an approach seen as less punitive. But many critics say the courts' track record overall is weak and their approach can be just another form of punishment.

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