Building Workforce Capability in Nonprofit Organizations

Leaders of nonprofit organizations in the United States must build workforce capabilities to meet increasing demands for services. This single-case study explored strategies nonprofit leaders used to build workforce capability to address increasing service demands. The conceptual lens for this study was the full-range leadership theory. Data were collected through semistructured interviews from a purposeful sample of 3 senior executives of a single nonprofit organization located in the midwestern region of the United States. Information from internal and external documents and publicly available documents also provided data. Information and data sources included internal organizational and workforce performance data, strategy plans and analysis, internal and external financial documents, organizational website, and nonprofit data and information websites. Data and information from internal and external documents, interviews, and publicly available information were manually coded. Findings were validated through data triangulation and member checking. Using thematic analysis, 4 themes emerged related to building workforce capability: an emphasis on employee development, the expansion of technology systems, a concentration on developing a culture of autonomy and trust, and the introduction of processes and measurements. The findings from this study might contribute to positive social change by providing nonprofit leaders with strategies and data to support a deeper understanding of how to effectively build workforce capability to address increasing service demands

Identifying Novel Triggers of the Intracellular Pathogen Response (IPR) in C. elegans

The intracellular pathogen response (IPR) is a cell signaling pathway found in C. elegans that is triggered when pathogenic microorganisms invade, and immune responses attempt to eliminate the threat. Due to the relative simplicity of C. elegans, they are an excellent model organism to analyze the cell signaling pathways triggered by various pathogens. They lack the complex immune systems of larger organisms, making it easier to study the involved cell signaling pathways. Past studies have shown that the IPR can also be triggered via intestinal wounding. Heat stress, viral infection, and proteasome stress are all known triggers of the IPR. The long-term goal of this project is to generate potential new triggers, the response of which will be compared to the response generated by known triggers. The IPR will be quantified by measuring nanoluciferase expression, which is driven by an IPR gene. The immediate goal of this project is to develop this nanoluciferase assay system to generate IPR activity data in a high-throughput fashion. We hope to eventually be able to relate our findings to similar pathways in humans and other vertebrates. While humans do not have the IPR that is found in C. elegans, they have similar pathways that perform equivalent functions. In particular, we are interested in how intestinal damage could be related to activation of innate immunity. This information could be used to gain a better understanding of gastrointestinal diseases, specifically inflammatory bowel diseases

Disability Employment Services in Australia: a brief primer

This review aims to highlight how the chronic condition self-management support (CCSMS) field might inform and enhance the skills of the disability employment services (DES) workforce, particularly in it interactions with clients with complex disability needs. The approach we have taken involves a consideration of current education and training, recruitment of staff into DES and issues of concern arising from these processes. The main findings of our review are that the current DES workforce may not have the required skills to fully meet the needs of the populations they serve given the growing burden of chronic conditions, generally. We conclude by calling for greater consideration of CCSMS education and training as core required skills for the DES workforce, so that they might integrate their practice more collaboratively alongside other support providers

Adaptation of a culturally relevant nutrition and physical activity program for low-income, Mexican-origin parents with young children.

Latino children experience higher rates of obesity than do non-Latino white children. Family-centered nutrition interventions can slow the rate of weight gain in this population. Niños Sanos, Familia Sana (Healthy Children, Healthy Family) is a 5-year, community-based, participatory research study that targets rural Mexican-origin farmworker families with children aged 2 to 8 years in California's Central Valley. Adaptation of a culturally relevant obesity prevention program involved qualitative research to tailor key obesity prevention messages, pilot testing and implementation of key messages and activities at family nights, and continual modification to incorporate culturally innovative elements. Of the 238 families enrolled, 53% (125) attended the recommended minimum of 5 (of 10 possible) classes during the first year. A university and community partnership can guide development of a culturally tailored obesity prevention program that is suitable for reaching a high-risk Mexican-origin audience through cooperative extension and other public health programs

Developing Workforce Capability in Nonprofits Through Effective Leadership

Leaders of nonprofit organizations in the United States must build workforce capabilities to meet increasing demands for services. This single-case study explored strategies nonprofit leaders used to build workforce capability to address increasing service demands. The conceptual lens for this study was the full-range leadership theory. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with senior executives of a single nonprofit organization located in the Midwestern region of the United States, which included internal organizational and workforce performance data, strategy plans, annual reports internal and external financial documents, and publicly available information. Four major themes related to building workforce capacity emerged from a thematic analysis of the data: (1) an emphasis on employee development, (2) the expansion of technology systems, (3) a concentration on developing a culture of autonomy and trust, and (4) the introduction of processes and measurements. The findings from this study might contribute to positive social change by providing nonprofit leaders with strategies and data to support a deeper understanding of how to effectively build workforce capability to address increasing service demands

The construction of parent and teacher identities in bilingual settings

The implementation of dual language programs, also called bilingual education, in a community not only involve pedagogical and didactic changes, but also offer important and often not measured cultural transformations. In this study, we found that both families and teachers who were involved in a dual language program experienced tensions in building their roles and identities in contexts of discrimination and supremacy of Anglo-Saxon culture. We suggest that these factors should be taken into account in the design of local language policies

La construcción de identidad de padres-madres y maestros en contextos bilingües

Los programas de lenguaje dual, también llamado educación bilingüe, no sólo implican cambios pedagógico-didácticos para una comunidad, sino también importantes transformaciones culturales, que muchas veces no son dimensionadas. Tanto las familias como los maestros experimentan tensiones en la construcción de sus roles e identidades en contextos de discriminación y supremacía de la cultura anglosajona. Estos factores deben ser tomados en cuenta en el diseño de políticas educativas y lingüísticas locales

Island Commons Sustainability Center

When planning for a trail system on site, the group was asked to design an aesthetically pleasing, universally accessible trails system on the pre-existing property for the center which would act as “sanctity” and peaceful spaces with minimal manipulation of the grounds. The team was asked to incorporate native plants, which would create new sustainable ecosystems, and to develop information stations that would inform visitors about the ecosystem and environment at St. Mary’s. The team was also tasked with finding ways in which local artists could contribute sustainable related artwork to the site

Developing an institutional framework for supporting supervisors of research students: A practical guide

This booklet describes the outcomes of a unique interinstitutional project undertaken in Ireland between 2008 and 2012 to develop a common framework for the support of supervisors of postgraduate research students. The experiences of the seven institutions who ultimately participated in the project are summarized in the form of a series of commentaries on approaches to such training, and a description of the primary elements of the final framework itself. It is intended that this information may be of use to any institutions interested in developing their own supports for research supervisors, and ultimately will be of benefit to the supervisors themselves and, of course, their students