Disproportionality in Education and Employment Outcomes of Adult Foster Care Alumni

Racial similarities and disparities in the education and employment of 134 African American and 574 White adults placed in foster care as children were examined. Logistic regression was used to compare differences among these young adult alumni who were served by a voluntary foster care agency in 23 U.S. communities. When controlling for demographic background, risk factors, and foster care experiences, race/ethnicity was a significant factor only in the increased odds of White alumni having income at or above poverty level, three times poverty level, and home/apartment ownership compared to African Americans

Ethnic Group Comparisons in Mental Health Outcomes of Adult Alumni of Foster Care

Racial similarities and differences in mental health outcomes of African American and White adults placed in foster care as children were examined. Existing general population studies present mixed findings as to whether racial differences in mental health exist, therefore, the current study sought to test the null hypothesis of no racial group differences in this sample of young adult alumni of foster care who were all placed as children with a private foster care agency. Specifically, logistic regression analyses were used to compare mental health outcomes among African American and White alumni. Race/ethnicity was significant only for the diagnosis of 12-month Modified Social Phobia. When controlling for demographic background, risk factors, and foster care experiences, race/ethnicity ceased to be a significant factor

Ethnic group comparisons in mental health outcomes of adult alumni of foster care

Racial similarities and differences in mental health outcomes of African American and White adults placed in foster care as children were examined. Existing general population studies present mixed findings as to whether racial differences in mental health exist, therefore, the current study sought to test the null hypothesis of no racial group differences in this sample of young adult alumni of foster care who were all placed as children with a private foster care agency. Specifically, logistic regression analyses were used to compare mental health outcomes among African American and White alumni. Race/ethnicity was significant only for the diagnosis of 12-month Modified Social Phobia. When controlling for demographic background, risk factors, and foster care experiences, race/ethnicity ceased to be a significant factor.Foster care Foster care alumni Mental health outcomes of foster care alumni Adult foster care alumni Racial differences in mental health outcomes of foster care alumni Child welfare Ethnic group differences

Overcoming challenges to implementing and evaluating evidence-based interventions in child welfare: A matter of necessity

This case study highlights the challenges and solutions for implementing an evidence-based program and associated evaluation in child welfare. The program is designed to support the mental health needs of youth in foster care in school settings. The intervention is unique, not only in the application of an evidence-based program to child welfare, which many scholars and practitioners point out is all too rare, but also because the intervention requires multiple system integration. In detailing the process, we hope to contribute to a growing body of literature documenting the integration of science and practice through the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based programs.Mental health Child welfare Implementation Evaluation Case study Foster care

Cone-and Rod-Mediated Multifocal Electroretinogram in Early Age-Related Maculopathy

Purpose. To investigate the cone- and rod-mediated multifocal electroretinograms (mfERG) in early age-related maculopathy (early ARM). Methods and subjects. We investigated the cone and rod-mediated mfERG in 17 eyes of 17 subjects with early ARM and 16 eyes of 16 age-matched control subjects with normal fundi. All subjects had a visual acuity of 6/12 or better. We divided the ARM subjects into two groups based on drusen size and retinal pigment epithelium abnormalities - a less advanced (ARM1) and a more advanced (ARM2) group. The mfERG data were compared to templates derived from the control group. We analysed the mfERG results for the central and peripheral fields (CP method) and the superior and inferior fields (SI method). Results. While the mean cone results showed no statistically significant difference between the groups, the rods showed significantly delayed responses in the ARM1 group for the CP and the SI methods, but not in the ARM2 group, although there was a trend of lower response amplitudes compared to the control group. Conclusion. Our results show a functional impairment of the rods in early ARM subjects. As there is histopathological evidence showing earlier rod than cone impairment in early ARM, following the rod function with the mfERG might be helpful in diagnosis or for monitoring the progression of early ARM

Functional Loss in Early Age-Related Maculopathy: The Ischaemia Postreceptoral Hypothesis

We review proposed models and psychophysical and electrophysiological tests performed in many studies for early age-related maculopathy (ARM). We suggest that ischaemia is the trigger for impaired retinal pigment epithelium function causing imbalance of secretion of vascular growth factors, reduced disc degradation capability and reduced metabolic activity and possible inflammatory response. This results in increased depostion of cell debris, such as drusen and thickens Bruch's membrane causing even more ischaemia of the overlying neurosensory retina. The photoreceptors are more resistant to ischaemia given their proximity to the choroid. Furthermore, being 'upstream' from the inner retinal layers, they act as an oxygen sink depriving retinal layers further from the choroid. Postreceptoral cell layers and especially parts of the inner nuclear layer that are located in the watershed zone between two sources of blood supply are preferentially vulnerable to ischaemia. Based on psychophysical and electrophysiological findings we propose that most of the function impairmetn in early ARM starts postreceptorally