A Necessity For Social And Emotional Learning In Kindergarten The Teaching Of Self-Regulation Through Literacy

The research question addressed in this capstone project was: How can kindergarten teachers begin the year using a text set to teach the social and emotional learning skill of self-regulation? This capstone project was identified through the author’s experience observing many kindergarten students struggling to positively interact with their peers due to ill-developed social and emotional skills. The Self-regulation Text Set Unit lesson plans designed for this capstone project incorporate the teaching of social and emotional learning skills through literacy instruction. This project developed a text set unit with 13 lesson plans and accompanying texts to be used by kindergarten teachers to support the development of the social and emotional learning skill of self-regulation. This text set unit is to be used at the beginning of the school year while a teacher teaches routines and expectations. This capstone project suggests that students’ self- regulation ability will strengthen through the use of the text set unit and additional instruction. The next step of creating the Empathy and Cooperation Text Set Units will continue to provide a strong foundation for social and emotional learning instruction in kindergarten

Cost of Rapid HIV Testing at 45 U.S. Hospitals

In 2006, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended expanded and routine use of single-session rapid HIV tests in all health care settings to increase the proportion of persons who learn their HIV status. Limited empiric information is available regarding the costs of rapid testing and pre- and posttest counseling in health care settings. We surveyed 45 U.S. hospitals during 2005 through 2006 to assess the costs associated with rapid testing and counseling. Cost analyses were conducted from the provider (hospital) perspective, and results were expressed in year 2006 U.S. dollars. The mean per-test cost of rapid HIV testing and counseling was $48.07 for an HIV-negative test and$64.17 for a preliminary-positive test. Pre- and posttest counseling costs accounted for 38.4% of the total cost of rapid testing for HIV-negative patients. Counseling costs were significantly correlated with overall test costs. Many hospitals contained overall test costs by limiting time spent in pre- and posttest counseling or by using lower-paid personnel for counseling activities or both. Counseling costs constituted a significant proportion of the overall costs of rapid testing and counseling activities at study hospitals. Our data provide useful baseline data before implementation of the CDC's 2006 recommendations. Costs can be reduced by limiting time spent in pre- and posttest counseling or by using lower-paid personnel for counseling activities or both