Implementing Legal Strategies for Creating Safe and Supportive School Environments

As many as 50% of all children, according to the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, come to school each day having experienced serious traumatic events, including abuse, neglect, witnessing violence, and various forms of household dysfunction. For many students, these experiences and others, such as homelessness and bullying, may cause a trauma reaction that can have significant effects on their ability to learn. Students need a safe and supportive school-wide environment to help them form positive relationships, calm their emotions and behaviors, and focus, so that they can learn and be successful at school. Current laws often put barriers in the way of creating this kind of positive school culture. Laws are often focused on addressing particular issues, such as bullying and truancy, without recognizing the need for whole-school environments that can support all of these initiatives. Nor do laws consider the time for collaboration and support that educators need to create this kind of learning environment. This article demonstrates how Massachusetts created an integrative framework organized by school operations to streamline how these issues are addressed and then integrated into law. It describes the tools that help schools implement a range of required initiatives while supporting educators in the process of creating and sustaining safe and supportive environments. The decade-long process demonstrates how educational practice and legal advocacy can work hand in hand to create better learning environments for all children

Causes and consequences of menstrual variation: a community study

Women have a lower haemoglobin concentration than men, either because of hormonal influences or because they are marginally iron deficient. If there is iron deficiency, menstrual blood loss is likely to be largely responsible. The literature is reviewed and discussed. The evidence is inconclusive and little is known about menstrual blood loss apart from the very wide range that may occur in apparently normal women.A population study of menstrual blood loss and haemoglobin concentration was carried out in a Northumbrian mining village. 94 per cent (348) of the non -pregnant women between 17 and 45 years of age co- operated. Menstrual blood losses were measured for two consecutive periods. Haemoglobin, haematocrit, serum iron, iron binding capacity and fibrin degradation products were estimated from venous blood samples. A medical history was taken in each case, and a gynaecological examination was performed on the married women. Endometrial biopsy was attempted, but was successful in only a small proportion of cases.The results confirmed the wide range of blood loss and the positively skewed distribution curve previously reported by other workers. There was a significant decrease in menstrual loss in women taking an oral contraceptive and a significant increase in those with an intra uterine contraceptive device. There was a positive correlation between menstrual loss and parity, but not with age. Within broad parity groups the women who had had heavy babies had larger menstrual losses than those with lighter babies; and menstrual loss may be related to stature, tall women lose more than short women.Blood loss of over 45 ml per period is associated with significant changes in all the haematological indices measured, and a marked rise in the prevalence of anaemia (Hb <12 g /100 ml). This implies that many women are unable to tolerate losing blood equivalent to more than 1.4 ml per day.Rises in the concentration of serum fibrin degradation products (F.D.P.) indicate pathological fibrinolysis. In this population there was no correlation between menstrual loss and F.D.P. concentration. Endometrial biopsy in 45 subjects did not show any histological pattern associated with either heavy or scanty blood loss. The gynaecological signs and symptoms discovered in the population were discussed.Menstrual blood loss was thought to be associated with uterine size and blood flow. Although contradictory features remain, iron balance in women appears to be precarious

Role of Shared Care in the Relationship between Depressive Symptoms and Self-Care in Patients with Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a chronic condition affecting over 5 million Americans. Heart failure accounts for over 32 billion dollars in total cost each year, and is the most common cause of hospitalization for persons 65 years of age or older. Patients with HF experience poor self-care, are at risk for depressive symptoms, and have high rates of 30-day hospital readmissions. Social support influences depressive symptoms, self-care, and hospital readmissions. Shared care was used to operationalize social support. Shared care is a system of three relationship processes communication, decision making, and reciprocity, used to exchange social support. The purpose of this study was to determine if shared care moderated the relationship between depressive symptoms and self-care in community dwelling HF patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 89 patients receiving care from a HF clinic. The Stress-Buffering Model was used to guide the study. The Theory of Self-Care of Chronic Illness and the Processes of Self-Management were used to operationalize the definition of self-care and describe relationships between variables. Study variables of depressive symptoms, shared care, and HF self-care were assessed. Qualitative questions assessed subjective patient experiences related to study variables. Descriptive, correlation, and regression analysis were used to analyze quantitative data. Content analysis was used for qualitative data analysis. An association of shared care to depressive symptoms was supported by a significant inverse association between shared care communication and reciprocity and depressive symptoms. Partial correlation coefficients of shared care communication and reciprocity to depressive symptoms while controlling for HF severity were (rab.c = -.33) and (rab.c = -.20), respectively. Increased HF severity was associated with increased depressive symptoms. Older patients reported better self-care. The study supported prior research related to the role of social support in attenuating depressive symptoms, and the association between depressive symptoms and HF severity. Themes in qualitative data supported the difficulties patients experience and the importance of support from family caregivers. Patient’s perception of shared care with their caregiver is important to their psychological health. The development and testing of interventions to mobilize family caregiver support are essential for improving mental health in HF patients

Child Abuse Reporting: Rethinking Child Protection

The general public has been bewildered by the magnitude of sex abuse cases and the widespread failure by pillars of the community to notify appropriate authorities. The crime of sexually abusing children is punishable in all jurisdictions and this article examines the duty to report suspected cases by individuals in positions of trust over young people, such as in the church or university sports. The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) defines child maltreatment as an act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caregiver that results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation, and establishes minimum federal standards. Each state has its own definitions of maltreatment and every state identifies persons who are required to report child abuse. As such, state law is highly variable in defining who has a mandatory duty to report, and clergy and other individuals in close supervision of children (e.g., athletic coaches, scout leaders, volunteers in religious programs, and university officials) may necessarily hold such duty. The article outlines why there are strong moral reasons the law should require all adults in close supervision of children to report any individual who they have good reason to believe has abused a child and moreover outlines how to ensure prompt reporting of abuse, while still ensuring that respected individuals are not falsely accused

Security of Attachment of Infants in Foster Care

The University Archives has determined that this item is of continuing value to OSU's history.Cole, Susan A., Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio - "Security of Attachment of Infants in Foster Care"The Ohio State University College of Social Wor

Correctional System Needs

One of the most difficult and pressing problems now facing local, state and national leaders is the failure of the criminal justice system. There is ample evidence of the system\u27s failure: during the years 1960 to 1969, when the population increased by 13%, crime increased 1487,\u27 and it is still increasing. Yet, correctional institutions do not appear to be places where criminal behavior is changed or where offenders are rehabilitated. They appear to be, instead, places where offenders are exposed to the most advanced criminal techniques and the most extreme anti-social behavior. Recidivism rates are estimated as high as 8070

Secession, Combination and Creation: From Old Departments to New

Relates an experience in combining and creating a combined theater departments. Factors to consider in separating art departments; Arguments she made for the creation a new department; Problems associated with the combination of the departments

The Social Environments of Nursing Homes and Their Consequences for the Styles of Participation of Older Residents.

This exploratory, descriptive study of the social environments of two nursing homes and of the styles of participation that old residents develop has been guided by the symbolic interactionist premise that people act toward things on the basis of the meanings these things have for them. Participant observation was the primary data gathering technique, but two survey type instruments were also used. The goals of the study were to make contributions to (1) the building of grounded, substantive theory in social gerontology; (2) improving data gathering techniques appropriate for studies of old people; and (3) solving practical problems in nursing homes. The social environments of the two nursing homes were described. This included a critique of the applicability of Goffman\u27s total institution model to this type of facility. Also described were the characteristics of the residents and of the two facilities, staff-resident relationships, social relationships among the residents, a typical day, and residents\u27 perceptions of their social environments. The meaning of nursing home residence was revealed by the vocabulary of motives that residents offered to explain or justify their presence in the facility. Styles of participation are coping strategies constructed by nursing home residents as adaptations to this type of social environment. Analysis of field notes led to identification of six different styles of participation among the nursing home residents observed. These were: satisfied customers, isolates, workers, busybodies, the future-oriented, and the chameleons. One conclusion of the study was that the following variables are important in explaining how old people participate in their social environments: the meaning the social environment of the nursing home has for the resident, heterogeneity among the residents, a person\u27s mental and physical competence, and continuity in life style. Another conclusion was that use of participant observation as a data gathering technique is necessary when subjective meanings are sought and when some respondents live in separate realities or are aphasic. Finally, some recommendations were made for improving the social environment of nursing homes. These focused primarily on increasing opportunities for friendships and community feelings among residents

Time For A Change? The Lived Experiences of Abortion Workers Who Left The Industry

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain insight and understanding into the lived experiences of those who have worked in a medical facility or freestanding clinic providing abortion services and eventually chose to leave the industry due to moral distress. Two research questions are addressed in this study: What is the lived experience of former abortion workers who left the field due to moral distress both before and after their transition from the industry? And, What were (and are) the perceived bio-psycho-social-spiritual impacts of abortion work for those who ultimately left the field due to moral distress? A comprehensive review of the literature discusses abortion, the political landscape of abortion, abortion workers, moral ideology, moral distress, moral injury, forgiveness, influence of global meaning, and spirituality. Fourteen participants who are affiliated with an organization that assists individuals exit the abortion industry were interviewed for this study. Phenomenological hermeneutic theory was the method utilized to gather, explore and interpret the transcribed narratives given by the interviewees. Specifically, the computer software NVivo and van Manen’s six-step research paradigm were utilized to transcribe, analyze and interpret the data. Finally, themes emerging from the data that are presented in detail include Shifting View of Abortion: From Pro-Choice to Pro-Life, Memorable Experiences During Tenure in Abortion Industry, Difficult Work Environment, Bio-Psycho-Socio-Spiritual Conflict, and A Turning Point, and topics of discussion are Stigma of Abortion Work, Work Experiences and Environment, Bio-Psycho-Socio-Spiritual Effects, Aspects of Moral Distress and Moral Injury, and Steps toward Healing