The Racial Disparities in the Foster Care System as Explained by Professionals Working Within the System

Systemic racism leads to Black people being overrepresented in sectors of life such as poverty, homelessness, and incarceration. However, because of this same systemic racism, Black children in the United States are subjected to disadvantages in many aspects of life— one of which is foster care. Children raced as Black are two and a half times more likely than white children to be reported to Child Protective Services resulting in them entering the foster care system twice as often as white children (Miller, Cahn, and Orellana 2012). While past studies have examined the number of children in foster care that belong to each racial group and found that there are disparities, few studies have examined what leads to the disparities. The purpose of the current study was to explore the understanding of these disparities and the potential factors producing them through the eyes of those making foster care placement decisions. Seven in-depth interviews were conducted with professionals that have or are currently working within the foster care system of Indiana. Each interview explored the participant’s role within the foster care system, their perception of race relations within their current (and/or former) agencies, and explored their understanding of existing racial disparities within the foster care system. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed for common themes amongst the various professionals as to what— according to their own experiences— contributes to the racial disparities Black children experience within the foster care system. What was found was that professionals feel privilege, education, systemic issues, lack of time or resources, and bad apples contribute to the racial disparities within the system

Using anthropocentrism to the benefit of other species

Chapman & Huffman (2018) argue that we should not consider humans as unique or superior to other animals when we have the chance to explore the diversity of the traits of other species. This is a valid and progressive point in our approach to research, but I suggest that an anthropocentric approach can have animal welfare benefits when it helps us perceive other species – especially distantly related ones such as crustaceans – in a human light

Using anthropocentrism to the benefit of other species

Chapman & Huffman (2018) argue that we should not consider humans as unique or superior to other animals when we have the chance to explore the diversity of the traits of other species. This is a valid and progressive point in our approach to research, but I suggest that an anthropocentric approach can have animal welfare benefits when it helps us perceive other species – especially distantly related ones such as crustaceans – in a human light

Market Timing and Selectivity: Evidence from Australian Equity Superannuation Funds

In this performance evaluation study, two questions are addressed. First, do active fund managers possess macro and micro forecasting skills that deliver superior risk-adjusted returns? Second, what is the nature of market timing/stock selectivity trade off in the generation of alpha? The answers from this study are as follows: as an industry, managers delivered inferior returns for superannuation investors for the period 1991 through 1999. The study provides little evidence that the Australian funds management industry holds sufficient macro and/or micro forecasting abilities to generate positive alpha. While previous research has found that inferior market timing decisions are compensated for by superior stock selection skills, this study finds no substantive inverse relationship between timing and selectivity.Performance evaluation; Timing; Selectivity.

The Port Norfolk Project: Improved Raster Navigation Products From High Resolution Source Data

With increasing capabilities in technology, modern hydrographic surveys are comprised of similarly increasing amounts of data, only a minute fraction of which is currently available in the nautical charts produced by the NOAA Office of Coast Survey (OCS). Simultaneously, a tremendous amount of effort goes into the generalization and optimal cartographic representation of the hydrographic data onto raster products, from which the vector products are digitized. Preserving and maintaining a single database of high-resolution vector source data will retain— and make accessible—much more of the hydrographic data collected, alleviate the burden of generalization, and would allow for delivery of high-resolution vector products, as well as a very wide selection of raster products. From high-resolution source data, raster output could be generated at customer specifications. These “user-defined” raster products could be suitably tailored to meet anyone’s needs, regardless if they are a mariner, a scientist, a fisherman, a student, or a casual “common man” customer. The “user-defined” concept will ultimately improve our ability to meet the highly variable needs of our customers. This paper is intended as an exploratory endeavor, specifically, using the Paper Chart Editor component of CARIS HPD to create examples of the kinds of raster products one can create from high-resolution source data, how this process could optimize the current raster chart production workflow within OCS, while also providing a stronger focus on customer service. Finally, the capabilities and lessons learned from the experimentation with HPD will be applied toward the NOAA-wide implementation of Nautical Chart System II (NCSII)

Multiple-case study of lower division graduate student Spanish instructors

textThe ever-increasing popularity of digital media and connectivity to the World Wide Web permeates every day culture to the extent that the use of modern technologies also influences the teaching of foreign languages. In connection with the desire to implement sound pedagogical practices that align with Standards of teaching foreign languages, teachers are turning to modern technologies to incorporate into their teaching repertoire. Not only do teachers attempt to integrate the four language skills and culture into their teaching, but they are now urged to incorporate technology into their curriculum. The smart classroom offers the greatest potential for instructors to integrate technology into their curriculum, since this resource is already available across college campuses. This qualitative multiple case study explored the conceptualization and reconceptualization four lower division instructors of Spanish made as they attempted to integrate the resources their smart classrooms had to offer. Secondly, this research project also highlighted the challenges instructors faced while integrating technology into their curriculum. Lastly, this study underscored the advantages instructors believed might derive from integrating technology into their classrooms. Data for this study was collected from four main data sources. Five observations were conducted during the fall of 2005. Three semi-structured interviews were conducted with each of the participants at the beginning, middle, and end of the semester. Email reflections were requested from the instructors every two to three weeks during data collection. The course syllabus, lesson plans, and class activity handouts comprised the documents data base. Findings profiled the changes instructors made over the course of the semester in terms of their conceptualizations and re-conceptualizations of the technology offered by smart classrooms. The challenges instructors faced suggest that instructors need to take advantage of more professional development opportunities, as well as enter into dialogue with their peers and other instructors. The advantages highlighted the depth and breadth of the foreign language learning experience, as well as the affordances the accessibility and availability of information stored on the Internet can hold for instructors. This study concludes with pedagogical implications and recommendations for directions of future research.Curriculum and Instructio

Are Gypsy Roma Traveller communities indigenous and would identification as such better address their public health needs?

Introduction: Across Europe large numbers of Gypsy Roma Traveller communities, experience significant health inequities such as higher morbidity, mortality and infant mortality. This health inequity is perpetuated by wider determinants such as lower social status, lower educational attainment and sub-standard accommodation. This is not dissimilar to other indigenous peoples, even though many Gypsy Roma Traveller communities are not identified as indigenous. Methods: This paper presents contemporary literature and research alongside the internationally agreed principles of indigenous peoples; examining similarities between Gypsy Roma Traveller communities and other indigenous peoples. Results: We argue that Gypsy Roma Traveller communities could be recognised as indigenous in terms of the internationally agreed principles of indigeneity as well as shared experiences of health inequity, colonisation and cultural genocide. Doing so would enable a more robust public health strategy and development of public health guidelines that take into account their cultural views and practices. Conclusion: Recognising Gypsy Roma Traveller communities in this way is important, especially concerning public health, as formal recognition of indigeneity provides certain rights and protection that can be used to develop appropriate public health strategies. Included within this are more nuanced approaches to promoting health, which focus on strengths and assets rather than deficit constructs that can perpetuate problematizing of these communities

A invenção do patrimônio na Argentina: das representações às práticas

Anais do IV Encontro de Iniciação Científica da Unila - “UNILA 5 anos: Integração em Ciência, Tecnologia e Cultura na Tríplice Fronteira” - 05 e 06 de novembro de 2015 – Sessão HistóriaInvestigación sobre una historia – en un espirito braudeliano, de ́larga duración ́ – relacionada al concepto de patrimonio Argentina incentivando otras lecturas del pasado, menos “oficiales”. Su objetivo fue convertir en verosímil un relato sobre la invención del concepto moderno de patrimonio de forma paralela o decurrente a la invención del propio concepto de Argentina (entiéndase estado-nación), antes y después de ser incorporado en la agenda del poder público. En ese sentido cuestionamos los usos del pasado en las políticas públicas de preservación, el itinerario histórico de las mismas, la presencia de la UNESCO y las interfaces entre patrimonio y turismo en Argentina. Desde el punto de vista secuencial, este proyecto es complementar al proyecto integrado de investigación: La historia del patrimonio en diálogo: el caso de Brasil, Uruguay y Argentina; coordinado por el Prof. Hernán Venegas Marcelo, con la contribución de diferentes alumnos de pregrado de diversos cursos – Ciencia Política y Sociología y, particularmente, el curso de pregrado de Arquitectura y Urbanismo. La bibliografía estudiada y utilizada como base teórica permitió realizar una lectura de la historia de los ochocientos argentinos – después de la separación política de España y de la institucionalización moderna de las acciones e preservación patrimoniales – durante la primera mitad del siglo pasado. Paralelamente fue estudiado el papel de la historia, de la memoria y del patrimonio, las interfaces entre el patrimonio y el turismo tomando como ejemplo no sólo el caso francés por ser pionero y más próximo de los modelos latinoamericanos, sino también de países de la América del Sur como Brasil y Uruguay. Otro método de consulta son los acervos digitales de diferentes instituciones culturales y de investigación argentinas, como por ejemplo: la Biblioteca Nacional de la República Argentina, el Acervo Digital de la UNESCO y la Biblioteca de Maestros. También se hizo necesaria una consulta a la legislación argentina relacionada a temas de preservación do patrimonio cultural. Las consulta de fuentes bilbiográficas y documentales permitieron un diálogo enriquecedor con otras realidades, dándonos también la posibilidad de interactuar con otras disciplinas; a saber: a Historia e a Antropologia. Además de la bibliografía consultada en las actividades de iniciación científica planificadas por el tutor, Prof. Dr. Hernan Venegas, el sustento teórico para tales análisis se fundamenta por haber cursado la disciplina “História, patrimonio e memória”, de cuño claramente interdisciplinar. Los resultados parciales del periodo correspondiente a la iniciación científica nos permitieron aproximarnos a la historia y cultura de otro país latinoamericano diferente en su alteridad de nuestro país de origen, Colombi

An evaluation of the clinical microsystems approach in general practice quality improvement

Background: Changes to the general practice (GP) contract in England (April 2019) introduced a new quality improvement (QI) domain. The clinical microsystems programme is an approach to QI with limited evidence in primary care. Aim: To explore experiences of GP staff participating in a clinical microsystems programme. Design and setting: GPs within one clinical commissioning group (CCG) in South East England. Normalisation process theory informed qualitative approach. Method: Review of all CCG clinical microsystems projects using pre-existing data. The Diffusion of Innovation Cycle was used to inform the sampling frame and GPs were invited to participate in interviews or focus groups. Ten practices participated; 11 coaches and 16 staff were interviewed. Results: The majority of projects were process-driven activities related to dministrative systems. Projects directly related to health outputs were fewer and related to externally imposed targets. Four key elements facilitated practices to engage: feeling in control; receiving enhanced service payment; having a senior staff member championing the approach; and good practice–coach relationship. There appeared to be three key benefits in addition to project-specific ones: improved working relationships between CCG and practice; more cohesive practice team; and time to reflect. Conclusion: Small projects with clear parameters were more successful than larger ones or those spanning organisations. However, there was little evidence suggesting the key benefits were unique attributes of the microsystems approach and sustainability was problematic. Future research should focus on cross-organisational approaches to QI and identify what, if any, added value the approach provides