Impacting Student Learning Outcomes by Addressing Basic Needs of Students and Their Families

The purpose of this school improvement project was to identify how an urban elementary school could impact student learning outcomes by addressing basic needs unmet for children and their families. This was accomplished by first identifying and researching areas of basic needs commonly lacking for families of an elementary school with a high density of need. Next, how to assist families in meeting these needs via community resources and programs was researched and discussed. An existing annual school community building event was expanded to address these needs in a low pressure, familiar environment for school families. Several local community organizations were present with booths at the event allowing families opportunity to learn about services and programs available to meet their basic needs. Families basic needs improving will allow for a more positive relationship with school as well as improvement of student learning outcomes

The Thinking Space: The Café as a Cultural Institution in Paris, Italy and Vienna

Book review

The Devil in the Detail: An Introduction to Decadent Occultism from the Editors

The double meaning of ‘occult’ refers to the secret and the supernatural, and, just as ‘Decadent’ was both a pejorative term and a badge of honour in the nineteenth century, accusations of affiliation with the dark arts are being re-appropriated and celebrated by marginalized groups. The historical association of the occult with non-normativity and transgression means it has particular significance as a form of protest or protection in today’s era of ‘small-d’ decadence. There has been a recent extreme political swerve to the right, climate change denial threatens to end the world as we know it, and social media platforms are subject to deep corruption and involvement in a neo-Cold War, but bubbling under this surface is a queer rebellion associated with witchcraft and occult magick.

Investigating and managing neonatal seizures in the UK: an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach

Background Neonatal seizures are difficult to diagnose and, when they are, tradition dictates first line treatment is phenobarbital. There is little data on how consultants diagnose neonatal seizures, choose when to treat or how they choose aetiological investigations or drug treatments. The purpose of this study was to assess the variation across the UK in the management of neonatal seizures and explore paediatricians’ views on their diagnosis and treatment. Methods An explanatory sequential mixed methods approach was used (QUAN→QUAL) with equal waiting between stages. We collected quantitative data from neonatology staff and paediatric neurologists using a questionnaire sent to neonatal units and via emails from the British Paediatric Neurology Association. We asked for copies of neonatal unit guidelines on the management of seizures. The data from questionnaires was used to identify16 consultants using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to interpret qualitative data, which was triangulated with quantitative questionnaire data. Results One hundred questionnaires were returned: 47.7% thought levetiracetam was as, or equally, effective as phenobarbital; 9.2% thought it was less effective. 79.6% of clinicians had seen no side effects in neonates with levetiracetam. 97.8% of unit guidelines recommended phenobarbital first line, with wide variation in subsequent drug choice, aetiological investigations, and advice on when to start treatment. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: ‘Managing uncertainty with neonatal seizures’, ‘Moving practice forward’ and ‘Multidisciplinary team working’. Consultants noted collecting evidence on anti-convulsant drugs in neonates is problematic, and recommended a number of solutions, including collaboration to reach consensus guidelines, to reduce diagnostic and management uncertainty. Conclusions There is wide variation in the management of neonatal seizures and clinicians face many uncertainties. Our data has helped reveal some of the reasons for current practice and decision making. Suggestions to improve certainty include: educational initiatives to improve the ability of neonatal staff to describe suspicious events, greater use of video, closer working between neonatologists and neurologists, further research, and a national discussion to reach a consensus on a standardised approach to managing neonatal epileptic seizures

Suburban Satellite Health Care Facilities Limit Access for Low-Income Patients

Introduction: Low income individuals are faced with numerous barriers to health care that can lead to worse health outcomes. Limited access to transportation, in particular, has been linked to lower rates of doctor’s visits and consequently, a greater burden of disease. Community agencies such as Safe Harbor (SH), the Community Health Center (CHC), and the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) in Burlington, Vermont reported the move of many ambulatory care practices from Fletcher Allen Hospital, located on a citywide bus route, to Tilley Drive, which was not located on a bus route, as a significant barrier for their patients.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1016/thumbnail.jp