Developing the Welfare-to-Work Participation and Employability Appraisal Screening: A Retrospective Study

CalWORKs recipients, unless exempt, are required to participate in welfare-to-work (WTW) program activities as a condition of receiving cash aid. A number of clients, however, may have issues that impede successful engagement in WTW program activities, such as substance abuse, mental health concerns, or domestic violence issues. The Riverside County (California) Department of Mental Health (RCDMH) and the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) sought to develop a structured case management system to help ensure early identification of WTW customers with barriers to employment and, if necessary, to help facilitate quicker engagement in services to address those barriers and move customers into successful employment. A key component of the structured case management system is an actuarial appraisal screening to help identify those customers most in need of support to make a successful transition to self-sufficiency. This report describes the study conducted by Childrenas Research Center (CRC) to develop an appraisal screening that classifies customers by the likelihood of subsequent WTW program participation and employment. Employment counselors can complete the screening assessment soon after WTW assignment to help identify which customers are in greatest need of additional support and engagement to increase the likelihood of successful program participation

Developing an Actuarial Risk Assessment to Inform the Decisions Made by Adult Protective Service Workers

In 2008, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services (BEAS) and the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD), with funding provided by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), collaborated to construct an actuarial risk assessment to classify BEAS clients by their likelihood of elder maltreatment and/or self-neglect in the future. Studies in adult and juvenile corrections and child welfare have demonstrated that active service intervention with high risk clients can reduce criminal recidivism and the recurrence of child maltreatment (Wagner, Hull, & Luttrell, 1995; Eisenberg & Markley, 1987; Baird, Heinz, & Bemus, 1981). The purpose of this research was to examine a large set of individual and referral characteristics, determine their relationship to subsequent elder self-neglect and/or maltreatment, and develop an actuarial risk assessment for BEAS workers to complete at the end of an investigation to inform their case decisions.BEAS and NCCD pursued development of an actuarial risk assessment with the goal of reducing subsequent maltreatment of elderly and vulnerable adults who have been involved in an incident of self-neglect or maltreatment by another person (i.e., abuse, exploitation, or neglect). The actuarial risk assessment described in this report provides BEAS workers with a method to more accurately identify high risk clients and therefore more effectively target service interventions in an effort to protect their most vulnerable clients

The power play between venture capitalists and CEOs shapes startup innovation

Their interests tend to diverge in the later stages, write Haemin Dennis Park and Daniel Tzabba

Homelessness and Child Welfare Services in New York City: Exploring Trends and Opportunites for Improving Outcomes for Children and Youth

For over a decade, national research has shown that many disadvantaged youth and families experience both homelessness and involvement in child welfare services. However, prior to the research summarized here, no population-based research had examined systematically the extent and dynamics by which children and youth experience both of these service systems. This white paper for the New York City Administration for Children\u27s Services (ACS) provides a summary of three studies that looked carefully at how these two important social welfare systems have shared a population, and how our improved understanding of these intersecting systems of care can promote better outcomes and improved quality of life for children and youth

Probability Density of the Multipole Vectors for a Gaussian Cosmic Microwave Background

We review Maxwell's multipole vectors, and elucidate some of their mathematical properties, with emphasis on the application of this tool to the cosmic microwave background (CMB). In particular, for a completely random function on the sphere (corresponding to the statistically isotropic Gaussian model of the CMB), we derive the full probability density function of the multipole vectors. This function is used to analyze the internal configurations of the third-year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe quadrupole and octopole, and we show the observations are consistent with the Gaussian prediction. A particular aspect is the planarity of the octopole, which we find not to be anomalous.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, MNRAS styl

Behavioral health services use among heads of homeless and housed poor families

Objectives. This study compares the use of and cost for behavioral health services among heads of homeless and housed poor families. Methods. Medicaid records for 59,135 heads of families receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families benefits were matched with data from Philadelphia’s municipal shelter system. Propensity score matching was used to select a matched control group to those identified as having been homeless between 1997 and 2003. Behavioral health services utilization was then assessed based on Medicaid claims records. Results. Substantially higher levels of behavioral health services use and corresponding costs were found among heads of families with a history of shelter use. Conclusions. Greater use of behavioral health services by heads of homeless families may reflect greater severity of disorders or a greater likelihood to seek treatment relative to what has been suggested by previous research

Occupational Therapy’s Role in Reducing Barriers for Team-Based Sports Participation for Adolescents

Participating in team-based sports has numerous benefits that includes not only increased physical fitness, but also cognitive abilities and academic performance. With the many benefits of participating in team sports can provide, it will be significant to understand adolescents\u27 specific barriers and assist in reducing the barriers for successful participation. The purpose of the capstone project was to identify and understand adolescent barriers to bridge the gap between conventional rehabilitation and team sports participation. Multiple barriers and motivators were identified including financial management, time management, and physical/athletic skill. Facing these determinants may possibly support in increasing team sports participation and be a guidance to overcome barriers. Results from this capstone project supported the literature that there are barriers to team sports participation and engagement in team sports is beneficial. This capstone project presented knowledge in the role that occupational therapy can implement in team sports participation and the importance of reducing barriers for participation in team sports. Participating in team-based sports has numerous benefits that includes not only increased physical fitness, but also cognitive abilities and academic performance. With the many benefits of participating in team sports can provide, it will be significant to understand adolescent\u27s specific barriers and assist in reducing the barriers for successful participation. The purpose of the capstone project was to identify and understand adolescent barriers to bridge the gap between conventional rehabilitation and team sports participation. Multiple barriers and motivators were identified including financial management, time management, and physical/athletic skill. Facing these determinants may possibly support in increasing team sports participation and be a guidance to overcome barriers. Results from this capstone project supported the literature that there are barriers to team sports participation and engagement in team sports is beneficial. This capstone project presented knowledge in the role that occupational therapy can implement in team sports participation and the importance of reducing barriers for participation in team sports.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2021/1008/thumbnail.jp

Measuring and Reporting Electrical Conductivity in Metal–Organic Frameworks: Cd

Electrically conductive metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are emerging as a subclass of porous materials that can have a transformative effect on electronic and renewable energy devices. Systematic advances in these materials depend critically on the accurate and reproducible characterization of their electrical properties. This is made difficult by the numerous techniques available for electrical measurements and the dependence of metrics on device architecture and numerous external variables. These challenges, common to all types of electronic materials and devices, are especially acute for porous materials, whose high surface area make them even more susceptible to interactions with contaminants in the environment. Here, we use the anisotropic semiconducting framework Cd₂(TTFTB) (TTFTB⁴⁻ = tetrathiafulvalene tetrabenzoate) to benchmark several common methods available for measuring electrical properties in MOFs. We show that factors such as temperature, chemical environment (atmosphere), and illumination conditions affect the quality of the data obtained from these techniques. Consistent results emerge only when these factors are strictly controlled and the morphology and anisotropy of the Cd2(TTFTB) single-crystal devices are taken into account. Most importantly, we show that depending on the technique, device construction, and/or the environment, a variance of 1 or even 2 orders of magnitude is not uncommon for even just one material if external factors are not controlled consistently. Differences in conductivity values of even 2 orders of magnitude should therefore be interpreted with caution, especially between different research groups comparing different compounds. These results allow us to propose a reliable protocol for collecting and reporting electrical properties of MOFs, which should help improve the consistency and comparability of reported electrical properties for this important new class of crystalline porous conductors.United States. Department of Energy. Office of Basic Energy Sciences (Award DE-SC0006937)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Award 1122374