Healthy Sexual Development: A Multidisciplinary Framework for Research

ABSTRACT

A group of Australian researchers from a range of disciplines involved in studying children's sexual development developed a framework for researching healthy sexual development that was acceptable to all disciplines involved. The 15 domains identified were: freedom from unwanted activity; an understanding of consent; education about biological aspects; understanding of safety; relationship skills; agency; lifelong learning; resilience; open communication; sexual development should not be “aggressive, coercive or joyless;” self-acceptance; awareness and acceptance that sex is pleasurable; understanding of parental and societal values; awareness of public/private boundaries; and being competent in mediated sexuality.     

The Social Ecology of Child Development in the Mexican American Population

Abstract

This article explores the influence of contextual factors on the developmental outcomes of Mexican American children. The contextual structure of child development is conceptualized as a complex system of environments, including the socio-demographic, social service, academic, and parental home environments. Based on an extensive review of the current theoretical and empirical literature, we find that the disadvantaged social position of Mexican American children has detrimental implications for all other aspects of their environment, thus hindering their development. In addition, although Mexican American parents are highly competent in providing a nurturing and culturally-rich environment, there is a often a discontinuity between the home environment and both the academic and the social service environments.     

Midlife Changes

Abstract

The life stage that ranges from approximately age forty to sixty-five in human development is a time of major changes for both men and women, yet this time frame is often neglected or de-emphasized in the intervention context. This article reviews the philosophical, biological, cultural, psychological, and social areas of human development in mid-life. These factors are identified and practice suggestions are made as we enter the new millennium.     

The Poverty of Services for Battered Lesbians

This paper addresses the poverty of services available to lesbian victims of partner abuse, despite the need for such services. Drawing on data from a survey of 1,505 help providers (to which 566 responded), the paper focuses on the services that the help providers themselves claim to offer. The data reveal a serious disparity in help providers' rhetoric and offical policies and the reality of the services available. The paper concludes with suggestions for improving services to battered lesbians.     

African American and White Managers:

Research points to differences in the experiences and response of African Americans and whites to organizational situations. This paper presents the results of a study which investigated differences in the management styles in eight local social service agency offices managed by African Americans and eight managed by whites. When the environment was turbulent, white managers responded by becoming more supportive of staff, while African American managers increased problem-solving communications. Staff in African American offices in turbulent environments had higher levels of job satisfation than either white offices of African Americans in nonturbulent environments.     

Community-Based Program Research

ABSTRACT

At first glance, the worlds of program professionals and evaluators may seem quite separate. However, there are common issues whose resolution will enhance both program development and research on programs. Program professionals and evaluators have a great deal to learn from each other. As that learning occurs, both program delivery and evaluation research will benefit. Both are concerned about matters of validity, whether it pertains to the nature of the program intervention itself or to the nature of the assessment of the program intervention. To reinforce the development of program evaluation in partnership, this paper discusses key points about evaluation research relevant to both program professionals and researchers. These include the contextual influences on a program, the “readiness” of a program for evaluation, and whether the evaluation research “works” for the program. Underlying our discussion is a call for the development of partnerships around research on programs. In that light, this article elaborates the process steps that should be taken to build program evaluation partnerships, including a discussion of what evaluators and program professionals need to know about each other, and their respective values, interests, and professional perspectives.     

高校图书馆文献资源的开发与利用

高校图书馆拥有极其丰富和宝贵的文献资源,如何对其进行开发与利用是一个迫切需要解决的课题。高校图书馆必须充分认识其必要性,通过多种途径对文献资源进行开发与利用。     

当前领导干部执政意识的总体状况与若干特点——基于一项调查的分析

作为最重要的执政实践活动主体,党员领导干部的执政意识在整个党的执政意识格局中具有重要作用。研究发现,当前党员领导干部执政意识的主流、总体、趋势值得肯定,但部分领导干部的执政意识还存在比较严重的问题,如执政意识淡薄模糊、陈旧错误、矛盾或混乱等。更值得注意的是,不同年龄、行政级别和地区的领导干部,执政意识水平、特点等有明显的差异。因此,对当前党员领导干部执政意识所存在问题及发展趋势要有高度的警觉性,法定执政党领导干部执政意识的强化应增强主动性,应突出重点,增强针对性。