Intensive fostering: An independent evaluation of MTFC in an English setting

This paper presents the results of an independent evaluation of the Multi-dimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) programme for young offenders in England, where it is known as Intensive Fostering (IF).

Methods

A quasi-experimental, mixed methods study was carried out at the three pilot sites, with a total sample of 47 at follow up. Young people sentenced to IF were compared to a similar group, matched on the eligibility criteria for IF, the majority of whom were sentenced to custody. The groups were well-matched in terms of their characteristics and criminal histories. Official data on reconviction were collected at baseline and one year after entry to the IF placement or release from custody (Stage 1), and further data on programme completion and secondary outcomes were collected via interviews with young people and parents and questionnaires to professionals at baseline and follow up. Official data on reconviction were also collected one year after exit from the IF placements (Stage 2).

Results

At Stage 1 the IF group were less likely to be reconvicted, had committed fewer and less serious recorded offences, on average, and took longer to commit their first recorded offence. At this point the IF group were more likely to be living with their families and less likely to be in custody than the comparison group. However by Stage 2 no significant differences in patterns of reconviction remained.

Conclusions

IF successfully contained a high-risk group in the community, but the effects of the intervention washed out once they left their foster placements. Environmental effects on entry to and exit from the IF placements may help to explain the results at both stages.     

The school-to-work transition of 2<Superscript>nd</Superscript> generation immigrants in Denmark

2^nd generation immigrants from less developed countries have less education and a lower employment frequency compared to the native Danish youth. We analyse the school-to-work transition of these groups using panel data for the years 1985–1997. The educational gap between 2^nd generation immigrants and the Danish youth is to some extent explained by age structure, while age does not explain the native-immigrant gap concerning the duration of waiting time until first job and the duration of first employment spell. Instead parental capital and neighbourhood effects seem to play a major role. We find large gender differences among 2^nd generation immigrants in the school-to-work transition.All Correspondence to Nina Smith. Thanks to Thomas Haugaard Jensen, Anne-Sofie Reng Rasmussen and Mette Skak-Nielsen who have done part of the computational work. We also want to thank two anynomous referees and participants in the ESF-conference on Migration and Development in Naples 2000 and the ESPE conference in Athens 2001 for many valuable comments. The project has been financed by the Danish Social Science Research Council (FREJA), the Danish Ministry of Labour and TSER. Furthermore, Helena Skyt Nielsen has been supported financially by the Danish Social Science Research Council (SSF), while this work was undertaken. Responsible editors: David Card and Christopher M. Schmidt.     

关于中美不同性别高龄老人贡献行为的研究

文章通过比较中美高龄老人对家人、朋友或邻居的贡献行为的模式及其相关因素,发现中美受访者对家人的贡献均多于对朋友、邻居的贡献。中美高龄男性为家人提供的帮助高于女性,而对朋友的情感支持却少于女性。多因素回归分析结果显示,中美高龄老人贡献行为模式的不同,可能与中美之间在文化价值观、社会经济结构、宗教联系及完成贡献行为的相关机会等方面的差异有关。     

Taking it to scale: evaluating the scope and reach of a community-wide initiative on early childhood

In implementing broad community initiatives, the ability to assess the delivery of services is a distinct challenge. Yet, understanding both the magnitude and cross-usage of services by target populations is often a precursor to effective program evaluation, program improvement and additional program planning. This research examines the extent to which a comprehensive early childhood initiative successfully reached young children and their families in a large urban county. By linking birth records and administrative datasets at the level of the individual child, the study tracks the experiences of children in respect to engagement in program services and their receipt of public benefits. The study shows both the rapid growth in programs and the reach of the program elements to the majority of newborns in the target county after 5.5 years. The research highlights the challenges of effectively using individual-level data from a variety of sources for the purposes of documenting program receipt by participants.     

Assessing Priorities of Transparency During COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil

Public Organization Review - This article assesses the level of transparency of epidemiological and financial budgetary information on the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazilian state governments and the...     

Developing Models for Day Services

This paper reports an evaluation of a rural activity project for people with learning difficulties. The project is situated in (but not a regular part of) an agriculture college. Both statutory and voluntary interests are represented in the management of the scheme, which is funded by the All Wales Strategy for the Mentally Handicapped through the local authority. Despite the widespread presence of ideas about normalization and carer participation, key stakeholders in the project appeared to draw on various aspects of three different models in describing, assessing and participating in the work of the scheme: a training for work model, a personal and social growth model, and an education for life model. We explore the question of whether such contrasting views can be tolerated in a single project, and their implications for policy and practice decisions. Each model has its distinctive consequences for project aims, selection, programme planning, staffing requirements, future development objectives and desirable project outcomes. The debate has implications for the way in which policies of normalization are operationalized in and beyond the field of learning difficulties.     

大学生创新创业教育体系的构建与探索

“双创型”人才的培养对我国社会经济的发展具有重要促进作用。大学生群体是掌握专业知识的高素质人才,是发展“双创型”人才的重要对象,同时也是“双创”领域的生力军,高校积极构建完善的创新创业教育体系,对高质量创新创业人才的培养工作具有重要意义。该文首先阐述了创新创业教育体系构建的重要意义,然后分析了高校大学生创新创业教育体系构建过程中存在的问题,最后重点提出了大学生创新创业教育体系构建的策略。     

供应链鲁棒性问题的研究进展

供应链鲁棒性问题的研究,对于全球化物流供应链、供应链风险运作及对国内企业安全等问题有理论价值和应用价值。分析了供应链系统的外部联接、突发事件和内部运作不确定性的2种表现形式;讨论了供应链鲁棒运作管理,特别考虑了供应链中供应、产品、需求和信息管理的鲁棒性;探讨了供应链鲁棒优化策略以及供应链鲁棒性研究的若干前瞻性问题。