Differentials in infant and child mortality and their change over time: Guatemala, 1959–1973

This paper employs 5 percent samples of the Guatemalan censuses of 1964 and 1973 to estimate differential childhood mortality. For 1973, conventional indirect mortality estimation procedures were applied; for 1964, a modification of the Preston-Palloni technique was used. A major result is that differential child mortality widened appreciably between about 1959 and about 1968. Factors leading to mortality decline were possibly unequally spread by geographic region, rural-urban residence, ethnic groups, and educational groups. Guatemala City seems to have benefited most from the decline. Analysis of small geographic units supports these conclusions and suggests some role for public health. A by-product of the analysis was the finding that parity was understated in the 1964 census.     

The potential contribution of mentor programs to relational permanency for youth aging out of foster care

This article summarizes published research regarding the effectiveness of mentor programs in general, and for youth in foster care specifically, as a basis for evidence-based practice in child welfare. It examines the pros and cons of mentor programs and characteristics of programs that are more or less effective for achieving specific social goals. The author explores the opportunity cost of investments in transitional mentor programs versus efforts to find permanent parents for youth aging out of care, and concludes with practice and policy implications of these findings.     

The effect of dependence in a binary sequence on tests for a changepoint or a changed segment

The effect of partial dependence in a binary sequence on tests for the presence of a changepoint or changed segment are investigated and exemplified in the context of modelling non-coding deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). For the levels of dependence that are commonly seen in such DNA, the null distributions of the test statistics are approximately correct and so conclusions based on them are still valid. A strong dependence would, however, invalidate the use of such procedures.     

Domestic Violence and Intergenerational Rates of Child Sexual Abuse: A Case Record Analysis

Using case review at a shelter for battered women and their children, this exploratory study investigated the association between physical abuse, exposure to domestic violence and intergenerational occurrence of child sexual abuse. The charts of 570 children were reviewed in an attempt to explore the relationship between the children's experiences with sexual abuse and their nonoffending parent's own history of having been sexually abused. Results indicated that a significant percentage of nonoffending parents who reported a history of child sexual abuse also had children who were sexually abused. Additionally, we found that most (93%) of the children studied had been exposed to domestic violence, and while the base rate of sexual abuse was relatively low (11%), the rate of physical abuse of the children was substantial (41%). Logistic regression results indicated that children of sexually abused nonoffending parents may be at heightened risk for sexual abuse. Implications for treatment and intervention are discussed.     

Change from within: The ABC‐AME church

This article describes the dilemma of a senior pastor whose urban church lost its community focus as the congregation became more affluent. His task was to determine what role the church should play in helping its less fortunate neighbors and how to get the members to support this new vision. Where there is no vision the people perish. —Proverbs 29:18     

Metropolitan retail nucleation

We argue that U.S. metropolitan retail nucleation, as represented by sales in the Central Business District and in retail centers, is a consequence of population growth in at least three transportation epochs, the walking and horse era, the electric streetcar era, and the automobile period. Population growth in each epoch has had a different effect on retail nucleation, with the most recent growth having had a pronounced positive effect on development of retail centers and a slight negative effect on the sales of the Central Business District.     

PATHS OF COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

This article raises new questions about the process of migration integration into a new community. What are the paths of integration?And what makes a difference in the paths that are taken?The major findings—that three major paths can be distinguished and that life cycle variables make the most diference in path taken—are interpreted in light of various theoretical explanations of the integration process. The predictions of other theoretical perspectives—related to the social statuses of migrants, social networks, and previous contact with the community—have only weak and sporadic support in understanding the paths of integration.     

COMPONENTS OF SATISFACTION WITH LOCAL AREAS IN THE METROPOLIS

Using individuals' subjective evaluations, this paper investigates the specific features of local areas in the Seattle, Washington metropolitan region which are most strongly related to overall satisfaction with the community. On the whole, the data support the view that the contemporary local area serves important but limited functions for metropolitan dwellers. The strongest correlates of overall evaluation are related to the evaluation of the general physical and social environment, and also specific characteristics of the home. The social character of the local population is especially important. Various others attributes of areas which have been emphasized by theorists as important to neighborhood dwellers are much less useful as predictors. These include the nature of the individual's location in relationship to other urban activities, local community institutions, and the quality of governmental services. The variables generally work in a similar manner for various sub-groups in the population, although there are some notable exceptions.