The Baby Elmo Program: Improving teen father-child interactions within juvenile justice facilities

The aim of the Baby Elmo Program is to establish a low-cost, sustainable parenting and structured visitation program for non-custodial incarcerated teen parents. The program is taught and supervised by probation staff in juvenile detention facilities and unlike traditional programs, this intervention is not based on increasing the teen's abstract parenting knowledge, but rather in building a relationship between the teen and his child. The sessions target the interactional quality of the relationship by introducing relationship, communication, and socio-emotional enhancing techniques. Because the intervention is conducted in the context of parent-child visits, it fosters hands-on learning and increases the opportunity for contact between these young parents and their children, a benefit in itself. Twenty father-infant dyads, with infants ranging in age from 6 to 36 months, participated in the present preliminary evaluation of the program. Individual growth curve analyses showed significant gains in five of six measures of emotional responsiveness with the age of infant as a significant covariate. These results indicate improvements in positive high quality interactions and communication during sessions between infants and their incarcerated parents and this increase in the interactional quality of the relationship increases the likelihood that the incarcerated teen and child will form and maintain a positive relationship with one another.     

Fishermens blues: Factors related to accidents and safety among Newfoundland fishermen

Abstract

The fisheries is one of the most dangerous industries in Canada. Possible contributory causes of the high rate of injuries are a fatalistic attitude to accidents and safety, and a high level of anxiety and worry among fishermen. These characteristics would be expected to lead to less attention to safety procedures and a consequent greater risk of accidents. The purpose of this study was to explore fishermen's levels of fatalism and anxiety; to consider the relationship of these factors to the frequency of accidents and extent of safety precautions; and to explore fishermen's explanations of and suggested solutions to the high rate of injuries at sea. The study was conducted among a sample of inshore fishermen who fished in the waters around Newfoundland. Fifty-five fishermen completed a questionnaire that requested basic demographic details, information on injuries obtained, safety precautions taken, perceived locus of control over accidents, anxiety, worries and explanations for accidents and possible measures to reduce them. Analysis of their replies revealed that the fishermen reported a high level of anxiety and that those who reported most anxiety reported more injuries and fewer safety precautions.     

Diversity training pitfalls and possibilities: An exploration of small and mid-size US organizations

Abstract

This qualitative, exploratory study examines the development and implementation of diversity training in small and mid-size organizations in a Midwestern region of the United States. The results are contrasted with diversity best practices and found lacking in key elements identified as most likely to yield success. Specifically, the organizations in this study did not provide training beyond awareness level, failed to conduct front-end needs assessment, provided little if any in-depth evaluation of diversity training and showed varying support for diversity endeavors from the leadership and through connecting diversity training with other systemic initiatives. The article concludes with recommendations for additional exploration of adapting effective diversity training practices to minimize pitfalls and maximize possibilities in small and mid-size systems.     

族群边缘的神话缔造:湘西的白帝天王信仰(1715-1996)

自清朝以来,湘西地区的苗人、汉人移民、汉人士兵和土家族人都普遍信仰＂白帝天王＂,白帝天王的庙宇遍布各处。然而在不同信众群体的心中,这个神灵的形象以及对它的理解很可能是不同的。尽管如此,白帝天王信仰在当地却起到了次官方政治的作用。无论信徒是谁,尽管信仰仪式的对象相同,但是神话阐释可以是多种多样的。对一个群体来说,神话解释之所以灵验,是因为它的某个版本满足了此群体的意识与需求。湘西地区不同信众群体在不同时期所缔造的关于白帝天王的故事就鲜明地呈现了此条规则。他们采用＂挪用＂与＂叙事化＂的双重手法,把借用的或原创的事件与本群体中已经存在的符号和神秘历史融合起来,再加上别处而来的口传或文本元素,然后加入与本群体相关的地点、事件和共同记忆,完成神话的本地化。在湘西这个动荡多变的社会中,对秩序和身份之另类形式的讨论,就体现在关于白帝天王的神话圈以及其中的各个叙事里。     

Social background,emotionality, and belief as predictors of punitiveness toward deviants

This research addresses the general question of which factors other than evidence determine the outcomes of criminal justice processing. Specifically, it investigates the relationships between social background factors, beliefs and emotions, and punitiveness toward deviants. The results offer support for the proposition that differing backgrounds are systematically linked with different views about human nature and society. The results also support the proposition that these variations in belief are linked to punitiveness toward deviants.     

A Population-Wide Screening and Tailored Intervention Platform for Eating Disorders on College Campuses: The Healthy Body Image Program

Abstract

Objectives: This article presents a new approach to intervention for eating disorders and body image concerns on college campuses, using a model of integrated eating disorder screening and intervention. Formative data on implementation feasibility are presented. Participants: College students enrolled at 2 universities between 2011 and 2012. Methods: The Healthy Body Image program is an evidence-based screening and intervention platform, enacted via community and online resources. An online screen was used to identify students at varying levels of risk or eating disorder symptom status; responses were used to direct students to universal or targeted online interventions or further evaluation. Universal prevention programs to improve healthy weight regulation and body image culture were offered to all students. Results: Formative data from 1,551 students illustrates the application of this model. Conclusions: The Healthy Body Image program is feasible to deliver and provides a comprehensive system of screening, evidence-based intervention, and community culture change.     

Neuropsychological Correlates of Performance Based Functional Status in Elder Adult Protective Services Referrals for Capacity Assessments

We have previously described high rates of executive function impairment in clients referred by Adult Protective Services (APS) to geriatric psychiatry for decision-making capacity assessments. The purpose of this study was to determine the independent relationship between neuropsychological screening instruments, particularly instruments sensitive to executive function, and performance-based functional tasks in elder referrals. Our retrospective medical review (n = 75/157 referrals completed all neuropsychological and functional assessments) revealed that only the Executive Interview (EXIT25) contributed independent variance to money management performance (R² = 0.29, p < 0.001), telephone use ability (R² = 0.39, p < 0.001), and summed performance (R² = 0.45, p < 0.001). Executive instruments may specifically inform decision-making capacity assessments.     

Activism and the Limits of Symmetry: The Public Relations Battle Between Colorado GASP and Philip Morris

Litigation has forced tobacco companies like Philip Morris to disclose more than 7 million internal documents, including previously confidential public relations plans. We draw from this archive, as well as from activist materials, to demonstrate that, despite vigorous industry efforts to thwart them, activists in this case employed strategies of values advocacy and inoculation and capitalized on economic benefits to persuade publics. This watershed case poses continued challenges for the 2-way symmetrical or mixed-motive theoretical model of public relations. Accounting for public relations activism and understanding its voice in influencing contemporary public debate requires that scholars move beyond this widely accepted model that stresses compromise between activists and organizations. An alternative rhetorical theory of activist public relations is posited to account for groups that refuse to accommodate opponents.