Globalization and Free Trade Agreements: A Profile of a Nicaraguan Factory Community

This study examines a Nicaraguan community 3 years after the signing of the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to learn how families, living in a community constructed near a US-owned factory, maintained resilience under growing negative conditions. These conditions relate to family dislocation, loss of support systems, lack of childcare, safe water, and food security, in addition to labor injustices. Although maintaining relatively high scores on a baseline resilience test, these families and others like them in Central America, demonstrate a struggle for survival in a globalized context.     

An Exploration of the Construction of Commitment Leading to Marriage

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how newly married couples construct and reconstruct commitment through events in courtship and early marriage. Fifteen newly married couples, 30 participants, were interviewed individually. Through the use of grounded theory six different themes (friendship, gradual process, positive examples, negative examples, planning for the future, and words of affirmation) emerged in the construction, origination, and communication of commitment. The results of this study have specific implications for theory, research, and practice with young adult couples. The concept of resilient commitment is introduced and briefly discussed.     

Critical social work and competency practice: a proposal to bridge theory and practice in the classroom

Social work education in North America is increasingly focused on competency criteria and micro skills training for future practitioners. Market forces are transforming the nature of social work practice in Canada, and social work regulators are concerned about the lack of evidence-based competencies in social work education. Since the Controlled Act of Psychotherapy was proclaimed in 2017, social work practitioners are in a position to offer psychotherapy services; as a result, universities are under greater pressure to shift to competency-based learning that meets the requirements of a regulated profession. This has raised concerns about the narrowing focus on critical social work theory in preparing students for practice. The divergence between anti-oppressive and direct practice schools is widening with the result that many students have difficulty bridging the gap between critical theory and competency-based practice. This paper attempts to integrate both traditions by offering students a course that directly links critical analysis of structural barriers and client centered interventions. The course is part of a developing critical competency curriculum that focuses on methods of facilitating empowerment and change in the helping process by articulating key relational components between service user and practitioner from a critical-competency perspective.     

Appalachian Women: A Study of Resiliency Assets and Cultural Values

ABSTRACT

There is scant literature addressing Appalachian women, their resiliency, and their cultural values. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore what constitutes resiliency for Appalachian women. The following research questions were explored: (a) Are Appalachian values reflected in Appalachian women's perceived resiliency during their school-age years, ages 5–18; and (b) if so, which Appalachian values emerged in these women's external and internal developmental assets? Ten Appalachian women were interviewed and asked to reflect on developmental assets during their school-age years. The study results indicated a relationship between developmental resiliency assets during youth as they corresponded with nine Appalachian values. The results indicate that Appalachian women's cultural values foster their strengths and resilience. This study supports the significance of practitioners acknowledging the importance of cultural values in counseling strategy. Implications and suggestions for future research are suggested     

The Probable Impact of Proposed Legislative and Budgetary Changes on the Lives of the Elderly and Their Families

The decade of the 1980s is characterized by economic uncertainty and political ambiguity regarding the direction of American public policy for the elderly. The purpose of this paper is to: (1) review demographic trends that particularly affect older adults; (2) summarize theReagan Administration's proposed cutbacks in programs and policies for the elderly; and (3) address the effects of these cuts on older individuals as well as on family systems across generations. It is our contention that the proposed budget cuts will seriously reduce a number of federal programs which have been developed to meet the needs of older adults. The impact of these cuts will be felt by all of the elderly and to a considerable extent, their families. However, the effects will be most severe for people who have poverty or near-poverty incomes, single women, and the "frail" elderly. The discussion suggests that these proposed budget cuts seem to reflect a lack of appreciation and recognition of both needs of the older individuals and those of their families. In addition, suggestions for program and policy directions, as well as further research are addressed.     

Integrating resilience and positive youth development for the promotion of positive health behaviours among ethnic minorities: a conceptual framework

Hong Kong, a traditionally ethnically homogeneous society, seems to fail encouraging positive development of ethnic minority young people. Studying resilient ethnic minority, young adults may provide insights into developing programmes and policies to encourage positive health behaviours. A pilot qualitative study of individual interviews with South Asian young minority adults was conducted to develop a conceptual framework by incorporating resilience and positive youth development. Based on the findings of this study, resilience and positive youth development contribute to young ethnic minorities’ positive health behaviours. This study may benefit culturally tailored research implications for young ethnic minorities.     

女性MBA毕业生职业生涯障碍因素的调查分析

研究采用问卷调查的方法,揭示出女性MBA毕业生与男性相比,在职业生涯发展方面确实存在更多的障碍因素,而且不同背景的女性MBA毕业生对职业生涯障碍因素的感受程度不同。文章建议个人、企业和社会客观认识并采取有效措施降低女性职业生涯发展方面的障碍因素。     

四川三州地区提升路网气候恢复力研究

四川省三州地区地处中国一二级阶梯过渡地带,地质构造复杂,新构造运动强烈,属断裂构造发育,极易因强降水等极端天气诱发山洪、泥石流、崩塌、滑坡等灾害,导致该区域路网灾害发生频率高、强度大和多灾并发。这在高山峡（深）谷区尤为严重。通过分析四川省三州地区的路网灾害风险管理体制机制,发现主要问题在于：灾害科学研究相对薄弱、灾害应急与防治技术较为缺乏、灾害危害度和路网基础设施的易损性较大、路网系统的抗灾能力和恢复力较弱。为了在四川三州地区构建安全可靠、应急保障能力强的现代路网体系,需要通过构建时空、纵向、横向三位一体的综合灾害风险治理体系和健全灾害科学、应急技术、风险管理三者有机结合的防灾减灾机制等措施,不断提升四川三州地区的路网气候恢复力。