Looking for a Grandview: introducing concepts of robust sampling to policymakers and practitioners engaged in measuring the well‐being of children at the local authority level

Local authorities are increasingly required to measure and monitor the well‐being of children. One key aspect of ensuring that these data on child well‐being are robust is that they form an accurate and representative picture of that child population. Rather than being only the purview of researchers, the act of gathering outcome data now falls within the remit of policymakers and practitioners. This article therefore describes the principles and importance of solid sampling methodologies to this audience and also considers the practical reasons as to why policymakers and practitioners may require larger samples than may be necessary for a representative picture of child well‐being. These ideas are illustrated by one local authority in the UK’s approach to measuring child well‐being, using representative sampling techniques and the subsequent expansion of this sample. The consequences of expanding the sample size are illustrated by examining the impact upon key findings related to child well‐being. The potential benefits and limitations of larger samples are discussed, as are some practical solutions to the apparent impasse.     

基于农民文化需求的新农村文化建设研究——以湖南嘉禾县为例

新农村文化建设作为我国文化建设的主要组成部分和最为重要的文化建设主战场,对推动社会主义文化大发展大繁荣起着至关重要的作用。而加强新农村文化建设,需深入了解当前农村文化建设以及农民群众精神文化的内在需求,理论联系实际,认真研究分析,提出对策建议。以湖南嘉禾县为例,系统分析了农民文化需求的状况,提出了坚持以地方政府为主导、以先进文化为引导、以保护传承民俗传统文化为基础、以加强农村文化基础设施建设为保障,加快新农村文化建设,不断满足农民文化需求的对策建议。     

Into the Lion's Den:

The need to "couple," to have that special person with whom we share not only sexual intimacy but a past, present, and future, is not limited to the "straight" world. Raised by heterosexual parents, gays (male homosexuals) desire that same type of intimacy. Given that intimate relationships provide a very necessary function for the larger community of heterosexuals, those relationships should provide the same function for gays. This paper examines the differences and similarities between long-term gay and heterosexual intimate relationships, and the support each of those types of relationships receives from the community in which they exist.     

Support for basic psychological needs in the context of HIV disclosure for older youth

Purpose

This study utilized Self-Determination Theory's sub-theory Basic Needs Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) to understand older youths' perceptions of support for their basic needs of autonomy, relatedness, and competence in the context of disclosing their HIV status.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews lasting 10–60 min each were conducted with nine youth aged 17–19 (4 women and 5 men) and two adult staff at a one-week residential program in a large southern city. Participant observations of disclosure-related conversations and experiences were conducted and recorded throughout the program. Reliability and validity assurances were met in multiple ways. Analysis of the content of interviews and observations indicated consistent themes that converged on the research questions.

Results

When participants perceived more support for their basic psychological needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence, they reported more self-determined motivation to disclose their status and better satisfaction with their decisions. The results of this study indicate that Basic Needs Theory is useful for understanding how the basic psychological needs of autonomy, relatedness, and competence are satisfied or thwarted in the context of HIV disclosure for older youth.

Conclusions

Programs and people working with older youth with HIV/AIDS can use BNT to help youth identify, create, and adapt contexts to be supportive of their basic needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence, and provide guidance and support accordingly. Providers can utilize this information to support youth in strategizing about their disclosure decisions and goals for their well-being.     

Building research capacity for social work practitioners: a regional perspective

This article explores the research experiences, interests and capacity of social work professionals working as frontline workers and managers in human service organizations in regional South Australia. It also draws attention to social work practice issues requiring further investigation as identified by these professionals. The research data for this paper were collected using quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative data provided evidence to show the extent of research interests among social work practitioners in the region. Qualitative data added depth to the findings by identifying social work practice issues as described by research participants. The study revealed that few participants had any research experience; however, the majority felt the need to undertake research, expressed interest in research training and a desire to be involved in research projects. These findings have implications for higher education providers in the social work discipline. They draw attention to the importance of better preparing students for research in practice, and also for schools of social work to actively engage in building research capacity and output in regional Australia.

Abbreviations: Frontline social work professionals (FLSWP); The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)     

Editorial

The research examined factors related to the decision to move to a continuing care retirement community (CCRC). Employing a sample obtained from a recently opened comprehensive CCRC, 184 residents and 246 waiting list respondents were surveyed concerning their decision to move. Residents evidenced significantly more "risk" factors than waiting list applicants and reported significantly more reasons for selecting a CCRC. Reasons for choosing a CCRC were guaranteed health care, freedom from home maintenance, and supportive services. The vulnerability of residents requires careful attention for planning and managing services to maintain independence.     

Grandparent Carers II

Summary

A demonstration project was undertaken in two of New York City's five boroughs using an intervention model to assess how a three-prong approach using outreach, provision of support groups, and case management could be used to aid grandparents acting as primary carers for children with developmental delay or disabilities. Three small community-based agencies participated in the demonstration. Several common themes were identified that warrant attention when working with older adults who assume later-age parenting roles: (1) recruitment, (2) pressing grandparent problems, (3) unresponsive service systems, (4) falling between the cracks, (5) mutual support, and (6) need for long-term planning.     

A New Grandparenting

Summary

The author explores the social identity of older persons and their potential for taking leadership roles in their families and communities as mentors to young persons with disability. Dealt with is the powerlessness of both these groups within society and the way in which they may be able to empower each other. It is posited that serious and active grandparenting and mentoring have the potential of filling a large gap in the continuum of meaningful and productive activities for older adults and provide highly valuable support and human resource to young persons with disabilities.     

Post Acute Care of the Elderly in Singapore What Factors Influence Use of Services?

This research focused on understanding the factors associated with utilization of post-acute care services in Singapore and how these are woven into family care as well as the lived experience of elderly persons and their families. The multi-method study applied Andersen's model and the quantitative results of the 299 elderly Singaporeans surveyed showed medical and physical conditions, perceived health and utility, knowledge and previous use of service, ethnicity, family size, paid help, housing type, and living arrangement as significant factors. Qualitative results from interviews of a subsample of 13 elderly and their family members and focus group discussions of providers consistently pointed affordability of services as an important factor. Findings surfaced the question of service accessibility and its implications on practice, policy, and research.     

高校学生就业与社会需求关系研究——以江苏大学交通运输专业为例

随着社会的快速发展和科学技术水平的不断提高,用人单位对交通运输专业毕业生有了更高的要求。针对这一现状,通过对毕业生就业情况以及用人单位对交通运输专业毕业生的知识结构、能力和素质的满意度的调查和分析,研究交通运输人才培养与社会需求关系,找出交通运输人才培养中的问题和不足,并从用人单位的反馈意见和其专业特点出发,提出强化传统优势,拓展专业内涵;依据综合理念,修订个人培养目标;调整培养方式,强调职业化训练等建议,从而为高等院校交通运输专业本科生培养和在校生的学习提供参考和借鉴。