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information for practice November 2008 archives

November 30, 2008

For Ohio's neediest families, a bad situation is about to get worse. The state is about to run out of extra federal welfare money, forcing spending cuts of more than $300 million next year unless new revenues are found.

M Hicks | NY Times
STORY BREAK Patricia Christofferson provides state-licensed, government- subsidized day care out of her home in Shirley.

Offers some practical implications based on the first study to demonstrate a link between exposure to sexual content on TV and subsequently becoming pregnant or being responsible for a pregnancy before the age of 20.

Building Systems of Care: A Primer for Child Welfare is a companion document to Primer Hands On-Child Welfare, a web-based training resource for leaders involved in building systems of care for children, youth and families involved, or at risk for involvement, in the child welfare system.

November 28, 2008

November 26, 2008

Eighty-nine percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year in 2007, meaning that they had access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. The remaining households (11.1 percent) were food insecure at least some time during the year. About one-third of food insecure households (4.1 percent of all U.S. households) had very low food security—meaning that the food intake of one or more adults was reduced and their eating patterns were disrupted at times during the year because the household lacked money and other resources for food. Prevalence rates of food insecurity and very low food security were essentially unchanged from those in 2005 and 2006.

The Minimum Data Set Resident Assessment Instrument (MDS/RAI) for Long Term Care Facilities is designed to be a comprehensive standardised way of assessing the needs and planning the care of residents in nursing and residential homes. It includes the assessment (MDS), care planning guidance, and can report on changes in resident well-being and resource use.

In August 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report on the social determinants of health. It identified the need to act to improve the daily living conditions of individuals and communities; and, to tackle the inequitable distribution of power, money and resources in order to improve health outcomes. CPRN President Dr. Sharon Manson Singer picked up on the WHO theme of social justice and social determinants of health with a British Columbia focus in a presentation, Social Determinants of Health – A Route to Social Justice, to the Healthy Futures for BC Families Policy Discussion on October 2, 2008.

This report is an analysis of alternative datasets and research approaches to assess the effects of Hurricane Katrina on populations served by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The assessment addresses four overarching research questions, with an emphasis on using existing datasets: 1) where did populations of interest go and where are they living since Katrina; what are the effects on income and employment; what are the needs for ACF programs and services; and how did the disaster affect ACF programs themselves? The report includes an extensive annotated bibliography of analyses through January 2007.

This report outlines the results of a six-month review into methods for dealing with prostitution. It looks at what more can be done to protect women being exploited for sexual gain.

Child poverty has serious consequences for individuals and wider social implications. These include losses to the economy through reduced productivity, lower educational attainment and poor health. While there is a growing body of evidence on child poverty, comparatively few studies have attached a financial cost to these consequences. This report reviews evidence on the impacts of child poverty in industrialised, OECD counties. It explores the short-, medium- and long-term consequences for individuals, families, neighbourhoods, society and the economy.

Family Psychoeducation involves a partnership among consumers, families and supporters, and practitioners.

Family Psychoeducation involves a partnership among consumers, families and supporters, and practitioners.

This report is a summary of the results of research carried out for the Department of Health into families’ attitudes and behaviours relating to diet and activity. The research was carried out to enable interventions to promote healthy weight in children and families to be more effectively targeted and delivered. It is intended for use by obesity/health weight teams within primary care trusts (PCTs) and local authorities, but will also be of interest to anyone involved in the commissioning or implementation of initiatives aimed at encouraging families to improve their diet and/ or increase their levels of activity.

November 25, 2008

This report presents lessons learned from the first year of local work to prevent violent extremism. It describes how local partnerships are responding to the challenge of preventing people becoming involved in or supporting violent extremism.

What does the turmoil mean for developing countries? Many developing country economies are still growing strongly, but forecasts have been downgraded substantially in the space of a few months. And for how much longer can growth persist? What are the channels through which the crisis could spread to developing countries and how are the effects being felt in developing countries? Which developing countries will be able to withstand the international macro economic challenges created by the downturn in developed economies, and which are most at risk? What is the role for development policy and what do developing country policy-makers need to know? This note discusses recent growth performance in developed and developing countries, the channels through which the global crisis affects developing countries, which countries might be most at risk, and possible policy responses.

Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment is for people who have co-occurring disorders, mental illness and a substance abuse addiction. This treatment approach helps people recover by offering both mental health and substance abuse services at the same time and in one setting.

Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment is for people who have co-occurring disorders, mental illness and a substance abuse addiction. This treatment approach helps people recover by offering both mental health and substance abuse services at the same time and in one setting.

An exploratory study that examines the manifestations and impacts of territorial behaviour among young people in disadvantaged areas of British cities. Territoriality among young people has been identified as a source of social exclusion and disadvantage, and as one of the roots of gang behaviour in some previous studies. It has also begun to be recognised by policy-makers working to improve young people’s life chances and to promote safer communities. However, until now, there has been no research that has focused on understanding territoriality in its own right.

There were 59,500 children looked after at 31 March 2008, 1 per cent fewer than last year's figure of 60,000 and a decrease of 3 per cent compared to 2004 (61,200).

Examines the prevalence and overlap of substance-related behaviors among youth, making comparisons based on age group, gender, and race/ethnicity. Findings reported in this Bulletin are drawn from the first two stages of the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, which gathered self-reports from a nationally representative sample of youth ages 12–17 in 1997 and 1998. The data are derived from questions survey participants answered regarding their alcohol and drug use during the previous 30 days, including the frequency of their consumption, the types of drugs used, and whether they had sold drugs. The central finding was that, given one substance-related behavior, other substance-related behaviors became much more likely.

The Pensions Bill was introduced into Parliament on 5 December 2007 and contains proposals for private pension reform. These reforms build on the Pensions Act 2007 and are designed to encourage and enable more people to save towards their retirement.

November 24, 2008

This report looks at how Community Philosophy can open community conversations within and between generations about 'nuisance' behaviours and the fear of crime. Community Philosophy is a way of mutual learning which emphasises the importance of questioning and enquiry in the development of understanding. This study explores Community Philosophy in an intergenerational and residential environment, rather than the more usual context of schools and young people only.

This report provides information on a selection of initiatives that focus on tackling worklessness amongst vulnerable groups in deprived areas.

Mentoring is usually a formal or informal relationship between two people—a senior mentor (usually outside the protégé’s chain of supervision) and a junior protégé. Mentoring has been identified as an important influence in professional development in both the public and private sector. Within the Federal government, mentoring is often a component of different types of development, including comprehensive career development programs like the Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), the Executive Leadership Program (ELP) and the Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) Program. The major function of mentoring within these programs is to promote the protégé’s development in specific areas and to facilitate successful completion of the program. While these mentoring relationships can produce positive developmental and organizational outcomes, both mentoring programs and relationships sometimes fail due to a variety of causes and problems (e.g., lack of participation, no leadership involvement, poor planning, unrealistic expectations, and “fuzzy” goals). Successful mentoring programs require proper understanding, planning, implementation and evaluation.

This paper asks ‘What kinds of approaches and institutions, under what sorts of conditions, are most effective for harnessing scientific knowledge in support of strategies for environmentally sustainable development and poverty alleviation?’ In applying an innovative conceptual framework to a diverse set of sustainable poverty-focused projects undertaken in numerous African and Asian countries, we found that strategies key to closing gaps between knowledge and action include: combining different kinds of knowledge, learning and bridging approaches, strong and diverse partnerships that level the playing field, and building capacity to innovate and communicate.

Recent national polls find that four in 10 Americans have an unfavorable view of Islam, five in 10 believe Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence, and six in 10 believe Islam is very different from their own religion. All this despite the fact that seven in 10 admit they know very little about Islam. And yet Americans rank Muslims second only to atheists as a group that doesn’t share their vision of American society.

This report estimates the costs of child poverty to the Exchequer, focusing on public service costs. It includes:
- services provided to individuals or families on a basis of need or demographic eligibility, including education, most health services, subsidised housing and social care services;
- services which provide local ‘public goods’ such as policing and the criminal justice system;
- area-based regeneration initiatives and more general supplementary expenditure targeted on deprived neighbourhoods.

Supported Employment is a well-defined approach to helping people with mental illnesses find and keep competitive employment within their communities. Supported employment programs are staffed by employment specialists who have frequent meetings with treatment providers to integrate supported employment with mental health services.

Supported Employment is a well-defined approach to helping people with mental illnesses find and keep competitive employment within their communities. Supported employment programs are staffed by employment specialists who have frequent meetings with treatment providers to integrate supported employment with mental health services.

This consultation outlines proposals to improve the effectiveness of some of the specialist support the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides to help disabled people enter and/or retain employment. The proposed reforms are designed to complement our wider Welfare to Work reforms, including the national rollout of Pathways to Work, our plans to introduce a more flexible New Deal and closer working that we are continuing to develop with other government departments and external organisations.

November 22, 2008

What does the turmoil mean for developing countries? Many developing country economies are still growing strongly, but forecasts have been downgraded substantially in the space of a few months. And for how much longer can growth persist? What are the channels through which the crisis could spread to developing countries and how are the effects being felt in developing countries?

November 21, 2008

Thanks to the work of NIH institutes, other research organizations around the world, and many private-sector research, education, and advocacy groups, the study of AD is moving ahead rapidly. This book explains what AD is, describes the main areas in which researchers are working, and highlights new approaches for helping families and friends care for people with AD.

Thanks to the work of NIH institutes, other research organizations around the world, and many private-sector research, education, and advocacy groups, the study of AD is moving ahead rapidly. This book explains what AD is, describes the main areas in which researchers are working, and highlights new approaches for helping families and friends care for people with AD.

A scarcity of food is rarely the cause of hunger. There is more than enough food to feed everyone in the United States. The supermarket store shelves are stocked to the ceiling. But none of this matters if families have no money in their pockets. Poverty spoils every meal. The lone homeless person may be the most conspicuous image of poverty in the national media. Less conspicuous, but a much larger group, are the families who cycle in and out of poverty.

A scarcity of food is rarely the cause of hunger. There is more than enough food to feed everyone in the United States. The supermarket store shelves are stocked to the ceiling. But none of this matters if families have no money in their pockets. Poverty spoils every meal. The lone homeless person may be the most conspicuous image of poverty in the national media. Less conspicuous, but a much larger group, are the families who cycle in and out of poverty. Families most at risk are those that are just a little better off than poor, surviving on low-wage jobs until suddenly they lose their financial footing because the main wage earner's job has been eliminated or one of the family members has a medical emergency.

- Approximately 3.5 million Canadians were living in poverty in 2004 - more than 11% of the population.
- The proportion of Canadian families living in poverty declined slightly, from 8.5% in 2003 to 7.8% in 2004. In all, 684,000 economic families were living below the poverty line in 2004.

- Approximately 3.5 million Canadians were living in poverty in 2004 - more than 11% of the population.
- The proportion of Canadian families living in poverty declined slightly, from 8.5% in 2003 to 7.8% in 2004. In all, 684,000 economic families were living below the poverty line in 2004.
- Rates of poverty in 2004 were lowest among elderly families (2.1%) and highest among female lone-parent families (35.6%).
- 865,000 Canadian children under the age of 18 lived in poverty in 2004 – one of every eight children.

Child Welfare Outcomes 2002-2005: Report to Congress . . . is the seventh in a series of annual reports from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services . . . The reports are developed in accordance with section 479A of the Social Security Act . . . and provide information pertaining to State performance on the following national child welfare outcomes:

Child Welfare Outcomes 2002-2005: Report to Congress . . . is the seventh in a series of annual reports from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services . . . The reports are developed in accordance with section 479A of the Social Security Act . . . and provide information pertaining to State performance on the following national child welfare outcomes:
Outcome 1—Reduce recurrence of child abuse and/or neglect
Outcome 2—Reduce the incidence of child abuse and/or neglect in foster care
Outcome 3—Increase permanency for children in foster care
Outcome 4—Reduce time in foster care to reunification without increasing reentry
Outcome 5—Reduce time in foster care to adoption
Outcome 6—Increase placement stability
Outcome 7—Reduce placements of young children in group homes or institutions

Records of child abuse and neglect reports are maintained by State child protection or social services agencies to aid in the investigation, treatment, and prevention of child abuse cases and to maintain statistical information for staffing and funding purposes. In many States, these records and the results of investigations are maintained in databases, often known as central registries. The type of information contained in registry and department records varies from State to State, as does access to the information maintained.

Records of child abuse and neglect reports are maintained by State child protection or social services agencies to aid in the investigation, treatment, and prevention of child abuse cases and to maintain statistical information for staffing and funding purposes. In many States, these records and the results of investigations are maintained in databases, often known as central registries. The type of information contained in registry and department records varies from State to State, as does access to the information maintained.

November 20, 2008

This study uses a microsimulation model to assess the effect of changes to State-level Food Stamp Program (FSP) asset rules on household eligibility and on the benefits that eligible households would receive. The findings show that 7 percent of households eligible in 2006 were eligible only through expanded categorical eligibility rules that exempted the households from the standard Federal FSP asset rules and that 1 percent of eligible households were eligible because of State rules that counted fewer vehicle assets toward the asset limits.

This study uses a microsimulation model to assess the effect of changes to State-level Food Stamp Program (FSP) asset rules on household eligibility and on the benefits that eligible households would receive. The findings show that 7 percent of households eligible in 2006 were eligible only through expanded categorical eligibility rules that exempted the households from the standard Federal FSP asset rules and that 1 percent of eligible households were eligible because of State rules that counted fewer vehicle assets toward the asset limits. The number of eligible households would increase by about 3 percent if asset limits were raised by $2,000, by 22 percent if the asset test were eliminated, by 2 percent if retirement accounts were excluded, and by less than half of 1 percent if all vehicles were excluded. Eligibility across States varied widely, with 32 percent of households eligible in at least one State but not eligible in all States. The Food Stamp Program was renamed to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in October 2008.

- In 2002/03, there were 4,979,112 students enrolled in elementary or secondary schools across Canada. Between 2000/01 and 2002/03, enrollment declined by 0.5% overall.
- Some provinces and territories reported modest increases in elementary and secondary school enrollment. Between 2000/01 and 2002/03, Ontario’s enrollment rose by 1.1% and Alberta’s increased by 0.9%. The largest enrollment gains in were in the territories

- In 2002/03, there were 4,979,112 students enrolled in elementary or secondary schools across Canada. Between 2000/01 and 2002/03, enrollment declined by 0.5% overall.
- Some provinces and territories reported modest increases in elementary and secondary school enrollment. Between 2000/01 and 2002/03, Ontario’s enrollment rose by 1.1% and Alberta’s increased by 0.9%. The largest enrollment gains in were in the territories: Northwest Territories saw an increase of 1.4% and Nunavut reported the largest rise in enrollment, at 3.1%.

Poverty rates in the United States have remained stubbornly consistent for the past 35 years, despite significant efforts to reduce them (and some success in lessening child poverty in the 1990s). Developing philanthropic strategies to combat poverty should begin with a clear understanding of the causes behind the problem. This paper begins by tracing economic and social trends that help explain the persistence of poverty, as well as by describing some of the unintended consequences of public policies that have exacerbated the challenges facing poor families. It then discusses four overarching strategies that seek to address one of the most powerful contributors to poverty: stagnant wages for low-income workers, particularly among men, young men, and men of color.

Poverty rates in the United States have remained stubbornly consistent for the past 35 years, despite significant efforts to reduce them (and some success in lessening child poverty in the 1990s). Developing philanthropic strategies to combat poverty should begin with a clear understanding of the causes behind the problem. This paper begins by tracing economic and social trends that help explain the persistence of poverty, as well as by describing some of the unintended consequences of public policies that have exacerbated the challenges facing poor families. It then discusses four overarching strategies that seek to address one of the most powerful contributors to poverty: stagnant wages for low-income workers, particularly among men, young men, and men of color.

Despite the efforts of the child protection system, child maltreatment fatalities remain a serious problem. Although the untimely deaths of children due to illness and accidents have been closely monitored, deaths that result from physical assault or severe neglect can be more difficult to track because the perpetrators, usually parents, are less likely to be forthcoming about the circumstances. Intervention strategies targeted at solving this problem face complex challenges.

Despite the efforts of the child protection system, child maltreatment fatalities remain a serious problem. Although the untimely deaths of children due to illness and accidents have been closely monitored, deaths that result from physical assault or severe neglect can be more difficult to track because the perpetrators, usually parents, are less likely to be forthcoming about the circumstances. Intervention strategies targeted at solving this problem face complex challenges.

• There were 8.4 million families in Canada in 2001.
• The majority of Canadian families are married households. In 2001, 70.4% of families were married couples, 13.8% were common-law relationships, and the remaining 15.6% were loneparent families.
• In 2001, only 58.2% of families in Quebec were married families, while 25.2% were common-law. In the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, common-law families ranged from 23% to 31%, higher than the Canadian average of 13.8%.

• There were 8.4 million families in Canada in 2001.
• The majority of Canadian families are married households. In 2001, 70.4% of families were married couples, 13.8% were common-law relationships, and the remaining 15.6% were loneparent families.
• Although married families are the most common family type in Canada, Quebec and the Northern Territories have a smaller percentage. In 2001, only 58.2% of families in Quebec were married families, while 25.2% were common-law. In the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, common-law families ranged from 23% to 31%, higher than the Canadian average of
13.8%.

Working a full-time job does not guarantee a family a decent, affordable place to live—a problem the Center for Housing Policy has been tracking for the past eight years. Using the most recent American Housing Survey (2005), this report updates national trends in the number of working families paying more than half of their income for housing and/or living in dilapidated conditions. A new feature in this edition is a close-up look at 31 metropolitan areas and changes in their critical housing needs from the mid 1990s to the early 2000s.

Working a full-time job does not guarantee a family a decent, affordable place to live—a problem the Center for Housing Policy has been tracking for the past eight years. Using the most recent American Housing Survey (2005), this report updates national trends in the number of working families paying more than half of their income for housing and/or living in dilapidated conditions. A new feature in this edition is a close-up look at 31 metropolitan areas and changes in their critical housing needs from the mid 1990s to the early 2000s.

The Illness Management and Recovery program strongly emphasizes helping people to set and pursue personal goals and to implement action strategies in their everyday lives.

The Illness Management and Recovery program strongly emphasizes helping people to set and pursue personal goals and to implement action strategies in their everyday lives.

November 19, 2008

This report draws on the Consumer Expenditure Survey and other sources to put housing expenses in the context of the typical household budget. The conclusions are sobering: many components of housing costs have increased substantially faster than incomes. These housing cost increases could compromise the ability of both homeowners and renters to stay in their homes.

This report draws on the Consumer Expenditure Survey and other sources to put housing expenses in the context of the typical household budget. The conclusions are sobering: many components of housing costs have increased substantially faster than incomes. These housing cost increases could compromise the ability of both homeowners and renters to stay in their homes.

14 Employer Cost Savings briefs were created to provide information on the costs of substance use disorders (SUD) for employers and guidance on how they can enhance health plan administration to lower their costs and increase treatment. The set of 14 Employer Cost Savings briefs will be very concise (2 pages) arguments based on the technical cost literature to help employers recognize the detrimental and costly influence of substance use disorders in the workplace and understand what actions they can take to address the problem.

14 Employer Cost Savings briefs were created to provide information on the costs of substance use disorders (SUD) for employers and guidance on how they can enhance health plan administration to lower their costs and increase treatment. The set of 14 Employer Cost Savings briefs will be very concise (2 pages) arguments based on the technical cost literature to help employers recognize the detrimental and costly influence of substance use disorders in the workplace and understand what actions they can take to address the problem.

• In 2004, Canada’s population reached 31.9 million. Since 2001, Canada’s total population has grown by 3%, or 925,000 people.
• From a provincial perspective, population growth between 2001 and 2004 was greatest in Western Canada. The territory of Nunavut reported an increase of 5.3% in their population over this three-year period. The Northwest Territories followed closely behind with an increase of 4.9%.
• While many provinces experienced population increases between 2001 and 2004, the population fell in others. The most significant decreases were in Newfoundland, where the population decreased by 1.0%, and in Saskatchewan (0.5%).

• In 2004, Canada’s population reached 31.9 million. Since 2001, Canada’s total population has grown by 3%, or 925,000 people.
• From a provincial perspective, population growth between 2001 and 2004 was greatest in Western Canada. The territory of Nunavut reported an increase of 5.3% in their population over this three-year period. The Northwest Territories followed closely behind with an increase of 4.9%.
• While many provinces experienced population increases between 2001 and 2004, the population fell in others. The most significant decreases were in Newfoundland, where the population decreased by 1.0%, and in Saskatchewan (0.5%).

In June 2008, the Child Poverty Unit held an event entitled ’Ending Child Poverty: “Thinking 2020”’ at which around 100 stakeholders from across lobby organisations, academic institutions, devolved administrations and local and central Government attended. . . . This report contains the write-up of the event, plus the authors’ four think-pieces on financial support, employment, communities and children’s life chances.

In June 2008, the Child Poverty Unit held an event entitled ’Ending Child Poverty: “Thinking 2020”’ at which around 100 stakeholders from across lobby organisations, academic institutions, devolved administrations and local and central Government attended. The event was designed to begin a discussion with stakeholders on the vision for a UK free of child poverty by 2020, and the route by which that could be achieved. To facilitate discussion and debate, four think-pieces were commissioned from academics and think-tanks which were then presented and discussed at the event. This report contains the write-up of the event, plus the authors’ four think-pieces on financial support, employment, communities and children’s life chances.

This research brief presents information on adopted children with special health care needs,[1] using data from the 2005-2006 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN). The analysis takes advantage of questions in the NS-CSHCN that allow adopted children in the sample to be grouped and compared by adoption type, that is, foster care adoptions, international adoptions, and domestic adoptions through sources other than the public child welfare system (for convenience discussed below as “private domestic adoptions”).

This research brief presents information on adopted children with special health care needs,[1] using data from the 2005-2006 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN). The analysis takes advantage of questions in the NS-CSHCN that allow adopted children in the sample to be grouped and compared by adoption type, that is, foster care adoptions, international adoptions, and domestic adoptions through sources other than the public child welfare system (for convenience discussed below as “private domestic adoptions”). Findings provide a descriptive profile of adopted children with special health care needs (CSHCN); explore ways in which adopted CSHCN are similar to and different from other CSHCN; and describe their health status, health conditions and health care access and utilization across adoption types. The analysis excludes adoptive families in which a biological parent also resides in the household, which are primarily step-parent adoptions. The data presented are nationally representative of adopted CSHCN. Because only CSHCN are included in the sample, however, results may not be generalized to adopted children overall.

The project had two primary goals. The first objective was to give a voice to homeless youth who are frequently powerless and invisible. Second, we initiated a dialogue with policymakers and practitioners concerning the improvement of educational policy as it pertains to homeless youth.

The project had two primary goals. The first objective was to give a voice to homeless youth who are frequently powerless and invisible. Second, we initiated a dialogue with policymakers and practitioners concerning the improvement of educational policy as it pertains to homeless youth.

November 18, 2008

- Data from SAMHSA's National Surveys on Drug Use & Health conducted in 2002 through 2007 were used to compare alcohol drinking rates, frequency, and quantity among women aged 15 to 44 divided into three groups: (1) pregnant, (2) recent mother (i.e., had a child within the past 12 months), and (3) all other women in this age group. A stable pattern of drinking was found for all three groups during this period.
- Combined data from SAMHSA's 2006-2007 National Surveys on Drug Use & Health examined drinking patterns among women aged 15 to 44. Pregnant women (11.6%) were significantly less likely to have used alcohol in the past month than recent mothers (42.1%) or all other women (54.0%). Among current alcohol drinkers, both pregnant women and recent mothers drank alcohol on fewer days than other women (4.9 days for pregnant women, 4.4 days for recent mothers, and 6.1 days for all other women). Pregnant and recent mothers also drank fewer drinks on their drinking days (2.4 drinks for pregnant women, 2.5 drinks for recent mothers, and 3.0 drinks for all other women).

- Data from SAMHSA's National Surveys on Drug Use & Health conducted in 2002 through 2007 were used to compare alcohol drinking rates, frequency, and quantity among women aged 15 to 44 divided into three groups: (1) pregnant, (2) recent mother (i.e., had a child within the past 12 months), and (3) all other women in this age group. A stable pattern of drinking was found for all three groups during this period.
- Combined data from SAMHSA's 2006-2007 National Surveys on Drug Use & Health examined drinking patterns among women aged 15 to 44. Pregnant women (11.6%) were significantly less likely to have used alcohol in the past month than recent mothers (42.1%) or all other women (54.0%). Among current alcohol drinkers, both pregnant women and recent mothers drank alcohol on fewer days than other women (4.9 days for pregnant women, 4.4 days for recent mothers, and 6.1 days for all other women). Pregnant and recent mothers also drank fewer drinks on their drinking days (2.4 drinks for pregnant women, 2.5 drinks for recent mothers, and 3.0 drinks for all other women).

The ongoing global economic slowdown is affecting low-income groups disproportionately. This development comes after a long expansionary phase where income inequality was already on the rise in the majority of countries. The recent period of economic expansion was accompanied by substantial employment growth across most regions. Between the early 1990s and 2007, world employment grew by around 30 percent. However, there was considerable variation in labour market performance between countries. In addition, not all individuals shared equally in the employment gains. In a number of regions, women continued to represent a disproportionate share of non-employed persons – reaching nearly 80 per cent in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia and the Pacific.

The ongoing global economic slowdown is affecting low-income groups disproportionately. This development comes after a long expansionary phase where income inequality was already on the rise in the majority of countries. The recent period of economic expansion was accompanied by substantial employment growth across most regions. Between the early 1990s and 2007, world employment grew by around 30 percent. However, there was considerable variation in labour market performance between countries. In addition, not all individuals shared equally in the employment gains. In a number of regions, women continued to represent a disproportionate share of non-employed persons – reaching nearly 80 per cent in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia and the Pacific.

This research examines the ability of people in low-cost shared-ownership housing schemes to move within the sector, and out of it, as their aspirations or needs change.

This research examines the ability of people in low-cost shared-ownership housing schemes to move within the sector, and out of it, as their aspirations or needs change.

The data in the chart were submitted to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) by States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico by September 1, 2008.

The data in the chart were submitted to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) by States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico by September 1, 2008.

- Combined 2005 and 2006 data from SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicate that an annual average of 3.3 million youths aged 12 to 17 (13.3%) received services for emotional or behavioral problems in a specialty mental health setting in the past year.
- About 3 million youth (12%) received services for emotional or behavioral problems in a school-based setting, and around 752,000 (3%) received such services in a general medical setting.
- Female youths were more likely than their male counterparts to receive services for emotional or behavioral problems in a specialty mental health or educational setting.

- Combined 2005 and 2006 data from SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicate that an annual average of 3.3 million youths aged 12 to 17 (13.3%) received services for emotional or behavioral problems in a specialty mental health setting in the past year.
- About 3 million youth (12%) received services for emotional or behavioral problems in a school-based setting, and around 752,000 (3%) received such services in a general medical setting.
- Female youths were more likely than their male counterparts to receive services for emotional or behavioral problems in a specialty mental health or educational setting.

This report presents the findings of an exploratory qualitative study commissioned in 2007 by the Department for Work and Pensions to investigate the experiences of people with a mental health condition who had continued to work in paid employment while unwell. The study was carried out by the Social Policy Research Unit at the University of York and was based on interviews with 38 people working for a range of small and large employers in the public and private sectors.

This report presents the findings of an exploratory qualitative study commissioned in 2007 by the Department for Work and Pensions to investigate the experiences of people with a mental health condition who had continued to work in paid employment while unwell. The study was carried out by the Social Policy Research Unit at the University of York and was based on interviews with 38 people working for a range of small and large employers in the public and private sectors.

November 17, 2008

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairman and Vice Chair respectively of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC), held a hearing on poverty in the United States on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 10:00 am in Room 562 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The JEC hearing entitled, “Leave No Family Behind: How Can We Reduce the Rising Number of American Families Living in Poverty?”, featured Mayor David N. Cicilline and poverty experts who examined whether the outdated federal poverty measurements are preventing resources from reaching families and elderly Americans and what legislation may be appropriate to drastically reduce the number of U.S. families living in poverty. Since 2000, the number of Americans living in poverty jumped by 5.7 million to 37.3 million; and the poverty rate rose to 12.5 percent in 2007.

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairman and Vice Chair respectively of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC), held a hearing on poverty in the United States on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 10:00 am in Room 562 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The JEC hearing entitled, “Leave No Family Behind: How Can We Reduce the Rising Number of American Families Living in Poverty?”, featured Mayor David N. Cicilline and poverty experts who examined whether the outdated federal poverty measurements are preventing resources from reaching families and elderly Americans and what legislation may be appropriate to drastically reduce the number of U.S. families living in poverty. Since 2000, the number of Americans living in poverty jumped by 5.7 million to 37.3 million; and the poverty rate rose to 12.5 percent in 2007.

This article compares the wages of management, selected professional, and administrative support workers in nonprofit organizations with those of their counterparts9 in private industry as a whole, State government, and local government. Management, selected professional, and administrative support occupations are found in many industries, working in support of an organization’s main function.10 Because their skills are needed in a wide range of organizations, their wages are discussed in this first article of a three-part series. The second article in the series will look at the wages of workers in occupations concentrated in schools and research institutions; and the third article will examine the wages of occupations concentrated in health care and social assistance organizations.

This article compares the wages of management, selected professional, and administrative support workers in nonprofit organizations with those of their counterparts9 in private industry as a whole, State government, and local government. Management, selected professional, and administrative support occupations are found in many industries, working in support of an organization’s main function.10 Because their skills are needed in a wide range of organizations, their wages are discussed in this first article of a three-part series. The second article in the series will look at the wages of workers in occupations concentrated in schools and research institutions; and the third article will examine the wages of occupations concentrated in health care and social assistance organizations.

- Combined data from SAMHSA's 2004 - 2007 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health indicate than an annual average of 9.3% (312,000) veterans aged 21 to 39 experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year.
- Among veterans aged 21 to 39 with a major depressive episode in the past year, 51.7% reported severe impairment in at least one of four role domains (i.e., home management, work, close relationships with others, and social life) and 23.5% reported very severe impairment in at least one of the domains.
- More than half (59.6%) of veterans aged 21 to 39 who experienced a major depressive episode in the past year received treatment for depression in the past year.

- Combined data from SAMHSA's 2004 - 2007 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health indicate than an annual average of 9.3% (312,000) veterans aged 21 to 39 experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year.
- Among veterans aged 21 to 39 with a major depressive episode in the past year, 51.7% reported severe impairment in at least one of four role domains (i.e., home management, work, close relationships with others, and social life) and 23.5% reported very severe impairment in at least one of the domains.
- More than half (59.6%) of veterans aged 21 to 39 who experienced a major depressive episode in the past year received treatment for depression in the past year.

Eighty-nine percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year in 2007, meaning that they had access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. The remaining households (11.1 percent) were food insecure at least some time during the year. About one-third of food insecure households (4.1 percent of all U.S. households) had very low food security—meaning that the food intake of one or more adults was reduced and their eating patterns were disrupted at times during the year because the household lacked money and other resources for food. Prevalence rates of food insecurity and very low food security were essentially unchanged from those in 2005 and 2006.

A variety of measures have been introduced in recent years to encourage public engagement in local governance. The role played by public officials – paid officials employed by public bodies – is important in affecting the extent to which community views can have an influence. This includes the way public officials interact with communities and their role in influencing what happens to the views expressed. The research explored this through a case study of one London borough (Haringey).

A variety of measures have been introduced in recent years to encourage public engagement in local governance. The role played by public officials – paid officials employed by public bodies – is important in affecting the extent to which community views can have an influence. This includes the way public officials interact with communities and their role in influencing what happens to the views expressed. The research explored this through a case study of one London borough (Haringey).

This study reports on arrangements in place in England to help prevent the abuse of adults and to support those who experience abuse. The study focuses on the effectiveness of these arrangements, rather than the prevalence of abuse. The Commission for Social Care Inspection has analysed evidence from the range of its regulatory and inspection functions across councils, care homes, home care agencies and other social care services to consider the responsiveness of safeguarding arrangements and the effectiveness of strategies to help prevent abuse and enable people to stay safe and be free to live their lives as they wish.

This study reports on arrangements in place in England to help prevent the abuse of adults and to support those who experience abuse. The study focuses on the effectiveness of these arrangements, rather than the prevalence of abuse. The Commission for Social Care Inspection has analysed evidence from the range of its regulatory and inspection functions across councils, care homes, home care agencies and other social care services to consider the responsiveness of safeguarding arrangements and the effectiveness of strategies to help prevent abuse and enable people to stay safe and be free to live their lives as they wish.

This report presents the findings of research on international comparisons of access to expensive medicines.

This report presents the findings of research on international comparisons of access to expensive medicines.

November 14, 2008

The stigma associated with mental illnesses is one of the most persistent problems individuals face. It is fundamental to discrimination in housing, employment, and insurance. It prevents treatment, and it impedes recovery. Research on addressing discrimination and stigma has shown that individuals’ attitudes improve when they have direct contact with persons with mental illnesses, when they can get to know people beyond labels and myths.

The stigma associated with mental illnesses is one of the most persistent problems individuals face. It is fundamental to discrimination in housing, employment, and insurance. It prevents treatment, and it impedes recovery.
Research on addressing discrimination and stigma has shown that individuals’ attitudes improve when they have direct contact with persons with mental illnesses, when they can get to know people beyond labels and myths. For contact strategies—that is, getting to know people with mental illnesses personally— to work, individuals need to self-disclose or identify that they have received mental health services. Self-disclosure has advantages such as not having to worry about hiding experiences with mental illness, finding others with similar experiences, and helping others understand mental health issues, which may even promote one’s own recovery process. Self-disclosure may also have risks. A person must make a number of considerations when deciding whether to disclose. These might include personal considerations such as how well one feels he or she can handle maintaining a secret, prior experience or discrimination an individual or colleagues have experienced, or one’s sense of self-esteem. Considerations involving potential or actual employers, and the societal climate at the time one is considering disclosure, might enter into the decision process.

Since the mid-1960s, the median retirement age for men has declined from 66 to 63. If Americans continue to retire at age 63, a great many will risk income shortfalls, especially at older ages. This risk is even greater for those currently nearing retirement who have recently seen a large portion of their nest eggs evaporate. Work directly increases current income, Social Security benefits, and retirement saving, and decreases the length of retirement. But are Americans healthy enough to work longer?

Since the mid-1960s, the median retirement age for men has declined from 66 to 63. If Americans continue to retire at age 63, a great many will risk income shortfalls, especially at older ages. This risk is even greater for those currently nearing retirement who have recently seen a large portion of their nest eggs evaporate. Work directly increases current income, Social Security benefits, and retirement saving, and decreases the length of retirement. But are Americans healthy enough to work longer? Life expectancy has been steadily increasing, but disparities in health and mortality outcomes have widened and the improvement in health outcomes for the population in general may have slowed or even reversed. In determining whether people will be able to work longer, it is not simply measuring how long they will live, but rather how much longer they will be capable of working. Life expectancy may be increasing, but can the same be said for healthy, disability-free life expectancy?

Just a year ago, states were working to expand coverage in CHIP to finish the job of covering uninsured children. Since then, the Bush Administration’s opposition to expanding CHIP and the national economic recession have put new pressure on states to deal with increasing demand for coverage, while their budgets are facing shortfalls. This report presents data generated by the U.S. Census Bureau from the Current Population Survey (CPS), a national survey of health insurance coverage that is performed annually. Families USA contracted with the Census Bureau to provide detailed national and state-level data about health insurance coverage for children between the ages of 0 and 18. (For state-level estimates, a three-year data merge [2005-2007] was used to improve data reliability. A detailed methodology is available upon request.) This report examines these new data and what they mean for the future of children’s health coverage around the country.

Just a year ago, states were working to expand coverage in CHIP to finish the job of covering uninsured children. Since then, the Bush Administration’s opposition to expanding CHIP and the national economic recession have put new pressure on states to deal with increasing demand for coverage, while their budgets are facing shortfalls. This report presents data generated by the U.S. Census Bureau from the Current Population Survey (CPS), a national survey of health insurance coverage that is performed annually. Families USA contracted with the Census Bureau to provide detailed national and state-level data about health insurance coverage for children between the ages of 0 and 18. (For state-level estimates, a three-year data merge [2005-2007] was used to improve data reliability. A detailed methodology is available upon request.) This report examines these new data and what they mean for the future of children’s health coverage around the country.

The Government is currently reviewing the National Minimum Standards for the care of looked after children. A new report by the Children’s Right Director for England sets out children’s recommendations for future care standards.

The Government is currently reviewing the National Minimum Standards for the care of looked after children. A new report by the Children’s Right Director for England sets out children’s recommendations for future care standards.

The threat to safety that we address this month is about the living structure in which a child resides and whether something about the structure or within it directly endangers a child’s safety. Some may think that this threat ought to be one of the easier ones to assess. That’s not the case. Familiarity tells us that often family conditions are misunderstood or misjudged due to worker bias, worker experience, and/or worker values. We’ll consider this threat from a variety of perspectives.

The threat to safety that we address this month is about the living structure in which a child resides and whether something about the structure or within it directly endangers a child’s safety. Some may think that this threat ought to be one of the easier ones to assess. That’s not the case. Familiarity tells us that often family conditions are misunderstood or misjudged due to worker bias, worker experience, and/or worker values. We’ll consider this threat from a variety of perspectives.

This report outlines the Disability and Carers Service's achievements against its public service agreement targets in the past year. It also details how the agency has improved its service to customers and partners and how it is improving the capabilities of its staff.

This report outlines the Disability and Carers Service's achievements against its public service agreement targets in the past year. It also details how the agency has improved its service to customers and partners and how it is improving the capabilities of its staff.

November 13, 2008

This searchable directory of drug and alcohol treatment programs shows the location of facilities around the country that treat alcoholism, alcohol abuse and drug abuse problems. The Locator includes more than 11,000 addiction treatment programs, including residential treatment centers, outpatient treatment programs, and hospital inpatient programs for drug addiction and alcoholism. Listings include treatment programs for marijuana, cocaine, and heroin addiction, as well as drug and alcohol treatment programs for adolescents, and adults.

This searchable directory of drug and alcohol treatment programs shows the location of facilities around the country that treat alcoholism, alcohol abuse and drug abuse problems. The Locator includes more than 11,000 addiction treatment programs, including residential treatment centers, outpatient treatment programs, and hospital inpatient programs for drug addiction and alcoholism. Listings include treatment programs for marijuana, cocaine, and heroin addiction, as well as drug and alcohol treatment programs for adolescents, and adults.

• Communication between secondary and primary care following self-harm: are National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines being met?
• Mnesic imbalance: a cognitive theory about autism spectrum disorders
• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of attention processes in presumed obligate carriers of schizophrenia: preliminary findings
• Stigmatising attitude of medical students towards a psychiatry label
• Adaptation of the Emotional Contagion Scale (ECS) and gender differences within the Greek cultural context

• Mechanisms Underlying Nationality-Based Discrimination in Teams: A Quasi-Experiment Testing Predictions From Social Psychology and Microeconomics
• Reactions to Social Dilemmas as a Function of Group Identity, Rational Calculations, and Social Context
• Dueling Narratives: How Peer Leaders Use Narrative to Frame Meaning in Community Mental Health Care Teams
• The Role of Information and Communication Technologies in the Relationship Between Group Effectiveness and Group Potency: A Longitudinal Study
• Development of Cognitive and Affective Trust in Teams: A Longitudinal Study
• Structuring Asynchronous Discussion Groups by Introducing Roles: Do Students Act in Line With Assigned Roles?
• Evaluation Concerns and the Köhler Effect: The Impact of Physical Presence on Motivation Gains

Although there is currently less ethnic diversity in the older population than in younger age groups, this is predicted to change. Policy-makers, clinicians and care home staff are increasingly aware of the future challenge of providing quality, long-term care in care homes for older people. . . . This review brings together research on improving care in care homes as the needs of older people intensify. It aims to clarify the agenda for policy-makers and practitioners, highlight areas for future research and promote further discussion of this important topic. Most of the research was carried out in nursing homes; there is very little published evidence on residential care homes, although many studies make no distinction between the two. Seven themes were identified relating to provision of care.

Although there is currently less ethnic diversity in the older population than in younger age groups, this is predicted to change. Policy-makers, clinicians and care home staff are increasingly aware of the future challenge of providing quality, long-term care in care homes for older people. . . . This review brings together research on improving care in care homes as the needs of older people intensify. It aims to clarify the agenda for policy-makers and practitioners, highlight areas for future research and promote further discussion of this important topic. Most of the research was carried out in nursing homes; there is very little published evidence on residential care homes, although many studies make no distinction between the two. Seven themes were identified relating to provision of care.

This study uses a microsimulation model to assess the effect of changes to State-level Food Stamp Program (FSP) asset rules on household eligibility and on the benefits that eligible households would receive. The findings show that 7 percent of households eligible in 2006 were eligible only through expanded categorical eligibility rules that exempted the households from the standard Federal FSP asset rules and that 1 percent of eligible households were eligible because of State rules that counted fewer vehicle assets toward the asset limits. The number of eligible households would increase by about 3 percent if asset limits were raised by $2,000, by 22 percent if the asset test were eliminated, by 2 percent if retirement accounts were excluded, and by less than half of 1 percent if all vehicles were excluded. Eligibility across States varied widely, with 32 percent of households eligible in at least one State but not eligible in all States. The Food Stamp Program was renamed to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in October 2008.

This study uses a microsimulation model to assess the effect of changes to State-level Food Stamp Program (FSP) asset rules on household eligibility and on the benefits that eligible households would receive. The findings show that 7 percent of households eligible in 2006 were eligible only through expanded categorical eligibility rules that exempted the households from the standard Federal FSP asset rules and that 1 percent of eligible households were eligible because of State rules that counted fewer vehicle assets toward the asset limits. The number of eligible households would increase by about 3 percent if asset limits were raised by $2,000, by 22 percent if the asset test were eliminated, by 2 percent if retirement accounts were excluded, and by less than half of 1 percent if all vehicles were excluded. Eligibility across States varied widely, with 32 percent of households eligible in at least one State but not eligible in all States. The Food Stamp Program was renamed to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in October 2008.

The 2010 Census response rate estimate is not fully supported, systematically reevaluated, or clearly incorporated into the life cycle cost estimate and planning efforts for nonresponse follow-up—where census workers visit households that do not return their census forms. Specifically, the Bureau could not demonstrate support for one component underpinning the estimate—a general decline due to decreasing public participation in surveys—because it did not document its decisions or data sources when developing the estimate. The two other estimate components that affect responses are the short-form-only census and the replacement questionnaire. In 2001, the Bureau estimated the 2010 Census response rate to be 69 percent. However, from 2001 through 2008, the Bureau did not systematically reevaluate the estimate or consider test results from this decade to determine if the estimate should be updated. Although the Bureau revised the estimate to 64 percent after a major redesign of its nonresponse follow-up operation in 2008, the Bureau still lacks procedures for establishing when and how to reevaluate and, if necessary, update the estimate. To estimate costs and plan for nonresponse follow-up, the Bureau relies on response rate estimates for local census office types because these estimates reflect geographic differences. Officials said that the local estimates reflect components of the national estimate. However, only one of the three components from the national estimate—the replacement questionnaire—was clearly reflected in the local census office type estimates.

The 2010 Census response rate estimate is not fully supported, systematically reevaluated, or clearly incorporated into the life cycle cost estimate and planning efforts for nonresponse follow-up—where census workers visit households that do not return their census forms. Specifically, the Bureau could not demonstrate support for one component underpinning the estimate—a general decline due to decreasing public participation in surveys—because it did not document its decisions or data sources when developing the estimate. The two other estimate components that affect responses are the short-form-only census and the replacement questionnaire. In 2001, the Bureau estimated the 2010 Census response rate to be 69 percent. However, from 2001 through 2008, the Bureau did not systematically reevaluate the estimate or consider test results from this decade to determine if the estimate should be updated. Although the Bureau revised the estimate to 64 percent after a major redesign of its nonresponse follow-up operation in 2008, the Bureau still lacks procedures for establishing when and how to reevaluate and, if necessary, update the estimate. To estimate costs and plan for nonresponse follow-up, the Bureau relies on response rate estimates for local census office types because these estimates reflect geographic differences. Officials said that the local estimates reflect components of the national estimate. However, only one of the three components from the national estimate—the replacement questionnaire—was clearly reflected in the local census office type estimates.

This study investigates territorial behaviour by young people to see whether this imposes significant constraints on their lives, and to consider the implications of this kind of behaviour for communities.

This study investigates territorial behaviour by young people to see whether this imposes significant constraints on their lives, and to consider the implications of this kind of behaviour for communities.

Many young people in this country drink alcohol during their teenage years; a smaller proportion takes up smoking. Fewer still take illegal drugs and most of those who do experiment do not go on to develop drug misuse problems. We do know, however, that those young people who do drink are consuming more than ever before and that recet reductions in smoking have levelled off. We also know that when young people do take illegal drugs there can be serious consequences for their own health and well-being, and wider negative impacts on their families and local community.

Many young people in this country drink alcohol during their teenage years; a smaller proportion takes up smoking. Fewer still take illegal drugs and most of those who do experiment do not go on to develop drug misuse problems. We do know, however, that those young people who do drink are consuming more than ever before and that recet reductions in smoking have levelled off. We also know that when young people do take illegal drugs there can be serious consequences for their own health and well-being, and wider negative impacts on their families and local community.

November 12, 2008

We have continued to make significant progress in our drive to tackle domestic violence and this report outlines the progress that has been made across the workstreams during the last year. There has been a greater focus on other forms of domestic violence such as “honour”-based violence and forced marriage. There have also been considerable developments, particularly in relation to the expansion of the Specialist Domestic Violence Court programme, Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences and Independent Domestic Violence Advisers. All of these are critical in providing victims with the support and services they require.

We have continued to make significant progress in our drive to tackle domestic violence and this report outlines the progress that has been made across the workstreams during the last year. There has been a greater focus on other forms of domestic violence such as “honour”-based violence and forced marriage. There have also been considerable developments, particularly in relation to the expansion of the Specialist Domestic Violence Court programme, Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences and Independent Domestic Violence Advisers. All of these are critical in providing victims with the support and services they require.

Over the year to June 2008 (ie an average of figures for September 2007, December 2007, March 2008 and June 2008), 8.8% of the 8,000 adults surveyed said they had participated in at least one form of remote gambling (through a computer, mobile phone or interactive/digital TV) in the previous month. This is the same as the 2007 calendar year figure of 8.8% and compares with the 2006 calendar year figure of 7.2%. 90.9% of respondents said they had not participated in any form of remote gambling.

Over the year to June 2008 (ie an average of figures for September 2007, December 2007, March 2008 and June 2008), 8.8% of the 8,000 adults surveyed said they had participated in at least one form of remote gambling (through a computer, mobile phone or interactive/digital TV) in the previous month. This is the same as the 2007 calendar year figure of 8.8% and compares with the 2006 calendar year figure of 7.2%. 90.9% of respondents said they had not participated in any form of remote gambling.

One-quarter of workers ages 51 to 55 develop work disabilities before age 62. Disabilities often force people to curtail their work hours, derailing retirement preparations. However, protections built into Social Security, including disability and spouse benefits and the system's tilt toward workers with low lifetime earnings, cushion the impact of midlife health problems. After other factors are controlled for, the onset of health-related work limitations between ages 51 and 61 reduces Social Security retirement benefits at ages 63 to 67 by only about 2 percent, much less than the impact on other retirement savings.

One-quarter of workers ages 51 to 55 develop work disabilities before age 62. Disabilities often force people to curtail their work hours, derailing retirement preparations. However, protections built into Social Security, including disability and spouse benefits and the system's tilt toward workers with low lifetime earnings, cushion the impact of midlife health problems. After other factors are controlled for, the onset of health-related work limitations between ages 51 and 61 reduces Social Security retirement benefits at ages 63 to 67 by only about 2 percent, much less than the impact on other retirement savings.

Infant mortality is one of the most important indicators of the health of a nation, as it is associated with a variety of factors such as maternal health, quality and access to medical care, socioeconomic conditions, and public health practices. The U.S. infant mortality rate generally declined throughout the 20th century. In 1900, the U.S. infant mortality rate was approximately 100 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, while in 2000, the rate was 6.89 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. However, the U.S. infant mortality rate did not decline significantly from 2000 to 2005, which has generated concern among researchers and policy makers.

Infant mortality is one of the most important indicators of the health of a nation, as it is associated with a variety of factors such as maternal health, quality and access to medical care, socioeconomic conditions, and public health practices. The U.S. infant mortality rate generally declined throughout the 20th century. In 1900, the U.S. infant mortality rate was approximately 100 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, while in 2000, the rate was 6.89 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. However, the U.S. infant mortality rate did not decline significantly from 2000 to 2005, which has generated concern among researchers and policy makers.

Monthly statistical release presenting tables on the population in custody with summary figures on the population in prison establishments, police cells, secure children's homes and secure training centres. The publication also contains more detailed information on the make-up of the prison population by custody type, offence group, sentence length, age group and establishment. On a quarterly basis information on the population of foreign nationals within prison, by establishment and nationality, is also included.

Monthly statistical release presenting tables on the population in custody with summary figures on the population in prison establishments, police cells, secure children's homes and secure training centres. The publication also contains more detailed information on the make-up of the prison population by custody type, offence group, sentence length, age group and establishment. On a quarterly basis information on the population of foreign nationals within prison, by establishment and nationality, is also included.

The second consultation asked for stakeholders’ views on the Commission’s emerging findings and proposals for improved organisational arrangements. A second consultation workshop was held on 28 May 2008, and the consultation closed on 1 August 2008. This document summarises the 34 responses that were received. Some key respondents themes emerged from the responses to the second consultation.

The second consultation asked for stakeholders’ views on the Commission’s emerging findings and proposals for improved organisational arrangements. A second consultation workshop was held on 28 May 2008, and the consultation closed on 1 August 2008. This document summarises the 34 responses that were received. Some key respondents themes emerged from the responses to the second consultation.

November 11, 2008

Using matched data from the 1996 to 2004 Current Population Survey (CPS), we examine racial patterns in annual transitions into and out of health insurance coverage. We first decompose racial differences in static health insurance coverage rates into group differences in transition rates into and out of health insurance coverage. The low rate of health insurance coverage among African-Americans is due almost entirely to higher annual rates of losing health insurance than whites. Among the uninsured, African-Americans have similar rates of gaining health insurance in the following year as whites. Estimates from the matched CPS also indicate that the lower rate of health insurance coverage among Asians is almost entirely accounted for by a relatively high rate of losing health insurance. In contrast to these findings, differences in health insurance coverage between Latinos and whites are due to group differences in both the rate of health insurance loss and gain.

Using matched data from the 1996 to 2004 Current Population Survey (CPS), we examine racial patterns in annual transitions into and out of health insurance coverage. We first decompose racial differences in static health insurance coverage rates into group differences in transition rates into and out of health insurance coverage. The low rate of health insurance coverage among African-Americans is due almost entirely to higher annual rates of losing health insurance than whites. Among the uninsured, African-Americans have similar rates of gaining health insurance in the following year as whites. Estimates from the matched CPS also indicate that the lower rate of health insurance coverage among Asians is almost entirely accounted for by a relatively high rate of losing health insurance. In contrast to these findings, differences in health insurance coverage between Latinos and whites are due to group differences in both the rate of health insurance loss and gain.

This report presents the findings of a qualitative study commissioned by the Department for Transport (DfT) exploring the travel behaviour, experiences and aspirations of disabled people. The study involved qualitative in-depth interviews with a sample of 45 disabled people. In the UK, the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) defines a disabled person as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day to day activities. Estimates of the prevalence of disability are that around one-fifth of adults in Britain are disabled.

This report presents the findings of a qualitative study commissioned by the Department for Transport (DfT) exploring the travel behaviour, experiences and aspirations of disabled people. The study involved qualitative in-depth interviews with a sample of 45 disabled people. In the UK, the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) defines a disabled person as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day to day activities. Estimates of the prevalence of disability are that around one-fifth of adults in Britain are disabled.

• Mental health of refugees following state-sponsored repatriation from Germany
• The experience of admission to psychiatric hospital among Chinese adult patients in Hong Kong
• A Japanese version of the Perceived Stress Scale: cross-cultural translation and equivalence assessment
• Longitudinal population-based studies of affective disorders: Where to from here?
• Early trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy to prevent chronic post-traumatic stress disorder and related symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The report is the first to analyze concentrated poverty and its impacts across the wide range of community types in which it occurs--urban, small city, and rural; white, black, Latino, and Native American; growing and declining; and every region of the United States. It finds that all of these communities face obstacles related to under-performing local schools and low adult labor market skills; insufficient quality and diversity of housing; lack of mainstream commercial investment; and the limited capacity of local public, private, and non-profit organizations to navigate this suite of challenges. Strategies to help both poor places and the people who live within them are needed to tackle the double burden of concentrated poverty in America today.

The report is the first to analyze concentrated poverty and its impacts across the wide range of community types in which it occurs--urban, small city, and rural; white, black, Latino, and Native American; growing and declining; and every region of the United States. It finds that all of these communities face obstacles related to under-performing local schools and low adult labor market skills; insufficient quality and diversity of housing; lack of mainstream commercial investment; and the limited capacity of local public, private, and non-profit organizations to navigate this suite of challenges. Strategies to help both poor places and the people who live within them are needed to tackle the double burden of concentrated poverty in America today.

The latest National Statistics on the reoffending of juveniles, released by the Ministry of Justice and produced in accordance with arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority. These releases present statistics on the reoffending of juveniles released from custody or commencing out-of-court or non-custodial court disposals in England and Wales in the first quarter of a particular year. The data relate to reoffending in a one-year follow up period where the re-offence results in a conviction or out-of-court disposal. The releases also measure progress on government targets to reduce reoffending.

The latest National Statistics on the reoffending of juveniles, released by the Ministry of Justice and produced in accordance with arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority. These releases present statistics on the reoffending of juveniles released from custody or commencing out-of-court or non-custodial court disposals in England and Wales in the first quarter of a particular year. The data relate to reoffending in a one-year follow up period where the re-offence results in a conviction or out-of-court disposal. The releases also measure progress on government targets to reduce reoffending.

Today, we will hear about neglect and abuse cases where the outcome was the worst one imaginable, the death of a child. We will hear testimony from parents of children who died, and I thank them for joining us today and for having the courage to speak publicly about their ordeals. It is estimated that hundreds of private residential treatment programs operate nationwide. The programs are governed for the most part by a weak patchwork of state regulations. In many states, these programs operate without regulation, licensing or accreditation of any kind, despite often exorbitant prices of tuition. Parents often send their children to these programs when they feel they have exhausted their alternatives. Their children may be abusing drugs or alcohol, attempting to run away or physically harm themselves, or otherwise acting out. They send their children to these programs because the promises of staff members to be able to help children straighten out their lives. In far too many cases, however, the very people entrusted with the safety, the health and the welfare of these children are the ones who violate the trust in some of the more horrific ways imaginable.

Today, we will hear about neglect and abuse cases where the outcome was the worst one imaginable, the death of a child. We will hear testimony from parents of children who died, and I thank them for joining us today and for having the courage to speak publicly about their ordeals. It is estimated that hundreds of private residential treatment programs operate nationwide. The programs are governed for the most part by a weak patchwork of state regulations. In many states, these programs operate without regulation, licensing or accreditation of any kind, despite often exorbitant prices of tuition. Parents often send their children to these programs when they feel they have exhausted their alternatives. Their children may be abusing drugs or alcohol, attempting to run away or physically harm themselves, or otherwise acting out. They send their children to these programs because the promises of staff members to be able to help children straighten out their lives. In far too many cases, however, the very people entrusted with the safety, the health and the welfare of these children are the ones who violate the trust in some of the more horrific ways imaginable.

This is the annual report to Parliament on the operation of the Social Fund for Great Britain. The scheme complements mainstream social security provision in two forms: a regulated scheme made up of maternity, funeral, cold weather and winter fuel payments; and a discretionary scheme comprising community care grants and repayable budgeting and crisis loans.

This is the annual report to Parliament on the operation of the Social Fund for Great Britain. The scheme complements mainstream social security provision in two forms: a regulated scheme made up of maternity, funeral, cold weather and winter fuel payments; and a discretionary scheme comprising community care grants and repayable budgeting and crisis loans.

November 10, 2008

This primer, updated with 2007 data, reviews the basic profile of the uninsured population, how they receive care, the latest trends in health insurance coverage, and what the options are for increasing coverage.

This primer, updated with 2007 data, reviews the basic profile of the uninsured population, how they receive care, the latest trends in health insurance coverage, and what the options are for increasing coverage.

This report sets out the conclusions and recommendations of the Gambling Commission’s review of the current voluntary arrangements for the industry’s funding of gambling research, public education and treatment. The review, carried out at the Government’s request, gathered evidence and views from a wide range of stakeholders.

This report sets out the conclusions and recommendations of the Gambling Commission’s review of the current voluntary arrangements for the industry’s funding of gambling research, public education and treatment. The review, carried out at the Government’s request, gathered evidence and views from a wide range of stakeholders.

The Women of "Fuerza Unida"

In 1990 one of Texas's Levis Strauss factories closed leaving behind hundreds of workers, mostly women, without their livelihood. To many, it was the only job they ever had. From their loss, a support group was born. A group that later became a center to empower women in San Antonio, Texas through education, social work and community activism: "Fuerza Unida"

During 2006 and 2007, one out of every three Americans was uninsured for some period of time. These nearly 90 million Americans faced significant barriers to care, worse health outcomes, and even a higher risk of premature death. The heavy burden of uninsurance was especially harmful for communities of color. Although racial and ethnic minorities represent a third of the U.S. population, people of color made up more than half of the uninsured in 2006 and 2007. As the United States grapples with providing equal access to health care for all Americans, some policy makers have touted using high-deductible health plans as a way to expand coverage. High-deductible health plans are often coupled with health savings accounts . . . and may be attractive because of their lower premiums. However, the full costs associated with high-deductible plans far exceed their premiums, and these expenses are disproportionately unaffordable for racial and ethnic minorities. This issue brief discusses three serious concerns that make high-deductible health plans less helpful—or even potentially harmful—for racial and ethnic minorities

During 2006 and 2007, one out of every three Americans was uninsured for some period of time. These nearly 90 million Americans faced significant barriers to care, worse health outcomes, and even a higher risk of premature death. The heavy burden of uninsurance was especially harmful for communities of color. Although racial and ethnic minorities represent a third of the U.S. population, people of color made up more than half of the uninsured in 2006 and 2007. As the United States grapples with providing equal access to health care for all Americans, some policy makers have touted using high-deductible health plans as a way to expand coverage. High-deductible health plans are often coupled with health savings accounts . . . and may be attractive because of their lower premiums. However, the full costs associated with high-deductible plans far exceed their premiums, and these expenses are disproportionately unaffordable for racial and ethnic minorities. This issue brief discusses three serious concerns that make high-deductible health plans less helpful—or even potentially harmful—for racial and ethnic minorities

Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment is for people who have co-occurring disorders, mental illness and a substance abuse addiction. This treatment approach helps people recover by offering both mental health and substance abuse services at the same time and in one setting.

Family Psychoeducation involves a partnership among consumers, families and supporters, and practitioners.

• An analysis of qualitative music therapy research Reports1987–2006: Doctoral studies
• An expert system for interpretation of structured mandala
• Emotional expression and regulation in a school-based drama workshop for immigrant adolescents with behavioral and learning difficulties
• A model for art therapy in educational settings with children who behave aggressively
• Using the 6-Key Model as an intervention tool in drama therapy

Each year's edition of Hate Crime Statistics presents data regarding incidents, offenses, victims, and offenders in reported crimes that were motivated in whole or in part by a bias against the victim's perceived race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Each year's edition of Hate Crime Statistics presents data regarding incidents, offenses, victims, and offenders in reported crimes that were motivated in whole or in part by a bias against the victim's perceived race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Is all Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) a threat to child safety? Is CSA ever a present danger? Is CSA always an impending danger? Many state safety models include a safety threat stating child sexual abuse exists and affects a child’s safety. Other safety models do not contain a threat with specific language about CSA but assess the behavior associated with the CSA.

Is all Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) a threat to child safety? Is CSA ever a present danger? Is CSA always an impending danger? Many state safety models include a safety threat stating child sexual abuse exists and affects a child’s safety. Other safety models do not contain a threat with specific language about CSA but assess the behavior associated with the CSA.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, whose sixtieth anniversary we celebrate this year, remains the primary international articulation of the fundamental rights of all members of the human family. To mark the anniversary, the member agencies of the Global Migration Group have embarked on a timely, collaborative effort to analyze the challenges of protecting the human rights of international migrants. This report is the product of that process. Among its main findings is the assessment that despite the many positive contributions migration makes to the development of countries of origin and destination, it is essential that migrants are seen not solely as agents of development. They are human beings with rights that States have an obligation to protect even when they exercise their sovereign right to determine who enters and remains in their territory.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, whose sixtieth anniversary we celebrate this year, remains the primary international articulation of the fundamental rights of all members of the human family. To mark the anniversary, the member agencies of the Global Migration Group have embarked on a timely, collaborative effort to analyze the challenges of protecting the human rights of international migrants. This report is the product of that process. Among its main findings is the assessment that despite the many positive contributions migration makes to the development of countries of origin and destination, it is essential that migrants are seen not solely as agents of development. They are human beings with rights that States have an obligation to protect even when they exercise their sovereign right to determine who enters and remains in their territory.

The JRF’s recent public consultation revealed a strong sense of unease about some of the changes shaping British society. This Viewpoint continues the discussion about modern 'social evils' on the theme of 'the absence of society'. Zygmunt Bauman argues that these 'ills' are products of the withdrawal of the traditional conception of 'society' and are rooted in the way of life of today's individualised society of consumers.

The JRF’s recent public consultation revealed a strong sense of unease about some of the changes shaping British society. This Viewpoint continues the discussion about modern 'social evils' on the theme of 'the absence of society'. Zygmunt Bauman argues that these 'ills' are products of the withdrawal of the traditional conception of 'society' and are rooted in the way of life of today's individualised society of consumers.

November 7, 2008

The moral case for eradicating child poverty rests on the immense human cost of allowing children to grow up suffering physical and psychological deprivations and unable to participate fully in society. But child poverty is also costly to everyone in Britain, not just those who experience it directly. What are the costs to the whole of society of allowing child poverty to continue?

The moral case for eradicating child poverty rests on the immense human cost of allowing children to grow up suffering physical and psychological deprivations and unable to participate fully in society. But child poverty is also costly to everyone in Britain, not just those who experience it directly. What are the costs to the whole of society of allowing child poverty to continue?

The Department has updated its model Mental Health Act 1983 patient information leaflets to reflect changes to be made by the Mental Health Act 2007 from 3 November 2008. The leaflets are designed to assist hospitals and local social services authorities (LSSAs) to meet their legal obligations under the Act to provide written information to patients subject to detention and other compulsory measures under the Act. These leaflets are non-statutory and there is no obligation on hospitals or LSSAs to use them.

The Department has updated its model Mental Health Act 1983 patient information leaflets to reflect changes to be made by the Mental Health Act 2007 from 3 November 2008. The leaflets are designed to assist hospitals and local social services authorities (LSSAs) to meet their legal obligations under the Act to provide written information to patients subject to detention and other compulsory measures under the Act. These leaflets are non-statutory and there is no obligation on hospitals or LSSAs to use them.

This publication presents a summary of results from the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) from August to December 2007. The survey collected information from approximately 8,800 Australians aged 16-85 years. The survey provides information on the prevalence of selected lifetime and 12-month mental disorders by three major disorder groups: Anxiety disorders (eg Social Phobia), Affective disorders (eg Depression) and Substance Use disorders (eg Alcohol Harmful Use). It also provides information on the level of impairment, the health services used for mental health problems, physical conditions, social networks and caregiving, as well as demographic and socio-economic characteristics. Mental health is one of Australia's National Health Priority Areas and funding for this survey was provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Information from the survey will contribute to research in the field of mental health and assist in the formulation of government policies and legislation.

This publication presents a summary of results from the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) from August to December 2007. The survey collected information from approximately 8,800 Australians aged 16-85 years. The survey provides information on the prevalence of selected lifetime and 12-month mental disorders by three major disorder groups: Anxiety disorders (eg Social Phobia), Affective disorders (eg Depression) and Substance Use disorders (eg Alcohol Harmful Use). It also provides information on the level of impairment, the health services used for mental health problems, physical conditions, social networks and caregiving, as well as demographic and socio-economic characteristics. Mental health is one of Australia's National Health Priority Areas and funding for this survey was provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Information from the survey will contribute to research in the field of mental health and assist in the formulation of government policies and legislation.

As described in the many pages of this Resource Guide, the wraparound process has evolved over time and developed through lessons learned from many “on the ground” experiments. As a result, the wraparound philosophy and practice model are now being used not just with youth with mental health needs, but also with children and families involved with the child welfare system, youth in juvenile justice, transition-age youth, adult offenders, elders, and many other types of individuals with complex needs. This Resource Guide is dedicated first and foremost to all the children, youth, parents, family members, advocates, team members, providers, administrators, researchers, and others who have promoted and participated in wraparound over the years of its continued evolution.

As described in the many pages of this Resource Guide, the wraparound process has evolved over time and developed through lessons learned from many “on the ground” experiments. As a result, the wraparound philosophy and practice model are now being used not just with youth with mental health needs, but also with children and families involved with the child welfare system, youth in juvenile justice, transition-age youth, adult offenders, elders, and many other types of individuals with complex needs. This Resource Guide is dedicated first and foremost to all the children, youth, parents, family members, advocates, team members, providers, administrators, researchers, and others who have promoted and participated in wraparound over the years of its continued evolution.

The evaluation compared child welfare, treatment, and criminal justice outcomes and cost savings for parents that received FRC services between April 2004 and April 2006 to comparable families that did not receive these services. . . . Because FRC families utilized less foster care and were more likely to achieve reunification, FRC cases were less costly to the child welfare system than other CINA cases. Moreover, as FRC parents spent less time in jail, the total cost savings per year of Harford County FRC operations was nearly $317,000, or approximately $12,000 per served family.

The evaluation compared child welfare, treatment, and criminal justice outcomes and cost savings for parents that received FRC services between April 2004 and April 2006 to comparable families that did not receive these services. . . . Because FRC families utilized less foster care and were more likely to achieve reunification, FRC cases were less costly to the child welfare system than other CINA cases. Moreover, as FRC parents spent less time in jail, the total cost savings per year of Harford County FRC operations was nearly $317,000, or approximately $12,000 per served family.

Key Findings
■ Despite current case-management guidelines for missing and abducted children that recommend the dispatch of officers in response to all missing child cases reported to law enforcement, police were dispatched to the household or scene for only an estimated 68 percent of reported missing child type episodes.
■ Among the missing child type cases considered in this Bulletin, researchers found no statistically significant differences to indicate that officers are more likely to be dispatched in any particular type of episode.
■ Caretakers were satisfied with the way in which police handled the case in an estimated 74 percent of the episodes that involved the dispatch of officers to the household or scene, compared with 35 percent of the episodes in which officers were not dispatched.

Key Findings
■ Despite current case-management guidelines for missing and abducted children that recommend the dispatch of officers in response to all missing child cases reported to law enforcement, police were dispatched to the household or scene for only an estimated 68 percent of reported missing child type episodes.
■ Among the missing child type cases considered in this Bulletin, researchers found no statistically significant differences to indicate that officers are more likely to be dispatched in any particular type of episode.
■ Caretakers were satisfied with the way in which police handled the case in an estimated 74 percent of the episodes that involved the dispatch of officers to the household or scene, compared with 35 percent of the episodes in which officers were not dispatched.

November 6, 2008

This is a booklet about the commission's Experts by Experience project. It details how 'experts by experience' and inspectors worked together on inspections of residential, home care and service inspections.

This is a booklet about the commission's Experts by Experience project. It details how 'experts by experience' and inspectors worked together on inspections of residential, home care and service inspections.

This is the Government's response to a review of the fair access to care services framework, which addresses inconsistencies in who gets support and sets out how to create a more transparent system.

This is the Government's response to a review of the fair access to care services framework, which addresses inconsistencies in who gets support and sets out how to create a more transparent system.

Providing health insurance coverage for the uninsured is a challenge that has remained unresolved for decades. In the absence of a national solution, states have initiated their own efforts to expand access to health insurance coverage, particularly for children. This issue brief provides a history and status of state universal children’s coverage initiatives and features several states that appear to be setting the pace by developing successful strategies for expansion and cultivating the political will and leadership needed to institute them. In highlighting some of the key lessons that can be learned from states’ experiences, this paper may inform the broader discussion about health reform and offer some insights into the federal-state dynamics that are at play.

Providing health insurance coverage for the uninsured is a challenge that has remained unresolved for decades. In the absence of a national solution, states have initiated their own efforts to expand access to health insurance coverage, particularly for children. This issue brief provides a history and status of state universal children’s coverage initiatives and features several states that appear to be setting the pace by developing successful strategies for expansion and cultivating the political will and leadership needed to institute them. In highlighting some of the key lessons that can be learned from states’ experiences, this paper may inform the broader discussion about health reform and offer some insights into the federal-state dynamics that are at play.

Examines the involvement of girls in violent activity (including whether such activity has increased relative to the increase for boys) and the contexts in which girls engage in violent behavior. Increasing arrest rates of girls led the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to convene the Girls Study Group. The Girls Study Group examines strategies to reduce girls’ involvement in violence and delinquency. This OJJDP Bulletin assesses trends of juvenile arrest rates for violent crimes, focusing on simple and aggravated assault.

Examines the involvement of girls in violent activity (including whether such activity has increased relative to the increase for boys) and the contexts in which girls engage in violent behavior. Increasing arrest rates of girls led the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to convene the Girls Study Group. The Girls Study Group examines strategies to reduce girls’ involvement in violence and delinquency. This OJJDP Bulletin assesses trends of juvenile arrest rates for violent crimes, focusing on simple and aggravated assault.

Over 13 million American children live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level, which is $21,200 a year for a family of four in 2008. The number of children living in poverty increased by 15 percent between 2000 and 2007. There are 1.7 million more children living in poverty today than in 2000. Not only are these numbers troubling, the official poverty measure tells only part of the story – it is widely viewed as a flawed metric of economic hardship (see box). Research consistently shows that, on average, families need an income of about twice the federal poverty level to make ends meet. Children living in families with incomes below this level – for 2008, $42,400 for a family of four– are referred to as low income. Thirty-nine percent of the nation’s children – more than 28 million in 2007 – live in low-income families.

Nonetheless, official poverty statistics continue to be used by researchers, policymakers, and the media to define economic disadvantage. In addition, eligibility for many public benefits is based on the official poverty measure. This fact sheet details some of the characteristics of American children who are considered poor by the official standard

Over 13 million American children live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level, which is $21,200 a year for a family of four in 2008. The number of children living in poverty increased by 15 percent between 2000 and 2007. There are 1.7 million more children living in poverty today than in 2000. Not only are these numbers troubling, the official poverty measure tells only part of the story – it is widely viewed as a flawed metric of economic hardship (see box). Research consistently shows that, on average, families need an income of about twice the federal poverty level to make ends meet. Children living in families with incomes below this level – for 2008, $42,400 for a family of four– are referred to as low income. Thirty-nine percent of the nation’s children – more than 28 million in 2007 – live in low-income families.

Nonetheless, official poverty statistics continue to be used by researchers, policymakers, and the media to define economic disadvantage. In addition, eligibility for many public benefits is based on the official poverty measure. This fact sheet details some of the characteristics of American children who are considered poor by the official standard

When children are victims of abuse and neglect, efforts to strengthen and support their families are a critical, evidence-based factor behind effectively and efficiently remedying child protection and permanency issues. In order to facilitate a strengths-based, family-centered practice approach when working with children and their parents, it is paramount for state and local child welfare agencies to have caseworker capacity to conduct individualized assessments of child safety, permanency and well-being in the home and to have the systemic capacity to provide services to children, parents, and substitute care givers that best address assessed needs through the case planning process.

When children are victims of abuse and neglect, efforts to strengthen and support their families are a critical, evidence-based factor behind effectively and efficiently remedying child protection and permanency issues. In order to facilitate a strengths-based, family-centered practice approach when working with children and their parents, it is paramount for state and local child welfare agencies to have caseworker capacity to conduct individualized assessments of child safety, permanency and well-being in the home and to have the systemic capacity to provide services to children, parents, and substitute care givers that best address assessed needs through the case planning process.

Links to states that provide online access to licensing standards for residential child placement
facilities.

Links to states that provide online access to licensing standards for residential child placement
facilities.

Each year since 1997, the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics has published a report on the well-being of children and families, and OJJDP contributes to its content each year. The indicators and background measures in this report represent large segments of the population and are measured regularly so that they can be updated and show trends over time. The indicators are organized into seven sections, each focusing on a domain relevant to children's lives: Family and Social Environment, Economic Circumstances, Health Care, Physical Environment and Safety, Behavior, Education, and Health. The Forum fosters coordination and integration among 22 Federal agencies that produce or use statistical data on children and families.

Each year since 1997, the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics has published a report on the well-being of children and families, and OJJDP contributes to its content each year. The indicators and background measures in this report represent large segments of the population and are measured regularly so that they can be updated and show trends over time. The indicators are organized into seven sections, each focusing on a domain relevant to children's lives: Family and Social Environment, Economic Circumstances, Health Care, Physical Environment and Safety, Behavior, Education, and Health. The Forum fosters coordination and integration among 22 Federal agencies that produce or use statistical data on children and families.

November 5, 2008

This Home Office site has developed from the Government’s Together and Respect campaigns run between 2004-2008. The Together campaign worked to improve the response to tackling anti-social behaviour by putting the needs of the local community first. The Respect campaign continued the drive to tackle anti-social behaviour and adopted a broader and deeper approach to intervene early and tackle underlying causes of anti-social behaviour. The Government will continue to address anti-social behaviour by ensuring young people are given opportunities and by challenging ‘problem families’ to accept support to change their behaviour. Work will continue to strengthen communities and ensure that public spaces are clean and safe, and victims and witnesses of anti-social behaviour are protected and supported.

This Home Office site has developed from the Government’s Together and Respect campaigns run between 2004-2008. The Together campaign worked to improve the response to tackling anti-social behaviour by putting the needs of the local community first. The Respect campaign continued the drive to tackle anti-social behaviour and adopted a broader and deeper approach to intervene early and tackle underlying causes of anti-social behaviour. The Government will continue to address anti-social behaviour by ensuring young people are given opportunities and by challenging ‘problem families’ to accept support to change their behaviour. Work will continue to strengthen communities and ensure that public spaces are clean and safe, and victims and witnesses of anti-social behaviour are protected and supported.

This report summarises insights and experiences from community and third sector organisations involved in initiatives aimed at opening up digital technologies to excluded communities. The report is based on conversations with staff and service users, collected through one-to-one interviews and visits to specific initiatives, and on two workshops . . . Additional evidence was provided by studies carried out by third sector organisations, Ofcom and UK Online Centres.

This report summarises insights and experiences from community and third sector organisations involved in initiatives aimed at opening up digital technologies to excluded communities. The report is based on conversations with staff and service users, collected through one-to-one interviews and visits to specific initiatives, and on two workshops . . . Additional evidence was provided by studies carried out by third sector organisations, Ofcom and UK Online Centres.

This study was commissioned to investigate the extent to which social exclusion and digital exclusion coincide; exploring the questions 'do people who suffer significant social disadvantage also suffer digital exclusion? And if so what are the key social drivers that contribute to digital exclusion?' This project was led by the Oxford Internet Institute, in partnership with the Office for National Statistics and Office of Communications (Ofcom). A framework has been developed which was applied to surveys data from 2007 across the 3 partner organisations. The results of the survey will help to inform digital inclusion policy and actions.

This study was commissioned to investigate the extent to which social exclusion and digital exclusion coincide; exploring the questions 'do people who suffer significant social disadvantage also suffer digital exclusion? And if so what are the key social drivers that contribute to digital exclusion?' This project was led by the Oxford Internet Institute, in partnership with the Office for National Statistics and Office of Communications (Ofcom). A framework has been developed which was applied to surveys data from 2007 across the 3 partner organisations. The results of the survey will help to inform digital inclusion policy and actions.

- There were 59,500 children looked after at 31 March 2008, 1 per cent fewer than last year's figure of 60,000 and a decrease of 3 per cent compared to 2004 (61,200).
- There were 23,000 children who started to be looked after during the year ending 31 March 2008, a decrease of 4 per cent from the previous year's figure of 24,000 and a decrease of 8 per cent from the 2003-04 figure of 25,000.
- There were 24,100 children who ceased to be looked after during the year ending 31 March 2008, a decrease of 3 per cent from the previous year's figure of 25,000 and a decrease of 6 per cent from the 2003-04 figure of 25,700.
- 3,200 children looked after were adopted during the year ending 31 March 2008. This represents a 5 per cent decrease from the previous year's figure of 3,300 and a 16 per cent decrease from the 2003-04 figure of 3,800.
- Over the past 5 years, the percentage of children now aged 19 years who were in education other than higher education increased from 18 per cent to 28 per cent. The number for those who were in training or employment increased from 1,600 to 1,800 between 2004 and 2008. The number for those who were not in touch with the local authorities decreased from 15 per cent to 6 per cent over the last 5 years.

- There were 59,500 children looked after at 31 March 2008, 1 per cent fewer than last year's figure of 60,000 and a decrease of 3 per cent compared to 2004 (61,200).
- There were 23,000 children who started to be looked after during the year ending 31 March 2008, a decrease of 4 per cent from the previous year's figure of 24,000 and a decrease of 8 per cent from the 2003-04 figure of 25,000.
- There were 24,100 children who ceased to be looked after during the year ending 31 March 2008, a decrease of 3 per cent from the previous year's figure of 25,000 and a decrease of 6 per cent from the 2003-04 figure of 25,700.
- 3,200 children looked after were adopted during the year ending 31 March 2008. This represents a 5 per cent decrease from the previous year's figure of 3,300 and a 16 per cent decrease from the 2003-04 figure of 3,800.
- Over the past 5 years, the percentage of children now aged 19 years who were in education other than higher education increased from 18 per cent to 28 per cent. The number for those who were in training or employment increased from 1,600 to 1,800 between 2004 and 2008. The number for those who were not in touch with the local authorities decreased from 15 per cent to 6 per cent over the last 5 years.

The CPI is currently underway in eleven communities across New York City1. The primary goal of the Initiative is to promote “a rethinking and reorientation” of child welfare work toward integrated, localized service models that can be tailored to the unique needs and resources of individual communities. It is hoped that community-based partnerships, once cultivated, will lead to better coordinated, more accessible, and increasingly effective services. Lessons learned during the 2007-2008 pilot year will help inform ACS’ strategy going forward as it works to support the development and capacity of neighborhood-based coalitions. In this document we situate the CPI model historically as it relates to larger reform trends in the human services and offer some preliminary findings from the field. A brief overview of the evaluation design is provided.

The CPI is currently underway in eleven communities across New York City1. The primary goal of the Initiative is to promote “a rethinking and reorientation” of child welfare work toward integrated, localized service models that can be tailored to the unique needs and resources of individual communities. It is hoped that community-based partnerships, once cultivated, will lead to better coordinated, more accessible, and increasingly effective services. Lessons learned during the 2007-2008 pilot year will help inform ACS’ strategy going forward as it works to support the development and capacity of neighborhood-based coalitions. In this document we situate the CPI model historically as it relates to larger reform trends in the human services and offer some preliminary findings from the field. A brief overview of the evaluation design is provided.

Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) play an increasingly significant role in the response to child sexual abuse and other child maltreatment in the United States. First developed in the 1980s, CACs were designed to reduce the stress on child abuse victims and families created by traditional child abuse investigation and prosecution procedures and to improve the effectiveness of the response. According to several experts (Fontana, 1984; Pence and Wilson, 1992; Whitcomb, 1992), child victims were subjected to multiple, redundant interviews about their abuse by different agencies, and were questioned by professionals who had no knowledge of children’s developmental limitations or experience working with children. Child interviews would take place in settings like police stations that would further stress already frightened children. Moreover, the response was hampered because the multiple agencies involved did not coordinate their investigations, and children’s need for services could be neglected.

Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) play an increasingly significant role in the response to child sexual abuse and other child maltreatment in the United States. First developed in the 1980s, CACs were designed to reduce the stress on child abuse victims and families created by traditional child abuse investigation and prosecution procedures and to improve the effectiveness of the response. According to several experts (Fontana, 1984; Pence and Wilson, 1992; Whitcomb, 1992), child victims were subjected to multiple, redundant interviews about their abuse by different agencies, and were questioned by professionals who had no knowledge of children’s developmental limitations or experience working with children. Child interviews would take place in settings like police stations that would further stress already frightened children. Moreover, the response was hampered because the multiple agencies involved did not coordinate their investigations, and children’s need for services could be neglected.

November 4, 2008

This analysis was undertaken by Professor Leighton Vaughan Williams, Director of the Betting Research Unit at Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, in conjunction with Dr Lionel Page, Dr Jonathan Parke and Jane Rigbye. The team applied sophisticated statistical techniques to the dataset of the British Gambling Prevalence Survey (BGPS) 2007 to gain further insights about patterns of gambling participation and problem gambling. The report makes a number of recommendations for improving the methodology of future prevalence surveys and is based on priorities for analysis identified by the Commission in conjunction with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

This analysis was undertaken by Professor Leighton Vaughan Williams, Director of the Betting Research Unit at Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, in conjunction with Dr Lionel Page, Dr Jonathan Parke and Jane Rigbye. The team applied sophisticated statistical techniques to the dataset of the British Gambling Prevalence Survey (BGPS) 2007 to gain further insights about patterns of gambling participation and problem gambling. The report makes a number of recommendations for improving the methodology of future prevalence surveys and is based on priorities for analysis identified by the Commission in conjunction with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

This document provides guidance to councils and their community planning partners on how to improve outcomes for looked after children and young people and care leavers, through better fulfilling their corporate parent function.

This document provides guidance to councils and their community planning partners on how to improve outcomes for looked after children and young people and care leavers, through better fulfilling their corporate parent function.

A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children

A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children

Q: What is the “No Child Left Behind Act?
A: The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is a federal law that was passed in 2001 and is currently up for reauthorization. The purpose of the Act is to eliminate the achievement gap between high and low performing students in every public school, every school district, and every state. NCLB is designed to guarantee families and educators important information on how well students are learning, and offer students who have fallen behind important benefits that can increase their success.

Q: What is the “No Child Left Behind Act?
A: The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is a federal law that was passed in 2001 and is currently up for reauthorization. The purpose of the Act is to eliminate the achievement gap between high and low performing students in every public school, every school district, and every state. NCLB is designed to guarantee families and educators important information on how well students are learning, and offer students who have fallen behind important benefits that can increase their success.

The Fiscal Year 2009 supplemental budget included a proviso for the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (Institute) to:
 conduct a national review of state programs for youth transitioning out of foster care; and
 survey foster youth and foster parents about how well current services are meeting the needs of youth aging out of foster care.
In this preliminary report, we describe the activities the Institute is undertaking to meet this request.

The Fiscal Year 2009 supplemental budget included a proviso for the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (Institute) to:
 conduct a national review of state programs for youth transitioning out of foster care; and
 survey foster youth and foster parents about how well current services are meeting the needs of youth aging out of foster care.
In this preliminary report, we describe the activities the Institute is undertaking to meet this request.

■ In 1999, an estimated 285,400 children were victims of a sexual assault1 and 35,000 were victims of some other type of sex offense.
■ An estimated 44 percent of the child victims of sexual assault and other sex offenses experienced an act of sexual penetration.
■ Sexual assault victims were disproportionately female (89 percent) and ages 12 to 17 (81 percent).
■ Most (95 percent) of the sexual assault victims were assaulted by a male. Almost three-ourths (71 percent) were assaulted by someone they were acquainted with or knew by sight; 18 percent were assaulted by a complete stranger, 10 percent by a family member.

■ In 1999, an estimated 285,400 children were victims of a sexual assault1 and 35,000 were victims of some other type of sex offense.
■ An estimated 44 percent of the child victims of sexual assault and other sex offenses experienced an act of sexual penetration.
■ Sexual assault victims were disproportionately female (89 percent) and ages 12 to 17 (81 percent).
■ Most (95 percent) of the sexual assault victims were assaulted by a male. Almost three-ourths (71 percent) were assaulted by someone they were acquainted with or knew by sight; 18 percent were assaulted by a complete stranger, 10 percent by a family member.

November 3, 2008

Ten case studies were developed as part of the Parents as Partners in early Learning Project.

Ten case studies were developed as part of the Parents as Partners in early Learning Project.

This handbook provides guidance on supporting vulnerable people within the Criminal Justice System and is designed to be read by criminal justice professionals and others working with the Criminal Justice System, including health and social care professionals.

This handbook provides guidance on supporting vulnerable people within the Criminal Justice System and is designed to be read by criminal justice professionals and others working with the Criminal Justice System, including health and social care professionals.

Poverty rates in the United States have remained stubbornly consistent for the past 35 years, despite significant efforts to reduce them (and some success in lessening child poverty in the 1990s). Developing philanthropic strategies to combat poverty should begin with a clear understanding of the causes behind the problem. This paper begins by tracing economic and social trends that help explain the persistence of poverty, as well as by describing some of the unintended consequences of public policies that have exacerbated the challenges facing poor families. It then discusses four overarching strategies that seek to address one of the most powerful contributors to poverty: stagnant wages for low-income workers, particularly among men, young men, and men of color.

Poverty rates in the United States have remained stubbornly consistent for the past 35 years, despite significant efforts to reduce them (and some success in lessening child poverty in the 1990s). Developing philanthropic strategies to combat poverty should begin with a clear understanding of the causes behind the problem. This paper begins by tracing economic and social trends that help explain the persistence of poverty, as well as by describing some of the unintended consequences of public policies that have exacerbated the challenges facing poor families. It then discusses four overarching strategies that seek to address one of the most powerful contributors to poverty: stagnant wages for low-income workers, particularly among men, young men, and men of color.

According to data submitted to the federal Adoption and Foster Care Analysis Reporting Systems (AFCARS), the number of children reported living in kinship foster care has stabilized at around 23% of the foster care population after its dramatic rise in the early 1990s (Administration for Children and Families [ACF], 2005; Beeman, Kim, & Bullerdick, 2000). It is estimated that 121,030 children were placed in kinship foster homes in 2003 (ACF, 2005). As kinship placements has become more widely accepted, a lot of attention has begun to be paid to the comparative outcomes for children in kinship and nonkinship foster care, especially in the area of family permanence, which is one of the major goals of child welfare services.

According to data submitted to the federal Adoption and Foster Care Analysis Reporting Systems (AFCARS), the number of children reported living in kinship foster care has stabilized at around 23% of the foster care population after its dramatic rise in the early 1990s (Administration for Children and Families [ACF], 2005; Beeman, Kim, & Bullerdick, 2000). It is estimated that 121,030 children were placed in kinship foster homes in 2003 (ACF, 2005). As kinship placements has become more widely accepted, a lot of attention has begun to be paid to the comparative outcomes for children in kinship and nonkinship foster care, especially in the area of family permanence, which is one of the major goals of child welfare services.

CONCLUSIONS. This study of a statewide cohort of children entering foster care supports and strengthens previous evidence that children in foster care are more likely to have more health care needs compared with the general pediatric population. Focused strategies are needed that address prevalent conditions, the need for continuity of care, ongoing mental health services, and medication management.

CONCLUSIONS. This study of a statewide cohort of children entering foster care supports and strengthens previous evidence that children in foster care are more likely to have more health care needs compared with the general pediatric population. Focused strategies are needed that address prevalent conditions, the need for continuity of care, ongoing mental health services, and medication management.

Almost a third of Iowa’s children live in low-income families struggling to make ends meet. The majority of these children have a parent who works full-time – 58% of low-income children in Iowa have a parent who works full-time, year round. But in Iowa, as in other parts of the country, parents who earn low wages, even while working full-time, can find that they are unable to support their family. “Work supports” – such as earned income tax credits, public health insurance, and child care assistance – can help families close the gap between low wages and the cost of basic necessities. But few families receive all of the benefits for which they are financially eligible.

Almost a third of Iowa’s children live in low-income families struggling to make ends meet. The majority of these children have a parent who works full-time – 58% of low-income children in Iowa have a parent who works full-time, year round. But in Iowa, as in other parts of the country, parents who earn low wages, even while working full-time, can find that they are unable to support their family. “Work supports” – such as earned income tax credits, public health insurance, and child care assistance – can help families close the gap between low wages and the cost of basic necessities. But few families receive all of the benefits for which they are financially eligible.

November 1, 2008

MT 3.121