The evaluation of Healthy Families Arizona: a multisite home visitation program

Healthy Families Arizona is a broadly implemented home visitation program aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect, improving child health and development, and promoting positive parent/child interaction. The program began as a pilot in two sites in 1991 and by 2004 had grown to 48 sites located in urban, rural, and tribal regions of the state. The unique administrative structure of the program and collaboration between evaluation and quality assurance have helped overcome many of the problems familiar to home visitation programs. This paper describes how a systematic focus to improve processes and outcomes has positioned the program for a randomized longitudinal study. Key components of the program are described and evaluation results are presented.     

Healthy Families America: ruminations on implementing a home visitation program to prevent child maltreatment

Following a 1990 federal report forecasting a national child abuse and neglect epidemic, Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America) promoted a home visitation program known as Healthy Families America (HFA). HFA achieved rapid adoption and implementation across the nation going from 25 sites in 1992 to 430 in a decade. In this article, the authors describe PCA America's approach to develop, promote, oversee, and evaluate a national home visitation program. Despite its promising growth, HFA has been criticized for failing to achieve the goal of preventing child maltreatment. HFA's past and present are critiqued based on theory and implementation practice of home visitation and its future projected from the perspective of insiders. Developing a better understanding of HFA's history will advance existing models of home visitation and add to the emerging knowledge base of child maltreatment prevention.     

Development of a Quality Assurance and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Model in Public Child Welfare Systems

The purpose of this article is to review the development and implementation of a revised quality assurance and continuous quality improvement (CQI) model for the child welfare system in one Mid-Atlantic state, and the contribution of this new process to measuring the quality of child welfare practices. This revised CQI model in the state includes a broader scope of assessing practice and outcomes, as well as compliance, and engages internal and external partners in the process. This study is the first to describe the state’s revised CQI implementation process and examine preliminary outcomes in a statewide child welfare system. Findings indicate that the revised model was able to identify the factors that contributed to improving outcomes for children and families and to develop a greater understanding of the aggregate data across the state. This study will contribute to the comprehensive understanding of the model and provide implications for future quality assurance practices.     

Healthy Families America state systems development: an emerging practice to ensure program growth and sustainability

In an era of fiscal constraints and increased accountability for social service programs, having a centralized and efficient infrastructure is critical. A well-functioning infrastructure helps a state reduce duplication of services, creates economies of scale, coordinates resources, supports high-quality site development and promotes the self-sufficiency and growth of community-based programs. Throughout the Healthy Families America home visitation network, both program growth and contraction have been managed by in-state collaborations, referred to as "state systems." This article explores the research base that supports the rationale for implementing state systems, describes the evolution of state systems for Healthy Families America, and discusses the benefits, challenges and lessons learned of utilizing a systems approach.     

Successful Program Development Using Implementation Evaluation

SUMMARY

Four methods used to enhance implementation of a resiliency-based early childhood substance abuse and violence prevention initiative are described. Project staff drew up formal agreements with participating programs to ensure administrative support for the intervention, provided high quality training for program implemcnt-ers, used a participatory evaluation approach, and monitored implementation both directly and through practitioners' self-report. The contribution of each of these methods to fidelity of implementation is discussed, and implementation challenges are identified. The growth and success of the project demonstrates the utility of implementation evaluation data for ongoing program development and improvement.     

The Prenatal/Early Infancy Project

Summary

We describe a program of pregnancy and infancy nurse home visitation for families at social risk because of the mother's young age, single-parent status, or poverty. The program sought to prevent a number of maternal and child health problems that emerge early in the life cycle and that might be prevented with improvements in prenatal health habits, care of the child, and the psychosocial context of the family. The nurses carried out three major activities: (1) parent education regarding influences on fetal and infant development and regarding the mother's own education, employment, and family planning; (2) the involvement of family members and friends in the pregnancy, birth, and early care of the child; and (3) the linkage of family members with other health and human services. The nurses emphasized the importance of establishing a caring and supportive relationship with the mother and her family, building upon parents' strengths, promoting parental control over their life circumstances, and adapting the educational content of the program to the individual needs of the family.     

Assessing the Relationship Between a Peer-Mentoring Program and Case Outcomes in Dependency Court

Building successful family-centered programs to support families whose children have been removed can be especially challenging to child welfare agencies. Peer-mentoring programs match families new to the dependency system with a mentor who has successfully reunified with their children. The current study examines the relationship between a peer-mentoring program, Parent for Parent (P4P), engagement levels of parents, and case outcomes for these families. Findings revealed that participants in the peer-mentoring program experienced increased engagement levels and improved outcomes for their cases. Specifically, mothers and fathers who participated in P4P increased their compliance with case plans and visitation, as well as increased presence at court hearings. Reunification rates increased for all families who participated in the peer-mentoring program, compared to those who did not. Few associations were found between racial and ethnic groups and program participation. The implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

Training School-Community Behavioral Health Teams in Problem Clarification and Program Planning

The training of School-Community Behavioral Health Teams in problem clarification and program planning is described, outcome evidence suggesting the utility of the approach is reported, and considerations pertincnt to its implementation are discussed. The purpose of a School-Community Behavioral Health Team is (1) to help a public school district identify potential and actual behavioral problems of children and youth, and (2) to help school professionals in the planning of programs which address the identified areas. A team is compriscd of a cross-section of school and community representatives who collaborate with program developers and implementers from the school district, by means of a specific problem solving approach, with a focus on maintaining or improving the behavioral health of children and youth.     

An Assessment of the Relationship Between the Quality of School-Based Tobacco Prevention Programs and Youth Tobacco Use

SUMMARY

This study presents data from an assessment of substance use prevention programs in 23 elementary and middle schools in northern and central Illinois. The quality of prevention programming was assessed based on program intensity, focus on tobacco, staff resources designated for prevention programs, and implementation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for tobacco prevention. Data from these four dimensions were used to calculate a Quality Index Score. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between individual level variables, school level variables and the outcomes of reported current tobacco use, intent to use tobacco in the coming year, and perceived efficacy of substance use prevention programs. No significant effects were found, indicating that exclusive use of even high quality school-based prevention programs may not be sufficient in changing youth behavior. However, school-based prevention programs may be an important component of a broader ecological approach that uses multiple, community-wide strategies to promote normative change.     

Issues in Implementing a Comprehensive Intervention for Public School Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Many students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are educated separately from their typically developing peers, while others are placed in inclusive classes but without supports that would help them benefit from less restrictive placements. The needs of students with ASD who are in inclusive settings are often not planned for or met appropriately, resulting in continuing problems and movement to increasingly restrictive environments or private placements. There is a critical need for school models to fill the gap in appropriate services for this population of children with ASD. These models should include those that are inclusive and academically challenging, that can be implemented by many school districts, and that are responsive to the unique combination of strengths and deficits in these students. In the current article, the authors describe the development and core components of the model, and implementation of the ASD Nest program in public schools in New York City.     

在经济复苏中推进循环经济发展——基于实施家电以旧换新政策的分析

家电以旧换新政策具有经济与环保的双重效应,其政策实施方案是促进经济复苏举措中有利于中国循环经济发展的典型代表,应从推进家电产业发展循环经济的高度,在生产者环保责任、行业规划与支持政策、信息管理、环保法规宣传与执行等方面做出进一步努力。     

家电下乡政策背后的实践困境——基于陕西省七个村的实证调查

家电下乡政策是新时期国家为刺激消费扩大内需而采取的一项逐渐惠及民生的政策。结合对陕西省七个村的调查,从微观、中观和宏观三个视角对家电下乡的实施进行考察,发现农民购买欲望与实际购买行为存在矛盾,基层政府在政策实施上不到位与政策价值预期存在矛盾,农村经济发展不足与面临货币压力存在矛盾,因此,需要采取积极措施破解这些实践困境。     

Proposed modification of a school-wide bully prevention program to support all children

Bullying prevention programs in the United States are being implemented in schools from kindergarten through high school to reduce rates of bullying behaviors. The bully prevention in positive behavior support (PBIS) model is an evidence-based, whole school intervention program. The PBIS model trains teachers, school staff, and administrators to model and provide positive reinforcement for children to decrease bullying amongst peers. This article addresses gaps in the current bullying prevention research by exploring challenges and potential modifications to the PBIS model based on staff perspectives of specific student needs. Utilizing focus group methodology, administrators, teachers, and support staff in a northeastern urban elementary school identified challenges experienced by students who were English language learners, impulsive, shy or sensitive, and female. The findings highlight the critical nature of school–parent relationships in addressing student, family, and cultural factors that influence the successful implementation of bullying prevention programs.     

The Organizational,Community and Programmatic Characteristics that Predict the Effective Implementation of After-School Programs

Abstract

To identify characteristics predicting the effective implementation of after-school programs, in-depth interviews were conducted at five sites randomly selected from a subset of 16 ACE after-school sites serving high risk youth in a southwestern city. Qualitative data from structured in-depth interviews, follow-up telephone conversations with personnel as well as researcher observations during site visits were synthesized. Data identified three constellations of characteristics associated with effective implementation: staffing, community and programmatic. Staffing characteristics included limited staff turnover and sufficient training. Community characteristics included cultural sensitivity and community integration. Programmatic characteristics included clearly defined program goals and specific program content. Researcher observations found outcomes assessment would also facilitate program implementation.     

岗位实训量化管理模式构建与实践——安徽省2011年省级示范实习实训中心项目研究内容

岗位实训是指公安院校的校外实训。岗位实训量化管理模式是根据实训计划内容和要求,对学生在公安机关基层工作中所承担工作任务进行分解统计,将工作内容转化为一定数据,及时、客观反映实训过程、状态和效果,并以此为依据实施实训管理的方式。实训中,对学生从事的工作进行统计量化,形成反映实训实时动态的量化数据,以此作为管理基础,可增强管理的科学性和有效性。由于工作量统计内容多、过程复杂,为确保量化管理模式有效运行,必须建立和完善实训量化机制,在统计项目、统计人员、统计过程、统计职责等关键环节上要有明确规定,以保证统计结果的真实性和教学管理的有效性。实践证明,将量化统计方法应用岗位实训中,构建实训量化管理模式,着力解决管理难题,能为岗位实训教学实现精细化发展奠定坚实基础。     

高等职业教育计算机专业考试改革的探析与实践

以高职教育课程考试改革为主题,对存在考试弊端进行全面剖析,提出了以素质教育为中心的考试改革思路,在教学中实践结合计算机类专业的课程考试,根据不同课程的教学特点设计了专门的课程考试改革实施方案,收到了较好的效果。     

作为政府工具的隐私影响评估:缘起、价值、实施与启示

隐私影响评估作为政府保护公民隐私的重要工具,已在西方发达国家隐私管理实践中有着二十多年的应用与发展历程。西方隐私影响评估缘起于公众隐私保护诉求和政府隐私管理需要,在特定的政府信息数据管理项目中通过识别隐私风险因素、评估隐私风险影响和制定隐私风险应对方案发挥着一系列积极作用。隐私影响评估的实施分为准备阶段、分析阶段和落实阶段。准备阶段的任务是描述评估锚定项目、选择评估执行时机、确定评估执行主体和明确评估协商对象,分析阶段的任务是描述项目信息流动、识别项目隐私风险和制定风险应对方案,落实阶段的任务是发布隐私评估报告、实施风险应对方案和持续更新评估结果。西方隐私影响评估的丰富实践给我国制定隐私影响评估指南、设置隐私影响评估机构、构建多元主体协商机制和建立隐私风险管理体系提供了重要启示。     

The Effectiveness of a Self-Teaching Asthma Self-Management Training Program for School Age Children and Their Families

Summary

This study tested the hypothesis that an inexpensive, self-teaching asthma management training program, usable in the home environment, will be well received and prove beneficial to children with asthma and their families. A total of 321 subject families were recruited at 13 sites across the country to participate in the one year longitudinal study of the SUPERSTUFF program. Children ranged in age from 5-12, and their families constituted a heterogenous cross-section of the population. The impact of the SUPERSTUFF program was studied in relation to five major dependent variables: asthma knowledge, self-concept, asthma-related problems, asthma attitudes, and school attendance patterns. The results supported the hypothesis.     

略论警官院校的校园文化建设

校园文化是弥漫在校园活动与师生精神生活中的文化氛围、价值取向和生活方式.警官院校的文化建设不仅是学生自身的文化需求,对于达到教育与教学目的,培养高素质人才同样具有重要意义.在校园文化建设中,应注意到它的一般性和特殊性,并做好总体规划,采取切实步骤予以施行.