Factors affecting turnover rates of public child welfare front line workers: comparing cohorts of title IV-E program graduates with regularly hired and trained staff

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study is to examine the impact of a statewide intervention (BSW level Title IV-E Program) on both the workers’ intent to leave the job and their actual exit from a state administered public child welfare agency. Employees completed an extensive survey including scales assessing individual, team, and organizational variables that might impact turnover. Results show that more Title IV-E graduates stay with the agency than do regular hires and leave at a slower rate. Different variables impact intent to leave compared to actual exit and vary across type of employee. Implications for the workforce are discussed.     

The Ge.F.I. DNA Proficiency Test: Year-one experience

The Ge.F.I. (the Italian Speaking Working Group of ISFG) has launched the first DNA Proficiency Test in 2012. The aim is to increase the external quality controls in forensic genetics in Italy and to drive to the standardizations of methods within the laboratories. Reference and mixed stains typing as well as statistical exercises were proposed and 26 laboratories submitted results.     

Results of Colombian exercise interlaboratory quality control 2012

Participation in interlaboratory quality control exercises is one of the main mechanisms currently used for quality assurance and continuous improvement of the trials. The objective of this study was to design, to manage and to evaluate the Colombian Exercise Interlaboratory Quality Control 2012 (CEIQC-2012). The CEIQC-2012 included both practical and theoretical exercises. For practical exercise three samples were provided, two from blood and one from buccal swab, all on FTA cards, participants were requested to process the samples according to the methods and the markers used routinely in their own laboratories. For theoretical section four exercises were sent, and only one was mandatory, the remain have different degrees of difficulty and were optional. In the mandatory exercise, the participants were asked to calculate the partial and total IP of 15 autosomal STRs markers of an alleged father and a son. This exercise involved 28 laboratories from 6 Latin American and Caribbean countries (Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, Dominican Republic and Colombia), all reported results for the theoretical mandatory and 27 for the practical. Fifty-four STR markers distributed in autosomal, Y and X chromosomes were under consensus. The Proficiency Test conducted through the Colombian National Reference Laboratory has become a useful tool for quality assurance of all Colombian laboratories and some of Latin America and Caribbean that perform DNA testing to establish biological relationships. This exercise is also an excellent opportunity for constant experts training in the region.     

Empty Neighborhoods: Using Constructs to Predict the Probability of Housing Abandonment

Abstract

Enforcement of the law prohibiting housing discrimination depends largely on actions initiated by persons who believe they have been victimized and, presumptively, on their knowledge of their legal rights. It is therefore important to establish what people know about fair housing law. A recent national survey examines this topic and explores whether public knowledge makes any difference.

A majority of the public is aware of and approves of many aspects of fair housing law, although the size of that majority varies depending on which aspect of the law is considered. By contrast, only a minority of the public is aware of and accepts protections provided to renter families with children. There is an association between knowledge of the law, recognition of conduct perceived to contradict it, and willingness to respond to such conduct, suggesting a link between knowledge and likelihood of self‐protective responses, as envisioned by the Fair Housing Act.     

理论与实践的融合:当代警察教育的要义

在目前的政法院校招录培养体制改革中,随着学历教育与职业培训之间的“剑拔弩张”,理论与实践的关系问题再次凸显.综观世界警察教育发展潮流,理论与实践的融合是当代警察教育的要义.在警察教育训练体系方面,它体现为横向上的警察教育训练的分类分级,以及纵向上教育与训练的前后衔接、同步并行.在警察教育训练内容方面,它体现为理论维的强调通识教育、素质提升、全面发展,以及实践维的强调面向实战、贴近实战、服务实战.     

从人性化的视角探析高校思想政治教育存在的问题

高校思想政治教育的人性化要求我们应从大学生的人性出发,坚持以学生为本的教育观．实现大学生人格的全面、和谐发展。而目前高校思想政治教育正是缺失了人性化,主要表现为：忽视了人的目的性、压抑了人的创造性、教育方法缺乏对学生的关爱和评价标准的静态性与被动性等。分析高校思想政治教育人性化缺失的主要原因,一方面是社会发展中没有真正落实以人为本的发展观,另一方面是教育中缺少了对学生的人性关怀。