Contextual and individual-level predictors of abused children's reentry into out-of-home care: a multilevel mixture survival analysis

Objectives

This study examined the effects of individual and contextual factors on reentry into out-of-home care among children who were discharged from child protective services in fiscal year 2004-2005. The objectives were to: (1) examine individual and contextual factors associated with reentry, (2) explore whether there are meaningful groups of youth who differ in terms of risk for reentry, and (3) determine whether relatively homogeneous clusters of child welfare agencies, based on contextual characteristics, differ significantly in terms of the reentry rates of the children whom they serve.

Method

The study design involved a multilevel longitudinal analysis of administrative data based on an exit cohort. Two Cox proportional hazards multilevel mixture models were tested. The first model included multiple individual level predictors and no agency level predictors. The second model included both levels of predictors.

Results

The results of multilevel Cox regression mixture modeling indicated that at the individual level, younger age, being placed in out-of-home care because of neglect and having physical, health problems corresponded to a decreased likelihood for reentry. At the agency level, lower average expenditures per child and contracting out case management services were associated with faster reentry into out-of-home care.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that children who reenter out-of-home care appear to be a homogeneous population and that reentry is associated with both contextual factors and individual characteristics.

Practice implications

The most important implication that can be drawn from the study findings is that reentry may be most effectively prevented by focusing on such factors at the organizational level as contracting out case management services and funding allocation. Child welfare agencies that are responsible for an array of services and decide to contract out case management should consider the use of performance-based contracts and emphasize and strengthen quality assurance approaches for contracted services. In addition, to compensate for lower funding allocated for children served in out-of-home care, child welfare workers should become more familiar with community resources and help connect families to these supports.     

Evidence of alphabetic knowledge in writing: connections to letter and word identification skills in preschool and kindergarten

The writing skills of 286 children (157 female and 129 male) were studied by comparing name writing and letter writing scores from preschool to kindergarten with letter and word reading scores over the same time period. Two rubrics for scoring writing were compared to determine if scores based on multiple components (i.e., letter formation, orientation on the vertical axis, left–right orientation, and correct letter sequencing) would better reflect differences in children’s writing knowledge in preschool and kindergarten than rubrics composed of one component (i.e., letter formation only). While developmental changes in writing scores were found, little additional information was provided by multiple component scoring rubrics compared to the single component rubric. Letter writing scores were more strongly related to letter and word reading scores than name writing scores but neither writing score was predictive of growth. Implications of the findings for intentional/systematic writing instruction in preschool curricula are discussed.     

V型图在大学英语语篇教学中的应用研究

将V型图具体应用在大学英语语篇教学中,试图探讨这种启发式工具在大学英语教学过程中所起到的促进作用,其目的在于增强师生的知识管理意识,提高教学质量,为学生的英语可持续发展能力的培养提供有效途径。     

地方高校经济类专业人才培养方案的改革与优化——以沈阳大学为例

就地方高校经济类专业人才培养方案改革与优化的相关问题进行了研讨,以沈阳大学为例分析了对经济类专业人才培养方案进行优化改革的必要性,提出了由理论教学体系、实践教学体系、合作教育模式和课外教学活动组成的人才培养方案构成体系,最后指出了该培养方案的实现途径。     

韦执谊与李德裕的比较研究

韦执谊和李德裕都曾经位及唐朝宰相,都出身于世家大族,颇具文采,政治主张上都反对藩镇割据和宦官专权,但入仕途径却大不相同,韦执谊通过科举入仕,李德裕却是恩荫入仕。在仕途经历方面,韦执谊主要在中央任职,李德裕则在中央和地方交替任职;韦执谊主要从事文职工作,李德裕则文武兼备。然而,两个人的仕途结局都是被贬崖州,骨葬南溟。     

盆底肌锻炼持续性指导对孕妇焦虑抑郁情绪和分娩结局的影响

目的探究并分析盆底肌锻炼持续性指导对孕妇焦虑抑郁情绪和分娩结局的影响。方法选择2012年1月至2013年1月在深圳市南山妇幼保健院产科定期产检并分娩的100例孕妇为研究对象。应用随机数字表法将孕妇分为常规指导组和持续指导组,每组50例。常规指导组患者接受常规产科盆底肌锻炼指导,持续指导组接受盆底肌锻炼持续性指导,从入组直至胎儿出生,采用焦虑自评量表(SAS)、抑郁自评量表(SDS)对孕妇焦虑抑郁情绪和分娩结局资料进行收集,并分析两组孕妇焦虑抑郁情绪和分娩结局。结果出院时,常规指导组产妇深Ⅰ、浅Ⅰ、深Ⅱ、浅Ⅱ层盆底肌力均低于持续指导组,差异有统计学意义[(3.42±0.98)分比(4.21±0.81)分,(3.21±1.08)分比(4.16±0.73)分,(3.54±0.91)分比(4.26±0.64),(3.47±0.82)分比(4.19±0.68)分,P<0.05]。持续指导组SAS标准分、SDS标准分、产妇并发症、剖宫产率显著低于常规指导组[(41.28±2.91)分比(46.27±3.24)分,(42.27±2.75)分比(47.19±2.86)分,4%比20%,8%比26%),P<0.05]。持续指导组阴道分娩率显著高于常规指导组(86%比62%,P<0.05),常规指导组和持续指导组围生儿结局差异无统计学意义(20%比12%,χ2=1.190,P>0.05)。结论盆底肌锻炼持续性指导能够明显改善孕妇焦虑抑郁情绪、分娩方式和孕妇结局。     

高校博物馆对外开放现状与对策研究

高校博物馆承载着高校人才培养、科学研究与文化传承的多重责任,是国家教育事业和博物馆事业的重要组成部分,是国家提升文化软实力、实现文化强国的重要力量。本文通过研究高校博物馆对外开放的现状、因素与对策等几个问题,拟了解高校博物馆在对外开放上的现状,并找出影响其现状的因素,为高校博物馆对外开放提出具有针对性的对策和建议,以促进高校博物馆的对外开放及长远发展。     

环境生物学设计性实验的教学实践——以“蚕豆根尖微核检测技术”为例

以"蚕豆根尖微核检测技术"为例,介绍了环境生物学设计性实验的设计,实践与体会.教学实践表明设计性实验使学生系统地了解了实验的整个过程,训练了实验技能,提高了学习的主动性和积极性,培养了分析和解决问题的能力.