Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Coordinators
Kinds of Coordinators Selected AbstractsETHICAL, LEGAL, AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE ISSUES INVOLVED IN ACTING AS A PSYCHOLOGIST PARENT COORDINATOR IN CHILD CUSTODY CASESFAMILY COURT REVIEW, Issue 3 2004Matthew J. Sullivan The use of Psychologist Parent Coordinators in child custody cases (called Special Masters in California) is becoming increasingly prevalent across the country. This postdivorce parenting coordination role is a legal/psychological hybrid, demanding knowledge and skill in legal domains (legal procedure, relevant case law, etc.), psychological domains (child development, family systems, etc.), and dispute resolution (mediation and settlement processes). Situated in the interface of legal and psychological paradigms, Parent Coordination may be reviewed by multiple legal and psychological regulatory bodies. Coming from varying perspectives, the practice guidelines and mandates of these legal, ethical, and licensing agencies impose multiple standards of review of Parent Coordination. A brief overview of the legal and psychological review processes applicable to Special Master work in California, as they relate to common issues that confront the Parenting Coordinator across the country, is the focus of this article. They suggest that the current lack of coordination of review processes creates a minefield of professional risk for the psychologist who chooses to practice in this role. [source] "MORE OF A STREET COP THAN A DETECTIVE": AN ANALYSIS OF THE ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF PARENTING COORDINATORS IN NORTH CAROLINAFAMILY COURT REVIEW, Issue 4 2010Sherrill W. Hayes This research project examined roles and functions of parenting coordinators (PCs) identified by AFCC's Guidelines for Parenting Coordination and other literature. The researcher used a semi-structured interview schedule that included information about practices, procedures, and a series of five case-based vignettes that contained commonly occurring ethical and legal dilemmas in PC practice. The results found that PCs generally saw their role as enforcers of existing orders and primarily used skills in conflict management, parent education, and information coordination with other professionals. PCs would use arbitration powers to make minor decisions or refer to court as a last resort. [source] ETHICAL, LEGAL, AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE ISSUES INVOLVED IN ACTING AS A PSYCHOLOGIST PARENT COORDINATOR IN CHILD CUSTODY CASESFAMILY COURT REVIEW, Issue 3 2004Matthew J. Sullivan The use of Psychologist Parent Coordinators in child custody cases (called Special Masters in California) is becoming increasingly prevalent across the country. This postdivorce parenting coordination role is a legal/psychological hybrid, demanding knowledge and skill in legal domains (legal procedure, relevant case law, etc.), psychological domains (child development, family systems, etc.), and dispute resolution (mediation and settlement processes). Situated in the interface of legal and psychological paradigms, Parent Coordination may be reviewed by multiple legal and psychological regulatory bodies. Coming from varying perspectives, the practice guidelines and mandates of these legal, ethical, and licensing agencies impose multiple standards of review of Parent Coordination. A brief overview of the legal and psychological review processes applicable to Special Master work in California, as they relate to common issues that confront the Parenting Coordinator across the country, is the focus of this article. They suggest that the current lack of coordination of review processes creates a minefield of professional risk for the psychologist who chooses to practice in this role. [source] A Note From the Guest CoordinatorFAMILY RELATIONS, Issue 1 2006Áine M. Humble No abstract is available for this article. [source] Effectiveness of a Falls-and-Fracture Nurse Coordinator to Reduce Falls: A Randomized, Controlled Trial of At-Risk Older AdultsJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 8 2008(See editorial comments by Dr. Mary Tinetti on pp 156, 1565) OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of a community-based falls-and-fracture nurse coordinator and multifactorial intervention in reducing falls in older people. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Screening for previous falls in family practice followed by community-based intervention. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred twelve community-living people aged 75 and older who had fallen in the previous year. INTERVENTION: Home-based nurse assessment of falls-and-fracture risk factors and home hazards, referral to appropriate community interventions, and strength and balance exercise program. Control group received usual care and social visits. MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcome was rate of falls over 12 months. Secondary outcomes were muscle strength and balance, falls efficacy, activities of daily living, self-reported physical activity level, and quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Questionnaire). RESULTS: Of the 3,434 older adults screened for falls, 312 (9%) from 19 family practices were enrolled and randomized. The average age was 81±5, and 69% (215/312) were women. The incidence rate ratio for falls for the intervention group compared with the control group was 0.96 (95% confidence interval=0.70,1.34). There were no significant differences in secondary outcomes between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This nurse-led intervention was not effective in reducing falls in older people who had fallen previously. Implementation and adherence to the fall-prevention measures was dependent on referral to other health professionals working in their usual clinical practice. This may have limited the effectiveness of the interventions. [source] Knowledge in Interior DesignJOURNAL OF INTERIOR DESIGN, Issue 1 2005Anna Marshall-Baker Ph.D. Anna Marshall-Baker teaches in the Department of Interior Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she focuses on sustaining design and the reciprocal effects of environments and human development, particularly in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). With academic and practical experience in fine and commercial art, interior design, and psychology, she serves as a member of the Recommended Standards Consensus Committee for NICU Design, Interim Chair of the Sustaining Design Task Force for IDEC, Department Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Past-President of IDEC, and a reviewer for the Journal of Interior Design. [source] Existence of the School Health Coordinator in a Frontier StateJOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 9 2005Scott D. Winnail Baseline data were collected soliciting the involvement of all 48 state school districts and the state girl's school (N = 49). Thirty-seven districts responded (75.5%). Identified school health coordinators were predominantly health and physical education teachers. Most coordinators spent minimal time (less than 10% of time) each week on school health coordination activities; nearly one half identified little or no coordination of school health efforts in their school districts; few identified personal involvement in budgetary matters concerning school health; and most identified their primary teaching responsibilities as the areas where the majority of their time was spent. Data collected help create a profile of the "typical" district level-school health coordinator in this frontier state and can assist in the development of future efforts aimed at school health coordination through the work of district-level school health coordinators. (J Sch Health. 2005;75(9):329,333) [source] Advertising Coordinator, The Photogrammetric RecordTHE PHOTOGRAMMETRIC RECORD, Issue 130 2010Article first published online: 8 JUN 2010 No abstract is available for this article. [source] Marshall Returns to Team as Advertising CoordinatorTHE PHOTOGRAMMETRIC RECORD, Issue 122 2008Article first published online: 8 JUL 200 No abstract is available for this article. [source] Denguefieber: "Aktive Vorbeugung hilft gegen die Angst"BIOLOGIE IN UNSERER ZEIT (BIUZ), Issue 3 2010Article first published online: 22 JUN 2010 Ruby Castrence-Gonzales, Mindanao State University Naawan, Philippines, Master of Science (Marine Biology), Radio Program Coordinator, in einem Interview mit unserer Mitarbeiterin Inge Kronberg zur Situation des Denguefiebers und seiner Bekämpfung auf den Philippinen. [source] ETHICAL, LEGAL, AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE ISSUES INVOLVED IN ACTING AS A PSYCHOLOGIST PARENT COORDINATOR IN CHILD CUSTODY CASESFAMILY COURT REVIEW, Issue 3 2004Matthew J. Sullivan The use of Psychologist Parent Coordinators in child custody cases (called Special Masters in California) is becoming increasingly prevalent across the country. This postdivorce parenting coordination role is a legal/psychological hybrid, demanding knowledge and skill in legal domains (legal procedure, relevant case law, etc.), psychological domains (child development, family systems, etc.), and dispute resolution (mediation and settlement processes). Situated in the interface of legal and psychological paradigms, Parent Coordination may be reviewed by multiple legal and psychological regulatory bodies. Coming from varying perspectives, the practice guidelines and mandates of these legal, ethical, and licensing agencies impose multiple standards of review of Parent Coordination. A brief overview of the legal and psychological review processes applicable to Special Master work in California, as they relate to common issues that confront the Parenting Coordinator across the country, is the focus of this article. They suggest that the current lack of coordination of review processes creates a minefield of professional risk for the psychologist who chooses to practice in this role. [source] Follow-Up Comparisons of Intervention and Comparison Schools in a State Tobacco Prevention and Control InitiativeJOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 3 2006Phyllis Gingiss The intervention, which was funded through the Texas Department of State Health Services, consisted of guidance, training, technical assistance, and reimbursement of approximately $2000 per year for program expenses. Self-administered written surveys for Principals and Health Coordinators, based on the School Health Education Profile Tobacco Module, were designed for periodic assessment of the status of school programs. Surveys were sent in 2002 to intervention (n = 74) and comparison (n = 60) schools. Response to the Principal Survey was received from 109 (81%) schools, and response to the Health Coordinator Survey was received from 84 (63%) schools. Survey analysis showed that intervention schools more frequently (p , .05) reported: (1) being extremely or moderately active in student cessation support, teacher training, policy development, family involvement, and assessment of the prevention program; (2) using recommended curricula, offering more tobacco-related lessons, involving more teachers, and using more recommended teaching methods such as role-playing, simulations or practice, and peer educators; and (3) having more interest in staff development and more funding to purchase release time. Similarities across schools are provided, as well as recommendations for future planning. (J Sch Health. 2006;76(3):98-103) [source] Improving the Recruitment and Retention of Organ Procurement Coordinators: A Survey StudyAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 6 2009J. Kress Organ procurement coordinators (coordinators) employed by organ procurement organizations (OPOs) are critical to the success of organ donation. However, their high turnover rates may threaten the success of organ donation. This cross-sectional study examined employment satisfaction and factors contributing to job turnover among 326 coordinators representing 52 of 58 OPOs (90%) who completed an online survey. Most (93%) respondents reported high levels of job satisfaction, although 26% reported considering leaving their OPO, and 61% perceived a high turnover rate at their OPO. Considerations of leaving the OPO were most likely to emerge at 2 years of employment. To secure coordinator job satisfaction, it is essential that prospective coordinators be adequately prepared and informed about negative as well as positive aspects of this line of work. In hiring, OPOs should recruit more proactively, using their staff as contacts, and seek experience in critical care, intensive care, or other on-call work. To retain satisfied employees, OPOs should offer more education and advancement opportunities and focus on such issues as call and hours, rather than salary per se. OPOs should consider a variety of alternative pay structures, particularly separate on-call pay, whether or not coordinators are actually called into service. [source] Toward a Trust-Based Construction ManagementCOMPUTER-AIDED CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, Issue 4 2010Annie Guerriero Moreover, the uncertainty linked to the environment of the construction activity makes way for the notion of trust. The coordinator can make use of multiple tools/views for accomplishing his mission. This research work suggests analyzing data coming from these different views to consolidate trust indicators informing the coordinator about "trust in the correct progression of the construction activity." The approach suggested in this article distinguishes between four aspects of the activity determining the global trust level: task progress, actor's performance, documents required to perform the task, and building elements resulting from the task. The proposal suggests introducing these trust indicators in a dashboard, included in a multiview interface, thus allowing the coordinator to identify the tasks with a low trust level and to understand the nature of dysfunctions. A prototype has been developed and integrated in a service-based IT infrastructure. Results of an experiment stage are finally discussed to validate the approach. [source] Characteristics of Emergency Medicine Program DirectorsACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 2 2006Michael S. Beeson MD Objectives: To characterize emergency medicine (EM) program directors (PDs) and compare the data, where possible, with those from other related published studies. Methods: An online survey was e-mailed in 2002 to all EM PDs of programs that were approved by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education. The survey included questions concerning demographics, work hours, support staff, potential problems and solutions, salary and expenses, and satisfaction. Results: One hundred nine of 124 (88%) PDs (69.7% university, 27.5% community, and 2.8% military) completed the survey; 85.3% were male. Mean age was 43.6 years (95% confidence interval [CI] = 42.6 to 44.7 yr). The mean time as a PD was 5.7 years (95% CI = 4.9 to 6.5 yr), with 56% serving five years or less. The mean time expected to remain as PD is an additional 6.0 years (95% CI = 5.2 to 6.8). A 1995 study noted that 50% of EM PDs had been in the position for less than three years, and 68% anticipated continuing in their position for less than five years. On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as highest), the mean satisfaction with the position of PD was 8.0 (95% CI = 7.2 to 8.3). Those PDs who stated that the previous PD had mentored them planned to stay a mean of 2.0 years longer than did those who were not mentored (95% CI of difference of means = 0.53 to 3.53). Sixty-five percent of PDs had served previously as an associate PD. Most PDs (92%) have an associate or assistant PD, with 54% reporting one; 25%, two; and 9%, three associate or assistant PDs. A 1995 study noted that 62% had an associate PD. Ninety-two percent have a program coordinator, and 35% stated that they have both a residency secretary and a program coordinator. Program directors worked a median of 195 hours per month: clinical, 75 hours; scholarly activity, 20 hours; administrative, 80 hours; and teaching and residency conferences, 20 hours; compared with a median total hours of 220 previously reported. Lack of adequate time to do the job required, career needs interfering with family needs, and lack of adequate faculty help with residency matters were identified as the most important problems (means of 3.5 [95% CI = 3.2 to 3.7], 3.4 [95% CI = 3.2 to 3.6], and 3.1 [95% CI = 2.9 to 3.3], respectively, on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 as maximum). This study identified multiple resources that were found to be useful by >50% of PDs, including national meetings, lectures, advice from others, and self-study. Conclusions: Emergency medicine PDs generally are very satisfied with the position of PD, perhaps because of increased support and resources. Although PD turnover remains an issue, PDs intend to remain in the position for a longer period of time than noted before this study. This may reflect the overall satisfaction with the position as well as the increased resources and support now available to the PD. PDs have greater satisfaction if they have been mentored for the position. [source] Ecological implications of plants' ability to tell the timeECOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 6 2009Víctor Resco Abstract The circadian clock (the endogenous mechanism that anticipates diurnal cycles) acts as a central coordinator of plant activity. At the molecular and organism level, it regulates key traits for plant fitness, including seed germination, gas exchange, growth and flowering, among others. In this article, we explore current evidence on the effect of the clock for the scales of interest to ecologists. We begin by synthesizing available knowledge on the effect of the clock on biosphere,atmosphere interactions and observe that, at least in the systems where it has been tested, the clock regulates gas exchange from the leaf to the ecosystem level, and we discuss its implications for estimates of the carbon balance. Then, we analyse whether incorporating the action of the clock may help in elucidating the effects of climate change on plant distributions. Circadian rhythms are involved in regulating the range of temperatures a species can survive and affects plant interactions. Finally, we review the involvement of the clock in key phenological events, such as flowering time and seed germination. Because the clock may act as a common mechanism affecting many of the diverse branches of ecology, our ultimate goal is to stimulate further research into this pressing, yet unexplored, topic. [source] An Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Study of Bioactive Phosphate Glasses,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 7 2010Emilia Tang First principles molecular dynamics simulations of ternary phosphate-based glasses P2O5CaONa2O (PBGs) have been carried out in order to provide an accurate description of the local structure and properties of these important materials for biomedical applications. The structures of PBGs with compositions (P2O5)0.45(CaO)x(Na2O)0.55,,,x (x,=,0.30, 0.35, and 0.40) were generated using a full ab initio molecular dynamics melt-and-quench procedure. The analysis of the structure of the glasses at 300,K shows the prevalence of the metaphosphate Q2 and pyrophosphate Q1 species, whereas the number of Q3 units, which constitute the three-dimensional phosphate network, significantly decreases with the increase in calcium content in the glass. Calculation of the pair and angular distribution functions suggests that the rigidity of the phosphate tetrahedral glass network increases with the concentration of calcium, an observation which is interpreted in terms of the tendency of Ca2+ to be a stronger coordinator than sodium. [source] Clinical and Economic Outcomes of Infants Receiving Breast Milk in the NICUJOURNAL FOR SPECIALISTS IN PEDIATRIC NURSING, Issue 1 2001Amy J. Barton ISSUES AND PURPOSE. This study compared clinical and economic outcomes for infants who were exclusively fed breast milk and infants who were fed commercial formula. DESIGN AND METHODS. A retrospective medical record review from a regional neonatal intensive care unit (N = 80) using consultation logs from the lactation coordinator and a matched sample of formula-fed infants. RESULTS. Neither clinical (weight gain, length of stay, days of parenteral nutrition) nor economic outcomes (direct variable costs, net revenue) differed significantly between the groups. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. While it may not be possible to demonstrate sufficient cost savings while the infant resides within the NICU to justify a lactation coordinator, long-term clinical and economic outcomes may be sensitive to this specialized nursing service. [source] Effectiveness of a Falls-and-Fracture Nurse Coordinator to Reduce Falls: A Randomized, Controlled Trial of At-Risk Older AdultsJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 8 2008(See editorial comments by Dr. Mary Tinetti on pp 156, 1565) OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of a community-based falls-and-fracture nurse coordinator and multifactorial intervention in reducing falls in older people. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Screening for previous falls in family practice followed by community-based intervention. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred twelve community-living people aged 75 and older who had fallen in the previous year. INTERVENTION: Home-based nurse assessment of falls-and-fracture risk factors and home hazards, referral to appropriate community interventions, and strength and balance exercise program. Control group received usual care and social visits. MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcome was rate of falls over 12 months. Secondary outcomes were muscle strength and balance, falls efficacy, activities of daily living, self-reported physical activity level, and quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Questionnaire). RESULTS: Of the 3,434 older adults screened for falls, 312 (9%) from 19 family practices were enrolled and randomized. The average age was 81±5, and 69% (215/312) were women. The incidence rate ratio for falls for the intervention group compared with the control group was 0.96 (95% confidence interval=0.70,1.34). There were no significant differences in secondary outcomes between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This nurse-led intervention was not effective in reducing falls in older people who had fallen previously. Implementation and adherence to the fall-prevention measures was dependent on referral to other health professionals working in their usual clinical practice. This may have limited the effectiveness of the interventions. [source] An exploration of best practice in multi-agency working and the experiences of families of children with complex health needs.JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 3 2007What works well, what needs to be done to improve practice for the future? Aims and objectives., This Appreciative Inquiry study aimed to explore appreciatively examples of best multi-agency working practice with families (mothers, n = 20; fathers, n = 7; children, n = 1) and people working with children with complex needs (n = 41), to determine what works well, why it has worked well and what best practice in the future could be. Background., The term ,children with complex health needs' encompasses a diverse group of children and this population is increasing. This diverse group of children often requires high levels of physiological, psychological and social care which brings them and their families into therapeutic contact with a wide range of health, social and education professionals and people from other agencies. Design., The study used appreciative interviews, nominal group workshops and consensus workshops to develop a set of 10 ,best practice' guidelines that reflected the views of all participants. Two of these are discussed in detail in this article. All participants were seen as co-researchers whose expert contributions were vital to understanding of what works well and what needs to be done in multi-agency working practice. Results., The study resulted in ,best practice' statements that illuminated ,what works well' in multi-agency working practice that spanned issues including information, decision making, communication, accessibility, collaboration, respect and sharing a common vision. Conclusions., The guidance that results from this study suggests that parents need the opportunity to share and receive support from other parents who understand the lived reality of caring for a child with complex needs. Parents and people from across various agencies need to work together to ensure that the most appropriate person acts in the role of a long-term coordinator, where the family wants this aspect of support. This study adds a multi-disciplinary and appreciatively oriented focus on what works well in complex care. It contributes to an understanding of the value of an Appreciative Inquiry approach within health-care research. Relevance to clinical practice., The guidelines arose from and are grounded in practice and as such they provide clear, workable directions for enhancing practice and for considering what already does work well. [source] Latino(a) students and Caucasian mentors in a rural after-school program: Towards empowering adult,youth relationshipsJOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 1 2005Marcelo Diversi High rates of immigration, especially from Latin America, have created a large population of immigrant youth, many of whom are having difficulty in American schools. The central goals of our project were to assist in empowering students to find academic success and to foster a more bicultural identity. According to three perspectives (youth, mentor, and coordinator), the adult,youth relationship central to our project has been successful in fostering academic engagement and cross-cultural relations. Youth improved their grades and reported being more connected to school. Mentors and youth reported trust in their relationship and satisfaction in learning about each other's culture. We also discuss shortcomings in our program and offer suggestions for positive adult,youth practices. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 33: 31,40, 2005. [source] Ascertaining Health-Related Information on Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: Development and Field Testing of the Rochester Health Status SurveyJOURNAL OF POLICY AND PRACTICE IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, Issue 1 2008Philip W. Davidson Abstract, There is a growing need for researchers and service providers to ascertain and track health status and health care utilization among adults with intellectual disabilities as they pass through the lifespan. This paper reports the development and field testing of the Rochester Health Status Survey (RHSS), a survey instrument that identifies incidence, lifetime prevalence, and point prevalence of diseases common in adults, as well as functional abilities and medication usage. The instrument also provides information about health system access and utilization. The survey is designed to be completed from chart review. An initial version of the survey was developed in 1998, revised in 2003, and then validated on a cohort of adults ages 21 to 73 years living in supervised community residences in the U.S. The RHSS includes 51 questions and requires about 45 min to complete. In the present study, data were collected on each subject by 3 different respondents (a service coordinator, a nurse, and when available, a family member). Their responses were compared item by item with the responses of the second author, a developmental disabilities geriatrician, who also completed the survey on each subject. Correlations and Kappa statistics confirmed that the highest agreement scores occurred between nurses and the geriatrician. [source] Prevalence of Pervasive Developmental Disorders in Two Canadian ProvincesJOURNAL OF POLICY AND PRACTICE IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, Issue 3 2006Hélène Ouellette-Kuntz Abstract, Although it is generally accepted that the proportion of children diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) has increased in the past two decades, there is no consensus on the prevalence of these conditions. The accompanying large rise in demand for services, together with uncertainty regarding the extent to which the observed increases are due to a true change in risk, has made PDDs a major public health concern. As few data exist on the prevalence of PDDs in Canada, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of diagnosed PDDs in two Canadian provinces (Manitoba and Prince Edward Island (PEI)) and compare characteristics of diagnosed cases between the two regions. To obtain the estimates, children under the age of 15 years with a PDD diagnosis who lived in either province in 2002 were identified by workers at Children's Special Services, a provincial government program that supports children with special needs in Manitoba, and by the PEI provincial early intervention coordinator (Department of Social Services and Seniors) and special education autism coordinator (Department of Education). The findings show that the prevalence among children 1,14 years of age was 28.4 per 10,000 (95% confidence interval: 26.1,30.8) in Manitoba and 35.2 per 10,000 (95% confidence interval: 28.2,43.4) in PEI. In Manitoba, children of aboriginal identity with PDDs (8.3%) were significantly underrepresented compared with the general population of aboriginal children living off native reserves (15.6%). Sex ratio, sibling risk, and age at initial diagnosis were similar in the two provinces. These findings can serve as a baseline from which to monitor the prevalence of these conditions over time, providing valuable data for researchers, planners, and service providers. [source] Existence of the School Health Coordinator in a Frontier StateJOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 9 2005Scott D. Winnail Baseline data were collected soliciting the involvement of all 48 state school districts and the state girl's school (N = 49). Thirty-seven districts responded (75.5%). Identified school health coordinators were predominantly health and physical education teachers. Most coordinators spent minimal time (less than 10% of time) each week on school health coordination activities; nearly one half identified little or no coordination of school health efforts in their school districts; few identified personal involvement in budgetary matters concerning school health; and most identified their primary teaching responsibilities as the areas where the majority of their time was spent. Data collected help create a profile of the "typical" district level-school health coordinator in this frontier state and can assist in the development of future efforts aimed at school health coordination through the work of district-level school health coordinators. (J Sch Health. 2005;75(9):329,333) [source] Implementing Evidence-Based Substance Use Prevention Curricula in North Carolina Public School DistrictsJOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 9 2004Melinda M. Pankratz ABSTRACT: The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (SDFSCA) provides funding for prevention education to nearly every school district in the nation. Recent federal policy requires SDFSCA recipients to implement evidence-based prevention programs. This paper reports the extent to which North Carolina public school districts implement evidence-based substance use prevention curricula. Results showed that while the majority of school districts use evidence-based prevention curricula, they are rarely the most commonly used curricula. Evidence-based curricula are much more likely to be used at the middle school level than at the elementary or high school levels. Urbanicity, coordinator time, and coordinator experience correlated with extensive use of evidence-based curricula in the bivariate analysis, but only time spent on prevention by the Safe and Drug-Free Schools (SDFS) coordinator significantly predicted extensive use in the multivariate analysis. Increasing district SDFSCA coordinator time is a necessary step for diffusing evidence-based curricula. (J Sch Health. 2004;74(9):353,358) [source] A Configuration Typology for Involving Purchasing Specialists in Product DevelopmentJOURNAL OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2001Nicolette Lakemond SUMMARY This article develops a configuration typology for purchasing's involvement in product development projects. Six configurations are identified and analyzed, varying in degree of coordination and level of purchaser integration. The configurations are illustrated by five case studies performed in different companies operating in different industries. Enabling factors, such as the purchasing organization and the competencies and skills of the purchasers, can facilitate the involvement of purchasers in a development project. Project size and project complexity can be identified as driving factors influencing the appropriateness of the purchaser involvement configurations. Dedicated, full-time purchasing specialists in combination with a purchasing coordinator provide the strongest degree of involvement necessary for managing large and complex projects, whereas indirect, ad hoc purchasinginvolvement provides the lowest degree of involvement sufficient for small and relatively simple projects. [source] Curriculum reform: a narrated journeyMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 10 2009Geraldine MacCarrick Objectives, Curriculum reform poses significant challenges for medical schools across the globe. Understanding the medical educator's personal and lived experience of curriculum change is paramount. This paper illustrates the use of narrative inquiry as a means of exploring the author's own evolving professional identity as a medical educator engaged in planning and leading curriculum reform and in understanding the meanings she and other medical educators attribute to their roles as agents of change in a medical school. Context, In 2002 it was decided to radically reform a school of medicine's (SoM) traditional 6-year medical degree course (converting it to a 5-year, integrated, case-based programme). This followed a decade of adverse external reports by the national accreditation agency. The 2001 accreditation report was the most significant catalyst for change, and drew attention to the School's need for a ,collective will' to introduce a series of specific curriculum reforms. To support this reform, a new curriculum working group (NCWG) supported by a dedicated medical education unit (MEU) was established. In late 2002 the author joined the School as the director of that unit. Methods, This paper draws on a 3-year study which captured the stories of the curriculum planning project between 2002 and 2005, as well as stories of curriculum reform from past deans of the same medical school dating back to 1965. Narrative inquiry is used as a means of probing the author's own lived experience as coordinator of the new curriculum project and the experiences of key members of the NCWG, including the dean, and of former deans from the same medical school over its 40-year history. Conclusions, Through a living, telling and retelling of the story of curriculum change, narrative inquiry has a role to play in both elucidating the individual lived experience of curriculum change and shaping the evolving professional identity of the medical educator as an agent of change. [source] Power, Politics, and Pecking Order: Technological Innovation as a Site of Collaboration, Resistance, and AccommodationMODERN LANGUAGE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2005JAMES N. DAVIS The author summarizes and interprets data collected while he was a visiting scholar in a foreign language (FL) department at a large U.S. public research university. This qualitative case study focuses on: (a) the process of developing widely acclaimed Web-based beginning FL teaching software, and (b) the political implications of the development team's success within their host department. As the team forged strategic alliances across the campus and received substantial funding through their university's technology initiatives, certain traditional intradepartmental power relationships (especially between language- and literature-teaching faculty) were destabilized. The most striking outcomes of the events described here were the subversion of longstanding rules and procedures for granting tenure and promotion and the empowerment of the beginning program coordinator and his associates. The findings of the present research are framed in terms of theoretical constructs proposed by Jordan (1999) and Bourdieu (1988). The conclusion includes suggestions for consumers and creators of large-scale technology projects. [source] NF-,B and cancer: Mechanisms and targetsMOLECULAR CARCINOGENESIS, Issue 6 2006Michael Karin Abstract In addition to being a central coordinator of immune responses, NF-,B signaling also plays a critical role in cancer development and progression and it may determine the response to therapy. NF-,B activation was shown to provide a critical mechanistic link between inflammation and cancer and is a major factor that controls the ability of both preneoplastic and malignant cells to resist apoptosis-based tumor surveillance mechanisms. NF-,B may also be involved in regulation of tumor angiogenesis and invasiveness. Importantly, NF-,B and the signaling pathways that mediate its activation have become attractive targets for development of new chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic approaches. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The Office of CommunicationsPRESIDENTIAL STUDIES QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2001MARTHA JOYNT KUMAR The Office of Communications is front and center in the White House effort to publicize the president and his policies. The importance of presidential communications can be seen in the manner in which the topic drives the agenda of daily staff meetings, the size of the commitment to it of White House and administration resources and people, and the way the function has insinuated itself into the operations of almost every White House office. While most White House offices are defined by the functions that come with the unit, the communications director's position is defined by his or her relationships with officials working inside and outside of the White House, including the president, the chief of staff, the press secretary, and officials in departments and agencies. There are three basic models for communications directors as they manage their operations: advocate with the press, strategist and planner, and events coordinator. At its minimum, the job entails events management, but its larger role is defining the message and strategic plan of a presidency. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||