Category Archives: News

(American College of Physicians) AmericanEHR Partners today welcomed the nation’s largest medical society, the American Medical Association (AMA), as its newest member. AmericanEHR Partners’ primary objective is to provide comprehensive and trustworthy information to support clinicians in the selection and use of electronic health records.

(University of California – San Diego) Each year, more than 10 million girls under the age of 18 marry, usually under force of local tradition and social custom. Almost half of these compulsory marriages occur in South Asia. A new study suggests that more than two decades of effort to eliminate the practice has produced mixed results.

(Washington University School of Medicine) Researchers have found evidence that early drug and alcohol use is associated with lower levels of educational achievement. They found that people who began drinking or using drugs as young teens or who became substance dependent were less likely to finish college.

(University of Michigan) Returning extra medicine to the pharmacy for disposal might not be worth the extra time, money or greenhouse gas emissions, according to a University of Michigan study that is the first to look at the net effects of so-called take-back programs.

(Worcester Polytechnic Institute) A team of researchers from the Department of Fire Protection Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) will conduct groundbreaking fire tests May 23-25 aimed at better understanding the effects of earthquakes on building systems designed to suppress or prevent the spread of fires. The tests, part of a $5 million, multi-institution study, will be conducted in a five-story building constructed atop the nation’s largest outdoor shake table, located at the University of California, San Diego.

The Bridgeton News – NJ.comSchool social worker charged with sexually assaulting studentPhiladelphia InquirerA Vineland Public Schools social worker was arrested today and charged with sexually assaulting a male teenage student under her care, Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae said. Stacey L. Johnson, 44, of Bridgeton, also was charged with …Social worker charged with sexually assaulting student numerous timesNBC40Stacy L. Johnson, Vineland social worker, charged with sex with alternative …The Bridgeton News – NJ.comAuthorities: Vineland schools employee had sex with studentVineland …

SouthFloridaGayNews.comBroward County Social Worker of 2012SouthFloridaGayNews.comHe is a mental health professional, a licensed clinical social worker, certified sex therapist, lecturer, researcher, blogger, workshop facilitator, and private practitioner in psychotherapy, among other things. He has a master's degree from Hunter …

ABC NewsCommunity Struggles With Poverty Rate Twice The National AverageABC NewsA child sits on a stoop in a working class section of Utica, May 14, 2012 in Utica, New York. Like many upstate New York communities, Utica is struggling to make the transition from a former manufacturing hub. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Utica …

(University of Chicago Press Journals) Among Islamists, certain global brands can be considered threats to Muslim identity, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.

(University of Chicago Press Journals) It seems really simple: If you want to achieve something, set a goal and then make specific plans to implement it. But according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research, consumers get overwhelmed while juggling multiple goals.

(University of Chicago Press Journals) Most consumers want to fit in while still asserting their individuality — and they balance these conflicting desires when choosing products, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.

(Wolters Kluwer Health) For older adults with “C2″ fractures of the upper (cervical) spine, surgery and nonsurgical treatment provide similar short- and long-term outcomes, reports a study in the May issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

(University of Washington) After seeing faces for less than a blink of an eye, college students have accuracy greater than mere chance in judging others’ sexual orientation. Their “gaydar” persisted even when they saw the photos upside-down, and gay versus straight judgments were more accurate for women’s faces than for men’s.

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee and Washington will receive more than $181 million in grants to help implement the new health care law. The grants will help states establish Affordable Insurance Exchanges.

Genes play a greater role in forming character traits — such as self-control, decision making or sociability — than was previously thought, new research suggests.

Alexis Goldstein JP Morgan’s CEO once complained that traders would need to see psychiatrists in order to comply with financial regulations. Maybe that’s not such a bad idea.

These seven principles provide the ethical context for the implementation of Self-Directed Support as a system for reforming care and support.

U.S. News & World ReportWhy Older Americans Are Happier at WorkU.S. News & World ReportBy Kimberly Palmer At 65, W. Andrew "Andy" Achenbaum, a professor of history and social work at the University of Houston, doesn't plan on retiring anytime soon. "At this point, I'm sort of an elder of the tribe … I don't want to waste my time doing …

Qcity metroYWCA program helps women get beyond povertyQcity metroBy The Charlotte Observer – May 16, 2012 By Hope Yancy It's a Monday afternoon at the YWCA Central Carolinas on Park Road, and the newest class of participants in “Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin'-by World” will start their 15-week class in a few hours.

Kathleen Bell hired for HCRS' Police Social Work program in BrattleboroCommonsBRATTLEBORO—Kathleen Bell has been hired as the new Health Care & Rehabilitation Services (HCRS) Community Support Specialist for the Police Social Work (PSW) program, in collaboration with the Brattleboro Police Department. The PSW program …

All Africa – May 16, 2012 — Joao Baptista Kussumua said the bill is an important document as it contains the legal and institutional requirements on the protection and defence of the child's rights, based on the Government's and social partners' 11 commitments.

WTVD-TV – May 16, 2012 — On the advice of Egyptian friends, the couple contacted a Coptic Christian orphanage in Cairo that was caring for two newborn orphans. When Botros and Andros tried to acquire the children's passports to bring them to the states, the U.S. Embassy grew suspicious and reported them to Egyptian authorities. Egyptian officials accused them of violating Islamic law on adoption.

Associated Press – May 15, 2012 — "We're obviously deeply concerned about allegations regarding stolen children and inter-country adoptions wherever these cases come up," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement. "We consider the appropriate venue in the United States for pursuing this case is in the state courts. They're the competent organ for holding a full hearing on the merits and the best interests of the child."

All Africa – May 16, 2012 — The Volta Region branch of the Department of Social Welfare has intensified its activities to ensure that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in areas of child care and protection possess the relevant licenses.

Sacramento Bee – May 15, 2012 — Governor Jan Brewer yesterday signed into law a sweeping school choice expansion that will grant eligibility to students attending failing schools, students of military personnel, and foster care children to participate in a first-of-its-kind private school choice program offering parents an unprecedented level of choice in their children's education.

(Southern Methodist University) Today’s mega forest fires of the southwestern U.S. are truly unusual and exceptional in the long-term record, suggests an unprecedented study that examined 1,500 years of ancient tree ring and fire data from two distinct climate periods. Researchers constructed and analyzed a statistical model and found that today’s dry, hot climate combined with the past century of human fire suppression is causing megafires, said study co-author and fire anthropologist Christopher Roos, Southern Methodist University, Dallas.

(Deutsches Aerzteblatt International) In this “themed” issue, Deutsches Aerzteblatt International is focusing on medical students. Bernd Gibis, of the German National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, and his coauthors investigate the question how medical students envisage their future professional lives as doctors. Another perspective is provided by Esther Ziemann and Joerg-Wilhelm Oestmann, who analyzed the publication activities of doctoral candidates at Berlin’s Charité.

(University of Nottingham) Researchers from the University of Nottingham are leading the largest ever international research project into the genetics of the potentially fatal condition pre-eclampsia.

(American Sociological Association) Children in the United States and Great Britain share a number of common risk factors that increase the likelihood that they will have behavioral problems — and Britain’s broader social welfare programs don’t appear to mitigate those risks, according to a new study in the June issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

(Lawson Health Research Institute) Today, local scientists and students are sharing leading research in mental health. The 13th Annual Research Half Day, hosted by Lawson Health Research Institute and St. Joseph’s Health Care London’s Regional Mental Health Care London and St. Thomas, will present science that could change the course of patient care.

News outlets report on a variety of state health policy issues in California, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Oregon and Utah.

Barnet Council ‘very disappointed’ to have been fined after it lost highly sensitive information on 15 vulnerable children

An innovative nurse practitioner pilot project is improving access to primary health care for older Australians in Tasmania.

Older and disabled people suffer postcode lottery over fees as numbers who have home care paid by local council fall 11% The number of vulnerable older and disabled people who had home care services fully paid by their local authority fell by 11% in England in the past two years, according to newly published figures. The data also reveals wide variations in council charges across England. Freedom of information requests to 120 councils revealed that home care services – which …

Inconsistent levels of care are putting patients in danger, and are being exacerbated by budget cuts, survey reveals When the abuse of adults at Winterbourne View hospital near Bristol hit the headlines earlier this year it catapulted the mistreatment of people with learning difficulties in residential settings into the headlines, and prompted calls for immediate reforms to protect vulnerable people. However, if advocates for change had hoped that the revelation would be the final alarm raised about poor care for …

Date Published:  Tue, 05/15/2012 Source:  Faller, K. C., & Nelson-Gardell, D. (2010). Extended Evaluations in Cases of Child Sexual Abuse: How Many Sessions Are Sufficient? Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 19(6), 648-668. Reviewed by:  Nico Trocmé Summary:  While best practice guidelines generally recommend that in cases of suspected child sexual abuse it is preferable to use a single interview by a skilled forensic interviewer, for children who have difficulty disclosing in a single meeting more time might be required. This …

As part of its Patron Saint’s Day celebrations, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) confers a number of honorary doctorates in recognition of extraordinary academic, social, or cultural contributions.

Margaret Wente hates to say this, but if your degree is in sociology, psych, art history or much else on the soft side, you are a dime a dozen. Follow us on Twitter Become a fan on Facebook Subscribe to our YouTube channel

(University of Warwick) Researchers at Warwick Medical School have discovered a way of identifying which women are most at risk of postnatal depression by checking for specific genetic variants. The findings could lead to the development of a simple, accurate blood test which checks for the likelihood of developing the condition.

(University of Edinburgh) Genes play a greater role in forming character traits — such as self-control, decision making or sociability — than was previously thought, new research suggests.

(Elhuyar Fundazioa) GPS isn’t just for guiding confused drivers, it can also be used by soccer managers who are a little lost when it comes to assessing their players’ performance. Acceleration, average and maximum speed, distance covered, etc. “It allows us to know the displacements of the players in a valid, reliable and effective way,” says David Casamichana. This researcher has in fact completed a thesis in which he demonstrates the applicability and good results of GPS in soccer.

(University of Southampton) The mothers of Britain’s “mixed families” are ensuring their children learn about their heritage and culture, according to a collaborative development project between the University of Southampton and London South Bank University. Findings show even if a child’s father hails from a minority background, it will still be the mother who is responsible for teaching them about the father’s culture.

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the launch of a new web-based tool that will make it easier for all Americans to monitor and measure how the nation’s health care system is performing.

This is the current UK guidance on occupational HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) from the UK Chief Medical Officers’ Expert Advisory Group on AIDS (EAGA) and should be read in conjunction with local needlestick injury policy. Queries on the guidance should be raised via a member of the advisory group or by contacting the Secretariat. Complementary guidance on PEP following sexual exposure is available from the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV. HIV post-exposure prophylaxis: guidance from the UK Chief …

Maidenhead AdvertiserSocial worker suspended after attack on taxi driverMaidenhead AdvertiserA racially aggravated attack on a taxi driver has led to a social care worker employed by the Royal Borough being suspended for misconduct. Katy Robinson has been removed from her role for two years following a conduct hearing by the General Social …

New proposals in England could promote inclusion and citizenship for disabled children

Study finds an increased risk even among patients with well-controlled disease

The General Social Care Council (GSCC) has today launched its learning report, ‘Involving people who…

Long-term study found an association between the two

Bryce Covert Few new mothers get paid maternity leave. Those who take unpaid leave often go deep into debt to make ends meet.

Social workers could be asked to go into prisons to respond to suspected abuse cases under moves to help inmates receive similar levels of protection to people living in the community.

Shi Junfang may appear similar to most young, Chinese single women in her 30s. She is hard working, loves chatting and telling jokes and exudes charm with a quick smile.

Andrew Flanagan, chief executive of the children’s charity, says children giving evidence in court might not get sufficient support

Parents will get a new legal right to buy-in special educational needs and disabled care for their children

Social workers: Rising drug use among youth and womenYLE NewsSocial workers say that drug use among the under-25 age group is growing rapidly in Finland. The phenomenon is especially obvious in the Helsinki metropolitan area, where young women are increasingly getting hooked on illicit substances.and more »

The Campaign wants power and control to shift from government to citizens, families and communities.

Julian Swan placed a teenage boy who had a history of inappropriate sexual behaviour with a foster family without warning the carers of the risk to other children in the household.

Ian Baker was awarded the Social Worker of the Year 2011 lifetime achievement award for his work helping people with disabilities. He tells Community Care what kept him motivated until he retired last year.

If you are a Social Security disability beneficiary and want to make more money through work, TTW can provide the support you need to transition to greater financial independence and self-sufficiency. Find out how during a national Work Incentives Seminar Event on May 23, 2012 from 3 – 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. You’ll hear from TTW and Work Incentives experts about special work incentives for young adults in transition, including the Student Earned Income Exclusion, Plan to Achieve Self Support …

(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) The Internet is changing the way people get their news, but there’s little proof that it is fragmenting or polarizing the news audience the way many assume, says University of Illinois communication professor David Tewksbury. Five years ago he was very worried. But that was before he reviewed the research to co-write “News on the Internet: Information and Citizenship in the 21st Century,” with former Illinois doctoral student Jason Rittenberg.

Sub-Saharan Africa cannot sustain its present economic growth unless it eliminates the hunger that is affecting almost a quarter of its people, according to a new United Nations report launched today, which calls for new approaches to empower local communities to ensure food security in the region.

Over 55 and jobless, Americans face tough hunt, By Susan Heavey, May 15, 2012, Chicago Tribune: “Jean Coyle, 67, has a new kind of ministry. The former professor had just begun a career as a Presbyterian minister in Virginia when the economic downturn forced her church to let her go in 2007. After that, she found only temporary work. She relied on savings while job hunting, but at 64, had to dip into her Social Security benefits. She officially retired …

Survey for health, poverty benefits threatened in Congress, By Elizabeth Landau, May 15, 2012, CNN.com: “Americans needing health insurance or disability services could be overlooked by their local governments if a bill now being considered by the Senate passes. It would eliminate a survey that some call a vital source of information about health indicators of millions of Americans, but which House Republicans say is too expensive and raises privacy concerns. It’s called the American Community Survey. The Census Bureau …

Michigan League for Human Services says Saginaw workers will lose most with reduced Earned Income Tax Credit, By Kathryn Lynch-Morin, May 14, 2012, Saginaw News: “Working families in Michigan could see a tax increase from the reduced Earned Income Tax Credit , and Saginaw workers could be hit the hardest, according to the Michigan League for Human Services. A report released Monday by the organization estimates working families in Michigan will see their taxes increase by as much as $244 …

Many Americans are weighed down by debt, have little or no savings, and are pessimistic that the economy will improve any time soon.

The U.S. Department of Education has issued Restraint and Seclusion: Resource Document, a publication that outlines 15 principles for educators, parents and stakeholders to consider when developing policies and procedures to support positive behavioral interventions and avoid the use of restraint and seclusion. The goal is to make sure that schools are safe and healthy environments where all students can learn, develop and participate in programs that promote high levels of academic achievement.

(University of Gothenburg) One consequence of the deregulation of the Swedish school system is that teachers have become more hesitant to report problems. This is reported in a new study from the University of Gothenburg.

(University at Buffalo) An increasing number of highly educated women are opting for families, according to a national study co-authored by a University at Buffalo economist. The research clearly shows fertility rising for older, highly educated women since the 1990s.

(Henry Ford Health System) An increasingly common and safer type of surgery for kidney cancer is not as likely to be used for older, sicker and poorer patients who are uninsured or rely on Medicare or Medicaid for their health care, according to a new study by researchers at Henry Ford Hospital.

(University of Gothenburg) Young people are forced to choose an educational path early in life. International trends in the educational sector have led to reduced opportunities to change direction later on, according to a new doctoral thesis from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

(University of Gothenburg) The idea of one computer per student is becoming increasingly common in the Swedish school system. The University of Gothenburg, Sweden, is now conducting several studies on the educational consequences of the so-called 1:1 initiative in a group of Swedish municipalities.’The teacher is the key to successful use of computers in the classroom,’ says Professor Berner Lindström, scientific director of the studies.

BASW has called for a “sustained governmental commitment” to child protection following the publication of a serious case review examining the circumstances prior to the murder of five-year-old Tyler Whelan, which identified a number of systemic failures throughout the period leading up to his death in March 2011. The partner of Tyler’s mother, Elvis Lee, was today jailed for life for his murder. His mother, Stephanie Whelan, was found guilty of causing or allowing his death and will be sentenced at …

Child abuse or neglect are strong predictors of major health and emotional problems, but little is known about how the chronicity of the maltreatment may increase future harm apart from other risk factors in a child’s life. Scientist have now taken a closer look at how chronic maltreatment has impacted the future health and behavior of children and adults.

Medical researchers have identified and prioritized a comprehensive group of genes most associated with schizophrenia that together can generate a score indicating whether an individual is at higher or lower risk of developing the disease.

Drink lots of water

Canada desperately needs a broad and vigorous public discussion about why academic freedom is important, what might threaten it and how it should be protected.

(Cornell University) Genetic factors explain some of the variation in a wide range of people’s political attitudes and economic decisions — such as preferences toward environmental policy and financial risk taking — but most associations with specific genetic variants are likely to be very small, according to a new study led by Cornell University economics professor Daniel Benjamin.

(Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft) The ambitious goals set by the German government to promote energy efficiency have put pressure on companies to change their energy-use policies. But the sustainable management of energy resources and the associated energy-saving measures can only be implemented if users have a reliable means of quantifying their power consumption.

(Concordia University) Jason Camlot, chair of Concordia’s Department of English, and his research team at Concordia’s Centre for Technoculture, Art and Games have created the Victorianator. The iPhone game teaches users, through gestures, how to authentically recite Victorian-age poetry.

(University of Missouri-Columbia) A research team from the University of Missouri’s Comparative Orthopaedic Laboratory has found a way to detect and predict arthritis before patients begin suffering from symptoms.

(Mayo Clinic) Mayo Clinic has created a comprehensive mobile health application, combining a custom mobile experience with unparalleled expertise and access. Empowering patients with information at their fingertips, this app sets a new standard for health care apps.

"Degrees of Debt," a series of articles in The New York Times this week, explores the impact of rising student debt with compelling stories of individual borrowers and their families. The series has generated considerable discussion among higher education leaders, many of whom don't dispute the central premise that some students are borrowing more than is appropriate. But some are objecting to a key statistic and the choice of examples in the series. The series opens with an example of …

The Council adopted the following conclusions: 1.    Positive developments related to life expectancy have taken place in recent years. Nevertheless, an ageing population poses major economic, budgetary and societal challenges. The economic and financial crisis contributed to a strong deterioration in the budgetary positions in most Member States, resulting in high government debt levels and potentially putting at risk fiscal sustainability in several EU countries. The Council STRESSES the need for ensuring swift progress towards long-term fiscal sustainability of public …

Social workers could be asked to go into prisons to respond to suspected abuse cases under moves to help inmates receive similar levels of protection to people living in the community.

How some insurers pay for treatments means that cancer pills can wind up costing a patient more than an IV. Some states have passed laws to make sure that patients don’t have to pay more to take pills. But those laws don’t apply to Medicare. » E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

Reported Increase in Older Adult Fall Deaths Due to Improved Coding

New York Daily NewsIsabel Celis disappearance: Police release 911 calls; child welfare agents bar …New York Daily NewsDays after Arizona child welfare agents barred Isabel Celis' father from seeing his sons, Tucson cops released transcripts of the 911 calls reporting the 6-year-old girl's disappearance. In one of the calls, released Monday, Sergio Celis said he thinks …and more »

UPI.comThe Vatican should celebrate nuns' social work, not attack itUPI.comSister McDonald's order, headquartered in St. Louis, is active in social work, neighborhood and community development and social concerns such as non-violence. The 79-year-old nun worries that the true purpose of the Vatican is to silence women's …and more »

Benefit cheat social worker ordered to repay £20000ScotsmanA SOCIAL worker has been ordered to repay £20000 made through benefit fraud, the Crown Office has revealed. Susan Forsyth, 52, from East Kilbride, had previously admitted falsely claiming almost £35000 while working for Glasgow City Council between …A social worker who fraudulently claimed almost £35000 in welfare payments has …stv.tvall 2 news articles »

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sebelius has released a statement in recognition of May as Mental Health Month (MHM). MHM was established to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in our lives, and to celebrate recovery from mental illness. Find mental health services in your community.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released a national plan to fight Alzheimer’s disease. The plan is part of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, which President Obama signed into law in January 2011. The plan has five goals, including the development of effective prevention and treatment approaches for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia by 2025.