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We evaluated a multi-family support group intervention program in elementary schools. Kindergarten through third-grade children at eight urban schools in a Midwestern university community were universally invited to participate in the Families and Schools Together (FAST) program, and made up half of the study participants; the other half were K-3 children identified by teachers as having behavioral problems and being at risk for referral to special education services. Children were initially paired on the basis of five relevant matching variables, including teacher assessment of behavioral problems, and then randomly assigned to either ongoing school services (control) or the FAST program. Parents and teachers completed pre-, post-, and 1-year follow-up assessments. Data were available and analyzed for 67 pairs. Immediate follow-up parent reports showed that FAST students declined less on a family adaptability measure relative to control group students. This effect was still present at the 1-year follow-up assessment. In addition, FAST parents reported statistically significant reductions in children's externalizing (aggressive) behaviors, as compared to the reports of control group parents. School district data showed descriptively fewer special-education referrals for FAST children (one case) as compared with control group children (four cases). Results are discussed in relation to future research on universal prevention programs. (Contains 4 tables and 2 figures.)

This randomized controlled trial evaluated a culturally representative parent engagement strategy with Latino parents of elementary school children. Ten urban schools serving low-income children from mixed cultural backgrounds participated in a large study. Classrooms were randomly assigned either either to an after-school, multifamily support group (FAST: Families and Schools Together) or to receive eight behavioral parenting pamphlets with active follow-up (FAME: Family Education). Of 180 Latino parents assigned to FAST, 90 percent came once and 85 percent graduated. Two-year follow-up teacher data were collected for 130 Latino children. The teachers, blind to condition, evaluated the children's classroom functioning. Data were analyzed with hierarchical linear modeling, using a conservative, intent-to-treat model. On standardized mental health instruments (Teacher's Report Form of the Child Behavior Checklist; Social Skills Rating System), statistically significant differences favored assignment to FAST rather than to FAME on academic performance and classroom behaviors, including aggression and social skills.

Aim: To examine factors that influence intrapartum health outcomes among Black childbearing persons, including cisgender women, transmasculine and gender‐diverse birthing persons. Background: Black childbearing persons are three to four times (243%) more likely to die while giving birth than any other racial/ethnic group. Black birthing persons are not just dying from complications but also from inequitable care from healthcare providers compared to their white counterparts. Design: Discursive paper. Method: Searching national literature published between 2010 and 2021 in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase and SCOPUS, we explored factors associated with poor intrapartum health outcomes among Black childbearing persons. Discussion Several studies have ruled out social determinants of health as sufficient causative factors for poor intrapartum health outcomes among Black birthing persons. Recent research has shown that discrimination by race heavily influences whether a birthing person dies while childbearing. Conclusions: There is a historical context for obstetric medicine that includes harmful stereotypes, implicit bias and racism, all having a negative impact on intrapartum health outcomes. The existing health disparity among this population is endemic and requires close attention. Impact on Nursing Practice: Nurses and other healthcare professionals must understand their role in establishing unbiased care that promotes respect for diversity, equity and inclusion. No Patient or Public Contribution: There was no patient or public involvement in the design or drafting of this discursive paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A handful of scholars have acknowledged that, along side the traditional homeless, there are now older people who become homeless for the first time in old age. Few researchers, however, have systematically compared the recent older homeless with the chronic or traditional homeless. In the research presented here, we compare recent older homeless with long-term older homeless adults in Toronto according to their health and wealth, their housing history, and their use of health and social services. Findings indicate that people who become homeless for the first time at older ages have needs that are different from the lifetime elderly homeless and require different approaches to intervention. KEYWORDS. Older homeless, chronic homeless, long-term homeless, new homeless

Social work in the US has always been criticized for its ignorance, intolerance, and insensitivity in the knowledge regarding gay men and lesbians as they move through the aging process. The existing status of social work regarding practice and research with older gays and lesbians is presented along with some recommendations for both practice and research.

Healthcare cultural competence is defined as a process of delivering care by meeting the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of diverse populations, and should be optimized at all organizational levels to reduce racial disparities and poor patient outcomes. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recognizes the importance of cultural competence and states that research should be conducted to identify and combat barriers that impede equitable care. In this prospective, pre- and post-intervention study design, we used the Healthcare Provider Cultural Competence Instrument (HPCCI) to measure five dimensions of cultural competence within the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics in a large academic medical center. The intervention was a single Grand Rounds educational presentation on cultural diversity. Baseline survey response rate was 64%. Post-intervention survey response rate was 30%. Post-intervention survey results showed that cultural competence increased by statistically significant amounts across all five dimensions. Our results show an effective and feasible method to assess baseline cultural competency in a large interprofessional clinical department. Our results also indicate that a single intervention may have some positive impact on levels of cultural competence for a diverse interprofessional health care team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A decline in the number of entry-level workers, coupled with a reduction in labour force participation rates, foretells a significant shortage of workers in the near future in Canada. Can and will older workers fill this gap? A review of the changes in the Canadian industrial and occupational structures in light of current retirement patterns suggests a tentative yes to the question. Highly skilled older workers found in managerial/professional and technical occupations may well fill the bill if they can be enticed to remain in the labour force.