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TechXcite is an engineering-focused, discovery-based after-school science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) program. The free curriculum is downloadable from http://techxcite.pratt.duke.edu/ and is comprised of eight Modules, each with four to five 45-minute activities that exercise the science and math learned in school by using engineering principles to build products or learn processes that improve the quality of life. Ninety-eight percent of TechXcite instructors indicated that students learned and demonstrated improved competence in science and engineering. TechXcite Modules include building prosthetic arms, infrared remote controls, solar-powered cars, harvesting rain water, and imaging biological systems.

A survey of emergency preparedness was conducted in three public school districts in urban areas of Los Angeles County. Eighty-three school sites were surveyed using self-administered questionnaires. Although designated respondents generally felt that their schools were well prepared, the survey also revealed the need for improvements in written disaster plans, emergency response training, availability of equipment and supplies, and implementation of the state-mandated Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS). A significant predictor of compliance with the SEMS guidelines was having experienced the effects of school emergencies in the past. (Contains 3 tables and 3 figures.)

It is the view of these authors that children learn to be peacebuilders in the context of relationships where, if fortunate, they experience guided practice in interpersonal skill development around conflict. "Mediator Mentors", the program described in this article, is a school-university partnership in which Teacher-Education Candidates, Peace and Conflict Studies interns and classroom teachers had as their overall objective improvement of the learning climate through peer mediation program implementation. Social-emotional variables like empathy and perspective-taking were considered measurable outcomes, Analysis of pre-to-post change scores revealed that mediators demonstrated significantly higher gains on measures of social-cognitive development F (3,67) = 19.26, p. less than 0.000 when compared to non-mediators. Although mediators and non-mediators (N = 70) scored no differently at pretest, the difference was highly significant at posttest. Students serving their school in the mediator role also reported more positive perceptions of school safety than did non mediators. Being a mediator was also significantly associated with higher language arts scores as measured by standardized testing (r = 0.60, p less than 0.000). And finally, mediators described their home-lives as more peaceful (at posttest, though not at pretest), than did non mediators. (Contains 2 figures and 1 table.)

Describes four components of the DataWorks Productivity Index (DPI) that measures classroom productivity: time on task, curriculum alignment, breadth of curriculum, and teacher effectiveness. (PKP)

This study utilizes Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey data to investigate children's (17 years and younger) health insurance coverage and routine medical and dental care visits by family immigration status (N = 2846). We use a combination of nativity (U.S. and foreign born) and legal status (authorized and unauthorized) of mothers and their children to categorize family immigration status (citizen mother-citizen child; authorized mother-citizen/authorized child; unauthorized mother-citizen/authorized child; unauthorized mother-unauthorized child). Health care use is measured by routine medical visits and dental visits. We find that health insurance coverage and dental visits are lowest for the children of unauthorized mothers but gaps are most pronounced for unauthorized mother–unauthorized child pairs. Policy implications, in light of recent health and immigration-related legislation, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In comparing educational outcomes among Latino immigrants and their native-born peers, prior research has largely overlooked the potential roles of age-at-arrival to the United States and immigration status. To address these oversights, this study considers the relationships between age-at-arrival and immigration status (citizen, authorized, and unauthorized) on high school completion among a sample of Latino adults ( N = 932) from the 2001 Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey (LA FANS). Results from weighted logistic regression models suggest that, irrespective of age-at-arrival to the United States, having an authorized or unauthorized immigration status is significantly associated with a lower likelihood of high school completion. Moreover, no significant differences were found in high school completion between early and later childhood arrivals once accounting for immigration status and other covariates. This study suggests that immigration status plays an important role in high school completion and should be considered in efforts to improve educational outcomes among Latino immigrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior studies that have investigated child care arrangements among Latino immigrant families have often overlooked the role of parental immigration status and neighborhood factors in shaping child care selection. Thus, this study considers the effects of parental immigration status and neighborhood contexts, on child care selection among Latino immigrant families using a sample of 862 young children (ages 0–5) from the 2001 Los Angeles Families and Neighborhood Survey. Results from a hierarchical multinomial regression model suggest that, irrespective of immigration status, children of Latina mothers were significantly less likely to use center-based care than parental care, but the relationship was stronger for the children of undocumented Latina mothers. The findings also indicate that children living in poor neighborhoods were less likely to use formal center-based care, all else equal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventy-five 14-18-year-old gay, bisexual, and queer (GBQ) males provided feedback about how their participation in national, online focus groups (FG) about GBQ sexual health related topics resulted in behavioral and attitudinal changes. Most sexually experienced youth agreed that their participation positively changed their views and behavioral intentions. Some said that being in the FG made them more comfortable talking about sex, their sexuality, and making safer choices such as negotiating condoms. Others indicated intentions to become more involved in the LGBT community. Sexually inexperienced FG participants similarly said that the FG discussion positively affected them-most commonly by reducing their sense of isolation as young GBQ men who were waiting to have sex. Many also thought that they would become more vocal advocates of abstinence and/or safe sex. Online FGs and facilitated discussion boards should be further explored as a low-cost HIV prevention program for GBQ youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women, yet significant health disparities exist for high-risk groups, including Latinas, and comprehensive, culturally relevant, and effective prevention intervention models are lacking. We used a systems approach to develop, assess, and pilot a community-based education program for improving outcomes for knowledge/awareness of CVD, cardiometabolic risk, and health behaviors in Latinas. Methods: Latinas ( n=35, mean age 50) participated in a 4-month community-based bilingual preventive cardiovascular education program. Pre/post analyses were for knowledge/awareness of CVD risk factors, symptoms, calling 911; personal risk factors (smoking, physical inactivity, family history of CVD); clinical parameters (weight, body mass index [BMI], waist, blood pressure, fasting lipids, and glucose); diagnosis of metabolic syndrome (MetS); and serum inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, high-sensitivity C reactive protein [hsCRP], and interleukin [IL]-12). Results: Baseline knowledge/awareness was relatively low, risk factors and MetS prevalent, and serum inflammatory markers elevated. Postintervention, participants demonstrated significant ( p<0.05) improvements in knowledge of symptoms, risk factors for CVD, calling 911, and knowledge/adoption of heart-healthy behaviors. Clinical health status also improved, especially for serum triglycerides ( p<0.05; 21% decline), prevalence of MetS (from 43% to 37% of participants), and serum levels of the proinflammatory TNF-α (from 16.9±1.11 pg/mL to 13.5±0.8 pg/mL, p<0.05). Conclusion: A bilingual culturally appropriate community-based CVD-prevention program based on health education, medical screenings, and empowerment is a successful, effective, adaptable, and replicable model to significantly improve cardiometabolic risk in Latinas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the legislative history of the probative needs of the divorcing spouses in California. Topics discussed include reference of the case Soule v. Soule regarding temporary modification of an alimony award, amendments to Civil Code in 1950s that eliminated the section 139's gender discrimination, and definition of probative needs as per California statutes outside the Family Code.

This paper discusses data from one hundred intensive interviews conducted in 1977 with Chicano married couples in a central California city. Several variables were analyzed to determine whether they had any correlation with the type of conjugal role structure a couple had. The factor which appeared to have the strongest impact was whether or not the wife was employed outside the home. If the wife was employed, there was a greater likelihood that household chores and child care would be shared between spouses, and that, in general, they would have a more egalitarian conjugal role structure than couples where the wife was not employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]