Family Law Commons^™

Review Of The Cultural Lives Of Capital Punishment: Comparative Perspectives Edited By Austin Sarat And Christian Boulanger, Ryan Spohn

Center on Children, Families, and the Law: Faculty Publications

This volume examines the interconnectivity of culture and punishment across an impressive variety of states and nations. The authors convincingly argue that research is strengthened by developing an understanding of the "cultural life" of capital punishment, defined as the embeddedness of this punishment in the discourse and symbolic practices of specific locales and times. This book is abolitionist in nature, representing the praxis of social research.

The editors argue that independent variables like crime rates, economics, religion, and public opinion fail to explain international variation in the use of the death penalty. Eschewing variables, they argue for analysis of individual …

Parent Perceptions Of Child Care Choice And Quality In Four States, Helen Raikes, Brian Wilcox, Carla Peterson, Susan Hegland, Jane Atwater, Jean Ann Summers, Kathy Thornburg, Jacqueline Scott, Wayne Mayfield, Julia C. Torquati, Carolyn P. Edwards

Center on Children, Families, and the Law (and Related Organizations): Publications

The purpose of the Year 2 Studies of the Midwest Child Care Research Consortium was to assess parent perceptions of child care choices and quality across four states. The states studied — Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska — comprise U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region 7. The current study was conducted by asking 1,325 parents to complete a paper and pencil survey. The parents all had children receiving child care from providers who participated in an earlier telephone survey of 2,022 providers and in observations of 365 providers. Results from that study are reported elsewhere1. Providers in the …

Regulation, Subsidy Receipt And Provider Characteristics: What Predicts Quality In Child Care Homes?, Abbie Raikes, Helen Raikes, Brian Wilcox

Center on Children, Families, and the Law: Faculty Publications

Far less is known about predictors of quality for family child care homes than for child care centers. The current study of 120 randomly-selected family child care providers in four Midwestern states examined distal, state policy-level variables (family child care regulations and the concentration of children cared for who received public child care subsidies, referred to as subsidy density), and proximal, provider-level variables (providers’ level of education and reported annual training hours) as influences on global quality and caregiver sensitivity. More regulation, lower subsidy density, higher levels of provider education and more training hours were associated with higher global quality …

Delinquency And Gun Violence: The Intervening Role Of Values Toward Guns, Ryan Spohn

Center on Children, Families, and the Law: Faculty Publications

The current research project examines the intervening role of values towards gun possession and gun use in predicting involvement of high school-aged males in general delinquency and gun-related delinquency. As the first step of the project, we examine the factors that influence the values that the youth have towards gun possession and gun use. The most important factors producing positive values towards guns are a need for protection, having friends who carry guns, being a gang member, and being a victim of a gun crime. In contrast, frequency of church attendance reduces such values. As the next step, we examined …

Pulpits And Platforms: The Role Of The Church In Determining Protest Among Black Americans, Scott T. Fitzgerald, Ryan Spohn

Center on Children, Families, and the Law: Faculty Publications

This article further specifies the relationship between church-based resources, group identification and political activism among black Americans. Previous research indicates that political communication within churches and activism within the church serve to motivate political participation. Our research suggests that, net of relevant controls, activism within the church does not significantly increase protest politics. A key determinant of protest participation is attending a church that exhibits a politicized church culture, and this effect is contingent upon educational attainment and membership in secular organizations. Hence, the church serves as a crucial context for the dissemination of political messages and exposure to opportunities …

Policy Brief - Infant Care In Nebraska: Characteristics Of Providers, Quality Of Care, And Parent Perceptions, Kathy Thornburg, Helen Raikes, Brian Wilcox, Carolyn P. Edwards, Julia C. Torquati, Susan Hegland, Carla Peterson, Jean Ann Summers, Jane Atwater

Center on Children, Families, and the Law (and Related Organizations): Publications

In 2001, university researchers and state program partners in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska initiated the Midwest Child Care Research Consortium. A random sample of 2,022 child care providers from all four states participated in the study representing licensed infant, toddler, and preschool centers and including Head Start and Early Head Start programs, license-exempt centers, and licensed and unlicensed family child care homes. In Nebraska, 508 providers participated in telephone interviews and 85 of those programs were randomly selected for an observational quality assessment. This report summarizes the survey responses of 236 Nebraska professionals providing care for infants and toddlers, …

Policy Brief: Compensation Of Early Childhood Teachers: What Value Do We Place On Young Children?, Kathy Thornburg, Helen Raikes, Brian Wilcox, Carolyn P. Edwards, Julia C. Torquati, Susan Hegland, Carla Peterson, Jean Ann Summers, Jane Atwater

Center on Children, Families, and the Law (and Related Organizations): Publications

In 2001, university researchers and state program partners in four states (Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska) initiated the Midwest Child Care Research Consortium (MCCRC). The focus of the Consortium’s work is to conduct a longitudinal study on a range of issues associated with early childhood program quality and the workforce. Across the four states, a random sample of 2,022 child care providers participated in the study representing licensed infant, toddler, and preschool centers as well as Head Start and Early Head Start programs, license-exempt centers, and licensed and unlicensed family child care homes. In Nebraska, 508 providers participated in telephone …

Children Exposed To Methamphetamine Laboratories – Flowsheet Side 1, Version 4.0

Center on Children, Families, and the Law (and Related Organizations): Publications

The CHEM-L Protocol provides guidance for the following personnel to guide action before, during, and after a child is found in association with a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Nebraska.

Policy Brief #2: Parent Perceptions Of Child Care: How Do Nebraska Parents Rate Their Child Care And Child Care Subsidy Options?, Kathy Thornburg, Helen Raikes, Brian Wilcox, Carolyn Edwards, Julia C. Torquati

Center on Children, Families, and the Law (and Related Organizations): Publications

In 2000, university researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Iowa State University, University of Kansas, and the University of Missouri, and state child care and early education program partners in four states (Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska) initiated the Midwest Child Care Research Consortium (MCCRC). The focus of the Consortium’s work is to conduct a multiyear study on a range of issues associated with child care quality and conditions. Across the four states, a stratified random selection of 2022 child care providers participated in a telephone survey conducted by the Gallup Organization, representing licensed child care centers, licensed family child …

Policy Brief #1: Child Care Assets: What Are 14 Key Assets Of Child Care Providers That Support Quality?, Kathy Thornburg, Helen Raikes, Brian Wilcox, Carolyn Edwards, Julia C. Torquati, Susan Hegland, Carla Peterson, Jean Ann Summers, Jane Atwater

Center on Children, Families, and the Law (and Related Organizations): Publications

In 2000, university researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Iowa State University, University of Kansas and the University of Missouri and state child care and early education program partners in four states (Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska) initiated the Midwest Child Care Research Consortium (MCCRC). The focus of the Consortium’s work is to conduct a multiyear study on a range of issues associated with child care quality and conditions. Across the four states, a stratified random selection of 2,022 child care providers participated in a telephone survey conducted by the Gallup Organization, representing licensed child care centers, licensed family child …

Nebraska Child Care Workforce And Quality: Summary Policy Brief #7, Kathy Thornburg, Helen Raikes, Brian Wilcox, Carolyn P. Edwards, Julia C. Torquati, Susan Hegland, Carla Peterson, Jean Ann Summers, Jane Atwater

Center on Children, Families, and the Law (and Related Organizations): Publications

The study showed the average child care provider in Nebraska is female, married and a parent. This provider had some training or education beyond high school but not an advanced degree, was active in child care training, had a First Aid/CPR certificate, considered child care her profession or calling, had been in the child care field for over 5 years and planned to remain a provider.

The average provider was observed to provide minimal quality child care. In Nebraska, using well-established observational measures of quality, center-based preschool care averaged 4.16 on the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS-R); 4.49 on …

Policy Brief #6: Child Care Quality For Children With Disabilities, Kathy Thornburg, Helen Raikes, Brian Wilcox, Julia C. Torquati, Carolyn P. Edwards, Lisa Knoche, Susan Hegland, Jean Ann Summers, Jane Atwater

Center on Children, Families, and the Law (and Related Organizations): Publications

Inclusion is a goal that is widely embraced for children with disabilities. The U.S. Dept. Education sets the target for 90% of children with disabilities to be enrolled in general education classes for 80% or more of school day (U.S. Department of Education, 1998). Early educators likewise support the rights of all young children to participate in a variety of natural environments within their communities. If this ambitious goal is to be met, more services must be provided in community child care. Yet quality child care choices are limited in availability, and parents of children with disabilities may have their …

Child Care Workforce And Quality -- Policy Brief: Summary Brief #5, Kathy Thornburg, Helen Raikes, Brian Wilcox, Carolyn P. Edwards, Julia C. Torquati, Susan Hegland, Jean Ann Summers, Jane Atwater

Center on Children, Families, and the Law (and Related Organizations): Publications

The study showed the average provider in the Midwest is female, married and a parent. This provider had some training or education beyond high school but not an advanced degree, was active in child care training, had a first aid/CPR certificate, considered child care her profession or calling, had been in the child care field for over 5 years and planned to remain a provider for at least 5 years.

The average provider was observed to provide minimal quality child care. Using well-established observational measures of quality, center-based preschool care averaged 4.57 on the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS-R); …

Nebraska Chem-L Protocol

Center on Children, Families, and the Law (and Related Organizations): Publications

Contents:
Objectives
Roles of Personnel at the Scene
Procedures at the Scene
Interviewing Children
Initial Urgent Medical Assessment
Foster Parent Information
Comprehensive Health Assessment and Follow-up
Training
Protocol Review
Protocol Dissemination

National Protocol For Medical Evaluation Of Children Found In Drug Labs

Center on Children, Families, and the Law (and Related Organizations): Publications

Contents:
Immediate Steps On-site
Within 72 hours
Follow Up
Personnel Decontamination
Emergency Activation
Law Enforcement
Child Protective Services
Medical Personnel
Emergency Department

Child Care Quality And Workforce Characteristics In Four Midwestern States, Helen Raikes, Brian Wilcox, Carla Peterson, Susan Hegland, Jane Atwater, Jean Ann Summers, Kathy Thornburg, Julia C. Torquati, Carolyn P. Edwards, Abbie Raikes

Center on Children, Families, and the Law (and Related Organizations): Publications

The purpose of the Year 1 Studies of the Midwest Child Care Research Consortium was to describe hypothesized and potential indicators of quality, to measure observed quality, and to conduct preliminary analyses to determine relationships between the hypothesized and potential indicators and observations of quality, using a representative, randomly selected sample of the provider population. The states studied—Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska—comprise U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region VII. Following an examination of the child care policy context in the four states, a telephone survey of 2,022 child care providers, and observations of 365 providers, were completed during …

Children At Clandestine Methamphetamine Labs: Helping Meth’S Youngest Victims, Karen Swetlow

Center on Children, Families, and the Law (and Related Organizations): Publications

Contents:

Message from the Director
What Is Methamphetamine?
Meth Production Site: Not Really a Laboratory
Methamphetamine Trends in the United States
Dangers to Children Living at Meth Labs
Children Involved in Methamphetamine Lab-Related Incidents in the United States
Children Found in Meth Lab Homes
Multidisciplinary Teams: Elements of Success
Promising Practices in the Field
Conclusion

Child Care Characteristics And Quality In Nebraska, Carolyn P. Edwards, Lisa Knoche, Abbie Raikes, Helen Raikes, Julia C. Torquati, Brian Wilcox, Lanette Christensen

Center on Children, Families, and the Law (and Related Organizations): Publications

The Midwest Child Care Research Consortium conducted a study of child care quality and characteristics of the child care work force in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri to help states establish a baseline for tracking quality over time, following initiatives, policy and other changes. The measures are not based on Nebraska child care licensing standards. Rather, using research-based measures of quality, they assess the extent to which quality indicators are present among the child care settings and in the work force. The current study included a random telephone survey of 2022 Midwestern child care providers (508 from Nebraska), conducted during …

Job Satisfaction And Job Performance: A Meta-Analysis, Michelle Iaffaldano [Graef], Paul M. Muchinsky

Center on Children, Families, and the Law: Faculty Publications

The assumption that job satisfaction and job performance are related has much intuitive appeal, despite the fact that reviewers of this literature have concluded there is no strong pervasive relation between these two variables. The present meta-analytic study demonstrates that (a) the best estimate of the true population correlation between satisfaction and performance is relatively low (.17); (b) much of the variability in results obtained in previous research has been due to the use of small sample sizes, whereas unreliable measurement of the satisfaction and performance constructs has contributed relatively little to this observed variability in correlations; and (c) nine …