Monday, September 30, 2019

Fast Food and Food Handler Wear

1. Infrared thermometers are used to measures? Surface temperatures 2. Food cannot be refrozen once it is thawed because? Dangerous bacteria can grow on thawed food 3. What is the minimum temperature for transporting hot food and hot food holding items? 135 (F) degrees 4. The appropriate freezing method for destroying the anisakis parasite in fish is? -4 f degrees and held for 7days 5. What type of jewelry may a food handler wear while preparing food? Plain band 6. A women runs out of the bathroom in a fast food restaurant, and frantically tells the manager that the bathroom sink has backed up and is overflowing.What should the manager do? Close the restroom and call a plumber to unblock the drain 7. The concentration of a sanitizing solution is compromised when? The solution is to hot 8. All of these foods are potentially hazardous expect for? Raw asparagus 9. If the water supply to an establishment is shut off and there is no alternate portable water source? The establishment needs to close until the water supply is restored 10. The minimum internal temp of a pork roast or tuna casserole cooked in a microwave is? 165 (f) degrees for 15seconds 11. A food handler reports to the manager that he has been diagnosed with hemorrhagic colitis. Similar essay: Food Safety Workfile AnswersThe manager must? Ask the person to leave the establishment and report the incident to the health dept. 12. Clean plates are required for each trip to the buffet because? Contamination can be prevented 13. Frozen foods, other than ice cream, must not be stored at a temp. Over? 0 f degrees 14. Hand washing is not allowed in sinks that are? Used for food prep 15. Light bulb in food prep area must? Be covered to prevent physical contamination 16. The safe way to thaw large poultry or meat product is? In a frig at 41 f or lower 17. The minimum temp and time allowed for cooking a roast beef is? 130 f for 112 min 18.Hand antiseptics can be used? After proper hand washing 19. Which of the following is the best method for killing bacteria in ground beef? Cook to 155 f for 15 sec 20. Which of these disease- causing bacteria may be found in the shell eggs? Salmonella 21. Cooked food is a self serve establishment that has been in the danger zone of und er 135 f to over 70 f internal temp of? 165 f – for 15 sec 22. When displaying live shellfish for consumption, the FDA food code requires that you? Have a HACCP plan and a variance 23. The chef prepared a large quantity of homemade beef stew and divided it up into two shallow pans for cooling.He placed the pans in the refrigerator and stirs them frequently. However, he was unsuccessful in cooling the stew from 135 f to 70 f within 2 hrs. What must the chef do to cool the stew? Reheat stew at 165 f for 15 sec and begin cooling process again 24. The entire hand washing process should take at least? 20 sec 25. Listeria bacteria is especially dangerous because? It can grow in dish water 26. Back siphoning occurs when the portable water pressure is lower than the waste water pressure and the waste water backs into the portable water-cross connection? Air gaps 27.Which of these foods in the most likely source of botulism? Vegetables in a swollen can 28. The internal receiving temp of fresh? 41 f 29. Which organism is most likely to multiply in vacuum or airless packaged foods? Clostridium botulinum 30. The minimum wash temp for chemical sanitizing in a ware washing machine should be? 120 f degrees 31. To manually hot water sanitize in a three sink process, the item must be in the water that is at minimum? 120 f – 30 sec 32. Which of the following is a safe food handling practice? Clean and sanitize food surfaces in constant use every 4 hrs 33.In a Hazards Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan, CCP’s are identified in? Flow chart 34. Measure a chicken noodle casserole where do you insert thermometer? Into the center or thickest part of the casserole 35. Grease traps must be cleaned on a regular basis because the can? Cause a backup 36. Product stuffed with either raw chicken or beef must be cooked to an internal temp of? 165 f for 15 sec 37. The first step in planning a food safety training program is? Identify the topics for the training 38. When cooking in a microwave, potentially hazardous foods should? Be rotated or mixed halfway through the cooking process 9. To ensure that the items are sanitized, the temp of a ware washing machine’s final sanitizing rinse must be at least? 180 f degrees 40. What two factors are the most important for controlling food borne illness in the food preparation process? Time and temp 41. Reduced Oxygen Packaged food must be stored? In refrigeration 42. An outbreak of typhoid fever, caused by the Salmonella Typhi Bacterium, is most likely to occur after? Flooding 43. Which of the following fall into the â€Å"eight most common food allergens† category? Milk, Wheat, Soybeans 44. Enterohemorrahagic E. coli is a? Bacteria that produces shiga toxins 5. Which of the following bacteria are found in soil? Bacillus cereus 46. The anisakis simplex worm is most likely to be found in? Under cooked fish 47. Which of the following illness DO NOT have to be reported to the local healt h dept? Giardiasis 48. Which type of temp probe would use to measure the temp of an oven or refrigerator? Air 49. Which of the following is NOT a method for removing oxygen from packed foods? HMR 50. For traditional steeped tea, the hot water should be a minimum of? 175 f and steeped for minimum of 5 min 51. The correct method for calibrating a stem type thermometer is?In water and ice, and calibrate 32 f 52. Shellfish dealer tags must be kept on file for how many days after the shellfish was harvested? 90 days 53. You have a food delivery arriving in an hour that will consist of milk cartons, fresh chicken breasts, and vacuum-packed bacon. What is the best thermometer to use to check product temperatures on all of these products? Bimetallic thermometer 54. Food borne intoxication is caused by eating food that contain? Poison producing microorganisms 55. To free up space in the kitchen, a busser is asked to manually clean some pot and pans in a three-compartment sink.First he scrape s and rinses the items. Then, he washes them in the first sink, rinses them in the second sink, sanitizes them in the third sink, and sets the items on the drain board to air dry. What did the busser do wrong? He forgot to clean and sanitize the sinks before using them 56. PCO stands for? Pest control operator 57. The best method of preventing an outbreak of Hepatitis A is? Proper hand washing procedures 58. On her morning shift, a food handler puts on clean disposable gloves, and begins to move defrosted hamburger patties form the refrigerator to the preparation area, as directed by the cook.Then, she is asked to slice tomatoes. When she’s done, she slices raw onions. In this sequence of task, when should the food handler change gloves? After moving the hamburger patties to the preparation area 59. The chef just finished preparing raw chicken breasts in a citrus marinade. She will store them in the refrigerator for the next shift to cook and serve for dinner. In order to pre vent possible cross-contamination, where should the chef place the tray of chicken breast in the refrigerator? On the bottom self next to the ground turkey 60.A food handler comes to work with a bad cold, but insists that he is well enough to work. The employee is asked to take his temperature, and it turns out that he has a fever. What should the manager do? Send the employee home 61. Which of the following bacteria might be found in a food worker’s hand wound? Staphylococcus aureus 62. A father takes his four year old daughter and her friend to the local hamburger diner after swimming lessons. The friend wants a hot dog, and his daughter wants a hamburger. Because the father likes his hamburgers rare, he orders a rare hamburger for himself and his daughter.What should the server do? Explain that the restaurant cannot serve rare hamburgers to young children 63. Salmonella spp. Bacteria have recently been found in contaminated? Produce 64. A food worker used a Quats sanitizin g solution in a three compartment sink as the final step in the cleaning and sanitizing process. She confirmed that the water temp was 75 f, she followed the manufacturer’s concentration instructions, and she completely immersed the cleaned metal cooking pots in the solution for 15 sec. last, she let the pot air dry before storing it. What did the food worker do wrong?She didn’t immerse the pot long enough 65. Which of the following foods are most easily contaminated with the Norovirus? Ready to eat foods 66. Shigella spp. Bacteria are most likely to be found in contaminated? Water 67. A catering company is preparing and transporting hot and cold foods to a customer site for a birthday party. The customer will then reheats and serve the food to guests at the appropriate time. Which of the following must the catering company provide to the customer? Reheating instructions for hot foods 68. A customer has just finished eating a seafood salad with a peanut dressing.As he is paying the bill, the customer starts to have trouble breathing. His face starts to swell, and he breaks out in hives. Most likely the customer is suffering from? An allergy attack 69. In the final hour of a local fund raising event, your food booth runs out of ice for cold beverages. What is the best course of action to follow? Send a volunteer to the nearest store for a bag of ice 70. A food handler in a small coffee shop has just finished deep frying a batch of chicken nuggets, when a customer order comes in for fried shrimp. What does the food handler need to do to avoid cross- contact?The food handler should use a different fryer and oil assigned to cook seafood 71. At an offsite catered event, the food service manager has been hot holding a beef stir fry at 145 f, when suddenly she loses her heat source. Guests are in line waiting to be served. What should the manager do? Begin to serve guests, because the stir fry can be out of temp control for up to 4 hrs 72. A server walk s up to a newly seated party of two. The female customer announces that she has a wheat allergy. What should the server do? Wait till the customer orders, and then check with the manager to confirm if any of the ordered items contain wheat

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Dear friend – a letter about Animal Farm

Dear friend! We've just read â€Å"Animal Farm† in class. â€Å"Animal farm†, or â€Å"Animal Farm: A Fairy Story† as the original title was, was a little manuscript which was published right after the Second World War by George Orwell, ever heard of him? It was a book that was originally placed in the shelves of children's books, and was read as a fairytale (as the previous title presumed you would do). But behind the naive and sort of innocent surface, there was a hidden message†¦ between the lines there laid a story about political reforms and great historical events. A story about revolution, power and animalism! It's really good! â€Å"Animal Farm† is a short novel based on the hard life of the animals, which live somewhere in England on a farm called â€Å"Manor Farm†. After the oldest pig on the farm realizes he is going to die soon, he gathers all the animals on the farm in the barn to tell about his dreams for the future: A revolutionary dream, where animals are the one in command, not the humans. The story that follows tells us about how the animals are getting their much wanted power, and how they use it, and don't use it. When I read â€Å"Animal Farm†, I clearly saw that the animals in the story were actually used to illustrate real human beings from historical revolutions. Just as a puppet show for children. The Russian Revolution, which is the most obvious revolution you would compare the content in the book with, is rewritten in a humorous way, excellent done by the author. With this in mind, it is therefore easy to see that for instance the group of sheep at the farm are the masses, the followers, the kinds that â€Å"don't give a damn† about what's going on. That's how the masses in the real life revolution were described as well. You may then see what I realized after reading this easy-read novel: You must always ask questions. Don't take things for granted, don't do things just because you're told so, and most important: Don't be a sheep! Just instead of telling the heavy story like in a history book, he puts his own individual twist on it. And it sells! George Orwell tells a story about the past (and present) to inform the public. He expresses his opinions by letting the readers have a look at the puppet show of the revolutions, a satiric story which warn us against communism and dictatorship. I loved â€Å"Animal Farm† because I find it funny, but at the same time educational and interesting. It made me think, and wary of the government! I think this is a book with meaning and moral lessons for everyone; it's suitable for all age, especially pupils and students, so it's perfect for you! I would say this is a unique fable, with a classic theme, and with a brilliant ending (which I won't reveal to you). It's sort of â€Å"mind-blowing†! I hope by telling you this that you will experience the same thing! Order it now! It can never be read too often! 🙂 Best regards, Tony.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

History of Jazz and Dance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

History of Jazz and Dance - Essay Example Traditional dance steps such as the Waltz and Foxtrot remained popular. Films produced during this era began to included the dance moves of actors such as Rudolph Valentino, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The popularity of dance and development of new steps continued through the Great Depression Era. Jazz music continued to change and evolve during this time, leading to the Cool Jazz and Funk of the 1950s. Jazz music initially came from New Orleans in the early 1920s, though it quickly spread to other cities such as Chicago and New York. Musicians like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington began performing in New York City. New clubs such as the Cotton Club in 1923 and the Savoy Ballroom in 1926 opened in Harlem. Duke Ellington’s band Became the ‘house band’ of the Cotton Club. The Savoy featured Jazz artists like Bennie Goodman, Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk. Most of the well known Jazz artists later introduced new styles of music such as Be-bop at the clubs. New York city was not the only place that began to celebrate Jazz music and the new dances of the time. Many artists also made their way north to Chicago. Some of the well known artists of the time like Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines actually recorded music in the Windy City, which helped to increase the popularity of Jazz. Many more local groups formed in smaller cities through the Midwest during the 1920s and 1930s. Kansas City is home to the Count Basie Orchestra. Along with the new form of musical expression which became so popular came new styles in dance and dress.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Work Based Learning in the Creative and Cultural Industries Assignment - 2

Work Based Learning in the Creative and Cultural Industries - Assignment Example The information that is being given to the public continues to be announced, specifically with a relation to updates about the flu, how it is spreading and what an individual can do for prevention and treatment (Flu.Gov). The main concepts that are associated with the swine flu, even though it is based on prevention and treatment, has led to further questions about the attitudes toward this epidemic. It has been found that the swine flu outbreak is one that is not only based on health and prevention. Instead, the media has created a further epidemic through the amount of knowledge that they have received as well as through the hype that has been created around the flu. The limited evidence, knowledge and the idea of the risk where millions will die has created a different culture and attitude surrounding the swine flu. The influence of the media is one that has altered the understanding and legitimacy of the flu and has created a different culture related to the vaccinations and seriousness surrounding this virus (Goldacre, 2009). To find the true beliefs of culture and society about the swine flu, as well as the impact of the media, I have interviewed a variety of individuals. The questions asked relate to the legitimacy of the flu as well as the information and understanding of what is a part of this epidemic. The results show that, there is a cultural and societal understanding of the flu, not only based on the facts about the swine flu, but also from the influence of the media and the hype that is surrounding this specific flu. From the work place to homes, is an epidemic that is not only based on the flu, but also is related to the culture and expectations that are surrounding

Thursday, September 26, 2019

The economic growth of the UK has varied over the 10 years between Assignment

The economic growth of the UK has varied over the 10 years between 2004 and 2014 - Assignment Example The government has played its part in regulating and setting up of policies that help regulate the economic growth. Favorable government policies to stimulate the private sector, hence leads to achieving a change in broadband. The government has, moreover, removed trade barriers, hence allowing a favorable competitive in the global market and economy. The government has created a simpler tax system which is fairer. This helps in improving the state of public resources and finances.in the long run, the growth of the economy is boosted and workers who work to support their families are rewarded. The government has created a competitive taxation system among the G20 making it more lucrative and attractive to international investors. The corporate tax was reduced from twenty eight percent to twenty three and is expected to be lowered in 2015, making it the lowest among the G7 members (A Guide to UK Taxation, 2013). In 2010, the Corporate Tax Road Map was published by the government. This set up several principles that led to tax reforms. The bill opened way for low and simple corporate tax, a stable taxation system, legislation that minimized complexity. All these factors led to a favorable environment for investors, hence became a boost to the growth of the economy (A Guide to UK Taxation, 2013). The investment done by the government and private investors in setting up of infrastructure have been a major boost to economic growth. With over 1.7 billion pounds have been invested in over thirty six transport projects, including nine major highways, including the M62 and M1, several local authorities like the Greater bus network, Poole Bridge and Blackpool tram and the National infrastructure plan (2013, pg. 27). In the short-term the investment led to employment directly, created a demand for materials while, in the long term, it allowed the economy an open

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Business Research Methods (SPSS) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words - 1

Business Research Methods (SPSS) - Essay Example Generally speaking, a course of action that one intends to do will almost always be done (Ajzen and Fishbein 1975). The key addition present in the later Theory of Planned Behaviour as explained by Miller (2005) is that perceived behavioural control now comes into play. The reason behind said addition is that while people may really want to follow through on a certain course of action, they may lack the confidence or control to do so, or are otherwise being held back by other variables – to quote the Bible, ‘the spirit may be willing, but the flesh is weak’. An instance where this comes to play can easily be seen in the case of someone who tries and fails to diet. Only those who are disciplined enough can actually succeed in this endeavour; all too often, it is more likely that the person will eventually succumb to the temptation of bingeing. Clearly in this case, one needs the behavioural control to say ‘no’ to the seeming siren call of the buffet ta ble and to focus on his diet. In other words, it is not just one’s personal attitudes and perceptions that now decide what one is going to do. While these still count for something, and in fact are still the deciding factor in whether or not a certain action will be done, social pressures and one’s sense of control will now count for something as well. In this way, one’s decisions are no longer solely dependent on his own perceptions and feelings on the situation. Instead, one will now take into account how society views the respective choices at hand, and how well he can commit or follow through on a given outcome (Cooke and Sheeran 2004). The latter part is especially important – which is the reason for its addition to the theory in the first place. As mentioned by the aforementioned Bible verse, we may not always follow through on an action that we are inclined towards (Armitage and Conner 2001). Otherwise, for instance, individuals should have been ab le to instantly follow through on their intent to take a certain course of action. Someone who desired to quit smoking should definitely be able to do so immediately, but may be hampered by doubts on whether or not he will be able to quit – if this happens, he really will not be able to quit. Not only that, but one’s perceived and therefore actual behavioural control can also be swayed by the perceptions and opinions of those around him, which may sometimes manifest, among other things, as peer pressure (Ajzen 1985). As anyone in real life will admit, relatives, friends and coworkers inadvertently sway their decisions in voicing out their own viewpoints on the matter. That said, some of these individuals will have more influence on decisions concerning certain areas; for example, decisions regarding one’s family will of course be influenced most by relatives and family, as they are the ones directly concerned. And consequently, the biggest influence on oneâ€⠄¢s career moves will be his bosses and colleagues. Social norms, on the other hand, are much more varied, being described by Schulz et al (2007) as being either descriptive or injunctive in nature. Descriptive norms describe the behaviour of a particular group, and include stereotypical statements such as how x out of y people prefer a certain brand, or something similar. Meanwhile, injunctive norms are more subtle, and refer to certain cues or signals about how a

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Military Regimes in African Countries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Military Regimes in African Countries - Essay Example The discussions will entail logical arguments behind the various military regimes that have occurred in Africa. The paper will give an analysis of the various military regimes that have taken place in Africa since independence to modern days. Introduction The focus on military regimes can be traced to the period after 1950 when most African countries gained independence. There was a considerable increase in the number of military coups during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. During this period, a large number of military regimes emerged all over the world. In 1979, fourteen military regimes rose to power in sub-Saharan Africa. Besides the military regimes in Sub-saharan Africa, other regimes held power in Latin America, North Africa, Arab states, South East Asia and East Asia (Falola 2002, p. 235) Because of the tremendous rise of African military regimes, political scientists, historians, sociologists, and economists had a keen interest in studying this form of government. Africa witnessed seventy-one military coups between 1950 and 1990. Since African nations gained independence, a number of military regimes have overthrown the ruling civilian regimes. The military coups replace the government and introduce military rule. In most instances, the military leaders, who take over governance, introduce dictatorial rules (Kieh & Agbese 2004, p. 20). Some of the famous military coups that have taken place in Africa include the Ghanaian coup in 1966, Libyan military coup in 1969 led by Muammar Gaddafi and the Ugandan coup in 1971 led by Idi Amin. Gaddafi led a group of young Libyan military officers in a bloodless coup that saw the overthrowing of King Idris I. In Uganda, Idi Amin succeeded in ending the rule of Milton Obote. Other military coups have happened in countries such as Nigeria, Congo, Togo, among others (Baynham 1986, p. 38). Rating performance of military regimes in Africa Military coups in Africa can be explained by general factors applicable to the entire cont inent. A keen look at the past military coups indicates a common trend in military coups. Almost all countries in Africa that have had military coups seem to have the same reasons for the eruption of the military coups. From 1960 to 1970, a number of African nations witnessed military coups. Historians have regarded this period as a decade of coups in Africa (Kieh & Agbese 2004, p. 22). Once a coup erupted in one country, it became a phenomenon in other nations. Coups swept across the entire African continent at an alarming rate. Based on this, the rise of military regimes in Africa emerges from general factors applicable to the entire continent. The paper will now focus on the factors that have led to the rise of military regimes in Africa. In an attempt to preserve authority, states have embraced the use of coercion. As a result, some government institutions play the role of enhancing coercion. This reality has significantly directed debates surrounding politics in postcolonial Af rica. The government needs coercive agencies, such as the police and military, which should be obedient to political leaders. However, this has not succeeded in Africa. In many instances, the military has used violent means to initiate coup d’etats. This is a contradiction since the military should manage violence on behalf of the state (Thomson 2010, p. 135). A notable factor responsible for military coups in A

Monday, September 23, 2019

Culture report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Culture report - Essay Example The most important day observed by Germany is designated as â€Å"The fall of the Wall† with great zeal every year. This day signifies for the reunion of German, which played an imperative role in the national development of Germany. Another significant event, which takes place in Germany, is Christmas, which marks the birth of Christ (Lueschen, Blood and Lewis). Therefore, religion plays a significant role in shaping the culture in Germany. At the same time, German culture is inclined towards collectivism because of this reason German people often under weigh the rights of an individual versus those of many. Along with this, gender and racial discrimination is at par in German atmosphere (Lueschen, Blood and Lewis). In parallel, the value of German language in world history cannot be negated. Therefore, this paper is providing some of the German customary greetings, which include Hallo (hello), Guten Morgen (good morning), Guten Tag (good day) and Guten Abend (good

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Tumour Immunotherapy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Tumour Immunotherapy - Essay Example One such treatment option is known as immunotherapy (also known as biologic therapy or biotherapy) in which the body's immune mechanism is utilized to fight against cancer. Immunotherapy includes active immunotherapy (cancer vaccines) and passive immunotherapy (monoclonal antibodies). Active immunotherapy stimulates the body's own immune system to fight the disease; on the other hand passive immunotherapy utilizes immune system components (such as monoclonal antibodies) which have been created outside the body (Waldmann, 269). Active immunotherapy against cancer has been much less active against cancer in comparison to other infectious diseases. Even though vaccines (targeted against cancer antigens) for providing protection against various cancers, (especially cancer cervix) have been developed, their efficacy has yet not been significantly proven (Waldmann, 270). Besides the limited success with active immunization, there may be many challenges which may reduce the efficacy of active immunization. The review of literature by Waldman (269-272) discusses some of these challenges and the ways to deal with them. One of the main challenges is identification of antigens on tumour tissue (tumour rejection antigens) which can produce rejection in the host by producing an elaborate T-cell response. Some of the tumour rejection antigens include tumour specific antigens, the results of mutations, viral antigens in cancers associated with viruses and tumour specific differentiation antigens (Waldmann, 269).One meth od of defining cancer associated antigens is to define antigens recognized by the tumour bearing host by identifying the circulating antibodies developed against tumour antigens in the host. Technique of serological identification by recombinant expression cloning called SEREX is used to identify circulating IgG that are specific to the tumour antigens. Screening cDNA libraries from tissues using tumour reactive T-cell lines and clones, followed by mass spectrophotometeric analysis is another approach that can be used (Waldmann, 269, 270).Other ways of improving the efficacy of active immunization include: enhancement of the function of antigen presenting cells by inducing the maturation of dendridic cells using agents like GM-CSF, IL-4, TNF-, etc. Efforts have been made to enhance the function of T-cells. Certain cytokines have been introduced into the vaccine preparations in order to improve their efficacy. Assays of measuring vaccine efficacy by measuring their cytotoxicity, cyto kine secretion etc have also been developed (Waldmann, 272). Challenges associated with passive immunotherapy Inactivation of transferred anti-tumour T cells for immunotherapy by the "hostile" immunosuppressive microenvironment created by the tumour tissue has currently limited the scope of passive immunotherapy. However in future there is a possibility to develop better and more effective immunotherapies by adopting inactivating mechanisms, which would protect anti-tumor T cells in the tumour microenvironment, thereby resulting in the destruction of the cancerous tissue. One such immunosupressive mechanism involves cAMP-elevating Gs-protein coupledA2 receptors. These receptors

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Political Development Essay Example for Free

Political Development Essay Morocco is located in North Africa at the border of Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea . Onto the south it neighbors Western Sahara and due east with Algeria. Its terrain consists of mountain, desert and coastal plain with only about 21% of total land which is productive . The people in the region basically comprise of the Berber, Arab, African, Spanish and French. Morocco is considered to be one of the most westernized Islamic nations. Its population is close to thirty million with a population growth rate of 2% per annum . Arabic is general spoken language. The Southern parts of Morocco uses French while in the Northern parts, Spanish and French are commonly used languages. English language is a new language which is being introduced in the country. Majority of the population are Muslim affiliates and number of Jewish, while in northern parts especially those who speak Spanish and French, a greater portion belong to catholic religion. Morocco’s economy is that of liberal in nature which follows the dictates of demand and supply. Privatization policy is not a new phenomenon as some of the sectors were handed down to the hand of private sectors. However, its economy is characterized by relatively slow economic growth and inflation rate. Basically, employment largely anchors at agricultural sector which is never reliable due inadequate rains . Unemployment is escalating generally, affecting majority of the youths especially in urban areas . Social evils such as trafficking of young women and girls for prostitution and domestic service and sexual abuse are the characteristic phenomena in Morocco besides high level of illiteracy, and unemployment . Non-Governmental Organizations refers to lawfully constituted organizations that operate independently from the government. There are some Non –Governmental Organizations which acts as donor and or development partners depending on the charter of their mandates. Virtually all of the Non-Governmental Organizations acts on humanitarian grounds focusing on alleviating human suffering by improving the human welfare for quality living. Some Non-Governmental organizations operates on a large scale where they may cover a very large geographical region, while still others operate at national level or in limited areas within a country . International Non-Governmental Organizations cover several geographical regions as their scope of operation while local Non –Governmental Organizations usually operate within the country or in some parts of the country International and Local NGOs in Morocco: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is one of the International Non-Governmental Organizations that has intensified its work in the country of Morocco through an economic program. Since Morocco has a liberal economy, it is governed by the law of supply and demands. In the context of globalization, farmers in the country would have faced cut-throat competition after agricultural tariffs were lowered as result of trade agreement between USA and Morocco. To save the farmers from such agony, USAID works with the farmers to have their crop yields improved and creates alternative jobs in form of industries to avert overdependence on farming as the only way of employment. It assists by linking export business to competitively get into the US market in ways such as by cutting down the numbers of days officially needed to register the business from sixty to eleven. This was actualized when USAID got into the microfinance field in Morocco. It had two prime objectives. One was to start a microfinance institution that would be self sustainable and grow to support the farmers and businessmen’s need. The second one was to foster policy that could favor this establishment of microfinance sector. All of its efforts toward making true these objectives were very successful due to its technical skills it possessed and its full commitment for these projects’ sustainability to serving large number of the poor . This has been witnessed particularly for the last seven year of its operation. Besides improvement of economic growth of Moroccans, it also featured in improving education level by increasing access to quality education and relevant basic education to all. This was because there has been high illiteracy level in the country. To achieve this USAID used ‘school-to-work’ approach by ensuring linkage between training and employments at various levels. Basic education has much attention on achieving high retention rates to ninth grade and possible equipping the learners at this level to adaptable skills for the next level. It lays more emphasis on courses such as information technology and tourism in technical colleges as the country has prominent tourist attraction sites and this is geared to promote tourism industry in the country. Global Rights is an International Non-Governmental Organization that partners for justice through advocacy of human right by collaborating with local activists. They speak to make heard injustices done at global level. It deals with legal and human rights education comprehensively from semiliterate to illiterate women from all walks of life in Morocco. This initiative aims to empower women to know their collective and individual rights so as to be assertive to these right and give them power in decision making in all matters affecting them, be it in household, community, national or at global level. So far the program has reached thousands of women across the country. By so doing the initiative aims at curbing alarming number of young women and girls at risk of human trafficking for prostitution and domestic service in the region. Besides human trafficking in different parts of Morocco, there has been an increase in cases of sexual abuse among young women and girls. Therefore, this necessitated direct service and intensive advocacy . Increased access to information has been deemed to be one of the successful approaches particularly starting with community liaisons, lawyers, teacher, researchers and the at-risk population and entire community would help curb such vices. Food and Agricultural Organization has not been new in Morocco. This country having been relying heavily on the agricultural sector for employment, much is needed to be done to revive the sluggish economic growth of the country . Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) is the United Nation’s agency that is involved in collecting, analyzing and interpreting and sharing the information with relevant stakeholders related to agriculture and nutrition. It is barely four months when an outbreak that posed threat to sheep and goats was announced in Morocco. In the month of September peste des petites (PRR) threatened to kill about a million sheep and goats where a hundred and thirty three outbreaks were reported within twenty nine provinces of Morocco. Being a viral causative agent and a very contagious to all ruminants, about 17 and 5 million sheep and goats respectively were at stake . This could be translated to loss of family livelihoods as so many of them depended on this. In response to this, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) took drastic measures after receiving request from the government to beef up the interventions. This made FAO’S Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) to convene a two-day meeting in Tunisia to chart the way forward over the situation. During the two-day summit, it was collectively agreed to help the Morocco government to prepare an emergency plan and see its implementation together with appropriate coordination with veterinary services of Maghreb among others from neighborhood countries. Right now FAO is in the advanced stage of setting up an urgent regional cooperation project. Control measures that were taken necessitated quarantine of suspected or affected farms and institutions and make urgent review of animal disease emergency contingency plans as well as raise awareness on the outbreak of the disease by all stakeholders concerning its risks and clinical signs. This is the latest development that FAO has been able to undertake in Morocco. Besides, livestock production, in the sector of agriculture, F. A. O has been in the forefront to see the country is in the process of achieving the millennium goal number one; that of eradication of extreme poverty and hunger through adoption of new innovations such as high yield, and fast growing crops that are drought tolerance. This will enable the country to attain level of food and nutrition security required. Use of biotechnology which has been witnessed in Nigeria where cassava clones are being propagated as disease free plants for the higher yields, are now incorporated in Morocco. World Food Program is the world’s largest humanitarian body. World Food Program is on a global campaign to ensure undernourished school going children are educated through its school feeding program. During worst time when there is total crop failure in Morocco, it has severally responded by providing relief food to the regions that needs emergency intervention. Community Based Organizations are local non-governmental organizations which are found in Morocco just like in other third world developing countries. Community based organizations collaborate with International Non-Governmental Organization and are the ground players. International Non-Governmental Organization for sustainable development make use of local organizations so that without setting other new parallel programs they can build on the existing system and facilitate on capacity building of the community. Faith Based Organization is a local non-governmental organization that has particular religious group affiliation. For instance, in northern parts of Morocco there is significant number of Christians who have come together to form faith based organizations to cater for the needs of their less fortunate member in time of need. Conclusion Non-governmental organizations primarily have humanitarian affair at their centre of focus. They feature on development transformation of community in which they are operating on. According to the transformational development indicators, the lives of many communities in different parts of the country have really improved. The level of illiteracy has decreased as a result of increased enrollment and retentions in schools . School- to- work approach has created job linkages among youths as a way of fighting unemployment in the country. Through, improving agriculture and easy accessibility to credit facilities, farmers are able to get good returns while others are able to diversify their income. This has seen improvement of living standard of the community. References: Agnaou Fatima, (2004); Gender, Literacy, and Empowerment in Morocco. ISBN 0415947650, 9780415947657, Routledge Davis K. Diana, (2006); Neoliberalism, Environmentalism, and Agricultural Restructuring in Morocco. The Geographical Journal, Vol. 172 Facts about Morocco, (2008). Retrieved on 16th November 2008 from: http://cc. msnscache. com/cache. aspx? q=morocco+factsd=74397575479858mkt=en-USsetlang=en-USw=1d93f448,870bb89e Fisher Julie, (1998); Nongovernments: NGOs and the Political Development of the Third World. ISBN 1565490754, 9781565490758, Published by Kumarian Press Kourous George Omolo Dominic, (2008); Outbreak of peste des petits ruminants in Morocco. Retrieved on 16th November 2008 from: http://www. fao. org/newsroom/en/news/2008/1000918/index. html USAID/Morocco, (2004); Annual Report. Retrieved on 16th November 2008 from: http://pdf. dec. org/pdf_docs/PDACA063. pdf

Friday, September 20, 2019

Resiliency in Homelessness

Resiliency in Homelessness Problem Statement There is a great deal of research into resilience in children, whether they are housed or homeless. However, there is less research about resilience in adults, whether they are housed or homeless. This does not make sense to me. Childrens well-being, which includes their resilience, is directly correlated with that of the adults in their families. Women currently earn 60 cents for every dollar a man earns with a wider ethnic pay gap (CCH, page 3). Families with children make up thirty-five percent of the homeless population, with the remaining sixty-five percent of the homeless population being single individuals (CCH, page 1). Get data on #s headed by single parents, especially female-headed families. According to the City of Chicago 2007 Point in Time Count, the racial demographics of the homeless population were: African American: 75 percent; White: 16 percent; Latino: 6 percent (CCH, FAQ). Strength in the face of adversity is one of the most important characteristics you can have . Challenges and disappointments are inevitable in life. Resilience is one of the keys to life satisfaction. Resilience can help prevent depression, enhances relationships, helps us deal with sudden and unexpected challenges, as well as those we anticipate and cannot avoid. It also safeguards us against long-term difficulties.Given this reality I decided to investigate if resilience reduces negative effects of homelessness in adults and in their transition after becoming housed. The information I find can be useful for those working with adults who are homeless and those making the transition from homelessness to housing. Methodology I wrote 10 questions based on the theory found in a literature review on resilience. I interviewed five experts in the field of homelessness: Erin Ryan MSW, the Executive Director of Lincoln Park Community Shelter (LPCS) ; Ms. Jen Patterson, Director of Development and Communications at Housing Opportunities for Women (HOW); Mr. Steven Skovensky, Ms. Natalie Hutchinson, and Ms. Ann Birhle, are Resident Services Managers at Mercy Housing Lakefront. LPCS, HOW and Mercy Housing are located in Chicago. All five interviewees have at least five years working with the homeless and those housed after being homeless. I chose Mr. Skovensky, Ms. Patterson, Ms. Hutchinson and Ms. Birhle because after working with them from approximately 2000-2003. (I currently work with Ms. Hutchinson, Ms. Birhle and Mr. Skovensky.) footnote I asked Ms. Ryan after becoming acquainted with some of Lincoln Park Community Shelters graduates. I asked an Executive Director of another shelter in Chicago but there was no response from her. [Ms. Ryans phone interview lasted 30 minutes, due to a prior commitment; she later answered questions sent by email. Ms. Pattersons interview lasted an hour at her office. Mr. Skovenskys and Ms. Birhles interviews lasted approximately 40 minutes in their offices. Ms. Hutchinsons interview lasted an hour in her office.] footnotes The questions I asked each person were: 1) their definition of resilience; 2) if resilient clients behave differently than those who are less resilient; 3) if resilience can be taught; 4) if resilience can be taught in a difficult situation; 5) the strengths and limitations or shortcomings the clients have; 6) if men and women show resilience in different ways; 7) cultural, racial or ethnic differences in how resilience is shown; 8) how their organizations work with clients/residents to learn resilience; 9) if resilience can ease the negative effects of homelessness and the transition to being housed; 10) if there was anything important I did not ask them about Interview Summary Everyones definitions of resilience agree with each others and mirror literature. Examples of resilience given included: the ability to adapt to ones circumstances, the ability to move forward when faced with challenges and/or barriers, which are different for everyone and have multiple layers, like jobs, families, and so on (Patterson, Ryan); the ability to persevere and bounce back under extreme conditions and overcome extreme barriers; ability to recover and rebound from difficult or traumatic experiences (Skovensky); an ability to recover and rebound from difficult or traumatic experiences and learn from them and create positive change (Hutchinson); Ms. Patterson mentioned that someones social network, which allows people to be more resilient; that support system disappearing is the worst thing that happens before someone goes to HOW. People need to use their skills and support network to navigate and rebuild. The adaptability piece the ability to shift and change easily is key . The resilient person has an easier time because life is constantly changing. Barriers may include any form of trauma, like violence, loss, addiction, mental health crises, incarceration, becoming homeless, and the public health system (being ill and not having insurance). Primarily one of the big things of resilience is overcoming what would incapacitate most people (Skovensky). Responses varied when participants were asked if more resilient clients behave differently than those who are less resilient. Those less resilient might take a couple steps backward or not move forward in a way they thought they could. The person might move from the shelter to housing, found they werent as ready as they thought, and move back into the shelter. Some clients might need more support, such as a case manager in an on-site office or someone ensuring they take their meds daily or need transportation daily (Patterson). Erin noticed that often the hardest thing to overcome is a persons stereotypes of what homelessness is. LPCS staff encounters what appears to a denial system in place. More educated people often act like theyre better than others. People are sometimes unwilling to help until defenses are broken. Its important to help people come to terms with it during what Ms. Ryan called a grief process, which some handle better than others. Some are more willing to network, are open to suggestion, willing to take advice, more open-minded and talk to people; they have more human connections. Those who are more isolated have a more difficult time. This includes people dealing with chronic illnesses, whether physical or mental illnesses. Mitigating factors can complicate things for people, with the admission they need help and the willingness to accept it being important. This is especially true with addiction. This also reflects the literature on resilience. which? Mr. Skovensky mentioned two things that stand out for him: 1) those who appear more resilient seem to have an element of using humor as a coping mechanism; they seemed to laugh, smile, almost incongruent with their experiences. Youd think theyd be completely demoralized but they could laugh and smile and keep moving forward. 2) Using their creativity; using art, and/or writing to chronicle their experience. One person in the photography group saying it made him feel better about his life and his problems; may be more about self-esteem than resilience though. Somebody sharing their experiences in their writing inspired others in the writing group; it helps the writer and the audience (Skovensky). This reflected what Smith and her colleagues found. More resilient people dont seem to be as stuck in past hurt or mired down. They have the ability to roll with the punches a bit better. More resilient people dont personalize things as much, dont say that negative things are being directed specifically at them; they can contextualize things better. its easier to ask for help because they dont take things personally. They can rely on available resources more easily, feel more of a sense of community, and involvement (Hutchinson). Ms. Ryan and Ms. Patterson believe that the basic principles and concepts of resilience can be taught. However, imparting that information; people must be willing to put that information into practice. Some people say want to be told what to do but the most one can do is lay out the options available so the client can make their decisions from there. As Ms. Patterson said, clients must do it for themselves. Mr. Skovensky believes that resilience may have more to do with personality. Resiliency seems more like a character trait or something engrained in our personality than a skill. Which paper is this like? Coping mechanisms, which involve specific strategies for dealing with problems or concerns, are skills that can be taught. Examples understanding your support system and the role it plays; understanding resources available; understanding how to process anger in a way not detrimental to you or others; understanding its okay to say no to situations, dont have to be all things to all people; only thing one can own is your own actions, not others actions. Resiliency, on the other hand, seems more intangible in how you can measure and explain. As a result it is hard to describe who is resilient and who isnt. Like Ms. Birhle, Ms. Hutchinson believes resilience can be encouraged but requires a certain kind of outlook that can be mod eled for people. Resilience comes from a particular way of looking at the world, a particular perspective, which can be taught. People who are more resilient feel more of a we instead of us vs. them. Anyone can teach anything to someone willing to learn. If someone isnt ready for the change, then why even consider it? People can be taught different ways of coping if the person is ready and open to learning it. This reminded me of the pre-contemplative stage described by James Prochaska and his colleagues. In this stage, there is no intention to change behavior in the foreseeable future; many people are unaware or under-aware of their problems, despite the fact that their friends and families are well aware of the problems (Prochaska, DiClimente, Norcross, 1992). When it comes to teaching resilience in difficult situations, there was some disagreement. Ms. Patterson said yes but also acknowledged that it is harder to take a step back from things and take a long-term perspective during hard times, especially if one hasnt practiced at it. Ms. Ryan said she thinks different coping skills can be taught which, over time, can make one more resilient. People can also experience a shift in world-view as a result of tragedy or joy that can increase resilience, such as a cultural, spiritual, or otherwise awa kening (such as hitting rock bottom in an addiction). For Ms. Hutchinson, it is either the best or worst of time to teach resilience, depending on the person. In substance abuse, it is similar to hitting bottom before being ready to change. A tree will bend or break in a strong wind. Resilience is the bending tree. Have to recognize the need for it, and be willing to try it. When I asked if people can improve on their resilience, Ms. Hutchinson said yes; like stretching and exercise, it becomes easier the more someone does it. Mr. Skovensky disagreed, saying he believes that coping skills can be taught but is not convinced that resilience can be taught, since he believes it is a personality/character trait. For him, it comes back to a persons life experience and personality (Skovensky). I then asked about strengths they see in their clients. Ms. Patterson sees many strengths in HOW clients, including the motivation to succeed and improve their lives, the willingness to take responsi bilities of living, initiative, determination, and the willingness to take control of their lives. The clients are willing to reframe their experiences and how they define and see themselves. Ms. Ryan sees diverse strengths with mainly cultural differences. Some people tend to have stronger ties with family support systems, or churches or other groups. Also, those who have grown up without as many opportunities, who are closer to poverty, are usually a bit more resourceful in terms of using internal coping skills and resilience. Some cultures value the concept of community and it is not shameful to ask for help, whereas others value independence and self-reliance more. The it takes a child vs. bootstraps philosophies. In Ms. Ryans opinion, the first one is more helpful in terms of long-term resilience from something as devastating as homelessness. For Mr. Skovensky, the ones who have been the most resilient have some insight into their own situation, insight into whatever their barriers are (whether addiction and recovery, or mental illness). Having an outlet, whether its creative or a good sense of humor, that gives them the ability to place it in context. Having a good support system is vital. Resilient people dont let themselves be labeled (like Im an alcoholic, Im bipolar, etc.). They exhibit a willingness to take responsibility for their lives. Ms. Hutchinson sees hopefulness, determination, a sense of purpose, tenacity, the ability to forgive themselves and others, the willingness to ask for assistance, and endurance. When asked about limitations or shortcomings, the answers varied somewhat. For Mr. Skovensky, it includes the inability to build/sustain relationships with anyone (case manager or family member); flat-out addiction. A sub-grouping of that is a lack of insight into how an addiction can be affecting their life. Being unwilling to ask for help. For Ms. Hutchinson, the question about shortcomings was a one. She doesnt like to think of it as a shortcoming because it is a value judgment in a way. For her, it includes: being challenged by past traumas, which clients see as making it difficult for them to move; have less energy for the present if burdened by the past or past trauma; weighted down; trying to find a quality and struggling to do so; difficulty accepting responsibility for decisions or actions. Those with less resilience tend to have an outward locus of control; things happen to them. They are more reactive than proactive. Resilient people have the ability to accept things rathe r than fight them; instead of why me, its why not me, its happened and now I have to respond. Most participants saw some difference in resilience based on gender. Ms. Patterson said there is an equality when the monetary dynamic and the accompanying power dynamic are removed. There might not be a lot of possessions or money but everyone was really strong because they want to find their way to somewhere safe. At RESTs womens shelter, women seemed a bit more territorial as a way of showing they are valuable and contributing. At the Mens shelter they said yeah sure, go ahead. For Mr. Skovensky, its more difficult for women to succeed than men. Women have more barriers because the way society is set up. Its almost like they have to work harder to overcome barriers and trauma. I dont think I can comment on whether men or women are more resilient. Barriers include more violence (domestic, sexual abuse during childhood) against women, more stereotyping and expectation of what womens roles are, exploitation of women on the street (prostitution), unequal power dynamic in society. The literature I found does not explore differences and similarities in how men and women show resilience and the role socialization plays in those behaviors. Ms. Birhle and Ms. Hutchinson agreed that men and women display differences due to gender socialization playing a role. Sometimes men think they have to be rugged individualists. As a result it may more difficult for them to ask for help in certain things; be vulnerable or show v ulnerable feelings (Hutchinson). While Ms. Birhle does not subscribe to women are this way and men are a different way, she noticed that it takes men more time to ask for help. They try to suck it up, saying I can handle it. Ms. Ryan said there were differences at a surface level but not much individually. The issues are the same with men and women exhibiting similar reactions. I asked Ms. Hutchinson and Ms. Birhle if there are any differences along racial or ethnic lines. Ms. Hutchinson said that it might have more to do with class issues then ethnicity. Its about access to resources in a way. If you dont have resources, it plays a bigger role than ethnicity or race, which is more about economics than race or ethnicity. If people feel there is a place to reach out to theyll do it. We can find differences in places people have access to resources than the role race plays, which tends to be more monetary. A white person may have skin privilege. A white person might not feel harassed in a store where a person of color does. I consider this to be significant since she is black. Ms. Birhle noticed it mainly with minority communities. African-Americans and Asians tend to ________ more of a stigma; as a result members of those communities tend to a harder time doing it. Asians are more priva te; mental illness is considered a problem and they might not get help. African-American people in our society have adapted to more oppressive situations and probably been resilient to racism and lack of great opportunity. On the one hand, African-Americans can be really resilient because they have always dealt with a lot; black people have to work harder. On the other hand, the environment contributes to a lot of problems, whether violence or poor education and not seeing a way out. It is different for whites. Blacks having less access to resources and racism, which is institutionalized in society. There is a similarity class-wise (economically) across race and ethnicity but whites dont have the issue of race in this society Interview Summary 2 I asked what the organizations do to help their clients with resilience. Ms. Patterson said that HOW teaches their clients what they need to do but wont do it for them. I was unable to ask Ms. Ryan. The LPCS website mentions three tracks clients can participate in that help with substance abuse recovery, mental and physical health, and job hunting. These tracks helps clients identify and address the reasons why they are homelessness and the barriers they face to becoming self-sufficient. Clients are required to participate in one or more track. These programs reflect information about resilience in terms of the capacity to make realistic plans and take steps to carry them out; a positive view of yourself and confidence in your strengths and abilities; skills in communication and problem solving and finding help. Mercy Housing Lakefront provides many services and programs for its residents. Mercy Housing Lakefronts model of engagement of providing supportive housing with on-site case management and trying to treat people like adults and not forcing them to make changes and dealing with people where theyre at, I think in developing a good relationship with them, developing a community. Mercy Housing Lakefront also: 1) tries to provide a lot of activities the form of Tenant Leadership program, creative opportunities (writing group, art group); 2) trying to provide a home, a safe place; 3) referral to local services and benefits when residents ask for referrals (Birhle). offer encouragement and support that may strengthen or encourage resiliency through case management and groups, they work with people to develop coping skills (Skovensky). There is a program at the Belray Apartments called Motivation Mondays, which helps provide motivation for changing participants lives for the better. Group members gather resources emotionally, talk about self as a whole being. Participants are asked what they want to accomplish, what their barriers are, and what support do they need (Hutchinson). My last question was if resilience eases the negative effects of homelessness. Four of the five interviewees said yes. For Ms. Ryan, the more quickly people adapt, the more quickly theyre out of it, bounce back and avoid a downward spiral. Resilience includes: capacity to make realistic plans and carry them out; positive view of oneself; self-confidence; communication skills and problem-solving skills; capacity to manage strong feelings and impulses (Ryan). Ms. Patterson stated that resilience helps people cope with the challenges, identify solutions and act on them. Resilience may not change the challenges and barriers people face but can help people cope (Patterson). For Ms. Hutchinson, resilience eases the negative effect of any trauma. Homelessness can be recognized as a temporary state. If they are resilient, they recognize they will come out of it and can come out of it. Their comments strongly reflect literature on resilience. Mr. Skovensky found it hard to answer that question, not experienced it himself. For him, he thinks it does help as a means of overcoming the negative effects The last question The last question asked if resilience helps people make the transition from homelessness to being housed. One reason I asked this question is I couldnt find anything in literature about this subject. Four of the five said yes. Ms. Patterson said that being housed presents a different set of challenges than being homeless. [ The challenges include maintaining a budget and home, developing relationships with the landlord and neighbors, connecting with area resources. Ms. Ryan relates resilience closely with adaptability. The better able someone is to adapt to a new situation, the more resilient they are. Making the transition from homelessness to housing is a big change, and requires adaptability in order to handle it well, especially if someone has been homeless for a long period of time.] [Ms. Hutchinson stated that resiliency is a positive quality which helps you move from one place to another. It is a response to stressors. For Ms. Birhle the staff noticed that for some residents those less resilient homelessness takes such a toll, they are tired and want to just have their apartment. The more resilient a person is, the better able they are to adapt, and adapt to changes that are huge and stressful, recognizing when they need help and asking for it.] Mr. Skovensky hopes resilience helps with that transition. They want people to know the services and groups that are available at the building and in community. The Delmar Apartments conducts a new tenant orientation, providing a cohort the person can be part of as a support system. This reflects the need for a support system in literature. I asked Ms. Hutchinson if there was anything I didnt ask that she considered to be important. She couldnt think of anything then began a dialog with me. She asked what I think is the core aspect of resilience? What is the most important thing, where if that one thing is absent you cant have resiliency? My answer was determination, tenacity; if you dont have it, youre not going anywhere. Ms. Hutchinson then ask: What about endurance? My response was that stepping back to recharge ones batteries isnt the same as quitting. Ms. Hutchinson said that maybe part of it too is planning; we cant be reactive all the time. Spending time to reflect is important since it is needed for recharging and learning. The ability to reflect on your experiences is so important; allowing us the space for reflective thought. These important questions and the concepts they represent are not mentioned in the literature I found. Recommendations Study adult population and resilience. How does resilience help adults, especially those experiencing adversity? Study how resilience helps those making the transition from homelessness to being housed. Tailor services to what the person or family wants and needs. The decision as to what services the family or individual partake in should be a collaboration between the clients and service-providers. Study how Prochaskas work on whether the stages of change relate to resilience. Why or why not? How can people be encouraged to move out of pre-contemplation and powerlessness to making positive changes? Study to learn best practices on what services best bolster and/or teach resilience. What are the best practices on learning how to turn negative experiences into lessons of growth. Study how tenacity, determination, endurance and reflecting on ones experiences relate to resilience. What role do those qualities play in resilience, if any? Study what the core aspect of resilience is, where resilience does not exist if that aspect is absent. Study how to  ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¬____________ that aspect Many articles about building resilience are available on-line. This is unavailable for those without Internet connections and looking for information. How do creative arts (including art, writing, photography, and so on) play in resilience? How to they ______ resilience? Workshops and training classes on building resilience are available in many places. However, cost may be prohibitive to anyone with a low-income or unable to take time off work or lacks transportation to the workshop. Insurance, whether public or private, could pay for attending these workshops. Carpooling can provide transportation for those lacking transit. Emphasizing employment as the main route out of poverty misses the mark, especially lacking an adequate education, and support system (childcare, adequate mental health, and so on). Explore the differences and similarities in how men and women show resilience and the role socialization plays in those behaviors.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Let It Pour: My First Assignment as Executive Assistant :: Critical Thinking Case Study

Introduction Just starting a new position as executive assistant, working directly for the CEO of Faith Community Hospital I receive my first assignment as executive assistant. I am charged with solving specific problems, delivering the solutions and describing my rationale for my proposed solutions, my boss, the CEO of the Community Hospital is requiring the information next Monday. In my following report I will take steps to identify the problems and to solve each of the problems described using the critical thinking skills I have learned at State University. I will be using my decision making skills along with a brainstorming technique to help me solve these problems. The two problems that I have identified are as follows: The first problem I have identified to solve is the moral and ethical differences our practitioners have towards administering care to patients resulting in different levels of care provided by different practitioners. The second problem that I have identified is our increa sed costs per patient. I need to brainstorm what we can do to reduce or avoid the potential continuing increased costs. Critical Thinking Case Study To begin, I need to study the problems thoroughly and efficiently. Then I will need to isolate each of the problems that the CEO and I discussed in the meeting. I will need to analyze each problem and evaluate alternatives for each problem. After that is done, I will make recommendations with corrective actions prepared for the CEO by Monday. In my CEO's assignment I have identified the two separate problems and I will be evaluating them each independently. Problem #1 First, I have to identify the problem. The hospital and regulators are seeing inconsistent decisions that are implemented for the patients based on the particular doctors' or nurses morals, and ethical beliefs. As the CEO said "On one hand, we have particular patients who refuse to take certain medical services, and on the other hand, particular staff members who refuse to provide certain services." The doctors are not following any set standards for issuing care for our patients. This problem needs to be immediately rectified. To solve this issue I need to break down the problem into its different elements. I have identified the problem, now I have to define the goals. Goals The goals that we need to accomplish are to have each practitioner administer consistent care for our patients regardless of personal morals and ethics. We also need to make sure that no patient is refused care, regardless of the doctors' beliefs, medical coverage or lack of coverage.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Children Are Influenced by T.V. :: Media Argumentative Persuasive Argument

Children Are Influenced by T.V.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When children are young, they tend to act different than when they are older. They are not mature yet and are still easily influenced.   Little kids are usually very easily influenced by their surroundings.   Whether it is television, friends, family members, or just plain strangers, everyone and everything are influences on a little kid.   I believe that young boys are usually more easily influenced than young girls.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First, one influence that has a major effect on children's behavior is television.   Believe it or not, T.V. plays a big role in how kids act. Shows like the Power Rangers and Beetleborgs can make boys violent and want to fight.   Girls are not so easily influenced by television as boys are. Although there are some girls that want to fight along with the boys, for the most part, girls do not like those types of shows.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Along with television, children may also be influenced by people they don't know.   Although most children are taught not to talk to strangers, we would be surprised how many actually do.   Studies have shown that both boys and girls do talk to strangers, but boys are more likely to do what a stranger tells them than girls are.   A lot of young boys are easily deceived.   Girls, on the other hand, are more cautious.   Even when girls are young, they are still weary of trusting people they don't know. There are, of course, exceptions to every rule.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Finally, kids are most influenced by their parents and their friends. Because friends and family members are people that kids trust, they tend to want to be like them.   Parents play a big role in a child's life.   If a kid sees his/her parents fight all the time at home, it will probably make the child violent or secluded.   If a kid hears his friends cuss all the time, then he/she will probably start cussing too.   If a child, whether it be a boy or a girl, places a lot of trust in a person, every

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Tesco: Assessing the change implications of Tesco’s Rapid International Business process.

Executive summary Change is inevitable in any organization that aspires to grow. As an organization, Tesco has diversified its operations and extended into new markets in various countries such as China, Japan among others. However, its largest market base is still in the United Kingdom. This paper discusses the implications that the company’s rapid internationalization has had on its operations. Penetration into new and undiscovered markets which seem unattractive to many retailers and selling for low prices is the key strategy employed by this organization in its expansion process. They are able to charge these low prices due to the numerous benefits of economies of scale they enjoy due to mass production and sale. This strategy however, does not lack challenges just like any other strategy employed by other organizations. For instance, the competitors in the new markets can also reduce their prices thereby limiting the market to new entrants such as Tesco. This is especially so in large emerging markets such as China and Japan. This paper also addresses the need for change and factors that have contributed to change at Tesco. There are a number of reasons why change is important. For instance, in order to ensure it remains competitive, some aspects of the organization have to change. The factors which drive change in this organization include political factors, social factors, technological factors, economic factors and even its objectives as an organization. The change process in this organization receives support from all the levels of the organization and the goals and vision are clearly communicated to the members. This is evidenced by its exemplary performance. Despite the numerous challenges faced in the change process, it has remained afloat and the benefits of the change are evident through its continued expansion. This paper exhaustively explores the change process at Tesco, analyzes the situation and makes suggestions that the company can use in implementation of the change. Introduction Tesco is a general merchandising retail chain and an international grocery store. Founded in 1919, it has grown over the years and is currently operating in over 12 countries globally with a total of 530,000 employees. In 2012, it had ?3.03 billion in profits and ?59.4 billion in turnover. Most of its revenue (65%) comes from the United Kingdom. However, other places such as Asia, United States and Europe also are responsible for a large portion of its revenue (Tesco, 2012). It operates under different brand names, which include Superstore, Express Extra and Metro. It sells about 40,000 food items in its superstores, clothes and other nonfood items. It also owns petrol stations and offers personal finance services such as life insurance. Its expansion has placed it at a top position globally and currently is ranked as the largest retailer in Britain and as the third largest retailer globally (Lowe et al., 2012). The own-label products of the company are grouped into three segments na mely: the value level, normal level and finest level products. Despite the extensive development of the retailing and nonfood services, Tesco has undertaken huge investments internationally in a bid to ensure its continued growth. To ensure efficiency in operations and costs in its international operations, it has incorporated IT solutions to facilitate business processes (Miozzo et al., 2012). This paper provides an in-depth analysis of Tesco’s rapid internationalization. Situation and Culture Every organization has its own culture which either serves to identify its employees and customers or serves to ensure efficient running and cohesive relationships among the employees (Maitah, 2010). Tesco’s culture is distinctive through its numerous corporate social activities. These demonstrate its ideologies and values such as honesty, responsibility and fairness. This sense of social responsibility drove the organization into stating up supermarkets in areas where other supermarkets would not go into due to their native nature. At Tesco, there are string bonds among the staff and customers. This has been quite instrumental in contributing to wards employee job satisfaction and offering services that are satisfactory to customers. These relationships have ensured efficient operations within the organization due to the social groups formed (Tesco PLC, 2014). There are shared values upheld by the staff thereby ensuring a reduction in conflicts among them. This also encourages loyalty of the staff to the organization thereby ensuring its good performance is sustained. Lastly it helps them get a better understanding of the customers’ needs (Tesco PLC, 2014). Tesco has a flexible work environment, which ensures an increase in employee participation in various roles and decisions and also enhances their adaptability to possible changes within the organization. An inflexible work environment would in most cases lead to resistance from the employees, thereby limiting their productivity and innovation. In the long run, it will affect the performance of the organization (Tseng, 2011). The management practice undertaken by the organization tends to be in line with theory Y assumptions. In this theory, the management believes that the employees view their work as normal and will aim at obtaining additional responsibilities in their places of work (Russ, 2011). Given the right conditions, these managers believe that workers will be self-driven and work efficiently. Therefore, there will be joint decision making in regards to setting of objectives and development of strategies required to achieve these goals. Also these managers will delegate most duties and promote team work (Lowe et al., 2012). Even though the managers at Tesco have incorporated some of these propositions in the daily management of the organizations activities, it may not entirely lead to efficiency. This is because of the extensive number of the subordinates one manger supervises making it difficult to use the approach (Be nfari, 2013). Also, tasks allocated to the subordinates do not need specialized skills hence continued supervision by the managers is required in order for them to issue direction and ensure continuity in a bid to achieve the set goals of the firm (Inman et al., 2014 ). Drivers of change and the organizations stage in the change process There is always need for change in any organization, which is usually propelled by a variety of factors, which is also the case at Tesco. This section outlines the different factors that have contributed to the need for change at Tesco. It also addresses the stage of change in which the company currently is. One of these is the changing political environment. New legislations come up every day and therefore it needs to conform to these standards in order to avoid any legal suits against them. Legal suits may affect its cash flows as a majority of people may claim compensation. Issues also such as political instability may affect the operations of the organization (Lowe et al., 2012). Economic factors are also responsible for the changes. Factors such as economic crisis and fall in demand for goods may affect the cash flows adversely as sales will slump. This therefore poses a need for diversification of its operations hence a presenting a need for change (Benn et al., 2014). As the c ompany expands its operations, it manages this risk because when the risk is high in a certain market, there is another market with stable economic conditions (Polak et al., 2011). Social factors also contribute to this. Customer loyalty is a key social factor needed to ensure growth and sustainability of any business (Mahatma et al., 2013). For instance, news that the beef burgers from Tesco had horsemeat adversely affected the image of the organization and lowered the customer loyalty (The Guardian, 2013). This therefore drives for change as it has to ensure those who were affected are compensated and that corrective action is taken so no such occurrences are experienced in the future. Changes in the marketing strategies therefore are needed in order to restore the customer base (Anderson & Swaminathan, 2011). It can also be argued that technological factors are responsible for these changes (Hitt & Tambe, 2012). Due to Tesco’s extensive operations all over the world, it needs to adopt new technological advancements in order to ensure efficiency in its operations such as production and marketing. Issues such as social media marketing through twitter and Facebook should be considered in order to ensure they meet their target audience (Tuten & Solomon, 2012). Online shopping channels should also be enhanced further (Plunkett, 2009). At present, Tesco has undertaken numerous steps towards the change process. It has diversified its operations in order to prevent losses due to economic factors in one area. For instance it produces products such as petroleum and food products, both of which have inelastic demand (Tesco PLC, 2014). It complies with both the legal and ethical requirements especially in regards to food products and also compensates affected individuals in order to avoid law suits which could harm its operations. Also, the organization has undertaken numerous technological advancements in its operations in order to ensure its operations are well managed and that their customers are served efficiently (de Kervenoael et al., 2011). With reference to the j-curve model, there are stages which an organization goes through in the change process (Grabenwarter & Weidig, 2005). These include: †¢ Plateau: At this level there are minimal disruptions in the organization. †¢ Cliff: This stage is characterized by a lot of anxiety and uncertainties surrounding the new process. †¢ Valley: At this point, production is low and there are a lot of frustrations in the work place. It is the most critical part as it determines whether the change will be taken to completion. †¢ Ascent Stage: At this stage, the benefits from the development are reaped. There are no challenges at this point and the limited challenges faced can be easily resolved. †¢ Mountaintop: This is the final stage. Here, both productivity and performance have been improved. According to the j curve model, Tesco is at the ascent stage. This is because some of the benefits from the internationalization strategy are already being ripped by t he company (Lowe et al., 2012). Whether there is a strategy for this planned change or is it a response to a problem. For Tesco, the changes are both in form of a prior vision and as a response to changes in the issues in the market. Tesco has two key strategies which it employs in a bid to achieve its goals. These are: â€Å"How Tesco sells for less†- Tesco‘s goal is to sell large volumes of a wide range of products and services. In order to achieve this, they make use of the economies of scale benefits derived from producing and selling in bulk. This therefore implies that it can lower its prices hence sell its products globally at competitive prices (Tesco PLC, 2014). â€Å"Steering wheel† –this is related to its primary areas of concern. These are operations, people, financial and customers. Of all the four areas of concern, the customers are the most important. Tesco therefore, has ensured that the relationship between them is cordial and built on a t rust basis thereby securing their loyalty. It has ensured it provides quality products at very low prices and also that there is professionalism in service delivery to the customers (Bather & Tucker, 2011). The increase in competition in Tesco’s major markets is the main problem that has also led it to implement the internationalization strategy. With companies like Wal-Mart and Carrefour also struggling for the market share in the UK and other main markets, Tesco has had to consider expanding to other regions where there is less competition (Ryu & Simpson, 2011). Exploration of the problem to be addressed Whereas Tesco has successfully established itself in the many countries and is generally performing well, there are several problems it faces that ought to be addressed. This will improve the company’s performance and give it an edge over its main competitors in the market. These issues are discussed hereunder. Over dependence on the UK market Despite its extensive expansion to other market areas globally, its profits still largely depend on the UK market. About 73.8% and 65% of its profits in 2003 and 2009 respectively came from its UK market (Palmer, 2012). Even though this is not a problem in the short run, it may affect its operations in the long run if its competitors such as the Morrison’s group expand their operations and market share (Benn et al., 2014). Debt International expansion is expensive hence requires heavy cash flows used for marketing and investment purposes. Therefore, Tesco requires huge cash flows and these are raised through borrowing (Randall & Seth, 2011). The repayment of these debts has further been worsened by the economic downturn and has become expensive overtime. Its aggressive expansion activities reduce the cash available for financing other activities in the organization (Benn et al., 2014). Acquisitions Due to its large size, and wide range of products, Tesco can easily take over other firms, especially in the United Kingdom. However, there is a risk posed by it turning into a serial acquirer since these actions will lower its quality, brand visibility and even earnings. This therefore should be addressed and a different expansion strategy considered (Johnson & Turner, 2010). Aggressive expansion into large markets such as China and Japan may lead to a decline in returns due to reasons such as the existing economic conditions in these markets, reactions by competitors and failure of the company’s strategy (Benn et al., 2014). The key players and what each player may lose or win The key players here include: †¢ Competitors- these are most likely to lose their market share due to an increase in Tesco’s market share. Some of its competitors include ASDA, Carrefour S.A, Safeway Inc. and the Royal Dutch (Palmer, 2012). †¢ Government- the governments in various cou ntries where Tesco operates would most likely gain additional revenue from the taxes paid in by Tesco (Johnson & Turner, 2010). †¢ Customers- the consumers will benefit due to quality products at cheap prices since this is the main aim of Tesco. As the company seeks to gain a larger market share, it will be beneficial to clients (Anderson & Swaminathan, 2011). Articulation of the vision to the members or the organization As an organization, Tesco has a clear mission and vision. With a massive workforce of 597, 784 employees (as of 2013) there are strategies that are put in place to ensure that every one is at par with the organization’s mission and vision (Tesco PLC, 2014). The vision of Tesco is to be valued by the customers they serve, the communities in which they operate, colleagues and the shareholders. The organization seeks to transform lives through innovative products and inspire future generations. In all the 12 countries where Tesco operates, the company is va lued and appreciated. The people are served in the best regard and they are loyal clients. This is a clear indication that the vision of the company has been articulated by the members of the organization (Taylor, 2014). The level of support within the organization at each level For the change process to be efficiently implemented in an organization, it is vital for all parties to be equally involved. This will reduce resistance and facilitate an easy transition from the state prior to the change to the state after (Kotter, 2007). Generally, there is extensive support from the various levels in the organization at Tesco. For instance, the top level management makes decisions in regards to the possible areas of expansion. There have been minimal or no reports of resistance to internationalization at Tesco (Taylor, 2014). This means that as the company implements these strategies, it takes all the necessary measures to ensure that all the parties that are likely to be affected are well informed of the need for the change and the process that will be undertaken in the change process (Benn et al., 2014). Other levels in the organization, including the middle and lower levels, are also supportive of the changes (Taylor, 2014). Other key players to be consulted Apart from the parties within the organization, it is also vital for the company’s management to ensure that it consults other external stakeholders that are likely to be affected by the change (Kotter, 2007). There are different groups that need to be consulted. One of these groups comprises of the company’s creditors. These are the financers who facilitate the change process. Hence, their approval is needed because they need to certify that the expansion is profitable and that their funds will not be put in risky businesses (Bennett & Bush, 2013). Shareholders also have to be consulted. These are the owners of the business hence their interests must be factored in any decision making process. Their consent must be given before the expansion is undertaken. The governments of the home country and the target country into which the company intends to expand (Liguori, 2012). Before entering into any new markets, there are legislations set which must be observed. Compliance with these laws is needed before they can set up their operations in any country. Recommendations for forming or not forming a coalition It would be optimal for Tesco to form further coalitions with other organizations. This is because it will benefit in a number of ways. For instance, there will be an acquisition of additional skills from the company with which it is partnering. This also applies to other tangible and in tangible resources that might have cost the company a lot to acquire (Hogg et al., 2012). The potential market for Tesco will increase at a faster rate. By forming merger with companies that have already established themselves in the market, Tesco will automatically inherit the market share of the other companies. This is as opposed to a situation where the company could have entered the market on its own (Matsushima et al., 2013). Another advantage is that there will be improved information access and sharing, especially information about the markets being targeted (Hogg et al., 2012). Whereas there are benefits that the company can get by entering coalitions with other companies in expanding its op erations, there are also several limitations that it can be exposed to as a result of this. For instance, there can be conflicts in terms of how profits are shared among the companies involved (Matsushima et al., 2013). As a result of varying organizational cultures and structures, entering coalitions can also limit employee productivity as employees as there will be a conflict in the way they operate. This challenge is usually mostly felt in the early stages of the coalition (Benn et al., 2014). Recommendations on useful tools for managing change at the organization Generally, it is difficult for any organization and its employees to adjust to change. It is therefore recommended that an organization uses a model as this will give the leaders a guideline on how to effect this change and make it acceptable (Boje et al., 2012). There are several models that have been suggested by researchers to help in change management. One of these is Kotter’s eight-step model, which is summa rized in detail in the table below (Kotter, 2007). By following the steps that have been suggested by Kotter above, there is a high likelihood of succeeding in the change process. However, critics have faulted the model for being mechanistic and assuming that all organization can chronologically follow these steps. It fails to acknowledge that organizations differ (Liguori, 2012). Additional advice It is important to see to it that there is e continued success in operations of the organization. Presently, Tesco has greatly diversified its operations. Though it can be seen as a good strategy for business in terms of spreading risk, it can choose to focus and specialize in a few of them. The expansion of the nonfood operations offers a greater potential than the others and hence it can choose to concentrate in this area due to the extensive demand for these products. This however, can be adversely affected by the economic environment. Therefore, an extensive assessment of potential risk factors should be made before investments in this unit are undertaken. Of importance is to note that sales here are generated by the consumer confidence levels and ratings. At present, these are quite low. There is also an increase in the demand for organic and natural product in the United Kingdom. Tesco therefore should take advantage of this opportunity to conform to these lifestyle changes and develop products in order to tap into these new markets. This would be more efficient if Tesco could lower the costs of production in order to ensure that the product prices are not so high and hence are available to the consumers. In conclusion, Tesco can penetrate into new markets such as the United States through its current penetration strategy into undiscovered markets as this has been effective in the past and still is. This is because the current retailers are not willing to delve into these markets. This would also require an extensive risk assessment especially in regards to transportation and supply as this would affect the cash flows .hence, it would be effective to use a clustered approach in development of stores instead of placing them indiscriminately. If it can penetrate the fresh foods market in the United states then they will continue to be successful as the demand for food is relatively inelastic and will not be adversely affected in case of economic downturns. References Anderson, R.E. & Swaminathan, S., 2011. Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty in E-Markets: A PLS Path Modeling Approach. The Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 19(2), pp.221 – 234. Bather, A. & Tucker, R., 2011. Legitimacy Theory and a Compliance Analysis of Tesco’s 2008 Business Review. International Review of Business Research, 7(2), pp.137-56. Benfari, R.C., 2013. Understanding and Changing Your Management Style: Assessments and Tools for Self-development. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Benn, S., Dunphy, D. & Griffiths, A., 2014. Organizational change for corporate sustainability. Londin: Routledge. Bennett, J.L. & Bush, ?.W., 2013. Coaching for Change. New Jersey: Routledge. Boje, D., Burnes, B?. & Hassard, ?J., 2012. The Routledge Companion to Organizational Change. New York: Routledge. de Kervenoael, R., Canning, C., Palmer, M. & Hallsworth, A., 2011. Challenging market conventions: Supermarket diversification and consumer resistance in children’s apparel purchases. Journal of fashion marketing and management, 15(4), pp.464-85. Grabenwarter, U. & Weidig, T?., 2005. Exposed to the J-Curve: Understanding and Managing Private Equity Fund Investments. London: Euromoney Books. Hitt, L.M. & Tambe, P., 2012. The Productivity of Information Technology Investments: New Evidence from IT Labor Data. Information Systems Research, 4(1), pp.234-57. Hogg, M.A., Van Knippenberg, D. & Rast, D.E., 2012. Intergroup leadership in organizations: Leading across group and organizational boundaries. Academy of Management Review, 37(2), pp.232-55. Inman, M., O’Sullivan, ?N. & Murton, A?., 2014. Unlocking Human Resource Management. New Jersey: Routledge. Johnson, D. & Turner, ?C., 2010. International Business: Themes and Issues in the Modern Global Economy. New Jersey: Routledge. Kotter, J.P., 2007. Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail. Harvard Business Review, pp.1-10. Liguori, M., 2012. The supremacy of the sequence: key elements and dimensions in the process of change. Organization Studies, 33(4), pp.507-39. Lowe, M., George, G. & Alexy, O., 2012. Organizational identity and capability development in internationalization: transference, splicing and enhanced imitation in Tesco’s US market entry. Journal of Economic Geography, 12(5), pp.1021-54. Mahatma, I.G., Bakti, Y. & Sumaedi, S., 2013. An analysis of library customer loyalty: The role of service quality and customer satisfaction, a case study in Indonesia. Library Management, 34(6/7), pp.397-414. Maitah, M., 2010. How Culture Affects your Business. [Online] Available at: http://www.maitah.com/wp-content/How%20culture%20affects%20your%20business.pdf [Accessed 17 May 2014]. Matsushima, N., Sato, Y. & Yamamoto, K., 2013. Horizontal Mergers, Firm Heterogeneity, and R&D Investments. The BE Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, 13(2), pp.959-90. Miozzo, M., Yamin, M. & Ghauri, P.N., 2012. Strategy and structure of service multinationals and their impact on linkages with local firms. The Service Industries Journa, 32(7), pp.1171-91. Palmer, A., 2012. Introduction to Marketing: Theory and Practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Plunkett, J.W., 2009. Plunkett’s E-Commerce and Internet Business Almanac 2009. Texas: Plunkett Research. Polak, P., Robertson, D.C. & Lind, M., 2011. The New Role of the Corporate Treasurer: Emerging Trends in Response to the Financial Crisis. International Research Journal of Finance and Economics, (78). Randall, G. & Seth, A?., 2011. The Grocers: The Rise and Rise of Supermarket Chains. New York: Kogan Page. Russ, T.L., 2011. Theory X/Y assumptions as predictors of managers’ propensity for participative decision making. Management Decision, 49(5), pp.823-36. Ryu, J.S. & Simpson, J.J., 2011. Retail internationalization: Lessons from† Big Three† global retailers’ failure cases. Journal of Business & Retail Management Research, 6(1). Taylor, M., 2014. The Success of Tesco’s International Expansion. Munich: GRIN Verlag. Tesco PLC, 2014. About Us. [Online] Available at: http://www.tescoplc.com/ [Accessed 11 5l 2014]. Tesco, 2012. Annual Review and summary Financial Statement 2012. London: Tesco PLC. The Guardian, 2013. How the horsemeat scandal unfolded – timeline. The Guardian, 15 February. Tseng, S.-M., 2011. The effects of hierarchical culture on knowledge management processes. Management Research Review, 34(5), pp.595-608. Tuten, T.L. & Solomon, M.R., 2012. Social Media Marketing. New York: Prentice

Monday, September 16, 2019

Sexual Health Information In Education Health And Social Care Essay

To discourse the modern-day positions in public wellness issues, like sexual wellness, by looking the argument sing the McKeown thesis from a critical angle, To critically analyze the â€Å" National scheme for sexual wellness and HIV † paper, which was published in 2001, by the Department of Health of the UK authorities, To measure the study of the â€Å" National scheme of sexual wellness and HIV programme † in the United Kingdom.Sexual wellness and public wellnessHarmonizing to â€Å" Choosing Health † , the national wellness scheme of the UK, â€Å" wellness and instruction go hand-in-hand † ( p.55 ) and I could non hold more. The term â€Å" sexual wellness † refers to a formatted, based on cognition, attitude and personal belief about sex, sexual individuality and sexual relationships. If the individual achieves this, he/she will be able to do picks that will be safe for his/her wellness. In add-on, instruction ‘s intent is to do the pupils become witting of their accomplishments, involvements and demands and to supply them with all the indispensable cognition that will fix them and assist them throughout the class of their lives. It is noted in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child that sex instruction is a right to immature people. Sexual a ctivity instruction is the chief manner kids and immature people learn to protect themselves from maltreatment, unplanned and unwanted gestations, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. â€Å" Sexually familial infections, by their nature, affect persons, who are portion of partnerships and larger sexual webs, and in bend populations † ( Low N. , Broutet N. , Adu-Sarkodie Y. , Barton P. , Hossain M. , Hawkes S. , 2006, page 1 ) . Sexual wellness, as a public wellness issue, is still considered a tabu by a big proportion of the populace and it ‘s my personal belief that some faiths struggle to keep this position. It is besides thought to be one of the chief sectors in wellness, where inequalities thrive. Bettering sexual wellness is presently being given considerable accent in authorities policy ( Thurston M. , Alexander D. , 2006 ) . It hence becomes apparent that sexual wellness is a really important issue in public wellness and its handling demands careful consideration and forceful cognition. The lessons from past errors and public wellness history are of great significance.The McKeown thesis and modern-day public wellnessOne of the most problematic topics for public wellness practicians, epidemiologists and human ecology experts is the McKeown thesis. The doctor and demographic historian Thomas McKeown published, in 1955, an article discoursing the evidences of population augmentation in eighteenth century. That article is considered a landmark for public wellness practicians and research workers. Though his purpose was to deflate the claims made by the advocates of curative medical specialty ( Harris, 2002 ) , McKeown ‘s work gave rise to a twine of arguments and farther research in a broad scope of topics comparative to public wellness. Additionally, by exhaustively analysing the existent grounds that cause mortality rates to worsen, we can analyze closely what causes populations to turn either healthy or ailing. Consequently, decisions can be drawn sing modern-day wellness policies, concerns and precedences. In his research, McKeown observed assorted facets which referred to the population growing and concluded that dramatic decreases in mortality over the past 2 centuries were due to improved socioeconomic conditions instead than to medical or public wellness intercessions. He pointed out significantly the upgrading of nutrition, as a factor of great importance for the diminution of mortality. The controversial thesis drew attending from the scientific community chiefly for negative belittling. The chief unfavorable judgments of McKeown ‘s thesis are expressed by those who believe that a great part of his decisions were biased. He is considered to hold ignored a serious figure of factors, like alterations in the virulency of infective beings, betterments in personal and domestic hygiene, medical intercession and the good effects of the healthful revolution of the 2nd half of the nineteenth century ( Harris, 2002 ) . McKeown ‘s thesis is besides believed to be oppugning the effectivity of inoculation and quarantine ( Colgrove J, 2002 ) . Alternatively, he overplayed the betterment in overall criterions of life, giving peculiar accent on diet and nutritionary position, as a consequence of improved economic conditions ( Colgrove J, 2002 ) . In her commentary on the McKeown argument, Emily Grundy ( 2004 ) profiles in a point description the grounds that the thesis received this unfavorable judgment. These five points can be summed up to the followers: backward extrapolation, overemphasis on the function of TB and therefore exaggerating the function of switching life criterions and nutrition, unrecognised medical intercessions, ambiguity sing the preciseness of the increasing criterions of life in the 18th-19th century and the association between nutrition and hazard of decease from the prevalent infective diseases and in the terminal self-partiality on the function of medical specialty and the best deployment of resources in McKeown ‘s clip ( Grundy, 2004 ) . In add-on to this sentiment, Szreter ( 2002 ) criticizes McKeown for non stressing the societal doctrine and practical political relations as a portion of the public wellness motion in the nineteenth century. Szreter besides sits opposite McKeown ‘s thesis that public wellness is non placed in a societal intercession context. Szreter ‘s thesis besides suggests that McKeown had about casual and surely biased sentiments, which resulted in the practical dismantling of the public wellness sector the last 2 decennaries of the twentieth century. Furthermore, he suggests that McKeown â€Å" had allowed his a priori premises about the limited value of medical intercession and the demand for societal reform to predetermine his analytic classs, therefore biasing his reading of grounds † ( Colgrove, 2002, page 728 ) . As the McKeown thesis was under fire for its unidimensional attack, a worthy figure of following researches gave a holistic attack on what affected life anticipation in Britain since the eighteenth century as reported in Harris ‘ research ( 2002 ) . The consequences were of great importance and value for the public wellness community. The inoculation and vaccination led to crisp decrease in the incidence of smallpox mortality, as suggested by Razzell and Mercer ( cited in Harris B. , 2002 ) . Besides, harmonizing to Dobson ‘s research ( cited in Harris B. , 2002 ) the draining of fens in Essex, Kent and Sussex helped the decline of malaria deceases. Furthermore, Jones and Falkus and Porter and Landers ( cited in Harris B. , 2002 ) pointed out a scope of ecological sweetenings in southern England and in London. Additionally, Daunton ‘s research proposal ( cited in Harris B. , 2002 ) was that the debut of wallpaper and linoleum in propertyless places was a positive interpolation on the decrease of TB. Furthermore, Cronje ( cited in Harris B. , 2002 ) suggested there was important indicant that the betterment of lodging ( new edifices, decrease of inordinate overcrowding, increased authorities ordinance ) resulted in better sanitation and H2O supply. As sanely Harris ( 2002 ) points out, all the above mentioned factors should be included along with nutrition, which needs to be regarded as one of a battery of factors, frequently interacting, which played a cardinal function in Britain ‘s mortality passage. Harris ‘ poised and composed sentiment meets my ideas on the topic. Nutrition is one of the factors, non the chief, non the least, but one of them surely. Furthermore, as Grundy E. , 2004, points out McKeown ‘s overemphasis on the function of TB is misdirecting. Contemporary public wellness has to confront a series of challenges, all of them important sing the population ‘s wellness, globally and locally. One of these challenges is sexually familial diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, sexually transmitted diseases have come to be really common worldwide and statistics are let downing. Chlamydia is diagnosed in younger ages than a few old ages ago and HIV can infect immature people at an increased rate ( Health Canada, Laboratory Centre for Disease Control, 1999, p.1 ) . At a conference in London in 2008, as Helen MacDonald studies for BMJ, Gareth Thomas ( Development curate of the UK ) said that â€Å" the world is that the spread of HIV is set to gyrate o ut of control unless we act now. Five people are infected with HIV every minute † . Furthermore, Khumalo Nonkosi ( South African AIDS militant and president of the Treatment Action Campaign ) noted that certain societal factors discourage people utilizing preventative methods in sexual intercourse and that where literacy and instruction are in low degrees, the apprehension of HIV, safe sex pattern and behavioral alterations towards sexual wellness are hard ( MacDonald H. , 2008 ) . Sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, as a public wellness issue, concerns developed and developing states, all age groups, all races, both genders. Unfortunately, some sexually transmitted diseases can take to tragic consequences, for illustration chlamydia can do sterility if left untreated, and HIV/AIDS remains to day of the month a chronic unwellness, taking 1000000s to decease and no intervention has been found yet. Having said these, taking into consideration the lessons derived from McKeown ‘s argument, I strongly believe that if a public wellness practician focuses on the job of sexually transmitted diseases demands to look at the topic spherically. It is indispensable to avoid opinionated, prejudiced and hence biased methods and positions on the topic. In modern-day public wellness the McKeown ‘s argument can be utile as an illustration to avoid whilst carry oning a research. Being as less biased as possible surely gets valuable accurate consequences, which can be utilized in the development of a strategic program or a run and sets the research safely off from narrow minded patterns. At the same clip, being able to analyze a public wellness issue with a clear position can offer simple and effectual solutions and it can besides play a critical function in the public wellness experts ‘ prioritisation. Furthermore, McKeown presented deceptively the improved life criterions as the ground of mortality diminution in the eighteenth century in the United Kingdom, giving a cause to other scientists to look into farther and conclude that human action was the chief overall ground for the alteration of the wellness position in the peculiar period. I consider this to be one of the most of import parts of the McKeown argument, for the ground that it can be used in modern-day public wellness issues as a taking principle. If human action and engagement is absent, sing sexually transmitted diseases, there is non much we can make to forestall and undertake this public wellness issue. The World Health Organisation published in 2008 its concluding study on societal determiners of wellness. The study includes a chart ( see below, chart 1 ) that identifies the factors that contribute in a individual ‘s wellness province. Some of the factors reported in the chart are instruction, unemployment, s ingle life style factors, cultural and environmental conditions. It can be clearly observed that human action and engagement are identified as factors which determine the individual ‘s wellness. Chart 1: Social determiners of wellness ( W.H.O. , 2008 ) As a concluding point, harmonizing to Simon Szreter ( 2002, page 722 ) â€Å" the field of public wellness is a expansive societal intercession † . In my sentiment, this intercession can be expansive merely if it is non biased, societal if it is organized in the community for the community and intercession merely if it is based on true and earnest scientific discipline.â€Å" The National Strategy of sexual wellness and HIV programme †Having exhaustively examined McKeown ‘s thesis and the argument on it, I plan to measure the â€Å" National scheme of sexual wellness and HIV † programme, giving peculiar consideration on the facet of sexual wellness information and its publicity. The programme was published in July 2001 by the Department of Health in the United Kingdom. As it is declared in the paper â€Å" if the scheme succeeds it will hold contributed to cut downing wellness inequalities † ( page 4 ) .DescriptionThe â€Å" National Strategy of sex ual wellness and HIV programme † was the really first national scheme of England. It has been described as proposition of â€Å" a comprehensive and holistic theoretical account for covering with an increasing public wellness job † ( Adler W.M. , French P. , McNab A. , Smith C. , Wellsteed S. , 2002, page 83 ) . It is believed that England is confronting a sexual wellness crisis ( Power L. , 2004 ) . Harmonizing to the paper, England has one of the lowest rates of HIV in Western Europe. However, when this intercession was conducted ( 2001 ) , the prevalence was lifting quickly, about duplicating its rate. The figures taken from the Health Protection Agency show that in 2001, the informations sing work forces show that 3,123 new instances of HIV were diagnosed. In 2007 4,887 new instances were diagnosed. As for the AIDS patients, there was no important difference between the two figures. Harmonizing to the statistics, in the period between 1999 and 2002, HIV rates ascended by about 20 % every twelvemonth. Furthermore, a 3rd of HIV-positive individuals were incognizant of their wellness status ( Power L. , 2004 ) . As Power L. , 2004, suggests â€Å" sexually familial infections are at their highest degrees since records began. The state has the worst sexual wellness in western Europe † ( page 108 ) . The intercession sets as a mark to cut down HIV infections by a one-fourth in six old ages. Clearly the mark was non achieved. The intercession relies a batch on the providing of information, instead than advancing wellness seeking behavior. Information about sexual wellness has undistinguished effectivity without integrating in instruction. Education is the lone manner to undertake inequalities, because it ‘s the lone manner for everyone to have all the necessities. Technology, for illustration, has greater handiness in higher societal categories. I believe that this is the chief defect of this intercession and I will lucubrate my sentiment below.Deductions of societal inequalityThe determiners of wellness and wellness inequalities are multifaceted and wellness attention can non sometimes command them. I will show a brief image of the state of affairs in the UK, taking to show via statistics and present informations the societal inequality which is a important job in the subdivision of sexual wellness. Deductions of societal inequality are clearly seeable in the statistics, since specific groups are at greater hazard. Statisticss suggest that there are important groups that are high hazard for HIV transmittal. African communities have been overly affected. A systematic spread of HIV and gonorrhea among the male homosexual community is besides observed ( Dodds P.J. , Nardone A. , Mercey E.D. , Johnson M.A. , 2000 ) . Injecting drug misusers hold a notable rate of infection. Additionally, Blanc AK. , 2001, suggests that adult females are in greater danger to be infected on history of power inequalities based on gender. As the World Health Organisation describes the state of affairs â€Å" a married adult female contracts HIV because social criterions promote her hubby ‘s promiscuousness while at the same time forestalling her from take a firm standing on rubber usage † ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.who.int/entity/gender/en ) . What ‘s more, â€Å" public and political attending on HIV has focused chiefly on the demonisation of peculiar groups, such as refuge searchers and other immigrant communities, and the usage of this stigmatised issue to fuel frights and biass about in-migration † ( Power L. , 2004, page 108 ) . In the survey of Simkhada, P. , new wave Teijlingen, E. , Yakubu, B. , Mandava, L. , Bhattacharya, S. , Eboh, W. , Pitchforth, E. , 2005, for the NHS of Scotland, there is strong grounds that intercessions aimed at bettering sexual wellness in immature people from BME communities have non been studied really good in the UK. It is besides noted that information based intercessions were less effectual than skill based programmes and that holding a theoretical footing seemed to lend positively to the intercession ‘s effectivity. Taking a expression at other states ‘ scheme, the USA can be a utile illustration, sing their policy to undertake deductions of societal inequality in sexual wellness publicity. Numerous runs are taking topographic point in the USA, in an effort to make all people, from all backgrounds and all life styles and raise consciousness and concern. The groups identified as marks are: Cheery African Americans, black churches and church members, African American young person and households, American Indians, Alaska natives, native Hawaiian communities, Asiatic and Pacific Islander communities, HIV negative homosexual work forces, HIV positive people, political leaders, Latinos and Latinos under 25, adult females, young person, cheery work forces, overseas telegram and telecommunications industry and general populace ( information obtained from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/campaign/index.asp ) . All these runs aim to specific groups, in add-on to the general pop ulace. This can guarantee that the message can make all people, no exclusions. This is a point that I believe the â€Å" National Strategy of sexual wellness and HIV programme † should hold taken into careful consideration. BBC reported that Professor Sir Michael Marmot, president of the Scientific Reference Group of Health Inequalities, in an interview on BBC Radio 4 ‘s Today programme in 2005 said that in order to cover with wellness inequalities efficaciously the authorities needs to concentrate on â€Å" the fortunes in which people live and work and the ways we raise our kids, the criterions of instruction † . BBC besides cited wellness inequalities expert, Professor Danny Dorling ‘s words, that the authorities â€Å" without undertaking wealth inequalities, which are widening, it is non traveling to be able to undertake wellness inequalities † . It is evident that intercessions which set as their mark to undertake wellness inequalities must concentrate closely in social facets, like instruction and socioeconomic position. These informations seem to be ignored from the policy in reappraisal, in malice of the mention on page 55 of â€Å" Choosing Health † .Theoretical and ideological justification of intercessionsSearching for a definition for â€Å" intercessions † on the cyberspace, I came across the definition that the NHS gives. It suggests that intercessions are types of activity that aid to cut down people ‘s hazard of developing a disease or status or aid to advance or keep a wellness life style. It is safe to state to that intercession can be an active step to cut down the prevalence of HIV, to advance sexual wellness wonts and to develop a wellness seeking behavior. The NHS web site gives illustrations of intercessions, such as the providing of advice, services and support. However, this is more likely a apparent definition. From a more political and ideological point of position, intercession is a planned scheme that has to function a set of ends, which is assessed in proportion to the political orientation followed by the authorities. Furthermore, on page 7 of the National scheme it is reported that England has low HIV prevalence rates, compared to some Western European states. This point is used as an alibi for the rise in freshly diagnosed infections and in the same paragraph it is noted that it is of great importance to move quickly via â€Å" wellness publicity, needle exchange strategies and other injury minimization enterprises, testing of blood and clinical intercessions, the handiness of open-access GUM clinics and careful surveillance and analysis of tendencies † ( page 7 ) . I agree with all these steps ; nevertheless I believe that instruction should besides be mentioned and included actively in any intercession and policy for sexual wellness. The NHS is clearly driven by a set of beliefs: free market economic sciences, competition as a mechanism for bettering quality and patient pick ( Gillies AC, 2003 ) . Given that these are the beliefs followed by the NHS, it is no admiration that the sexual wellness publicity relies, falsely in my sentiment, at a broad extent to personal pick. Gillies A.C. , ( 2003 ) gives a touchable position on the topic proposing that â€Å" the world of wellness attention is that it represents a monolithic figure of single interactions between people, that people respond to as persons. Whilst it may be necessary for determination shapers to look at things from the macro degree, losing sight of the micro degree will ensue in bad determinations † . An interesting thought of intercession can be found in Rose ( 1992 ) , who suggests that we are all responsible for all. When it comes to intercessions sing sexual wellness publicity, Low N. et Al, 2006, illustrate that intercessions in sexual wellness issues should hold the undermentioned degrees: The single degree ( the patient ‘s symptoms are managed with antibiotics and his/her spouse gets intervention every bit good ) The degree of partnership ( prenatal pox testing benefits the female parent and her babe ) The degree of populations ( inoculation of all adolescent misss against Human Papilloma Virus might halt them developing cervical malignant neoplastic disease, geting virus from, or conveying it to, a new sexual spouse and finally cut down transmittal of carcinogenic virus strains in the population ) Structural, legal and policy intercessions ( Torahs against favoritism, programmes taking to cut down gender-based inequalities, policies to better instruction ) . Low N. et Al, 2006, besides propose that â€Å" an intermediate degree of intercession that recognises the importance of mother-child or sexual partnerships, and therefore webs † ( page 3 ) should be regarded indispensable.Influence of different socio-political and economic contexts where the intercession operatesThe intercession sagely points out that it needs to better outreach services for people with undiagnosed HIV peculiarly in targeted groups. This is a step pointed directly to cut down wellness inequalities sing the entree of medical attention in specific groups. The intercession involves aggregate media via runs of enlightening character. As celebrated above, this is an elliptic point of the intercession, as the literature suggests that intercessions sing sexual wellness should be skill based. However, it is positively noted that the intercession ‘s run information are grounds based ( Yzer, 2000 ) . The intercession suggests the following groups as peculiarly vulnerable and/or in the demand of peculiar entree demands: immature people, and particularly those in, or go forthing attention ; black and minority cultural groups ; homosexual and bisexual work forces ; shooting drug misusers ; grownups and kids populating with HIV and other people affected by HIV ; sex workers ; and captives and people in young person piquing constitutions. It excludes people with disablements without supplying grounds to back up this determination. It besides targets adult females of certain civilizations as in demand to go cognizant of the dangers carried in female venereal mutilation. Inexplicably, the intercession does non mention to male Circumcision, though medical grounds support that it can be unsafe for the male ‘s wellness ( Men ‘s Health Forum ) . The scheme identifies as common barriers the stigma, favoritism, poorness and societal exclusion, linguistic communication, entree jobs, low consciousness and concerns about confidentiality. It does non place as a common barrier the deficiency of instruction and related accomplishments development. When discoursing and be aftering the publicity of sexual wellness it is critical to considerate the possible influence of different socio-political and economic contexts where the intercession operates. Sexual activity is a topic of delicate nature. Even nowadays it is considered as a tabu subject, even for treatment. What the intercession failed to look at was that sexual wellness and its publicity is non easy and it can non be done by supplying cusps to the people. School environment, spiritual beliefs and of class the parents are non even mentioned as a path of acquiring through the message to the kids and adolescents. The intercession merely relies on the each-time judgement of every school to supply the manner and the sum of information it considers appropriate to the pupils. In add-on to that, people with experience on sexually transmitted diseases and HIV are non brought in to give their positions and personal narratives and the intercession does non give the indispensable gui delines and the critical information that pupils must acquire. Even so, information is non by itself Panacea. Children and adolescents must develop accomplishments and wonts towards wellness seeking behavior. Several surveies support this enterprise. Health publicity messages can be more successfully communicated and understood by the mark audience â€Å" when representatives of the affected groups are actively involved in run design and airing ( Pickett J. , Lesondak L. , Gratzer B. , Anderson L.L. , 2006 ) . Peer-education programmes besides proved to be effectual, chiefly because immature people officially began to learn their equals how to utilize linguistic communication and accomplishments associated with the discourse on hazardous sexual behavior ( Shoveller A.J. , Johnson J.L. , 2006 ) . Furthermore the intervention of patients at their first visit can be helpful in avoiding loss to follow-up and it can show a alone chance for â€Å" instruction, advice on sexual behavior, publicity or proviso of rubbers, and spouse presentment † ( Low N. , Broutet N. , Adu-Sarkodie Y. , Barton P. , Hossain M. , Hawkes S. , 2006, page 5 ) . Another survey showed that â€Å" educational attempts can hold a positive consequence on cut downing unsafe sexual and even drug usage patterns. This determination provides justification for larger school-based undertakings † ( Brown L.K. , Fritz G.K. , 1988, page 311 ) . The same survey besides suggests that â€Å" loosely based intercessions, in which the instruction is integrated into a assortment of state of affairss and repeated in multiple signifiers, are more likely to alter sexual behavior than brief, encapsulated presentations † and that â€Å" parental engagement with the AIDS course of study may increase its effectivity † ( ibid ) . The survey of Thomas P.R. , Davis J.S. , Du P. , Coles F.B. , 2006, investigated the perceptual experiences sing sexual wellness and its publicity of a big community sing high morbidity due to sexually familial diseases. The statement â€Å" at that place needs to be more unfastened treatment in our community about the hazards and job of sexually transmitted diseases † received the higher rate in importance degree. However, the perceptual experiences proposing that â€Å" most people know plenty about how to protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases † and â€Å" merely individual single people need instruction about sexually transmitted diseases † received a high rate as good. 53 % of the participants expressed credence of sexual wellness publicity by the usage of hoardings, whilst 96 % believe that it is acceptable to back sexual wellness in high schools. The intercession fails to place another job ; that parents are disinclined for their kids to have information about sex and sexual wellness because of the domination of the stereotype that states â€Å" if you promote sexual wellness, you besides promote sex † . My personal sentiment is that the challenge the NHS had to face was to alter this stereotype into â€Å" advancing sexual wellness, promotes wellness † , but alternatively avoided any effectual return of extremist steps. Though the debut and presentation of the intercession appears effectual, but at the terminal of the twenty-four hours, alternatively of aiming the positive results on the population ‘s wellness position, it measures figures and statistics and merely marks Numberss. Consequently, one can state that the intercession has no frontward planning in head, but merely the tax write-off of the statistic figures, even temporarily.DecisionThe intercession is, in my personal sentiment and opinion, unaw are of indispensable foundations of wellness publicity and bar. It does non exhaustively analyze the tracts and the picks of an effectual intercession and merely follows already tested but already failed steps. In decision, Gillies AC. ( 2003 ) states that a good health care system would supply you with entree to care when you need it. A better system would forestall you from holding that demand if possible by maintaining you healthy. I believe that this should be the very foundation on which the NHS and the wellness systems as a whole must follow, particularly sing issues so complex and multifaceted as sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS.â€Å" The national scheme for sexual wellness and HIV † paperAt this portion of the undertaking I will show a critical analysis of â€Å" The national scheme for sexual wellness and HIV † paper, which was foremost published in 2001 by the Department of Health of the UK authorities. The reappraisal will be an appraising description of the paper, taking to place the strengths and failings of the paper and its effects on national and international, if existing, public wellness policies.Critical reappraisalAs stated in the preface of the paper, written by Yvette Cooper, England has one of the lowest rates of HIV in Western Europe. This is believed to be a consequence of a controlling direction of the HIV menace every bit shortly as it emerged, along with policies promoting and actuating contraceptive method, attending to GUM clinics and needle exchange. However, patients of HIV are increasing, and so are incidences of Sexually Transmitted Infections and unplanned gestations. To be more specific, the UK retains the highest adolescent birth rate in Western Europe. This paper, published in 2001, is the first of all time national scheme for sexual wellness and HIV in the whole of UK. These two facts ca n't be but correlated. The UK authorities decided to carry on a completed targeted scheme, nearing the topic spherically ( or at least seeking to make so ) about decennaries after the HIV, STIs and unplanned/teen gestations were an run-of-the-mill developed universe phenomenon, merely alerted by the lifting prevalence of STIs and HIV. Subsequently this scheme is certainly non preventative. As stated in the paper, the scheme aims to modernize sexual wellness and HIV services in the UK. The purposes of the scheme are summarized in five points and can be abstracted in two parts: the decrease and the betterment. The decrease of the transmitta l of HIV and STIs, the prevalence of undiagnosed HIV and STIs instances, the unintended gestation rates and eventually the stigma associated with HIV and STIs. The betterment concerns the wellness and societal attention for people populating with HIV. This follows to proposals related with the providing of information, effectual local bar, the development of managed webs for HIV and sexual wellness services and a figure of other targeted steps. Nonetheless, an attack on a public wellness affair based on marks is non ever an option, non an easy and non a wise one either. As Hunter and Fairfield ( 1997 ) point out sagely marks possess many possible booby traps which can confuse the unwary. Puting marks is comparatively easy but their execution may be well more hard, peculiarly if a naA?ve theoretical account of the policy procedure as rational and additive is adopted. Those responsible for puting marks need to give equal attending to the execution procedure and guarantee that the need ed accomplishments and resources are in topographic point to let the marks to stand a opportunity of success. A positive point of the paper is that it perceives sexual wellness as an of import portion of physical and mental wellness. This means that the scheme aims to follow a holistic attack on the affair, which is the lone manner to confront the jobs and deductions efficaciously and in long footings in the public wellness field and particularly the sexual wellness field. It besides ascertains that sexual wellness jobs have grown in recent old ages but fails to place the grounds for this. Harmonizing to Simkhada et Al. ( 2005 ) , the increasing prevalence of STIs is due to biological, societal and psychological factors, with the chief factor being the hapless wellness seeking behavior. It is ill-defined throughout the paper if the scheme has taken in head the lessons of the yesteryear. It is besides quoted in the paper that if the scheme succeeds it will hold contributed to cut downing wellness inequalities. Traveling through the proposals of the scheme, I could nail few steps that have straight way to the wellness inequalities, most of them general and unoriginal. The paper fails to stress on the demand to drop generic attacks. Information demand to be promoted in different ways, depending on the mark audience. In order to alter adolescent sexual life style and behaviour a multidisciplinary attack, utilizing policy authorizations, direct intercession, media, function modeling and societal support is indispensable. In add-on, â€Å" consistent, uninterrupted messages through multiple channels ( school, place, community and media ) and by multiple agents ( parents, equals, and wellness and instruction professionals ) need to be provided † ( Allensworth D.D. , Symons C.W. , 1989, page 59 ) . In add-on to that, the paper compares the UK with other Western Europe states that have similar jobs sing the sexual wellness issue in a manner that appears to be warranting the authorities actions. It merely refers to states with similar or worse statistics than England and remains soundless about other states that have managed to construct bar schemes. A good illustration of successful HIV bar plan is Germany ( Rosenbrock R, 2007 ) . When it comes to the designation of the inequalities in sexual wellness, the paper points out that adult females, cheery work forces, adolescents, immature grownups and black and minority groups are on the less favorable place. It ‘s a constructive portion of the paper that it states the obvious correlativity between sexual ailment wellness, poorness and societal exclusion and the fluctuation of the quality of the proviso of sexual wellness services ( including the scope and entree ) . The paper besides considers the hold in assignments in GUM clinics, the inaccessibility and obsolesces of information and the hard entree in rural countries as of import factors, which is of import and important, particularly when managing sexual wellness issues. It is appraisable the National Strategy for sexual wellness and HIV includes instruction as a chief participant in the modulating of a healthy sexual behavior. It besides refers to the intolerance of favoritism. I believe this to be one of the chief illustrations of the holistic attack the paper aims to follow. Another illustration for this is the engagement of the mass media, with the launch of major telecasting and newspaper advertisement runs, with a warning character about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases and unintended gestations. An of import observation about the paper is the mention in female Circumcision, which is normally executed for cultural-religious grounds. The paper faces this fact professionally, demoing concern and involvement in protecting all people and supplying equality in all civilizations, without being disrespectful. However, as cited by the Men ‘s Health Forum â€Å" the scheme fails to advert the issue of male Circumcision for non-medical grounds and the deficiency of grounds to demo that Circumcision in these fortunes in any manner benefits the wellness of work forces and male childs. [ .. ] The remotion of the prepuce is unneeded and unadvisable. This information should be provided in a manner that recognises spiritual and cultural esthesias refering this issue † ( page 10, paragraph 12.1 ) . Bearing in head that helplines are a utile tool in supplying information, the paper does non promote their publicity in countries with STD morbidity, as suggested by research ( Emma Freuda, Susan Perez, Kim Harrison, Elizabeth Swanson Hollinger, and Ana Hernandez, 2006 ) . A blurry point in the paper is the failure to acknowledge the diverseness within the homosexual community and the incompatibility of the homosexual community across the state. The paper succeeds in observing the interaction of gender and civilization within peculiar cultural groups, but fails to see that the group of white work forces is non homogeneous.Decisionâ€Å" The National Strategy for sexual wellness and HIV † paper is a by and large well-written policy, which at a first reading does non affect you, nor lets you down. However, traveling exhaustively through the paper it ‘s easy to nail many mistakes or deficits. When covering with such important issues sing public wellness, such as sexual wellness, a well-written policy is non a solution. There are many unequal and deficient points analyzed in the paper and other with much room for betterment. Though it is a recent paper at some points it appears out of day of the month, unaware of modern forms in sexual behavior. In my sentiment, the paper fails to propose effectual steps and relies on the single behavior, irrespective that it ‘s sing public wellness itself. It should besides g ive greater significance in the importance of instruction. As research suggests â€Å" instruction is an of import constituent in sexually familial diseases control in striplings. The end of instruction is to increase adolescent self-efficiency in practising STD bar and risk-reduction. A comprehensive attack including quality, theory-based instruction, accessible and effectual wellness clinics, and improved societal and economic conditions has the most promise of commanding STDs in striplings † ( Yarber W.L. , Parrillo A.V. , 1992, page 331 ) .Shutting remarksLooking back on the work produced for this assignment, of import decisions can be drawn from a personal point of position and a series of of import lessons can be noted from the scientist ‘s point of position. I will seek to exemplify these via an overall reappraisal of the faculty, its larning results and the part of the assignment. Discoursing the McKeown argument, as portion of this undertaking, was a first measure in larning to analyse critically constructs and thoughts sing public wellness issues and acquiring familiar with the composing look of this analysis. It was besides an first-class illustration on how being biased can ensue in inaccurate and useless consequences and programmes, every bit good as how easy can a questionable research cause biased critic. It besides contributed on the larning results of the faculty. This is because by taking a critical position on current public issues, like AIDS for illustration, in the visible radiation of the historical position helped the elevation of consciousness sing the many factors a public wellness practician should ever see. The faculty, through analysing modern-day informations and discoursing exhaustively and extensively current issues about wellness policies and patterns, like for illustration the â€Å" Choosing Health † paper, set me into a batch of believing on the importance of public wellness in important current issues which are related with the wellbeing of the population and even of the humanity as a sum. Learning to critically analyse intercessions and their results is a really of import tool for a public wellness practician, and I consider that I have gained important cognition from the faculty and the undertaking for this topic. Bing able to really look between the lines, acknowledging the exaggeration frequently found in documents and chair objectively is a virtuousness for a public wellness practician. In add-on to that, holding to critically reexamine an intercession was a really utile experience I might state, because it gave me the opportunity to methodically read and analyse sentiments and informations and to organize my ain sentiment by reading the responses, some negative, some positive, sing the intercession I examined. As one of the expected acquisition results, I consider that the synthesis of grounds from public wellness policy intercessions was achieved by the 2nd portion of the assignment. The 2nd portion of this larning result has to make with developing our ain alternate policy by giving greater significance to the tackle of inequalities in wellness. This was besides documented, with the 2nd portion of the assignment and with critical conversations in the schoolroom sing wellness inequalities and the importance of extinguishing them. It is besides of great significance that I was given the opportunity to organize the manner that socioeconomic, political and environmen tal factors are related with public wellness and the manner that at specific state of affairss this relation could besides propose a correlativity. Another of import larning result of the faculty and the assignment procedure was that I became witting about public wellness policies and patterns on a wider degree than I was. Comparing informations on a national and international degree can turn out to be a really utile tool for every public wellness practician. For illustration, comparing the information of a state with high prevalence of chlamydia, with the informations of a state with low prevalence of chlamydia can take to hypotheses and farther researches and scientific inquiries can be formulated. For my undertaking I studied exhaustively sexual wellness issues, as I believe it is a public wellness country of great importance, because it is met in national and international degree, in developed and developing states, in personal and planetary involvement. Working on the undertaking has besides given me strong grounds and led me to the realisation that mass media carry a prima function presents and should be carefully taken into consideration when practicing and advancing public wellness. This point has besides derived from the faculty, and it was really one of the constructs that stood out for me. Merely by taking a expression around you realise that there are wellness advancing runs about everyplace. However, non all of them acquire attending, some of them fail echoing to acquire through to their mark group and some of them acquire attending for all the incorrect grounds. The usage of mass media must be done in a productive and effectual manner, utilizing original and in-depth thoughts with updated positions on the affair. This construct is a great lesson for my hereafter pattern. As for my hereafter pattern specifically, since my first grade was psychological science, I plan to unite public wellness with psychological science. The faculty and the assignment provided me information and cognition on how these two Fieldss can be combined. For illustration, if there is a demand for public wellness intercession sing a state of affairs that affects kids, psychological science can propose how to manage the state of affairs, but merely with the aid of public wellness the state of affairs will be resolved or limited. Traveling through the survey required for the appraisal of the assignment, I developed a sense of scientific position on informations and research. It has besides helped me simplify the processs of seeking, happening, analysing and interpret informations, every bit good as placing them as relevant or irrelevant to my survey frame.