Karen A. Randolph

Placement patterns in foster care

The notion of “foster care drift” is ingrained in the conventional wisdom of child‐welfare policy and practice, yet the sparse literature on this topic provides little empirical support for it. This article illustrates the advantage of using longitudinal data based on cohorts of children entering out‐of‐home care for the first time. Simple frequency distributions of placement patterns effectively portray both quantitative and qualitative dimensions of childrens pathways through out‐of‐home care. Future research concerning placement disruption should give greater consideration to the representativeness of study samples and move beyond simply counting the number of placements children experience.

Welfare reform and high school dropout patterns for children

Abstract This study examines the impact of parental work and continuity of welfare receipt on the drop out rates of high school students in families in poverty. The risk of dropping out from school is examined in light of potential effects on subsequent social and economic well-being. The data indicate that drop out rates have increased over the past decade for children on public assistance, but that consistency in parental employment and transitions off welfare are associated with lower rates of dropping out of high school. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for preventative strategies that might be employed by child welfare and school social workers.

Educational resilience among youth at risk.

Educational experts and others recognize the importance of early school experiences on later educational outcomes. Following a sample of youth based on 692 files from low-income, single parent families over time, from one urban school district in the Southeastern United States, 1989–1990 to 1996–1997, we apply event history analytic techniques to examine the relationship between first grade retention and completing high school. The findings indicate that being retained in the first grade increases the risk of dropping out of high school years later. The results also show a link between retention, extracurricular activity participation, and high school completion. The risk of dropping out is lower for those youth who were retained and were involved in activities during high school. The implication is that educational trajectories can be redirected such that positive educational outcomes can occur.

A Strategy for Assessing the Impact of Time-Varying Family Risk Factors on High School Dropout

Human behavior is dynamic, influenced by changing situations over time. Yet the impact of the dynamic nature of important explanatory variables on outcomes has only recently begun to be estimated in developmental models. Using a risk factor perspective, this article demonstrates the potential benefits of regressing time-varying outcome measures on time-varying explanatory measures in longitudinal models. The authors apply event history analysis techniques to demonstrate a methodological strategy that accounts for changes over time in two family risk factors for high school graduation. In a sample of 686 low-income youth attending school in an urban district, the authors found that maternal employment status and income are significant predictors of high school graduation only when conceptualized and measured as time-varying influences. The implications for policy and practice and, from a methodological perspective, for the use of time-varying explanatory variables in event models are discussed.

Mutual Aid in the Classroom: An Instructional Technology Application

The purpose of the study is to examine the use of instructional technology in creating a mutual aid environment in the classroom. By developing and exploring Internet-based exercises designed to promote interaction in a distance education environment, the authors tested the hypothesis that instructional technology offers opportunities to promote mutual aid among students. This article describes these exercises and presents the results of a student survey about the application of mutual aid in distance education.

A Framework for Engaging Parents in Prevention

The literature on engaging families in prevention programs is informed by the Health Beliefs Model (HBM), Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), and Family Systems theory. Although useful, these frameworks have not facilitated the development of prevention-based practice strategies that recognize different levels of prevention (i.e., universal, selective, and indicated). This article contributes to the literature on parent engagement by (a) summarizing the research on factors that affect parent engagement, (b) proposing an integrated model for engaging parents that incorporates the various levels of prevention, and (c) suggesting engagement strategies for universal, selective, and indicated prevention programs within this integrated model.

Promoting School Success Among At Risk Youth

ABSTRACT This study examines the relationship between grade retention and completing high school in a sample of very low-income children from an urban school district. Results suggest that being retained–whether in first grade or in later grades–increases the risk of dropout. Moreover, youths who are retained in middle school are at greater risk of dropping out early in high school. Regardless of when retention occurs, youths who participate in extracurricular activities remain in school longer, relative to their counterparts. The findings support a social developmental model of academic success in which childrens opportunities for pro-social involvement, their social and academic skills, and the rewards in their environments condition educational outcomes.

Validation of a McKinney-Vento Act Implementation Scale

Objective: The McKinney-Vento Act (MVA) is the primary federal policy addressing homelessness in America with specific mandates designed to ameliorate the effects homelessness has on educational attainment for school-age children. The extent to which this policy is implemented may have far-reaching effects for homeless children. The MVA Implementation Scale (MVAIS) was developed for the purpose of providing a tool for assessing school-based social services personnel’s perceived knowledge and awareness of implementation of the MVA within their service areas. This study tests the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the 26-item instrument. Method: Data were collected from a purposive sample of school social workers (N = 201) attending a Mid-Western regional conference in order to examine the reliability and the validity of this measure. Results: The hypothesized factor structures were confirmed. Findings also indicated high levels of reliability among items, as well as initial evidence of instrument validity. Conclusion: Findings from this study indicate that the MVAIS adequately measures participant’s perceived implementation of the MVA. Future implications for research and practice are discussed.

The Dynamic Nature of Risk Factors for Substance Use Among Adolescents

ABSTRACT Substance use is one of the major social problems facing youth today. The research on risk factors associated with onset and continuation of use is extensive. Typically, reviews of the literature categorize risk factors by environmental domain (i.e., family, peer relations, neighborhoods). This review extends this framework by examining studies that focus on the changing nature of risk factors for substance use among teenagers. The underlying assumption is that, especially during adolescence, these relations are dynamic and shift across time. Five time-related mechanisms are identified and used to describe the research. The article concludes with a discussion about the implications for future research.

The unique effects of environmental strategies in health promotion campaigns: a review.

Various strategies are used as tools in health promotion campaigns to increase health-related outcomes among target populations. Evaluations of these campaigns examine effects on changing peoples knowledge, attitudes, and/or behaviors. Most evaluations examine the combined impact of multiple strategies. Less is known about the unique effects of particular strategies. To address this gap, we used highly systematic methods to identify and review scientifically rigorous evaluations of 18 campaigns that examined the unique effects of three sets of intervention strategies (entertainment education, law enforcement, and mass media) on changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practice with regard to various health behaviors. Results showed differences in evaluation processes based on the type of strategy used to promote campaign messages. For instance, evaluations of mass-media based campaigns were more likely to examine changes in knowledge, relative to evaluations of campaigns that used law enforcement strategies. In addition, campaign effects varied by particular strategies. Mass media-based campaigns were more likely to affect knowledge, relative to behaviors. Law enforcement and entertainment education-based campaigns showed positive effects on behaviors. The implications for planning and evaluating health promotion campaigns are described.