Yvonne Rafferty

The Impact of Homelessness on Children.

: This article reviews and critiques community-based research on the effects of homelessness on children. Homeless children confront serious threats to their ability to succeed and their future well-being. Of particular concern are health problems, hunger, poor nutrition, developmental delays, anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, and educational underachievement. Factors that may mediate the observed outcomes include inadequate shelter conditions, instability in residences and shelters, inadequate services, and barriers to accessing services that are available. Public policy initiatives are needed to meet the needs of homeless children.

The association between job skill discretion, decision authority and burnout

This paper reports on the relationship between dimensions of control (skill discretion and decision authority) and burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment) among 164 human service workers. It examines the differential influence of job demands, control (skill discretion and decision authority) and social support (supervisor, co-workers, others) on each burnout dimension. Then it examines the moderating effects of higher skill discretion, higher decision authority, and higher social support on burnout. Low skill discretion was found to be associated with high emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and low personal accomplishment. The effects of decision authority were not statistically significant. High job demands were associated with high emotional exhaustion only. Social support (supervisor, co-worker, and others) was not associated with burnout when demographic variables and job characteristics were controlled for. Neither dimension of control moderated ...

The impact of inclusion on language development and social competence among preschoolers with disabilities

This article describes progress in language development and social competence among 96 preschoolers with disabilities in inclusive and segregated classes. Pretest ability was the strongest predictor of progress. Other child, parent, and family characteristics were not associated with pretest developmental abilities or with progress. Degree of disability did not moderate the impact of placement type on developmental outcomes, controlling for pretest ability. Effect sizes, however, indicated thatposttest scores were comparable in both settings for children with “not severe” disabilities, but not for children with “severe” disabilities. Children with severe disabilities in inclusive classes had higher posttest scores in language development and social skills than their peers in segregated classes, but problem behaviors were lower for children in segregated classes.

Benefits and Risks of Reverse Inclusion for Preschoolers with and without Disabilities: Parents' Perspectives.

In this article, we compare the perceived benefits and risks of inclusion among 244 parents whose preschoolers with and without disabilities attended a community-based reverse inclusion program. Parents reported strong support for inclusion and differed on only one attitude dimension. Perceived risks for typically developing children were greater among parents of typically developing children than among parents of children with disabilities. Level of support was consistent for parents of children with mild, moderate, and severe disabilities. Parents reported greater support for including children with mild-moderate disabilities, as well as those with speech or orthopedic impairments. Rates of program satisfaction and parent involvement were high and 94% indicated they would place their child in a similar program again.

Adolescent Motherhood and Developmental Outcomes of Children in Early Head Start: The Influence of Maternal Parenting Behaviors, Well-Being, and Risk Factors Within the Family Setting

This longitudinal study examined the influence of parenting behaviors, well-being, and risk factors of low-income adolescent mothers on the cognitive and language abilities of children from infancy to age 3. Participants consisted of 1,240 mother-child dyads enrolled in the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project. Data were collected using structured interviews with the mothers and from videotaped mother-child interactions during play activities when children were approximately 14 months old and again at 36 months of age. Positive parenting behaviors exhibited toward the 14-month-old children predicted gains in both cognitive and language abilities more so than did maternal well-being, risk factors within the family setting, and demographic risk factors. Gains in cognitive abilities from infancy to age 3 were predicted by supportive parenting, higher family resources, and lower family conflict when children were infants. Gains in language abilities were predicted by supportive parenting, support for language and learning in the home environment, and higher family resources when children were infants. Finally, path analyses showed that maternal age had an indirect effect on child cognitive and language abilities at age 3 through effects on parenting behaviors. Older mothers were more likely to be supportive during play at age 14 months, which in turn promoted enhanced developmental outcomes at age 3. Implications for intervention and future research are discussed.

Child Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation: A Review of Promising Prevention Policies and Programs

Child trafficking, including commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), is one of the fastest growing and most lucrative criminal activities in the world. The global enslavement of children affects countless numbers of victims who are trafficked within their home countries or transported away from their homes and treated as commodities to be bought, sold, and resold for labor or sexual exploitation. All over the world, girls are particularly likely to be trafficked into the sex trade: Girls and women constitute 98% of those who are trafficked for CSE. Health and safety standards in exploitative settings are generally extremely low, and the degree of experienced violence has been linked with adverse physical, psychological, and social-emotional development. The human-rights-based approach to child trafficking provides a comprehensive conceptual framework whereby victim-focused and law enforcement responses can be developed, implemented, and evaluated. This article highlights promising policies and programs designed to prevent child trafficking and CSE by combating demand for sex with children, reducing supply, and strengthening communities. The literature reviewed includes academic publications as well as international and governmental and nongovernmental reports. Implications for social policy and future research are presented.

The Legal Rights and Educational Problems of Homeless Children and Youth.

This article summarizes the educational rights of homeless children and youth afforded by the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. It also describes the educational problems they confront, including academic underachievement and poor school attendance. Factors that exacerbate these outcomes of homelessness are delineated: barriers to accessing schooling and appropriate services; multiple movements between schools; insensitivity of school personnel; barriers to parental involvement; and difficulties in obtaining school clothes and supplies. The extent to which existing laws adequately address identified needs, problems, and barriers is discussed. Gaps in policies and practices are identified and recommendations for social policy changes presented.

Parenting Behaviours among Low-Income Mothers of Preschool Age Children in the USA: Implications for Parenting Programmes.

This study examines the overall quality of parenting behaviours among low‐income mothers in the USA and the extent to which they are influenced by risk factors within the family environment, maternal well‐being and maternal risk characteristics associated with socio‐economic status. Participants consisted of 1070 low‐income mothers of three‐year‐old children who were enrolled in the Early Head Start (EHS) Research and Evaluation Project. Data were collected using structured interviews with the mothers and from videotaped mother–child interactions during play activities when children were age three. Findings indicated that less‐positive parenting behaviours and fewer supports for language and learning were predicted by higher family conflict, higher parental distress and maternal social risk factors including younger age, less education and a history of public assistance. Fewer household resources also predicted fewer supports for language and learning, but not positive parenting. Negative parenting behaviours were not predicted by maternal well‐being, although higher family conflict and maternal demographic risk factors (younger age, history of public assistance, not being married or living with partner) were statistically significant predictors. Findings from this study suggest that programmes to address the parenting abilities of low‐income mothers are warranted, and that national programmes geared at helping mothers should be augmented by efforts to decrease the degree of stress they experience in their parenting role, as well as by effective strategies to increase available household resources and reduce family conflict. They also indicate that particular attention should be paid to enhance the parenting abilities of mothers who are younger, have lower levels of education, have a history of receiving public assistance and those who are not married or living with their partner.

Maternal depression and parental distress among families in the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project: Risk factors within the family setting†

This study examined the influence of risk factors within the family environment (inadequate resources, insufficient caregiving support from childs father, higher family conflict) on maternal well being (depression and parental distress) using a longitudinal panel research design. Participants consisted of 2,040 low-income mothers of young children enrolled in the Early Head Start (EHS) Research and Evaluation Project. Findings indicated that greater family resources at 14 months had a protective effect on maternal well-being at 36 months, controlling for demographic variables and maternal well-being at 14 months. Furthermore, the effect of family resources on maternal well-being was moderated by father caregiving support, such that family resources were protective, particularly when father caregiving support was lower. Family conflict at 14 months was associated with lower maternal well-being at 36 months, controlling for demographic variables and maternal well-being at 14 months. Our findings suggest that low-income mothers need the support and resources of programs such as EHS to overcome the hurdles and challenges of parenting in high-risk settings. Implications for clinical practice and EHS are discussed.

Challenges to the rapid identification of children who have been trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation

Child trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) is a complex phenomenon, requiring multifaceted programs and policies by various stakeholders. A number of publications have focused on preventing this heinous crime. Less attention, however, has been paid to the recovery and rehabilitation of children who have been traumatized as a result of being trafficked for CSE. This article focuses on the first step in the protection and recovery process, which is to ensure that procedures are in place for their identification, so that they might access timely and appropriate assistance. It highlights three situational and two child-related challenges to identification. In addition, it describes the additional victimization experienced by children who are wrongly arrested for crimes associated with prostitution or illegal border crossings, rather than being identified as victims. An extensive literature review was conducted, and included academic publications, as well as governmental and non-governmental reports. In addition, field-based qualitative research was undertaken in South and Southeast Asia, and involved interviews with representatives from United Nations and governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and aftercare recovery programs.