Social Media and Todays Hospitals

SOCIAL MEDIA AND TODAYS HOSPITALS By Michelle Perron When Facebook logged its first likes in 2004, no one was predicting that social networking would become a tool in the practice of medicine. Yet it has. From the revered Mayo Clinic to little-known regional specialty centers, the health care industry is finding that social media helps attract new appointments, generate revenue, and build relationships. Research published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research in 2014 shows that virtually all hospitals in the United States are now using social media in some way.1 This is not an overstatement: 94.4 percent of the 3,371 hospitals reviewed operated a Facebook page, and 50.82 percent had a Twitter account. This study found that private nonprofit and teaching hospitals, typically in large urban areas, are the highest users of social media. Its expertise in using socia Although individual physicians aren’t using social media at the same rate as hospitals, they are finding it useful. In fact, another 2014 study, this one by MedData Group, found that more than 50 percent of the physicians using social media for work purposes are engaging with peers, marketing the practice, or providing thought leadership for patients.2 Leading the Way The Mayo Clinic system is a recognized leader in health care industry use of social media.Tweet this Lee Aase, Mayo ClinicIts expertise in using social platforms to connect with patients and build business is so valued that other health care organizations lean on the Mayo Clinic Social Media Network (MCSMN; #Mayo Clinic SMN) for collaborative help. In partnership with Hootsuite, the MCSMN even developed a continuing medical education course to teach medical providers how to create an online presence.3 Lee Aase is the director of Mayo’s Social and Digital Innovation Team, which is staffed by eight media professionals who orchestrate the system’s posts on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and You Tube. Activity on each outlet is unique, as shown below in the Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ feeds one afternoon in mid-January 2017. Each of the posts focuses on a particular subject area, ensuring a different experience for each media outlet user. The day’s topic selections can be influenced by the request of a Mayo department seeking more publicity (the sports medicine department in the Twitter feed), relevant national news stories (cervical cancer awareness month in the Google+ post), or the opening of a new hospital wing (the fifth floor of the Luther Building in the Facebook post). No matter the content decision, its goal is the same: to instill appreciation for Mayo Clinic and its resources. In an interview, Aase pointed out that today’s widespread use of social media by Mayo Clinic is in keeping with its history. â€Å"Our reputation was made through word of mouth,† he said, â€Å"and that is just as true today as it was 100-plus years ago. Patients would come to Mayo Clinic because a friend recommended us. Now, social media provides ways for people to share the same types of recommendations.† â€Å"Just Like Talking to a Patient† Perhaps the most vivid examples of such recommendations are found on the Mayo Clinic’s YouTube channel, which features videos capturing everything from a patient’s first reaction to his restored sight via a bionic eye to the precise symptom presentation of a baby with whooping cough. No doubt thousands of that video’s million-plus views were by frantic parents trying to determine whether their infant’s bark-like sounds warranted a trip to the local ER. One of the most powerful applications of Mayo Clinic’s YouTube channel is its line of videos for patients that feature staff physicians and other clinicians. These videos can offer information and encouragement to a patient trying to understand his or her rare diagnosis, reinforce the education provided during a complex office visit, or calm a patient’s unease before a surgical procedure by providing a step-by-step visual explanation of it. Take, for example, the diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia, a condition that causes the heart to beat faster than normal. It can be treated with medication, surgery, or both. To a patient receiving this diagnosis after experiencing rapid heart activity, the term alone sounds ominous. By directing a newly diagnosed patient to a YouTube video accessible in the comfort of home, Mayo Clinic can repeat the information presented at the treating physician’s office. The video presentation is likely to be better understood because it is more digestible. The Mayo Clinic’s YouTube channel features videos on ventricular tachycardia and many other topics. The educational application of social media is particularly appealing to busy physicians. They typically don’t have the time to prepare lengthy written material — but they’re more than happy to talk about what they know and what they can do for patients. â€Å"For many doctors, it all comes down to time. That’s where the capturing of video is so helpful,† Aase said. â€Å"We [the communications team] take care of everything. They are happy to share their expertise in a manner that is just like talking to a patient. â€Å"In the videos, we’re looking for them to say the things they say to patients several times a day, only to a broader audience,† Aase continued. â€Å"They’re demonstrating their expertise and showing empathy. We book a 15- to 30-minute timeframe and make them at ease. It’s a much more efficient use of time, and it is more impactful and genuine.† Mayo’s Social and Digital Innovation staff uses smartphones and consumer-grade cameras to shoot video, then edits and loads to appropriate channels. As physicians and other Mayo Clinic staff members have been exposed to the value of social media via these video sessions, more are requesting that the team help them â€Å"take control of their identity† on LinkedIn and Twitter, Aase said. He and his staff regularly coach interested physicians in how to beef up their profiles across platforms. Setting Ground Rules In an age when a Twitter rant can get you fired, it’s important for all employers to have clear policies for social media usage. This is especially true in the health care industry, where privacy of information is sacrosanct. The Mayo Clinic developed guidelines for employees’ social media activity, and many other hospitals have followed suit. The document boils down to common sense and the practice of established medical ethics. â€Å"The main thing is that they should stick to talking about what they know and what they do,† Aase said. â€Å"No one should practice medicine online. We advise them to elevate it out to general terms, such as ‘a patient with these symptoms may have this condition, and these are the standard options for treatment.’ This highlights their understanding and avoids looking like they are giving a prescription to a patient.† Smaller Markets Granted, most hospitals don’t have the size or patient reach of the Mayo Clinic. So what about hospital use of social media in smaller settings and markets? In a mid-sized or small city, the approach can be more streamlined and personal. The emphasis may also be on community relationships and trust more than branding on a large scale. Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital (LSSH) in Lafayette, La., is a surgery center owned by 34 physicians in various surgical specialties. The mid-sized city of Lafayette is a competitive market for health care services (nine freestanding hospitals for a population of 124,000), and LSSH distinguishes itself by creating a facility where health care meets hospitality. Liz Hebert is the director of marketing and business development for Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital. Since she was hired in January 2015, she has focused the facility’s social media outreach on Facebook, where she works to build a sense of trust. She automatically feeds the LSSH Facebook posts to the hospital’s Twitter feed. â€Å"I want to show people that we are involved in the community,† she said. â€Å"We use Facebook to inform the public about things we are involved in, and to show that we are a trusted resource for information.† As shown above, Hebert recently used the LSSH Facebook page to promote a community event she organized in conjunction with a new fitness facility. Anyone who saw the page was invited to a free class at a new indoor cycling facility near the hospital. One of the most effective uses of social media at LSSH is highlighting the community-oriented activities its staff is involved in, Hebert said. The hospital uses its social platforms to feature events like its â€Å"31 Days of Giving Back† campaign during the month of December that encouraged random acts of kindness and a spring scavenger hunt that raises money for the local United Way chapter. Other posts report on patient satisfaction surveys and honors received by staff members. â€Å"For me, the most important reason for our hospital to use social media is to develop a level of trust,† Hebert explained. â€Å"Even when you are confident in your choice of a surgeon and hospital, you’re still nervous. With our posts, and our day-to-day activities, we try to reduce those fears. We care about the community. We are dedicated to your care. Social media is one important way for us to get that across.† References Griffis HM, Kilaru AS, Werner RM, et al. Use of Social Media Across US Hospitals: Descriptive Analysis of Adoption and Utilization. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2014;16(11):1-11. Silas R. How Are Physicians Using Social Media? MDigital Life.com. http://mdigitallife.com/how-are-physicians-using-social-media/ Citing work contained in the following report by Med Data Group: https://www.meddatagroup.com/wp-content/uploads/MedDataGroup-Physician-Adoption-of-Social-Media-Q22014.pdf Mayo Clinic Social Media Network. Social for Healthcare Certificate from Mayo Clinic and Hootsuite. https://socialmedia.mayoclinic.org/social-media-basics-certification/

Biography of Rosa Parks, Civil Rights Pioneer

Biography of Rosa Parks, Civil Rights Pioneer Rosa Parks (February 4, 1913–October 24, 2005) was a civil rights activist in Alabama when she refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus to a white person: her case touched off the Montgomery Bus Boycott and was a significant milestone forcing the Supreme Court to end segregation. She once said, When people made up their minds that they wanted to be free and took action, then there was change. But they couldnt rest on just that change. It has to continue. Parks words encapsulate her work as a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement. Fast Facts Known For: Civil rights activist in the American south of 1950s and 1960sBorn: February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama, USAParents: James and Leona Edwards McCauley  Died: October 24, 2005, in Detroit, MichiganEducation: Alabama State Teachers College for NegroesSpouse: Raymond ParksChildren: None Early Life Born Rosa Louise McCauley on February 4, 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama. Her mother, Leona Edwards was a teacher and her father James McCauley, was a carpenter. Early in Parks childhood, she moved to Pine Level, right outside the capitol of Montgomery. Parks was a member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) and attended primary school until the age of 11. Everyday Parks walked to school and realized the disparity between black and white children. In her biography, Parks recalled Id see the bus pass every day. But to me, that was a way of life; we had no choice but to accept what was the custom. The bus was among the first ways I realized there was a black world and white world. Education and Family Parks continued her education at the Alabama State Teachers College for Negroes for Secondary Education. However, after a few semesters, Parks returned home to care for her ailing mother and grandmother. In 1932, Parks married Raymond Parks, a barber and member of the NAACP. Through her husband, Parks became involved in the NAACP as well, helping to raise money for the Scottsboro Boys. In the daytime, Parks worked as a maid and hospital aide before finally receiving her high school diploma in 1933. Civil Rights Movement In 1943, Parks became even more involved in the Civil Rights Movement and was elected secretary of the NAACP. Of this experience, Parks said, I was the only woman there, and they needed a secretary, and I was too timid to say no. The following year, Parks used her role as secretary to research the gang rape of Recy Taylor. As a result, other local activist established the Committee for Equal Justice for Mrs. Recy Taylor. Through the help of newspapers such as Chicago Defender the incident received national attention. While working for a liberal white couple, Parks was encouraged to attend the Highlander Folk School, a center for activism in workers rights and social equality. Following her education at this school, Parks attended a meeting in Montgomery address the Emmitt Till case. At the end of the meeting, it was decided that African-Americans needed to do more to fight for their rights. The Montgomery Bus Boycott It was 1955 and just a few weeks before Christmas and Rosa Parks boarded a bus after working as a seamstress. Taking a seat in the colored section of the bus, Parks was asked by a white man to get up and move so that he could sit. Parks refused. As a result, the police were called and Parks was arrested. Parks refusal ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a protest that lasted 381 days and pushed Martin Luther King Jr. into the national spotlight. Throughout the boycott, King referred to Parks as the great fuse that led to the modern stride toward freedom. Parks was not the first woman to refuse to give up her seat on a public bus. In 1945, Irene Morgan was arrested for the same act. And several months before Parks, Sarah Louise Keys and Claudette Covin committed the same transgression. However, NAACP leaders argued that Parks- with her long history as a local activist- would be able to see a court challenge through. As a result, Parks was considered an iconic figure in the Civil Rights Movement and the fight against racism and segregation in the United States. Following the Boycott Although Parks courage allowed her to become a symbol of the growing movement, she and her husband suffered severely. Park was fired from her job at the local department store. No longer feeling safe in Montgomery, the Parks moved to Detroit as part of the Great Migration. While living in Detroit, Parks served as secretary for U.S. Representative John Conyers from 1965 to 1969. Following her retirement, Parks wrote an autobiography and lived a private life. In 1979, Parks received the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP. She was also the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal When Parks died in Detroit on October 24, 2005, she became the first woman and second non-U.S. government official to lie in honor at the Capitol Rotunda. Sources Rosa Parks, civil rights pioneer, dies. The New York Times, October 25, 2005.  Rowbotham, Sheila. Rosa Parks: Activist whose refusal to give up her bus seat ignited the US civil rights movement. The Guardian, October 25, 2005.Sullivan, Patricia. Bus Ride Shook a Nations Conscience. Washington Post, October 25, 2005.  Theoharis, Jeanne. The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks. Boston: Beacon Press, 2013.

Ecology In and Around a Dead Tree

Ecology In and Around a Dead Tree The small image included with this article is an old dead tree snag on my rural property in Alabama. It is a photo of the remains of an old water oak that lived grandly for over 100 years. The tree finally succumbed to its environment and completely died of old age about 3 years ago. Still, its size and rate of deterioration suggest that the tree will be around and influencing my property for a long time yet - and for that I am pleased. What Is a Dead Tree Snag? Tree snag is a term used in forestry and forest ecology which refers to a standing, dead or dying tree. That dead tree will, over time, lose its top and will drop most of the smaller branches while creating a debris field underneath. As more time goes by, maybe as long as several decades, the tree will slowly be reduced in size and height while creating a viable ecosystem in and underneath the decomposing and falling biomass. A tree snags persistence depends on two factors - the size of the stem and the durability of the wood of the species concerned. The snags of some large conifers, such as coast redwood on the Pacific Coast of North America and the largest cedars and cypress of U.S. coastal south, can remain intact for 100 years or more, becoming progressively shorter with age. Other tree snags of species with rapidly weathering and decaying wood - like pine, birch, and hackberry - will break up and collapse in less than five years. A Tree Snags Value So, when a tree dies it still has not completely satisfied its ecological potential and the future ecological value it provides. Even in death, a tree continues to play multiple roles as it influences surrounding organisms. Certainly, the impact of the individual dead or dying tree gradually diminishes as it weathers and further decomposes. But even with decomposition, the woody structure may remain for centuries and influence habitat conditions for millennia (especially as a wetland snag). Even in death, my Alabama tree continues to have a tremendous influence on the microecology in, around, and under its decomposing trunk and branches. This particular tree provides nesting for a significant squirrel population and raccoons and is often called a den tree. Its branching limbs provide a rookery for egrets and perches for hunting birds like hawks and kingfishers. The dead bark nurtures insects that attract and feed woodpeckers and other carnivorous, insect-loving birds. The fallen limbs create understory cover and food for quail and turkey underneath the falling canopy. Decaying trees, as well as fallen logs, may actually be creating and influencing more organisms than a living tree. In addition to creating a habitat for decomposer organisms, dead trees provide critical habitat for sheltering and feeding a variety of animal species. Snags and logs also provide habitat for plants of higher orders by creating habitat provided by nurse logs. These nurse logs provide the perfect seedbed for tree seedlings in some tree species. In forest ecosystems such as the alluvial Sitka spruce-western hemlock forests of the Olympic Peninsula, Washington, almost all tree reproduction is confined to rotten wood seedbeds. How Trees Die Sometimes a tree will die very quickly by a devastating insect outbreak or from the virulent disease. More frequently, however, a trees death is caused by a complex and slow process with multiple contributing factors and causes. These multiple causal concerns are typically categorized and labeled as abiotic or biotic. Abiotic causes of tree mortality include environmental stresses like flooding, drought, heat, low temperatures, ice storms, and excess sunlight. Abiotic stress is particularly associated with the death of tree seedlings. Pollutant stresses (e.g., acid precipitation, ozone, and acid-forming oxides of nitrogen and sulfur) and wildfire are usually included in the abiotic category but can significantly impact older trees. Biotic causes of eventual tree death can result from plant competition. Losing the competitive battle for light, nutrients or water will limit photosynthesis and result in tree starvation. Any defoliation, be it from insects, animals or disease can have the same long-term effect. Declines in the vigor of a tree from periods of starvation, insect and disease infestations and abiotic stresses can have a cumulative effect that eventually causes mortality.

Behavirol and Socail Sciences on Sex Offenders Essay

Behavirol and Socail Sciences on Sex Offenders - Essay Example It is difficult to predict the occurrence of sex offenders in our localities. However, some precautions are to be taken for minimizing their negative effect. In USA, the sex offenders who are convicted for their crime record are restricted to some places after their release from Jail. They are generally kept away from the school premises and day care centers for ensuring the safety of children and patients. Unfortunately, the number and frequency of sex offenders has been on rising trend in the recent years. This is not a healthy trend. There are several reasons or factors that contribute to the development of behavioral changes in sex offenders (Carla Van Dam, 2001). For successful management of these sex offenders one has to thoroughly understand the types of sex offenders and their behavioral trends in society in general and USA in particular. Keeping this in mind, the present study is being undertaken to assess the present scenario of sex offenders in USA, main causes of nature o f sex offenders and their management techniques. The present study has reviewed some studies undertaken on sex offenders in USA and other parts of the world. In this process, different research studies on factors affecting the sex offenders were analysed. The behavioral changes among sex offenders were identified and prioritized based on the extent. At last the management techniques for reducing the problem of sex offenders were chalked out leading to a meaningful conclusion. It was reported by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that approximately 100,000 sex offenders in USA are not living in the places of their registration, which is not an encouraging trend (Abby Goodnough and Monica Davey, 2009). Hence, efforts must be made to identify the floating population of sex offenders so that the negative effects caused by them can be minimized. This also throws a light

Planning care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Planning care - Essay Example Various nursing care plans can be applied in the health care of a patient but selection on which plan to use can be best stated according to the type of medical conditions of the patient or type of health care conditions requested for. Patient’s introduction Mrs. Mary johns is 72 years old woman admitted at the health care facility after suffering a stroke at her home. She lives with her 45 years old daughter. The patient brought in by the daughter after resuscitation after suffering a minor stroke. The daughter being the only member of the family and has to work long hour shifts to support her mother fears for life and well being of the mother. This prompted her to check in the mother at the facility for more investigations and better care as she recovers as opposed to staying at home alone as the daughter goes to work. Apart from the daughter signing her mother in at the facility, the mother is fully responsive, and she also mutually agreed to be brought into care it the fac ility. The condition and agreement is to investigate the sole cause of the minor stroke and nurture her back to her normal health condition prior to the stroke (Taylor and Lillis, 2001). Orem self care model This is a self care deficit theory proposed by Orem in self care providence, and it is a combination of the theory of self care, self care deficit, and nursing systems. In the theory, of self care it details self care as the activities carried out by an individual to maintain their self health condition. While self care agency refers to the acquired to perform an individual’s self care self care activities and highly determined by various basic conditions such as the individual’s family system, age and health care system among others (George, 2000). The third Orem’s theory of self care is the therapeutic, self care demand. This is the totality of all the self care measures required for such an individual. The carrying out of self care is to ensure the fulfil lment of the self care requisites of which there are three main types of self care requisites such as developmental, universal and deviation self care requisites. Through a full assessment, of the patient by the health care giver the deficit identified. Upon this identification, of the deficit or need, the nurse then selects the most appropriate nursing systems to provide care. These are partly compensatory, wholly compensatory, or educative and supportive systems. The health care given to the individual in accordance to the total degree of deficit or want the patient is showing of and once the health care provided the total nursing activities and the use of nursing systems for the case are to be evaluated to allow am assessment of whether the mutually planned objective met or not. Care planning A nursing care process described as being cyclical made up of various interconnecting elements and having a dynamic nature. It has been for long been an accepted feature of nursing care plan ning used in conjunction with selected nursing models. It facilitates evidence based care nursing, consistency and enables the application of correct and updated health care providence care documentation. The care planning nursing process consists of four supremely distinct phases. Each phase holds a vital role in the health care planning strategy while still being independent on functioning

Early Childhood Special Education Roots Essay Example for Free

Early Childhood Special Education Roots Essay Early childhood special education that is practiced today has a varied and sometimes hard won history. Its roots are entangled in cultural, economic, and idealistic influences; each facet tinged by the colored lens of the times and adding a little glint to modern day practices. The conglomeration of historical theories and practices, political actions and enacted laws has paved the way to modern early childhood special education practices and programming. Just like a child learns and builds on his knowledge and understanding of his environment, so too does the practice of early childhood special education. In its infancy ECSE was not labeled as such, and in fact was simply teaching. Throughout history, many educators have had differing perspectives and opinions on how best to educate children. Many of those ideas and practices have popularly endured, and some have become very small portions of our current systems, or faded into obscurity altogether. One of the earliest models on early childhood education was the Montessori model. The Montessori methods and tools are prevalent in classrooms today, from individualized and sensory programming to didactic learning materials. Other early educators realized that even very young children benefit from instruction. Jean Piaget identified stages of development from birth to adolescence that still assist educators in identifying appropriate modes of teaching. Others like Robert Owen, John Locke and Lev Semenovich Vygotsky theorized that a child’s environment had a profound influence on his/her development and education, giving a foundation for current early intervention strategies in impoverished, urban areas. Vygotsky also gifted to forward generations the theories of the Zone of Proximal Development, scaffolding and ideas about special needs students working in least restrictive environments. All the way from these LRE’s, are the ideas of institutions. The residential school model however is still useful in some ways today. Samuel Gridley Howe and Dorothea Dix implemented supportive, residential schools for children with disabilities, but when the First World War had its grips on the country, the schools deteriorated into holding cells that pervaded until throughout the depression era. Politics and societal situations have always been instigators of change for education. Post World War II, many war veterans returned home with disabilities changing the attitudes and urgency in servicing individuals with special needs, spurring a profusion of financial and program support. Moving into the mid-20th Century, civil rights opened a consciousness about not only race, but also a socioeconomic dichotomy. Project Head Start was federally funded compensatory program, with a focus on aiding the impoverished; it would later evolve into a more comprehensive program for seeking and aiding special needs children and families. Many other programs and studies aimed at supporting young children with disabilities and their families began to appear, including Early Head Start, the Carolina Abecedarian Project and the Perry Preschool Project, among others. These programs and research studies aimed at aiding and reinforcing the importance of early intervention for at risk children. Supporting and preemptively averting the struggles brought on by environmental disadvantages made the transition to special education support logical. With the social climate changing and an awareness of human rights, legislation regarding special needs populations was ripe. Perhaps the greatest catalyst to change was the enactment of PL 94-142 the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975. The foundations of this public law and the following amendments are the backbone of all special education as we know it today. This law has 6 main areas of concern. First, the right to a free and appropriate public education is bestowed. Throughout the coming decades, interpretation of FAPE comes up in many court cases, each ruling setting precedence for the future. Second, children with disabilities are given the right to learn in the least restrictive environment (LRE) a practice from centuries prior, but with legal backing, changed the model of public schools in this country. An Individualized Education Plan was written into the body of the IDEA, giving specific protocol for supporting the learning of each individual student. This item is the true workhorse of special education classrooms, bringing the student’s goals, objectives and educational plan, the educators, parents and the other support staff together in one document. The fourth premise of the IDEA is the guarantee to guardians of procedural due process, retaining the guardian’s rights regarding notices, evaluations, placements and other educational plans. Unbiased and multiple assessment criteria is the 5th area addressed in the IDEA. Lastly, part of the legislation includes the parents of special needs students, by affording them access to related services that would benefit the student. Related services was and is an area for interpretation, and again, many court cases have been tried and decided creating standards for what qualifies as a related service. Aside from these six main points, the IDEA has outlined much more. IDEA has given us a universal structure for classifying disabilities, and in a 1991 amendment, ruled that an umbrella classification for preschool aged children was acceptable and malleable state to state. This meant that children would not have to be prematurely labeled or stigmatized, when proper assessment was yet to be exacted. This law gave rise to the term â€Å"developmentally delayed†. A preschooler and his/her family could receive services under the classification of developmentally delayed. IDEA has also given individual states the leeway to define and exact methods of determining what developmentally delayed means. While culturally and regionally more specific, this leaves a large range of differences in qualifications across the country. Since its inception, individuals with special needs have reaped many benefits from the laws and boundaries set by the IDEA, but it wasn’t until October 1986 that very young special needs children and their families could be guaranteed services. While grants and incentives for states to serve the preschool population were available, participation in those programs were completely voluntary. The Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments, or PL 99-457, passed in October 1986, mandated that all special needs preschoolers between the ages of three and five be provided with a FAPE . This law was enacted with the purpose of enabling early intervention and a cost effective preventative strategy to serving special populations. Part C of this law also makes services for infants, birth to age two voluntary. Adding preschoolers to the population of compulsory service made the use of IFSP or Individualized Family Service Plans prevalent. These plans are similar to IEP’s except that they comprehensively include the family and give leeway to assigning the role of the service provider, enabling professionals who are most capable of assisting each family to act. Unlike and IEP, the IFSP must be reviewed at least every 6 months, ensuring relevancy with a quickly growing and changing child. Related services including counseling and classes are now extended to family members. By sharing the process and improvement with the preschoolers’ guardians, we are able to see much greater progress with cooperative engagement. Along with the IFSP, PL 99-457 saw the requirement of an Individualized Transition Plan, aiding young adults in making the change into adulthood. Fast forward to 1997, and PL 105-17 made some important amendments to the IDEA. Related services are expanded, developmentally delayed category can be applied up until age nine, parameters and process around discipline is set. Functional Behavior Assessments or Behavior Intervention Plans must be enacted when providing discipline to special education children. Also, assessments for qualifying for special education are expanded, and Child Find reaches into private schools to deliver services to more children. Along with these changes also came a change in funding based on census data versus enrollment data. The percentages served translated to a fixed amount of funding, averting a glut of over qualifying students. Lack of English Language proficiency is excluded as an area of qualification for services. This is important with the rising populations of English language learners. With the number of children from non-english speaking families on the rise, achievement gaps were widening. The No Child Left Behind Act in 2001 was drawn to support impoverished, special needs and English language learners. This act is directly responsible for the Amendments to IDEA that came in 2004. One of the most important changes made was that of aligning the standards of highly qualified special education teachers to the standards of the No Child Left Behind Act. Inclusion of ECE teachers is yet to be enacted, however. The field and study of Early Childhood Special Education is a deeply diverse and ever evolving practice. Past experience has dictated that social climates, politics, events and laws all contribute to the programming of ECSE. The gains have been great, with dramatic increases in the numbers of children and families found and served, but as a nation, we certainly have some more distance to travel. With current legislation and social issues ranging from secure schools to better serving working families, subsidized healthcare, immigration policies or revamping teacher evaluations, the future of Early Childhood Education is unwritten and open to influence.

America Underclass Essay -- essays research papers fc

It is believed that there is a tension between social classes in America. Typically, people of lower classes choose to imitate those of higher social status. As a result, advertisers have a tendency to take advantage of this tension in order to profit from people of the lower and middle classes. In â€Å"The American Upper Class,† G. William Domhoff says that â€Å"exhibiting high social status†¦ is a way of exercising power† (Domhoff p.34),† which is something important to all social classes. According to Judi Puritz Cook, author of â€Å"Consumer Culture†¦Sales Discourse,† advertisements in print as well as in visual media seem to create â€Å"the promise of status mobility through consumption (Cook p.373).† In the article, Puritz explains how television programs on channels such as the Home Shopping Network are examples of how the media exploits the anxiety caused by social standing. It is believed that American people in the lower and middle classes have needs for status mobility. For example, when browsing through a fashion magazine, one can find numerous sections that are dedicated to creating ways to look like the featured model or actress for half the price. The intention of the article, in most cases, is to give others the impression that you are of high social status. In addition, advertisers often use people in the entertainment business to model their products so that the viewer may purchase the product. For example, when mimicking the purchases of hotel heiress, Paris Hilton one may believe, â€Å"If I buy this, I’ll look cool just like Paris Hilton!† The fact that this method is usually successful is a product of the anxiety felt by lower and middle class families. For those reasons, it is likely that Domhoff’s statement that the upper class â€Å"creates respect, envy, and deference in others,† is true. It seems that many o f America’s lower and middle class families would like to create those same feelings of respect and envy in others. When flipping through Vogue, a well-known high fashion magazine, one can see that almost all the advertisement scream wealth and status. The magazine’s beautiful models as well as its expensive brands are major characteristics of the famous magazine. Members of the middle class skim through the magazine thinking, â€Å"Wow, if only I could look like this!† In Gregory Mantsios’ article â€Å"Class in America,† he says, â€Å"We are, on occasion, presented... ...consciously imitate† (Domhoff p.166). Various advertisers use the desperate need of people of the lower and middle classes to appear â€Å"rich† as a weapon. Domhoff’s statement is an explanation of why many people choose to emulate people of high social status. According to Domhoff, showing signs of high social status is one of the many reasons that the upper class generates feelings of envy and deference in those of lower social status. This seems to be the reason for the craze involving the imitation of celebrities as well as the wealthy. It is also believed that the lower classes attempt to look as much like the people in higher classes because of the feeling of significance that comes with the expensive clothes etc. As a result, advertisers use the tension between social classes to sell the idea of luxurious style. Works Cited Cook, Judi Puritz. â€Å"Consumer Culture †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Mass Communication and Society 3.4 (2000): 373-392. Domhoff, G. William. â€Å"The American Upper Class.† Great Divides: readings in social   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  inequality in the United States 2nd edition (2001): 159-167. Mantsios, Gregory. â€Å"Class in America: myths and realities.† Privilege (2003) 33-47.