In Whose ‘Best Interests’?: Some Mothers' Experiences of Child Welfare Interventions

1989 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 4-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Mason
Keyword(s):  
Child Welfare ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
State Intervention ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
West Region ◽  
South West ◽  
Future Policy ◽  
The Impact

ResumeThis paper reports on a small study in the south west region of Sydney, in which mothers discussed their experiences as recipients of child welfare interventions for alleged child abuse.The research methodology is within a feminist framework, utilising qualitative data and placing importance on the impact of the implementation specific public policy on aspects of private functioning.Data was obtained from focused interviews conducted by students on placement. The analysis highlights major themes of women's experiences of service delivery, using their own words. Themes concern feelings of powerlessness, factors determining the perception of interventions as ‘helpful’ or otherwise and issues of rights to information and access.The findings of this study are considered in relation to feminist analysis of ‘mothering’ and State intervention; previous research on recipient experiences of service delivery and implications for future policy development and research.

Dynamics of grazing rights and their impact on mobile cattle herders in Bhutan

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuenga Namgay ◽  
Joanne E. Millar ◽  
Rosemary S. Black
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Socioeconomic Impacts ◽  
Land Use Policies ◽  
Land Holdings ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Future Policy ◽  
Downstream Communities ◽  
The Impact

Seasonal cattle movements have been an important part of the living cultural heritage in Bhutan for centuries. Herders migrate south every winter to graze their cattle on subtropical pastures and to work in orange orchards. They return north to their villages in spring to grow summer crops. However, the practice of transhumant agropastoralism is under increasing pressure on account of changes in land-use policies, climate change and a declining labour force as youth seek alternative livelihoods. This research investigated the impact of changes in land-use policy, with emphasis on the Land Act 2007, on current and future livelihoods of transhumant herders in Bhutan. During in-depth interviews with 24 transhumant herders and nine livestock advisors, and seven focus-group discussions with 64 participants including herders, downstream residents and development agency personnel, perspectives on this issue were gathered. Findings revealed a lack of herder awareness of changes in land-use policies and minimal consultation of herders during policy development. Confusion and uncertainty about the proposed redistribution of grazing rights and restrictions on herd movements have resulted in confusion and resentment and have created conflicts between upstream and downstream communities. Herders with no current alternatives are concerned about their future livelihoods, whereas others are leaving it to their children to decide their future. It is concluded that the motive behind nationalisation of rangeland is noble and timely, but there are flaws in the redistribution plan. Transhumant agropastoralism is already in decline and there is no need to push towards its end through legislation. Transhumant practices could be left to evolve towards what may be their natural end. Sudden stoppage of inter-district transhumance without offering meaningful alternatives to herders could result in negative environmental and socioeconomic impacts. In future, policy development needs to increasingly embrace science and be based on evidence. A genuine participatory process with citizen engagement could avoid the unintended negative impacts likely to be faced by transhumant herders with marginal land holdings, who depend on this production system for their livelihoods.

scholarly journals Are urban informal communities capable of co-production? The influence of community–public partnerships on water access in Lilongwe, Malawi

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 461-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellis Adjei Adams ◽  
Godfred Odei Boateng
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Urban Poor ◽  
Waiting Times ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
State Intervention ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Production Model ◽  
Water Access ◽  
The Impact

The failure of the conventional public and private (market-based) water policies to improve urban water access in the global South has prompted growing interest in alternative models such as community–state co-production. However, there is little evidence of whether co-production can improve water service delivery in the informal settlements of sub-Saharan Africa where a disproportionately high percentage of the urban poor lives. This paper uses household surveys, key informant interviews, and focus groups to examine the impact of co-production on household water access and service delivery in the informal settlements of Lilongwe, Malawi. Co-production increased water accessibility, reduced the cost of water, increased the number of community water kiosks, and resulted in more effective financial management and accountability. However, challenges related to poor infrastructure and limited community capacity threaten the long-term sustainability of the co-production model. Urban informal residents lamented worsening water-supply interruptions and longer waiting times after co-production, challenges that require state intervention.

scholarly journals Pesticide Use in Northern Ireland’s Arable Crops from 1992–2016 and Implications for Future Policy Development

Agriculture ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Jess ◽  
David Matthews ◽  
Archie Murchie ◽  
Michael Lavery
Keyword(s):  
Policy Development ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Pesticide Use ◽  
Arable Crops ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Consequent Reduction ◽  
Future Policy ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Reduction In Area

Since the 1960s, the objective for the United Kingdom (UK) government policy and legislation on crop protection practices has been to minimise the impact of pesticide use in agriculture and horticulture to the wider environment. Subsequent European Union (EU) policy and legislation have also targeted this objective through a demanding approvals process, competency tests for users, maximum residue limits, regular post-registration monitoring and the promotion of integrated pest and disease management techniques. However, none of this substantive regulation refers to target reduction levels for pesticide use. Since 1992, the number of arable farms in Northern Ireland has decreased by 61% with a consequent reduction of 34% in the area of arable crops grown. Despite this reduction in area of arable crops grown, the area treated by the major pesticide groups increased by 49% due to intensification, but the weight of major pesticides applied to arable crops decreased by 37%. However, the intensity of application measured by the total quantity of all pesticides applied to the basic area of arable crops treated remained relatively constant at approximately 3.2 kg/ha. Pesticide usage trends and reduction policies in other geographic regions are also discussed for comparative purposes.

scholarly journals The Effect of Long Lasting Insecticide Bed Net Use on Malaria Prevalence in the Tombel Health District, South West Region-Cameroon

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric B. Fokam ◽  
Kevin T. J. Dzi ◽  
Leonard Ngimuh ◽  
Peter Enyong
Keyword(s):  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Malaria Prevalence ◽  
Health District ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
West Region ◽  
Net Use ◽  
South West ◽  
Llin Distribution ◽  
The Impact

Malaria remains a major public health problem in Africa, and its prevalence in Cameroon stands at 29%. Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) were distributed in 2011 to reduce malaria mortality and morbidity; however, assessment of this intervention is scanty. The present study in the Tombel health district (THD) investigated the impact of this distribution on malaria prevalence. A total of 31,657 hospital records from 3 health facilities in 3 health areas for 2010–2013 were examined. Records for 2010 and 2011 provided predistribution baseline data, while those of 2012 and 2013 represented postdistribution data. 8,679 (27.4%) patients were positive for malaria. Children below 5 years had the highest prevalence (40.7%). The number of confirmed cases was highest from June to August (peak rainy season). Malaria prevalence was higher in males (25.3%) than in females (23.2%). Malaria prevalence increased in THD from 26.7% in 2010 to 30.7% in 2011 but dropped to 22.7% in 2012 and then increased in 2013 to 29.5%. There was an overall drop in the total number of confirmed malaria cases in 2012; this decrease was significant in Ebonji (p<0.001) and Nyasoso (p<0.015) health areas. The distribution of LLINs led to a short lived reduction in malaria prevalence in THD. LLIN distribution and other control activities should be reinforced to keep malaria prevalence low especially among the 0–5-year group.

scholarly journals Whānau Ora; He Whakaaro Ā Whānau: Māori Family Views of Family Wellbeing

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amohia F Boulton ◽  
Heather H. Gifford
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Social Service ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Social Service Delivery ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Unique Dataset ◽  
Family Wellbeing

This article presents the findings from two studies that investigated the concept of whānau ora (family wellbeing): One examined the nature of resilience for Māori whānau and how resilience relates to whānau ora; while the second investigated the impact of the Working for Families policy on Māori families’ perceptions of whānau ora. In each study, Māori were asked to define whānau ora for their family. The responses to the “whānau ora” definition question in each of the studies were separated out to derive a unique dataset of 46 whānau definitions of whānau ora. A secondary analysis of responses was undertaken specifically for this article and these were compared to the whānau ora outcome definition outlined in the Report of the Taskforce on Whānau-Centred Initiatives (Taskforce on Whānau-Centred Initiatives, 2010). The degree of concordance between the definitions of whānau ora expressed by Māori families and those espoused by the government’s Taskforce is outlined. The article discusses the variability in understandings around whānau ora and the implications of our analysis for social service delivery and social policy development.

Institutional practices and vulnerability of shrimp fry catchers in the south-west region of Bangladesh

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (11) ◽  
pp. 1533-1549
Author(s):  
Nurun Naher Moni ◽  
Mohammed Ziaul Haider ◽  
Md Mahedi Al Masud
Keyword(s):  
Economic Status ◽  
Coastal Region ◽  
Original Research ◽  
The South ◽  
Institutional Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
West Region ◽  
South West ◽  
The Impact ◽  
South West Region

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the dynamics of institutional practices, socio-economic status and vulnerability of shrimp fry catchers in the south-west region of Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach This study draws on primary research conducted through face-to-face interviews with women fry collectors in the south-west region of Bangladesh. This study attempts to identify the nature and extent of the impact of institutional practices on the women engaged in catching fry regarding their positioning within the institutional framework. Findings In the coastal region of Bangladesh, the shrimp sector has opened up economic opportunities for women in terms of access to income and employment. However, women have to make a trade-off between employment gain in terms of wage and health hazards caused due to poor working conditions. The findings of the study indicate that shrimp fry catching, complemented by other sources of income, can only help women to survive. The study also finds that the vulnerability of the fry collectors is the end result of mutually interacting institutional practices under different institutional domains. Accordingly, recommendations are made with a view to effectively utilizing social capital at the community level, which will be particularly helpful in raising fry catchers’ voice in the local political arena and strengthening their position in the marketplace. Due to the higher preferences of buyers towards wild fry and the participation of a huge number of people in fry collecting, this study suggests rethinking government intervention in this regard. Originality/value This is original research focusing on the underlying structural and institutional factors behind the marginalization and vulnerability of women and devising policies that will enable modification of the factors that restrain women.

scholarly journals The Impact of Performance Based Budget (Pbb) on Projects Effectiveness, Quality and Sustainability in Fako and Meme Divisions of the South West Region, Cameroon

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 92-107
Author(s):  
Roland A. Anyingang
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
The South ◽  
West Region ◽  
South West ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact ◽  
South West Region

The study examined the impact of performance based budget on projects effectiveness, quality and sustainability in Fako and Meme Divisions of the South West Region, Cameroon. Three specific objectives were formulated to guide this study. The objectives investigated the impact of performance based budget on the effectiveness of projects, the impact of performance based budget on the quality of projects and the impact of performance based budget on the sustainability of projects. Ex-post facto research design was used for this study. The sample of this study was made up 420 respondents comprising of service providers, beneficiaries of the projects and staff of the Regional Delegation of Water and Energy and the Regional Delegation of Public Works in Fako and Meme Divisions. A well validated structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and dependent t-test. Findings revealed that there exist a significant difference in the quality of roads, water and electricity projects before and after implementation of performance based budget with the quality of roads higher after the full implementation than before the implementation of PBB. There exist a significant difference in the effectiveness of road, water and electricity projects before and after implementation of water projects, and there exist a significant difference in the sustainability of road, water and electricity projects before and after implementation of performance based budget. The study recommended that the effectiveness of the budgetary system should be improved so that the quality and sustainability of projects will be obtained.  Moreover, good budget begets good results.    

scholarly journals An Integrated Framework on the Sustainability of SMEs

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (21) ◽  
pp. 6026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Burlea-Schiopoiu ◽  
Laurentiu Stelian Mihai
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Debt Ratio ◽  
Financial Indicators ◽  
West Region ◽  
South West ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
And Training

The aim of this article is to investigate the relationship between the budget related to corporate social responsibility (CSR), Innovation and Training, defined as sustainable factors, and the financial results of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The investigation is made by analysing the financial results from a sample of 200 SMEs from the South-West Region of Romania. The findings prove that SMEs can use training and innovation to improve the impact of CSR on their sustainability with a focus on positive financial indicators. The findings prove that corporate social responsibility (CSRBi), innovation (InnovBi), and training (TrainingBi) as sustainable factors are significantly and positively correlated with the following indicators: profit (Profiti), profit per employee (ProfitEi) and total expenditure (Expensesi), and it is negatively correlated with debt ratio (DebtRi).

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document