Family Advocacy for Residents in Nursing Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic

To protect one of the most vulnerable populations from COVID-19, nursing homes enacted and enforced visiting restrictions and other measures to limit the spread of this communicable disease. Family members, many of whom are former caregivers, were suddenly cut off from nursing home residents, and struggled to maintain connection with their loved ones residing in nursing homes. The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of family members of residents in nursing homes in advocating for residents and themselves during a time of uncertainty and many challenges. This study used a qualitative descriptive approach to conduct individual interviews. Ten family members of residents of two nursing homes in a Northeastern state were interviewed by phone or videoconference using a semi-structured guide. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Family members expressed concerns for the lockdown’s impact on residents’ psychosocial wellbeing in addition to the potential physical dangers of COVID-19. They explored creative means of meeting needs for information and interaction, but often felt that these efforts fell short of replicating the connectedness of in-person visits. Family members identified multiple missed opportunities for involvement in care, and voiced willingness to comply with infection prevention guidelines, such as maintaining distance, to be present with residents. Our findings indicate that family members advocated for residents’ interests to ensure quality care. Future research and policy should consider family members as a potential resource for providing care and companionship during times of crisis.

Programmes to prepare siblings for future roles to support their brother or sister with a neurodisability: protocol of a scoping review

IntroductionSiblings share a lifelong bond in their relationship, and they may choose to provide support to their brother or sister with a neurodisability. Previous reviews summarised programmes that only focused on the behavioural, emotional and psychological outcomes of the siblings. There is a need to synthesise existing evidence and enhance our understanding about programmes for siblings to acquire knowledge, develop skills and become empowered that can help them to provide support to their brother or sister with a neurodisability. The objective of this review is to identify and map the characteristics and outcomes of programmes designed to prepare siblings in their future roles to support their brother or sister with a neurodisability.Methods and analysisThis review will be conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews. An integrated knowledge translation approach will be used by partnering with the Sibling Youth Advisory Council comprised of siblings of individuals with a disability throughout all review phases. Databases to be searched include PsycINFO, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Sociological Abstracts, Education Resources Information Center, EMBASE, Web of Science, MEDLINE (Ovid) and SPORTDiscus, from date of inception to November 2020. Studies of programmes designed for siblings of individuals with neurodisabilities, with no exclusion on the age of siblings or context, and published in English will be included. Extracted data will include details of programme structure and content, eligibility criteria and participants, context, study methods and outcomes. A summary of the results will be presented in a tabular form to provide an overview of the programmes with an accompanying narrative summary to address the research questions of this review.DisseminationFindings from this review will be shared using dissemination strategies in partnership with the Sibling Youth Advisory Council. We will share the findings with key stakeholders such as healthcare providers, researchers, and patient and family advocacy groups.

Factors Predicting Family Violence Revictimization Among Army Families With Child Maltreatment

The Army Family Advocacy Program (Army FAP) strives to prevent family violence and intervene to reduce the deleterious effects of exposure to family violence. This paper examines the individual, family, community, and treatment factors associated with family violence revictimization. Case files of 134 families with substantiated child maltreatment and associated Army FAP interventions that closed in 2013 were coded across risk and protective factors and intervention characteristics and were matched to Army Central Registry files to identify revictimization rates through 2017. Revictimization, experienced by 23% of families, was predicted by community risk and reduced by intervention dose. With the high rates of relocations, housing or neighborhood issues, and the isolation military families experience and the relationship of these concerns to repeated family violence, identifying the impact of community risk is particularly important. Similarly, research that elucidates the effective treatment components is needed.

Jones, Norma Gray “Cindy”

Norma Gray “Cindy” Jones (1951–2017) was a Navy Commander and a social work professor. She served for 21 years as a Navy Commander and her work altered Navy social practices and policies. Her efforts included establishing new programs for entry-level Navy social workers and implementing Family Advocacy treatment programs worldwide.

Human Papillomavirus Oral- and Sero- Positivity in Fanconi Anemia

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is prevalent and known to cause 5% of all cancers worldwide. The rare, cancer prone Fanconi anemia (FA) population is characterized by a predisposition to both head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and gynecological cancers, but the role of HPV in these cancers remains unclear. Prompted by a patient-family advocacy organization, oral HPV and HPV serological studies were simultaneously undertaken. Oral DNA samples from 201 individuals with FA, 303 unaffected family members, and 107 unrelated controls were tested for 37 HPV types. Serum samples from 115 individuals with FA and 55 unrelated controls were tested for antibodies against 9 HPV types. Oral HPV prevalence was higher for individuals with FA (20%) versus their parents (13%; p = 0.07), siblings (8%, p = 0.01), and unrelated controls (6%, p ≤ 0.001). A FA diagnosis increased HPV positivity 4.84-fold (95% CI: 1.96–11.93) in adjusted models compared to unrelated controls. Common risk factors associated with HPV in the general population did not predict oral positivity in FA, unlike unrelated controls. Seropositivity and anti-HPV titers did not significantly differ in FA versus unrelated controls regardless of HPV vaccination status. We conclude that individuals with FA are uniquely susceptible to oral HPV independent of conventional risk factors.

Fairly-Decided Maltreatment Determinations Significantly Reduce Recidivism? A Quasi-experimental Evaluation of a System-Level Intervention Implementation

Background. This study examined the impact of the implementation of the Field-tested Assessment, Intervention-planning, and Response (FAIR) system for maltreatment determination on two measures recidivism of family maltreatment. Methods. The 10 U.S. Army installations with the largest caseloads participated. Data were collected when Family Advocacy Program staff used the then-in-place system and then the FAIR system. Cases in each system were followed for six months following their abuse determination to measure the probability of subsequent allegations. Additionally, at five installations, alleged victims of partner abuse were recruited into a confidential study in which they anonymously reported on intimate partner violence via telephone. Results. Both studies found that the FAIR system results in decreased recidivism, measured through subsequent formal reports and anonymous victim reports. Conclusions. This study replicates and extends earlier findings that employing the FAIR system can result in decreased family maltreatment re-offense.

The U.S. Marine Corps’ Response to Intimate Partner Sexual Violence: An Analysis of the Family Advocacy Program and the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program

In this article, we show how the U.S. military treats domestic violence and sexual assault as distinct forms of abuse, which has particular consequences for victims of intimate partner sexual violence. We explore how a specific U.S. military branch, the Marine Corps, complicates these issues further by providing services to intimate partner sexual violence victims from two different programs. Analyzing military orders and documents related to Family Advocacy Program and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program, interviews with eight military prosecutors, and the experiences of one military lawyer, we examine program and interactional-level factors that shape victim services, advocacy, and processes. We find that there are program differences in specialized services, coordinated services, and potential breaches of confidentiality related to victim’s cases. We recommend that the Marine Corps recognize the intersections of sexual violence and domestic violence and offer more tailored services to victims of intimate partner sexual violence.

PENGARUH ADVOKASI DAN FUNGSI KELUARGA TERHADAP KEBERHASILAN PROGRAM KAMPUNG KELUARGA BERENCANA DI DINAS PENGENDALIAN PENDUDUK DAN KELUARGA BERENCANA KABUPATEN KARAWANG

This study aims to determine the effect of Advocacy and Family Function on the Success of the KB Village Program. The sampling technique used total sampling (n = 73), and the data analysis technique used Correlation and Regression with SPSS version 22. The results showed that Advocacy had a positive and significant effect on the success of the KB Village Program (t count = 2.854, p 0.06). Family function has a positive and significant effect on the success of the KB Village Program (t count = 2.791, p 0.38). Family advocacy and functions simultaneously had a positive and significant effect on the success of the KB Village Program (F arithmetic = 4.063, p 0.21). Contribution of Advocacy and Family Function to the Success of the KB Village Program is shown by the Adjusted R Square value of 0.604 or (60.4%). The remaining 39.6% is influenced by other variables. The implication of this research is that there must be a Karawang regency Population and Family Planning Office policy in increasing the success of the KB Village Kampung Program. To improve the success of the KB Village Program through the advancement of the Advocacy and monitoring of the Employees' Family Functions so that the Success of the KB Village Program is achieved.