A program evaluation of the Innovative Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs (iTP3) Project

Background Teen pregnancy prevention in the United States has traditionally focused on the development, testing, and subsequent implementation of a set of evidence-based programs (EBPs), recommended nationally. However, these existing EBPs often do not prioritize the most at-risk or vulnerable populations. Methods The Innovative Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs (iTP3) project was funded to facilitate the development of new, innovative programs to reach disparate populations. Through a mixed methods design, iTP3 evaluated the process and resulting innovative programs from five iterative cohorts of funded organizations, referred to as Innovators. iTP3 utilized both a traditional funding model with more traditional methods of capacity building assistance, but transitioned over time to a design-focused funding model in which organizations and individuals developed innovative programs through an intensive human centered design process. Results Evaluation results showed that the resulting portfolio of programs had differences in the types of programs resulting from the differing funding models. Notable differences among programs from the two funding models include program length, along with personnel, time, and resources needed to develop and manage. Conclusion Both traditional and design funding models led to innovative programs, with notable differences in the development process and resulting programs.

Funding Democracy: Public Media and Democratic Health in 33 Countries

This study examines whether and how public media systems contribute to the health of democracies in 33 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, the Middle East, Latin America, and South America. We gather national economic data and public media funding levels, audience shares, and regulatory data, primarily for 2018 and 2019 but in some cases earlier, due to lack of available data. We then assess correlations with strength of democracy indices and extend Hallin and Mancini's typology of North American and European media systems through hierarchical cluster analysis of these 33 countries. We find five models of public media systems around the world, ranging from “state-administered” systems with low levels of independence (Botswana and Tunisia) to systems aligning with Hallin and Mancini's “Democratic Corporatist” model, with strong and secure (multiyear) funding, large audience shares, and strong regulatory protection for their independence. In between, we identify three mixed models: a “Liberal-Pluralist” model, a “Direct Funding” model, and a “Commercial–Public” model. Correlations and cluster analyses show that high levels of secure funding for public media systems and strong structural protections for the political and economic independence of those systems are consistently and positively correlated with healthy democracies.

Funding Influencing Practice and Outcomes in Reablement

Internationally, Home Care is invariably funded through fee-per-service, e.g., if an hour of care is delivered, the provider receives an associated amount of funding. However, the funding model discourages reductions in packages-of-care when a client’s functional capacity improves, and further disincentivises providers to discharge clients. Similarly, staff income is often directly associated to the delivered hours-of-care and if a client’s hours are reduced, so is their income; again, discouraging the right behaviour, such as reporting improvements in independence levels. In 2008 in New Zealand, we developed a case-mix funding methodology and have been progressively implementing the new model since that time. This presentation highlights the findings in relation to how Home Care service hour allocations titrate against needs following implementation of the model as well as a number of other key quality outcomes that have been observed as a result of the case-mix model.

Stakeholder Support for Wildlife Conservation Funding Policies

State wildlife management agencies in the United States have depended on a “user-pay” funding model for conservation efforts that relies on revenue from hunting license sales and a federal excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment. Declines in hunting participation, however, jeopardize sustainability of the current funding model. Ensuring support among stakeholders for wildlife management and conservation may require expanding sources of funding and incorporating the perspectives and values of a diversifying constituency into decision making processes. We used a web-based survey of wildlife-associated recreationists in Michigan, USA to evaluate support for a range of conservation funding policies. Respondents self-identified primarily as hunters (n = 2,558) or wildlife watchers (n = 942). We used binary logistic regression to evaluate support for four conservation funding policy options: state sales tax, lottery proceeds, extractive industry revenue, and a user-based tax on outdoor gear (i.e., “backpack tax”). Determinants of support varied by type of policy and stakeholder characteristics. We found no statistically significant differences between hunters and wildlife watchers in their support for conservation funding policies when accounting for other variables such as wildlife value orientations, engagement in stewardship behaviors, age, and gender. The industry-based policy achieved the greatest level of approval, while the backpack tax had the lowest. Respondents were mixed in their support of the sales tax and lottery proceeds options. Cluster analysis revealed three homogenous groups related to conservation funding policies: “strong support,” “mixed/opposed,” and “anti-backpack tax.” Clusters differed in their support for conservation funding policies and on psychological and demographic variables. The “strong support” and “anti-backpack tax” groups differed in their levels of stewardship engagement, knowledge of conservation funding mechanisms, and support for the backpack tax option. The “mixed-opposed” group tended to be older, less educated, and less likely to be a member of a conservation organization. Results suggest support for conservation funding differs by policy type and social and psychological characteristics of stakeholders. Based on differences in policy support revealed in this study, we suggest a multi-tiered approach to funding conservation and building on support among wildlife stakeholders to mitigate the looming funding crisis for state wildlife agencies.

Clash of Giants – the Change of Internal Higher Education Governance in Latvia

Globalization, the transfer to knowledge society exposes the environment of higher education institutions (HEIs) to increasingly complex operating conditions. The universities have to address additional demanding tasks with often-staggering public funding at their disposal. The paper aims to depict the interaction of government – managers – and higher education (HE) sector – employees – in the context of recent university governance reforms, which in its essence is another manifestation of managerialist policy followed by the government. The paper starts with contextual information on the HE system in Latvia and its antecedently limited public funding. It then touches the introduction of the performance-based funding model. The review of the funding model came as a reaction to dramatic public funding cuts within the higher education sector that were triggered by the economic crisis 2009-2012. The paper outlines the expectations of the higher education sector that additional public funding will be invested as soon as the new funding model is implemented. However, quite surprisingly for the higher education sector, the newly elected government decides to reform the internal governance of public higher education institutions instead. The depicted context is analyzed against the concept of managerialism and its influence on the higher education sector, specifically on the deterioration of collegiality as the traditional form of university governance. The paper explains, why the plans to reform the university governance in Latvia by introducing university boards with external stakeholders represented there have been met ambiguously by the higher education sector. The authors seek to answer the seemingly irrational series of actions taken by the Latvian government and do so referring to phenomena of managerial ideology, as well as cautions against the rule of uncompromising, forthright managerialism within the public sector. The article finds, however, that pure collegiality is no longer viable in the higher education sector in Latvia, and different manifestations of managerialism are there to stay in the higher education sector. Therefore, ways need to be found to adopt and draw benefits from the induced changes. Understanding the rational reasons behind seemingly irrational reforms introduced by the government is the first step in this direction. The next step, but this would be then the subject of further researches, would be to detect the conditions in which the incoming managerialism may undermine or reinforce the quality of higher education.

Future care for long-term cancer survivors: towards a new model

Purpose The increase in the prevalence "long-term cancer survivor” (LCS) patients is expected to increase the cost of LCS care. The aim of this study was to obtain information that would allow to optimise the current model of health management in Spain to adapt it to one of efficient LCS patient care. Methods This qualitative study was carried out using Delphi methodology. An advisory committee defined the criteria for participation, select the panel of experts, prepare the questionnaire, interpret the results and draft the final report. Results 232 people took part in the study (48 oncologists). Absolute consensus was reached in three of the proposed sections: oncological epidemiology, training of health professionals and ICT functions. Conclusion The role of primary care in the clinical management of LCS patients needs to be upgraded, coordination with the oncologist and hospital care is essential. The funding model needs to be adapted to determine the funding conditions for new drugs and technologies.

Research equity: Incentivizing high-risk basic research with market mechanisms

Innovation in basic research is vital to scientific progress and technological development; however, such research finds insufficient support in the current research environment. To stimulate high-risk, high-reward basic research, this paper proposes a “research equity” funding model in which funders—such as government agencies and philanthropies—would pay researchers and institutions for completed research: The more valuable the research, the greater the reward. The valuation of completed research could be done with a novel “chess rating” method: A peer reviewer would be presented with a pair of research papers and would decide which of the two is of greater value, and a large number of comparisons would produce a numerical rating to inform payment. Payment based on research value would enable many of the qualities found in healthy markets. Initial capital for basic research would be provided by research institutions, which would be financially incentivized to invest in a diverse body of basic research that includes both low-risk, conservative research and high-risk, innovative research. Institutions would be motivated to demonstrate the value of completed research in their portfolios, which may accelerate recognition of important results. By motivating researchers and institutions to produce and promote valuable research, the research equity model could stimulate more rapid scientific discovery and progress. Notably, the research equity model could coexist with grant funding.

Key Considerations for Traditional Residential Universities Intending to Offer Bachelor of Laws (LLB) through the Distance Mode of Tuition: A Case Study

This case study aims to provide key considerations that traditional residential universities should consider when deciding to offer a distance tuition programme alongside an existing contact tuition programme. The University of the Free State is the only residential university to offer the Bachelor of Laws through both contact and distance modes of tuition. Therefore, an evaluation of this programme serves as an ideal case study to extract specific and essential considerations that other institutions, faculties or departments may use when deciding to offer a distance tuition programme in addition to its contact programme. The case study suggests that it is not feasible to merely duplicate an existing contact tuition programme and present it as a distance programme. A distinct pedagogical approach must be followed. It entails training, redesign of material, and rethinking assessment policies. Faculties should weigh the potential benefits of presenting a distance LLB against the labour-intensive nature of distance tuition and its probable limited success in realising broader access and student success. The funding model for distance tuition remains problematic and is financially unfeasible and unsustainable for many higher education institutions. Rethinking the funding model will be one step closer to achieving the objectives set out in the distance tuition policy framework.