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Using a post-structural lens, I make arguments against homogenising people's conditions and circumstances. In particular, I acknowledge that the post-1994 reform agenda intended to streamline the previously fragmented and segregated higher education landscape under the apartheid regime. Black women, who are the main target of this article suffered triple marginalisation - race, social class and sexism. The aim of the article is to show the tensions that exist within the White Paper: A Programme for the Transformation of Higher Education (DoE 1997). The said tensions have stifled the attainment of gender equity and equality; effectively widening the gender fissures in post-1994 South African higher education. I argue that we should not take for granted phrases such as "equal opportunities" and "equal access" in policies. Instead, we should seek their meaning and achievement inter alia in earnest for the targeted group. Therefore, I postulate that gender and gendering is complex and very fragmented. For this reason, formulating transformation interventions on the premise of equality for all does not necessarily guarantee gender equality or gender equity. With this in mind, a "one-size fits all" approach to redressing gender equality is implausible and does not suffice in addressing salient gender injustices. I propose a multifaceted approach, which encompasses a realistic and holistic outlook on the divergent needs of black women in particular and women in general as a possible solution to the current challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: From 2010 to 2011, several states passed legislation aimed at identifying and deporting undocumented immigrants. Despite partial or full enjoinment at various times, there are reasons to believe that the passage of these laws could have had a negative impact on social life for immigrants and Hispanics. This study attempts to quantify the impact of these restrictive laws on time spent socializing, as reported in the American Time Use Survey. Method: This study uses a natural experiment and difference in differences design. Results: I find that Hispanics in states that passed these laws spent less time socializing after their passage, though only in counties with relatively low Hispanic populations around the time of passage. Conclusion: Overall, this study provides evidence of a negative impact of extreme immigration policy on social life in the Hispanic community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a critical systems inquiry into the complexities of the implementation of a District Health System in the KwaZulu-Natal province of post-Apartheid South Africa. The inquiry process, which was `governed' by Checkland's Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and followed the four-phase learning cycle developed by Kolb, produced `conceptual models' which enabled participant stakeholders to gain fresh perspectives on the context and, in so doing, to get the implementation process `unstuck'. At the theoretical/methodological level the paper contributes to the growing literature on the combination of systems methods by illustrating how conceptual models of purposeful human activity, a method intrinsic to SSM, were constructed from the participatory use of Concept Maps and Sign-graph Diagrams. We also reflect on the interrelationship between methodology/method combination and two other aspects of the intervention that we considered to be important for maintaining the `systemicity' of the intervention, viz., the inquiry context and boundary critique. Keywords boundary critique; health systems; learning cycle; policy, INTRODUCTION The difficulties that public agencies have in achieving the goals of social policies are often rooted in the limitations of conventional managerial approaches in dealing with the `messy' problems [...]

The article considers the implications for family policy of the proposed new changes to the registration of births, marriages and deaths, contained in the British government White Paper Civil Registration: Vital Change (2002). It asks whether, and to what extent, the changes proposed are 'facilitative' or 'persuasive'. It is argued that, whilst the changes are in part designed to facilitate more diverse patterns of partnering and parenting now evident in the population there are limitations, for example in respect of same sex partnerships. There are also clearly 'persuasive' elements. These are consistent with changes in family policy which focus more on the individuals than on the nuclear family as the focus of policy, which are tolerant of different forms of partnering, but which place supporting parenthood as the highest priority. Changes in civil registration are seen as an essential condition for implementing other types of changes in the family policy arena.

Yes, Mr Prosecutor ...? The Circuit, Your Honour. I see. Has the defence decided on a plea? Not guilty, Your Honour. We believe there are extenuating circumstances. Very well. Mr [...]

The US Department of Education's Principles of Effectiveness require recipients of Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Community Act funds to: a) base drug and violence prevention programs on needs assessment data, b) develop measurable program goals and objectives, c) implement programs with research evidence of effectiveness, and d) periodically evaluate programs relative to their goals and objectives. This paper reports the extent of awareness of the Principles of Effectiveness and plans for their implementation among public school districts and schools in the United States in the year following their announcement. Results showed a greater percentage of public school districts than individual schools knew about the principles and planned for implementation, but baseline levels of awareness for both districts and schools were relatively low. Schools were more likely to know about the principles when their associated school district also knew. Results suggest a need for greater communication about the principles to school districts, and in turn, a need for greater communication between district and school-level substance use prevention staff., On July 1, 1998, the US Department of Education promulgated the Principles of Effectiveness and made compliance with the principles prerequisite for public schools to continue receiving funds through the [...]

In recent years community involvement and increasingly local partnerships with community groups have become central themes in debates and policies surrounding urban regeneration. The paper attempts to explore the contribution that operational research and systems research could make to these debates. The potential contribution will be illustrated by a case study on developing community involvement in the context of a local area health initiative, namely the Health Action Zone Programme. The case study describes work undertaken over a period of two years, ending in April 2001, and reflects on how community involvement as a strategy was formed through paying attention to local relationships, and institutions. A range of participatory techniques was used as well as methods from operational research and the systems field. A framework for community involvement was developed from the work and will be presented. Keywords community involvement; regeneration; systems thinking; community OR, INTRODUCTION Probably the most important theme of the UK government's regional policy for health is regeneration. It is claimed that the processes and partnerships put in place to regenerate areas [...]

prior authorization (PA) is one of the several techniques employed by pharmacy benefit management firms to control drug costs. There are no rigorous tests of the underlying assumptions inherent in its process or its effect on the utilization of drugs and subsequent costs of care. This paper discusses an early investigation into PA programs used by different organizational types found within managed care. We sought to obtain information regarding several aspects of PA programs including the decision rules used to determine both the need for a PA for a particular drug product, the costs of the process and the means used to audit and ensure its cost-effectiveness. Findings from 20 semi-structured telephone interviews with a purposive sample of individuals identified as employees of organizations actively using prior authorization for formulary management (PBMs, health maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations) are reported. Although none of the represented organizations had evaluated their PA program, interviewees were unanimous in their opinion that PA had achieved the desired effects of lowering utilization of selected drugs and reducing overall pharmacy costs. PA programs have continued as a formulary management strategy with only minimal understanding of the implications positive or negative., Currently in the US there is a strong emphasis being placed on health policy that ensures access to high quality medical care but with due consideration of costs. Unfortunately, economic [...]

The largest financial problem faced by many aging societies is how to support their older, retired members. That support was once wholly a matter for individual families, with perhaps a [...]

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To understand the relationship between demographic characteristics of schools and school health policies and programs, this study analyzed data from the School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) 2000. SHPPS 2000 provides nationally representative data on eight components of school health. Data were collected from school faculty and staff using onsite, computer-assisted personal interviews, then linked with extant data on school characteristics. Results from a series of regression analyses indicated that the presence of most policies and programs examined differed according to school type (public, private, or Catholic), urbanicity, school enrollment size, per-pupil expenditure, percentage of White students and, among high schools, percentage of college-bound students. No one type of school, however, was more likely than another type to have all key aspects of a school health program in place. Regardless of school characteristics, all schools are capable of implementing quality school health programs. (J Sch Health. 2003;73(4):143-149), School health programs can play a critical role in reducing health-risk behavior and promoting healthy behavior among young people. Allensworth and Kolbe described eight components of a comprehensive school health [...]

The long-expected 'White Paper' on China's population policy was issued by the Information Office of the State Council on 23 August 1995. Entitled 'Family Planning in China,' the document consists [...]