Search

Economically and educationally disadvantaged students who enter higher education opportunity programs, like other disadvantaged groups, often feel blamed and degraded by an 'us versus them' orientation in schools and communities. Too frequently, problem-focused social work contributes to this context in spite of the good intentions of social workers. This article discusses five solution-focused techniques that transmit powerful, affirming metamessages to students in educational opportunity programs and also reduce the perceived gap between social workers and students. Key words: disadvantaged; higher education; metamessage; students, Students who enter higher education opportunity programs (HEOPs), like other disadvantaged groups, frequently feel as if they are viewed as different, of limited ability or motivation, untrustworthy, and perhaps unwanted. [...]

Non-profit human service organizations, both public and private, face unique challenges and opportunities in the climate of the 1990's as human needs are increasing, funding is decreasing, and threats to organizational well-being are encountered. The purpose of this paper is to describe, advocate for, and illustrate a strategic planning model which facilitates a proactive, energizing, futuristic vision as services are being planned and delivered. Three case examples are used: a large state-run county social services department; a small, private, sectarian agency that provides group home services for the developmentally disabled; and a medium sized federal public health hospital.

The conscious use of descriptive and prescriptive social work theory to promote recognition of and sensitivity to ethnic diversity in social work encounters is advocated. A method for increasing such theoretical skills in first-year graduate students are discussed. (MSE)

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate Cu-64 PET phantom image quality using Bayesian Penalized Likelihood (BPL) and Ordered Subset Expectation Maximum with point-spread function modeling (OSEM-PSF) reconstruction algorithms. In the BPL, the regularization parameterβwas varied to identify the optimum value for image quality. In the OSEM-PSF, the effect of acquisition time was evaluated to assess the feasibility of shortened scan duration. Methods : A NEMA IEC PET body phantom was filled with known activities of water soluble Cu-64. The phantom was imaged on a PET/CT scanner and was reconstructed using BPL and OSEM-PSF algorithms. For the BPL reconstruction, variousβvalues (150, 250, 350, 450, and 550) were evaluated. For the OSEM-PSF algorithm, reconstructions were performed using list-mode data intervals ranging from 7.5 to 240 s. Image quality was assessed by evaluating the signal to noise ratio (SNR), contrast to noise ratio (CNR), and background variability (BV). Results : The SNR and CNR were higher in images reconstructed with BPL compared to OSEM-PSF. Both the SNR and CNR increased with increasing β , peaking atβ= 550. The CNR for all β , sphere sizes and tumor-to-background ratios (TBRs) satisfied the Rose criterion for image detectability (CNR > 5). BPL reconstructed images with β = 550 demonstrated the highest improvement in image quality. For OSEM-PSF reconstructed images with list-mode data duration ≥ 120 s, the noise level and CNR were not significantly different from the baseline 240 s list-mode data duration. Conclusions : BPL reconstruction improved Cu-64 PET phantom image quality by increasing SNR and CNR relative to OSEM-PSF reconstruction. Additionally, this study demonstrated scan time can be reduced from 240 to 120 s when using OSEM-PSF reconstruction while maintaining similar image quality. This study provides baseline data that may guide future studies aimed to improve clinical Cu-64 imaging., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd.)