Overview of the FAFSA for Financial Aid

If you want financial aid, youll need to fill out the FAFSA. The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Anyone who wants financial aid for college will need to fill out the FAFSA. The application is used to determine the dollar amount you or your family will be expected to contribute towards college. All federal grant and loan awards are determined by the FAFSA, and nearly all colleges use the FAFSA as the basis for their own financial aid awards. The FAFSA is managed by the Office of Federal Student Aid, part of the Department of Higher Education. The Office of Federal Student Aid processes roughly 14 million financial aid applications a year and disburses about $80 billion in financial aid. The FAFSA application should take about one hour to fill out, but this is only if you have all the necessary documents at hand before you begin. Some applicants get frustrated with the application process because they do not have ready access to all necessary tax forms and bank statements, so be sure to plan ahead before you sit down to complete your FAFSA. The FAFSA requires information in five categories: Information about the studentInformation about the student’s dependency statusInformation about the student’s parentsInformation about the student’s financesA list of the schools that should receive the results of the FAFSA Students can fill out the FAFSA online at the FAFSA website, or they can apply through the mail with a paper form. The Office of Federal Student Aid strongly recommends the online application because it conducts immediate error checking, and it tends to speed up the application process by a few weeks. Students applying online can save their work and return to an application at a later date. Again, any financial aid award begins with the FAFSA, so be sure to complete the form before the deadlines for the schools to which you’ve applied. Realize that most state deadlines are much earlier than the June 30th federal deadline. Read more about the timing of your FAFSA application here: When Should You Submit the FAFSA?

Quality Assessment Of A Medical Biller And Team Player...

Erik Hinton Charge Entry and Collections Rep Washington, DC erikhinton2_zo9@indeedemail.com - 571-349-0603 Highly efficient Medical Biller with experience in physician billing across many different specialties. Effective multi-tasker and demonstrated team player with a positive attitude. Seeking a position requiring automated and clearinghouse billing systems expertise. Desires a challenging role as a Medical Biller and Collections Representative. Core Qualifications †¢ CPT and HCPCS coding OB-GYN, surgery, gastro, ENT, ortho experience †¢ Quality assessment of coded data Internal medicine billing †¢ Strong planning skills HIPAA compliance Authorized to work in the US for any employer WORK EXPERIENCE Medical Biller/Front Office Sports Pro Physical Therapy - Glenn Dale, MD - February 2016 to August 2016 -Managing all aspects of our insurance claims for 6 physical therapists -Receiving patient claim data and submit insurance claims for visits and procedures performed -Issuing billing statements to patients when necessary -Working with insurance companies to monitor claims status, pursue and dispute claim denials, elevate claims to appeals, and/or seek all methods to resolve open claims -Supporting office by explaining patient account history, assist with communication of financial policy, and communicating with patients who have questions on insurance or billing items -Maintaining accounts receivable aging reports and constantly review and resolve past due, credit, and debit

The Great War Free Essays

1) What were the three blunders? germany attacking france with all their forces to east of paris where they were stopped dead at battle of Marne France threw all their best troops against germany; and didnà ¢t have enough strenghth to follow up Russia didnà ¢t know what to do once they were at germany and had no plans for defending the land they occupied 2) Trace the advance of the German, Austrian and Russian armed forces in the east The Germans advanced into Russia, the Russians advanced into Austria, and then the armies of the three powers paused for the winter 3) How did the great European powers fee their men , money, and munitions into the Western and Eastern fronts? Russia was human reservoir, the governments raised taxes and borrowed money to spend on the soldiers and geared their industries to the new markets of human destruction and turned out weapons 4) a. What was the à ¢delivery systemà ¢ of the European armies? the railway network of Europe b. Describe the challenges of this à ¢delivery systems. We will write a custom essay sample on The Great War or any similar topic only for you Order Now à ¢ Before the railway system brought people of Europe closer together in peaceful trade, now held them fast in war; the generals demand more men, more guns, and more shells to hammer the enemy 5) What battle patterns did generals follow on the Western front? The two sides, each made up of millions of men, confronted each other below ground level 6) a. Why did Turkey enter the war? Turkey entered the war on the side of Germany and Austia, with the intention of halting Russian expansion around the black sea b. What was the purpose of the first campaign at Gallipoli? Gallipoli campaigne was intended to force a way through the straits of the Dardanelles into the black sea c. What was the purpose of the second and third campaigns the second was to win control of oil supplies, the third was to help arabs in a revolt against their Turkish rulers d. What was the purpose of the Sykes-Picot agreement in 1916? the British and French governments planned to divide much of the middle east between them with little thought for the interest of the Arabs 7) How did Britain and France entice How to cite The Great War, Papers

Globalization Effects on Global Value Chains

Question: Discuss about the Globalization Effects on Global Value Chains. Answer: Introduction In the traditional era, it was very difficult for parties within different geographical locations to interact with each other. Businesses and trading were only limited to short distances. On the extreme considerations, it was not possible to have any relation with a party outside an own country. However, the situation has greatly improved in the modern times; such that apart from business people carrying out their activities easily and cheaply within an own country, they are able to do so even with the outside economies (Bhagwati, 2004). Economists argue that this easiness has resulted from the globalization of the world economies. This paper will cover globalization and will make an analysis of how it impacts the value chains. In order to have a clear understanding of what we are researching on, we shall start by defining the two main terms stated in the objective of this paper. These are; globalization and the value chains. Many people are aware of the supply chains but are less informed on the value chains. After the definitions, the paper shall differentiate between the value and the supply chain. This will help in making some clarification on anyone else who may be interested in this papers research. If we find globalization to be good for economies, we shall definitely bear in mind that there are various demerits resulting from it. The paper will provide a clear image of whether it impacts the value chains positively or negatively. Since globalization is a global thing, it cannot be avoided and thus a positive impacts are desirable. The features of the value chain will be put under consideration. This paper will be important to the least developed economies that are undergoing the globalization process. Positive results will make them expand their embrace on the need for globalization. Defining Globalization According to Lechner (2009), this is the process that makes more and more people across larger distances to become connected in many different ways. Wells, Shuey and Kiely (2001) referred globalization to a recent rapid process of economic, political, and social intercontinental integration. They argued that the integration allows for easier and efficient communication, travelling, and international investment. The constraint of space is eliminated in social life, there is deterritorialization of the things we do, and supraterritorial became the new nature of the social relations (Scholte, 2005). There are different ways in which the connection may take place. There are four elements surrounding globalization. One is diffusion which means the simple spread of information or things, people are tied through a shared experience or common practices. The next one is interdependence where people in distance places are meaningfully affected by actions made in a place located away from them. The other one is organization of links subject to common rules. Lastly is culture where people are growing more conscious of the connections. Many people have been observed to have been benefited much from globalization. However, there are many others who have been hurt economically, some cultures have been destroyed and there are also some destruction of the natural local environment (Wells, Shuey and Kiely, 2001). Kleinert (2001) gave an argument of economic globalization being viewed in three forms; trade, international knowledge and technology transfer and the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The international knowledge and technology transfer is very impressive, however, the greatest attention has been created by the FDIs. Defining Value Chain Value chain is defined by Arline (2015) as all the processes that a business goes through for it to deliver the final product or a service. The range of activities include production, design, marketing and distribution. Value chain commencement depends on the type of a company. For instance, a company that produces goods has its value chain beginning upon the acquirement of raw materials. The value chain was suggested by Porter in 1985. The production process undergoes a series of stages before the final product is delivered; in each of these stages, value is said to be increased (Porter, 1985). Everything done to the raw materials to become a final product that can be used by consumers is the value chain. Value chain management is an important aspect in the production process as it organizes how the participants from different production stages interact with each other to ensure that minimum time is taken to make the product ready for delivery. The Difference between a Value and a Supply Chain A supply chain is the system and resources that are required in getting products or services from the suppliers to the final consumers. On the other hand, the value chain builds on the same concept but it puts some emphasis on considering also the process of value addition (Friedman, 2016). The value chain is more appealing since it is responsible for the performance of a business. It determines the quality and time taken for the consumers to get the products. The Roles of MNCs in Driving Globalization Multinational Corporations (MNCs) are corporate enterprises managing production or delivering services to many countries. Both the local and national policies are affected by multinational corporations. This makes governments to compete in order to make the multinational corporations more attractive. The corporations have monopoly in intellectual property and technology and thus has power over local and the national government. Because multinational corporations are large in size, their participation in the economy is of utmost importance. Therefore, a threat of withdrawal may have a significant impacts on the policies made by the government. Economic globalization is the increased economic interdependence many economies across the world. This is facilitated by the increment in the cross-border movement of capital, goods, technology and services. The corporations facilitates this process. An example of a multinational corporation with a great influence on the political process is Wal mart. It influence the processes through contributions to campaigns, lobbying and threats of exiting the market. MNCs are of great benefits to an economy in that they result in an expansion in economic activities, they create more employment opportunities and the government tax is increased. Both the local and the National government are in dire need of such benefits and they therefore struggle to make their economies more attractive to the MNCs. The attraction is created through actions like offering tax breaks for these corporations. The establishment of MNCs leads to attainment of control in the political entities. Macalista (2016) noted that the increment in the ownership of corporations by foreign investors is an important competitive driver of globalization. The MNCs has played a critical role in the achievement of globalization. They help in achievement on the establishment of many links with many world economies. The process of globalization is achieved based on the following argument. In the developing economies, labour and raw materials are cheap and readily available. However, developing economies do not have sufficient capital for exploitation. The MNCS used the capital available in the developed economies to set up factories and plants in those developing economies. Primary Features Inbound Logistics These are all activities that are involved in the first production process. These includes the handling of raw materials; receiving, storing and their distribution inside the business. Creating value here involves creating a good relationship with the suppliers. Outbound Logistics This is the final process where the product gets distributed to the consumers once its ready for consumption. This involves storage, collection and distribution either internally or externally. Operation This is the whole process of value chain where the raw materials undergoes all the stages to become a final product. Here value is created by the operational system. Sales and Marketing the activities involved here include; pricing, promotion, advertising, sales-force organization, management of customers relations to ensure the correct consumer groups are targeted, and the selection distribution channels. Here value is created by the benefits offered and good communication. It ensures your products are demanded and not those of the competitors. Service The final products needs maintenance to ensure that it maintains its performance for the consumer after purchase. It includes; repair, warrant, installation, maintenance, training and after-sales service. The Support Activities or the Secondary Activities Administrative Infrastructure This includes the structure of the organization, its management, planning, finance, accounting and the quality-control mechanisms. Human Resource Management This is an important part of the production process as it determines the quality and efficiency of production. It involves the selection, training, motivating, rewarding, and retaining of employees that best suit the production process. Their roles is helping in building, designing and marketing the products. IT This is concerned with the development of technology which is a crucial factor in the production process. Product development requires technology for research and the development stage. It is through technology that development and designing of new products is achieved. It is also important in making the production process easier through process automation. Procurement - This is the part of the value chain that is responsible for acquiring the raw materials for the production process. Value is created by tracing vendors who offer the best prices. How Globalization has Affected Value Chains Globalization has resulted in positive transformation in the value chains. For instance there has been a transformation on the ways the companies produce goods and their distribution worldwide (Oecd.org, 2016). The Global Value Chains (GVCs) are greatly impacting many economies. Becca (2013) presented an argument to support that globalization has really improved the value chains. The argument was that multinational corporations came up with better technology for wine production which led to an improvement in quality. Multinational enterprises are a product of globalization and they provide important information that develops the GVCs (Sydor, 2011). Vertical Disintegration of Production Hummels, Jun and Kei-Mu (2001) argues against globalization contributing to vertical disintegration of production basing their argument on the increasing number of subsequent stages taking place abroad. Foreign suppliers supply inputs that the same plant produced and are therefore not substitutes for domestic source (Fally, 2012) The Smile Curve In the initial years, the smile curve was flat, but with the globalization of the 21st century, the curve has become u-shaped. This means that the performance of members has increased in the GVCs. Manufacturing intelligent assets has been transitioned easily from advanced to emerging countries (Monden and Minagawa, 2015). MNCs Roles in out reducing Manufacturing Costs MNCs are established in developing economies where labour and raw materials are available at lower prices. This makes the manufacturing activities involved to be on a reduced cost. The reduction of manufacturing costs helps in improvement in the consumers surplus as the producers are able to supply at a lower price. The MNCs are responsible for the new manufacturing technology and techniques introduction in the developing nations. New technology helps in efficient means of production and therefore it saves on the production costs. The developing nations lacks sotisphicated managerial skills that are brought about by the MNCs as an added advantage (Syed, Agarwal and Tian, 2016). Better managerial skills will help in ensuring that money is allocated in places where it brings much benefits; thus the extra costs incurred from misallocation of funds will be avoidable. The Multinational Enterprises bounds the FDI and therefore are considered to be the center of globalization developments. They are characterized with long term developments as well as regional and sectoral developments. Trade in the traditional era was the main channel in which the world economy was integrated (Kleinert, 2001). Trade among the developed economies is mostly on the same industry. Since developing economies do not have sufficient capital to support every stage of production, they are forced to raise their importation of intermediate goods. According to Baldwin (2014) globalization played a great role in reducing the costs of moving goods from one country to another. Conclusion Globalization have been of great importance in the facilitation of many processes across different economies. There are many factors that are driving economies to embrace globalization. For example, an economy needs to achieve the goals of achieving economic growth and the creation of jobs to increase their employment rate. Globalized industries have a competitive advantage over the others. So it can be concluded that globalization is unavoidable and is a necessary condition for development. The MNCs are very good for an economys development. Everyone can benefit from the GVCs is only the government facilitated by becoming more open to investment and trade and to encourage innovation. The interconnected economies are experiencing more growth from firms integrating the GVCs. Protectionism prevents competition in an economy by various countries that may be interested in investing in a given country. It should be resisted and free trade embraced for more jobs to be created, and fast growth be felt. Bibliography Arline, K. (2015). What is a Value Chain Analysis? [Online] Business News Daily. Available at: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5678-value-chain-analysis.html [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016]. Baldwin, R. (2014). Misthinking Globalization: Twentieth-Century Paradigms and Twenty First-Century Challenges. Australian Economic History Review, 54: 212219. Bhagwati, J. (2004). In defense of globalization. New York: Oxford University Press. Becca, (2013). How Globalization Has Changed Value Chains: Case Study: South African Wines. [Online] The Academic Wino. Available at: https://www.academicwino.com/2013/07/global-value-chains-south-africa.html/ [Accessed 4 Nov. 2016]. Fally, T. (2012). Has production become more fragmented? International vs domestic perspectives | VOX, CEPRs Policy Portal. [Online] Voxeu.org. Available at: https://voxeu.org/article/has-production-become-more-fragmented-international-vs-domestic-perspectives [Accessed 4 Nov. 2016]. Friedman, K. (2016). 'Value chain' definitions and characteristics. [Online] Cisl.cam.ac.uk. Available at: https://www.cisl.cam.ac.uk/graduate-study/postgraduate-certificate-in-sustainable-value-chains/definitions-publications [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016]. Hummels, D., Jun, I., and Kei-Mu, Y. (2001). The Nature and Growth of Vertical Specialization in World Trade", Journal of International Economics, 54(1):75-96. Ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk. (2016). Porter's Value Chain. [Online] Available at: https://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/research/dstools/value-chain-/ [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016]. Kleinert, J. (2001). The Role of Multinational Enterprises in Globalization: An Empirical Overview. [Online] ifw-kiel.de. Available at: https://www.ifw-members.ifw-kiel.de/publications/the-role-of-multinational-enterprises-in-globalization-an-empirical-overview/kap1069.pdf [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016]. Lechner, F. (2009). Globalization. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. Macalista, (2016). Multinationals and Globalization. [Online] Slideshare.net. Available at: https://www.slideshare.net/macalista/multinationals-and-globalisation [Accessed 2 Nov. 2016]. McCormick, D. and Schmitz, H. (2001).Manual for Value Chain Research on Homeworkers in the Garment Industry, Institute for Development Studies, p.1719. Mindtools.com. (2016). Porter's Value Chain: Understanding How Value is created within Organizations. [Online] Available at: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newSTR_66.htm [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016]. Monden, Y. and Minagawa, Y. (2015). Lean management of global supply chain. Oecd.org. (2016). New approach to globalization and global value chains needed to boost growth and jobs, says OECD - OECD. [Online] Available at: https://www.oecd.org/newsroom/newapproachtoglobalisationandglobalvaluechainsneededtoboostgrowthandjobs.htm [Accessed 2 Nov. 2016]. Porter, M. (1985). Competitive advantage. New York: Free Press. Scholte, J. (2005). Globalization. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK: Macmillan Press. Stiglitz, J. (2002). Globalization and Its Discontents. W.W. Norton, Incorporated: London. Sydor, A. (2011). Global value chains: Impacts and Implications. [Ottawa, Ont.]: Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. Syed, F., Agarwal, A. and Tian, H. (2016). Globalization multinationals. [Online] Slideshare.net. Available at: https://www.slideshare.net/FaizanMSyed/globalization-multinationals [Accessed 2 Nov. 2016]. Wells, G., Shuey, R. and Kiely, R. (2001). Globalization. Huntington, N.Y.: Novinka Books.

Destiny Washington Essays - DraftBagrii Olga, DraftWantate Dennis

Destiny Washington Professor Amaris Eng 310 26 March 2018 Bondage While still having breath in our bodies, it is impossible to escape the endless lessons that life throws our way. Sometimes we feel we have it all figured out, until something or someone comes along and shatters that. Growing up, I bounced around quite a bit. Therefore, it altered my opinion of what love is. I was filled with disappointment , emptiness and rage. I couldn't unde rstand why someone that created me did not want me. I remember trying out for my schools track team. I had finally found something that could potentially turn into an outlet for me. I was ecstatic. The adrenaline rush that emerged from a high of happiness had taken over me. For the first time, I felt like I had accomplished something. My parents would finally be proud of me. Prior to leaving practice, they put out the list for athletes that made the final cut. As I glanced at the list, I was surprised to find my name not on it. The high I was on was instantly trumped by defeat. That feeling of not being enough was too familiar. I was in the top 5 percentile of female athletes, yet I did not make the cut. I went to the coach, demanding answers to why I was left off the list. She then told me, my grades made me ineligible. I finally utte red the words I had been suppressing for the past five years. " How can you expect me to keep my grades up when I want to die every day ?" The family secret was no longer a secret. I wasn't sure if I should feel relieved or scared . I can remember being covered with goose bumps while removing my clothing for pictures. T he bright flash startled me every time the officer took a picture. My back was still aching from the previous beating. The bruises on my neck and back were healing but still visible. The officers were shocked to see the amount of bruises and cuts that were covered by my striped pink turtle neck. My two year old sister was also brought to the hospital to be interviewed and photographed. After all the evidence was documented, I assumed I'd return home to my parents. Instead my sister and I were taken to a group home facility. My sister only stayed for a week, and then was released to her grandmother. I however, resided there, and started my journey again back into foster care. At that moment the feeli ngs of not being enough became one of many battles. In the midst of bouncing around from home to home, I found it rather difficult to form attachments with the foster parents, let alone the other children in the homes. There was a strong sense of disconnect, and the feeling of not belonging. Throughout my stays at multiple homes I was conflicted. The feeling of wanting to get attached, and also not knowing what love was, forced me to always search for something that I wasn't even sure existed. Against all odds, I ended up in a home where I resided for 6 years. Early on, in this home I expected to be put out after my third month of living there, since this was the norm in the other homes. My foster mother shattered the pattern I had grown accustomed to. She taught me things about myself, parented me and loved me. The feelings of being worthy of love, was a feeling I struggled with, since the love I was now receiving was not of my mothers. It was not until I became a mother myself and occasionally reflect back upon my childhood that I realize what my mother's sole purpose in my life was. After so many years of unanswered questions, and confusion, I realized my mother's purpose in my life was to carry me to full term, and have someone else raise me. It was never in her cards to raise me, for it would have done more damage than good. In life we think we have things figured out until someone or something

Soft Determinism Explained

Soft Determinism Explained Soft determinism is the view that determinism and free will are compatible. It is thus a form of compatibilism. The term was coined by the American philosopher William James (1842-1910) in his essay â€Å"The Dilemma of Determinism.† Soft determinism consists of two main claims: 1.  Determinism is true.  Every event, including every human action, is causally determined. If you selected vanilla rather than chocolate ice cream last night, you could not have chosen otherwise given your exact circumstances and condition. Someone with enough knowledge of your circumstances and condition would have been able, in principle, to predict what you would choose. 2.  We act freely when we are not constrained or coerced. If my legs are tied, I am not free to run. If I hand over my wallet to a robber who is pointing a gun at my head, I am not acting freely. Another way of putting this is to say that we act freely when we act on our desires. Soft determinism contrasts with both hard determinism and with what is sometimes called metaphysical libertarianism. Hard determinism asserts that determinism is true and denies that we have free will.  Metaphysical libertarianism (not to be confused with the political doctrine of libertarianism) says that determinism is false since when we act freely some part of the process leading up to the action (e.g. our desire, our decision, or our act of will) is not predetermined. The problem soft determinists face is that of explaining how our actions can be both predetermined but free. Most of them do this by insisting that the notion of freedom, or free will, be understood in a particular way.  They reject the idea that free will must involve some strange metaphysical capacity that each of us has–namely, the ability to initiate an event (e.g. our act of will, or our action) which is not itself causally determined. This libertarian concept of freedom is unintelligible, they argue, and at odds with the prevailing scientific picture. What matters to us, they argue, is that we enjoy some degree of control over and responsibility for our actions. And this requirement is met if our actions flow from (are determined by) our decisions, deliberations, desires, and character.   The Main Objection to Soft Determinism The most common objection to soft determinism is that the notion of freedom it holds onto falls short of what most people mean by free will. Suppose I hypnotize you, and while you are under hypnosis I plant certain desires in your mind: e.g. a desire to get yourself a drink when the clock strikes ten. On the stroke of ten, you get up and pour yourself some water. Have you acted freely? If acting freely simply means doing what you want, acting on your desires, then the answer is yes, you acted freely. But most people would see your action as unfree since, in effect, you are being controlled by someone else.   One could make the example still more dramatic by imagining a mad scientist implanting electrodes in your brain and then triggering in you all sorts of desires and decisions which lead you to perform certain actions. In this case, you would be little more than a puppet in someone else’s hands; yet according to the soft determinist notion of freedom, you would be acting freely. A soft determinist might reply that in such a case we would say you are unfree because you are controlled by someone else. But if the desires, decisions, and volitions (acts of will) that govern your actions are really yours, then it is reasonable to say that you are in control, and hence acting freely.  The critic will point out, though, that according to the soft determinist, your desires, decisions, and volitions–in fact, your entire character–are ultimately determined by other factors that are equally outside your control: e.g. your genetic make up, your upbringing, and your environment.  The upshot is still that you do not, ultimately, have any control over or responsibility for your actions. This line of criticism of soft determinism is sometimes referred to as the â€Å"consequence argument.† Soft Determinism in Contemporary Times Many major philosophers including Thomas Hobbes, David Hume, and Voltaire have defended some form of soft determinism. Some version of it is still probably the most popular view of the free will problem among professional philosophers. Leading contemporary soft determinists include P. F. Strawson, Daniel Dennett, and Harry Frankfurt. Although their positions typically fall within the broad lines described above, they offer sophisticated new versions and defenses. Dennett, for instance, in his book Elbow Room, argues that what we call free will is a highly developed ability, that we have refined in the course of evolution, to envisage future possibilities and to avoid those we don’t like. This concept of freedom (being able to avoid undesirable futures) is compatible with determinism, and it’s all we need. Traditional metaphysical notions of free will that are incompatible with determinism, he argues, are not worth saving.

Violent relationships. Discuss the impact and possible effects of Essay

Violent relationships. Discuss the impact and possible effects of witnessing domestic violence as a child. Use psychological theory to explain your answer - Essay Example Even in the late 20th century, almost 3.2 million children in America experienced domestic violence annually (Carlson, 1984). This rate has increased further over the years. Children who witness domestic violence are vulnerable to developing different kinds of age-dependent negative influences. Similar psychological effects may be noticed in children who are abused and children who witness abuse being done to someone else. These children may experience a range of such internalized behaviors as depression and anxiety, as well as different kinds of externalized behaviors like bullying, cheating, lying, and fighting. These children are generally noticed to be more disobedient in all sorts of contexts and environments, and accordingly they are likely to experience different kinds of social competence problems. Negative effects of witnessing domestic abuse as a child vary across age span. Children’s need for attachment is disrupted in homes where partners are abused. As infants, these children cry excessively and suffer from different sleeping and eating disorders. As preschool-aged children, they develop different kinds of psychosomatic complaints including abdominal pain and headache. Regressive behaviors such as thumb sucking, sleep disturbance, and enuresis are also observed in these preschool-aged children. Unlike other children who secure a sense of protection and stability from their parents in the preschool years, children who witness domestic abuse do not get these essentials from their parents. These children may feel increased anxiety in strange settings and display behaviors such as crying and whining. Preschool-aged children also experience parasomnias and insomnia. School-aged children show psychosomatic complaints like abdominal pain and headache. They underperform co mpared to other children at school. Because of the negative effect of witnessing domestic abuse on their confidence and self-esteem,

H.W Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 8

H.W - Essay Example At least, security glasses, scientists jacket, long jeans, shut toe shoes, and gloves are obliged when working with particularly risky substances. Business mixtures, trademarked items and so forth should be joined by a part of the Office of Environmental and Occupational Safety if the compound constituents are not promptly identifiable from the name of the item or from the data on the items bundling label. Contaminated Personal Protective Equipment and garments must be discarded or disinfected before expulsion from the assigned work territory. While little spots of sullying may be cleaned in the lab, horribly sullied protective outer layers might need to be discarded as dry risky waste. Quick measures must be accessible to keep the conceivable spread of sullying in the occasion of a little spill of an Particularly perilous substance. Permeable materials and clean up materials ought to be accessible in all research facilities sufficient to hold and clean people and supplies and zones. Any known spills must be held and disinfected at the earliest opportunity. In the occasion of a substantial spill that is past a lab bunches prompt reaction abilities, the accompanying strategies ought to be taken after: Specifically risky substances must be put away in an assigned range and utilized as a part of a way that will minimize the danger of unintentional discharge (e.g., topped firmly, utilization of concoction safe optional regulation, at whatever point conceivable). Lab staff ought to expel chemicals from capacity just as required and return them to capacity when handy. Extra prerequisites for the safe stockpiling of a particular synthetic may be found in the makers directions. At the point when transporting chemicals past the quick the earth, compartments ought to be secured from breakage by utilizing a jug transporter or other compelling regulation. Research centers and rooms

Business Writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business Writing - Essay Example This minimizes disputes, since unrecorded conversations can be distorted or forgotten, and can easily be retrieved when categorized and stored properly. Although a memo is an informal letter, it should still indicate relevant information so that receiving parties can act accordingly. Such information includes the addressees of the memo, date, name of the sender and most importantly, the subject of the matter. A memo can be distributed internally or posted in the company's bulletin board. On the other hand, a business letter is very formal because more likely than not, it is intended for external parties. As such, the format of a letter differs greatly from that of a memo. A business letter includes the recipient's name and address, date, salutation, subject, body of the letter, complimentary close and signature of the sender. Sometimes, an enclosure is included if required. In addition, a business letter must be printed using the company's letterhead. The writing method used in a business letter should be formal, polite and serious to indicate the level of professionalism. The content of a business letter should also be clear and concise. A business letter is usually sent by post or courier.

Risk Assessments in Child Protection

Risk Assessments in Child Protection Before the introduction of risk assessment methods in child protection in the 1980’s the assessment and prediction of children at risk from abuse was a capricious business: care workers had no theory, or methodology and no strategy by which to determine which children were more at risk than others – they worked almost in the dark. When risk assessment strategies were introduced their enormous advantage was to give some orientation and means of prediction to social workers in their efforts to determine which children were at the highest risk. Moreover, in pre-risk assessment days, decisions about child protection were taken individually by scattered organizations and institutions without any inter-communication. The desperate consequence of this lack of cohesion was often complete confusion about which authority should make the decision about whether to and how to protect a child from abuse. Risk assessment required much closer participation between various agencies and therefore more efficient and individualistic protection care for children. Risk assessment takes into consideration a number of risk factors that affect a child – parental, family, environmental etc., – and analyzes these collectively to produce a total risk overview. Risk assessment has evolved considerably since its introduction in the 1980’s and various methods and theories of risk assessment have been experimented with; this essay looks at several of these methods, analyzing the relative worth of each. It also examines the introduction of schemes such as child protection conferences and child protection plans and evaluates the improvements to child protection brought by these schemes. Finally, this essay will discuss the future or risk assessment and its influence upon government policy and direction. Vulnerable children face five principal types of risk: sexual abuse, emotional abuse, institutional abuse, physical neglect, and non-organic failure to thrive. This essay now details and describes the implications for risk assessment of each of these types of abuse. The NSPCC gives the following definition of sexual abuse: ‘The sexual abuse of children may include sexual touching, masturbation, intercourse, indecent exposure, use of children in or showing children pornographic films or pictures, encouraging or forcing children into prostitution or encouraging or forcing children to witness sexual acts. Children and young people of all ages can be victims of abuse.’ (NSPCC). Children then are at potential risk from all of the types of abuse described in the above quotation; each of which, if undetected and unprevented causes a deep physical and emotional trauma for the child. Physical abuse is defined by the National Centre on Child Abuse and Neglect as The physical injur y or maltreatment of a child under the age of eighteen by a person who is responsible for the childs welfare under circumstances which indicate that the childs health or welfare is harmed or threatened thereby’. Children may also encounter physical abuse by way of domestic violence, and this together with physical abuse is nationally one the most frequently experienced types of abuse against children. The emotional abuse of children is defined by the American National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse as ‘†¦ a pattern of behaviour that attacks a childs emotional development and sense of self-worth. Emotional abuse includes excessive, aggressive or unreasonable demands that place expectations on a child beyond his or her capacity. Constant criticizing, belittling, insulting, rejecting and teasing are some of the forms these verbal attacks can take. Emotional abuse also includes failure to provide the psychological nurturing necessary for a childs psycholog ical growth and development providing no love, support or guidance (National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse, 1987). This definition then describes the myriad forms of emotional abuse that children can be subjected to – and thus the inherent difficulties of prediction and prevention in child protection. Non-organic failure to thrive is a further possible risk that children are exposed to. It is defined by the Lucy Packard Children’s Hospital as ‘†¦decelerated or arrested physical growth (height and weight measurements fall below the fifth percentile, or a downward change in growth across two major growth percentiles) associated with poor developmental and emotional functioning.’ Non-organic failure to thrive is often difficult to detect, and risk assessment is vital to guarantee this detection. Institutional abuse is also a broad term, but within its scope are included bullying, racial discrimination, disability discrimination and many ot hers. Risk assessment then has to draw together all of these potential risks and must consider factors that influence them. These factors include parenting capacity, child developmental needs, housing, the child’s family and the child’s environment. This essay now discusses each of these factors succinctly before describing the various methods used to assess them. Parenting capacity and the family environment are intimately connected as factors for assessment of possible risks to a child. A healthy relationship between his/her parents and a stable family environment is extremely important for the physical and emotional welfare of a child.   When this healthy environment deteriorates because of domestic violence, parental arguments, parental divorce, change of circumstances etc., the child is put at a higher risk of abuse. The influence of extended family (grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins etc.,) is likewise very considerable and must be considered as a risk assessment factor. Child developmental needs refer to the needs of a child for access to education and social development, and for children with learning disabilities to get access to professional help and services. If this development is negatively affected in some way, then the risk to a child increases significantly. Poor quality housing is clearly a risk factor for the welfare of a child, particularly those with disabilities. Children with disabilities require special facilities and equipment, and all children require basic amenities and utilities depending upon the age and development of that child. Interior and exterior conditions, hygiene, sleeping environment, and local surroundings can all become risk factors if neglected or abused. This essay now examines the three dominant theories or methods of risk assessment in the past decade of child protection: the actuarial model and the theoretical-empirical approach. (1) Theoretical-Empirical (Consensus-Based) Models. Within the theoretical-empirical model risk is determined according to a decided group of empirically grounded risk factors, and by these the social worker produces a total assessment of risk founded upon witnessed combinations of risk factors (Boer, Webster, 1997). Scientific research has demonstrated that the theoretical-empirical model achieves average predictive success. (Epperson, 1998). The inherent difficulty of this method is that the care worker must equate identified risk factors into a recidivism likelihood. The model can therefore be argued to be undermined   by its lack of integration of risk factors (Wolfe McGee, 1994) so important in child protection. Risk assessment for the theoretical-empirical model is founded upon theories about parental abuse of children. The classic model of this type was the Ecological Model of Maltreatment (Brofenbrenner 1979, Belsky, 1993). The idea within this model is that numerous factors and the identification of risk factors determine the likelihood of abuse. The Ecological Model of Maltreatment considers risks related to children themselves, to caregivers, caregiver and child interaction, the family, and wider social and institutional factors. According to the theoretical-empirical model potential risk is determined in the investigation and influences case-choice at the beginning of the assessment process, during investigations, decisions about beginning cases, service strategy, child placement, and at the closure of cases.  Ã‚   (2)PureActuarial Models. These models supply definite principles for integrating risk factors (identified by retrospective empirically founded case reviews) into certain probability figures. The difference with such models is that they are not tethered to any particular theory of child abuse, or theory of parental abuse of children, but instead make use of all factors that are empirically joined to a risk assessment decision and put these in the assessment scales nonetheless. An advantage of such models is that they give specific weights of scale to individual risk factors and so can be transformed into scales that show the important associations between risk variables and the resolution of interest. Thus these associations imply that a particular variable is present, so too is the concomitant variable – though one should not necessarily infer that one variable produces the other. Such a distinction is vital when evaluating whether the aim of risk assessment should be short te rm or long term prediction and prevention, and intervention. Recent scientific investigation reveals that actuarial scales such as these are better at prediction of risk than clinical judgement usually is (Groove Meehl, 1996). Nonetheless, several authorities and risk assessment theoreticians have implied that this actuarial superiority is based upon inaccurate research (Serin, 1995). Sjosted and Grann (2002) have further questioned the methodology of actuarial models.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (3)Clinically Adjusted Actuarial Models. The essential difference between pure actuarial models and clinically adjusted actuarial models is that the later use an actuarial method to ascertain risk factors as determined by a risk scale, but a medical or care practitioner can vary the actuarial level plus or minus depending upon the factor of his clinical judgement. Thus clinically adjusted models place are more individualistic since they permit the inclusion of possible individual risk factors that were unable to be documented empirically. There is much debate and argument about the strengths and weaknesses of these various methods. Within the actuarial school of thought there is a separate question as to which of the pure actuarial models or the clinically adjusted actuarial models is superior. It is probably true to say that actuarial models (of both types) are now thought to provide greater accuracy of prediction of child risk than theoretical-empirically based models. Clinically adjusted actuarial models are argued to give the best results, combining the advantages of an integrated risk assessment scale with the experience of a clinician and his ability to spot the individualistic risks in particular case that the model may not have noticed. The future of risk assessment perhaps lies then with a refinement of the clinically adjusted actuarial model. Important issues of methodology to be addressed include poor reliability, validity of measures, dilemmas of terminology, lack of base rate information, incorporation of individualistic risks and sensitivity of investigation.  Ã‚   In pre-risk assessment days a profound flaw of the child protection system was the failure of various independent agencies to pool together their skills and the knowledge they had acquired about the risk to a particular child; inter-agency communication was poor, and as a consequence many children were harmed, or even killed, who might otherwise have been saved. The advent of risk assessment in child protection improved the co-ordination of information between professional care services, and the recent introduction of child protection conferences have led to a far greater and more efficient sharing of information between agencies. Child protection conferences are convened after social services and the police have made initial inquiries about the health of a child and then seek to extend these enquires. A child protection conference brings together all professionals concerned with the welfare of a child, and thus has the enormous advantage of bringing all possible helpful information together at the same time. The purpose of such conferences is to determine the welfare of the child, to evaluate the risk of physical or emotional harm to the child, and to decide whether the child should be transferred onto the Child Protection Register. Conferences also consider whether legal proceedings ought to be brought on behalf of the child, and whether the police are required to investigate a crime against the child. If it is felt necessary to put a child on the Child Protection Register, then the conference must also produce a Child Protection Plan for the future welfare of the child. Such plans are essential because they explicitly stipulate what the responsibilities and duties are of each agency involved in the care of the child. The usefulness and thoroughness of these conferences is enhanced by the practice of a follow-up conferences after three months to determine progress, and then further conferences after six month intervals if necessary. Moreover, the inter-agency dialogue introduced by child conferences greatly improves the chances of these professionals spotting a specific risk to a child that might be missed by individual agencies. Child protection conferences are vital then to ensure and maximise the accuracy of individual risk assessments.   In short, child protection conferences have improved enormously the co-operation and inter-communication of the various agencies involved in the care of a particular child and so reduced considerably the risk posed to that child.   Ã‚   A further area that needs to be investigated by risk assessment is parental capacity to care for children. It is usually assumed that parents have a right to care for their children in all circumstances; an idea influenced by the normal reluctance of British society to tolerate intensive state intervention into private family life. It is believed that the state should remain at a distance, stepping in only in emergencies or cases of dire need. Professional care workers now argue however that this attitude of non-intervention often ignores the actual capacity of some parents to care for their children, particularly those with intensive needs. Thus this attitude can frequently threaten a child’s safety and security. Future risk assessment needs to develop a theoretical and practical model for possible state intervention in cases where parental ability to care for a child is suspect. The British government will be required to play a significant role here; updating existing legislation and creating new strong legislation to allow for intervention by care services in the most high risk cases of child abuse. This demand upon the government is an outcome of the philosophy of risk now prevalent in the United Kingdom, where it is assumed that the government has the ability to foresee and prevent abuse and maltreatment – and so the government is to be held to account when this does not happen. In the final analysis, it must be seen that risk assessment for child protection has had an   enormous success compared with the vacuum and capricious nature of prediction and prevention that existed before its introduction. Care workers and clinicians now have a theoretical, empirical and practical model by which to best determine the various risks that affect vulnerable children. The future progress and evolution of risk assessment seems to lie with an actuarial model – probably a clinically adjusted actuarial model. Such models at present appear to integrate risk factors most successfully and therefore to offer the best rates of prediction. This said, methodology needs to be thoroughly revised to evaluate and consider reliability of data, reliability of measures, integration of clinical opinion, individualistic risks etc., So too risk assessment needs to develop clear concepts and to push for government legislation to produce a model for state intervention into cases wher e parental ability to care for children is insufficient. Risk assessment theory must seek to modify the attitude of the British public that assumes parental right to care is absolute; showing that in certain circumstances this is not the case. BIBLIOGRAPHY Books Journals   Ã‚   Belsky, J. (1993). Etiology of Child Maltreatment: A DevelopmentalEcological Analysis. Psychological Bulletin. Vol 114, No 3, 413-434. Boer, D.P. Webster, C.D. (1997) Manual for the Sexual Violence Risk 20. Vancouver, B.C. The British Colombia Institute Against Family Violence. Brofenbrenner, U. (1979). The Ecology of Human Development. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press. Corby, B. (1990) Risk Assessment in Child Protection Work. International Conference of Risk Assessment in Child Protection. Epperson, D.L. (1998). Final Report on the Development of the Sex Offender Screening Tool: Presentation at the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. 17th Annual Conference. Groove, W.M. Meehl, P.E. (1996). Comparative Efficiency of Informal and Formal Predictive Procedures: The Clinical-Statistical Controversy. Public Policy and Law, 2. 293-323.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Kemshall, H. (2002). Risk, Social Policy and Welfare. Open University Press, Buckingham. Parsloe, P. (1999) (2001). Risk Assessment in Social Care and Social Work. Jessica Kingsley, London.    Serin, R.C. (1995). Violent Recidivism in Criminal Psychopaths. Law and Human Behaviour, 20, 207-217.    Sjostedt, G, Grann, M. (2002). Risk Assessment: What is Being Predicted by Actuarial Prediction Instruments. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health. Vol 1, No 2, 179-183. Websites National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Against Children, (NSPCC).   www.nspcc.org.uk    National Centre on Child Abuse and Neglect  Ã‚   www.nccanch.acf.hhs.gov

The First Transcontinental Railroad :: American History

The First Transcontinental Railroad missing works cited â€Å"May God continue the unity of our country as this railroad unites the two great oceans of the world† (Mayer 213). This famous quotation was engraved on the gold spike that connected the two fragments of the first transcontinental railroad. It describes the significance of the railway to the rapidly growing United States. The transcontinental railroad was of tremendous importance to the development of the Union because it opened the western frontier to increased settlement and represented the growing integration of the country. It stimulated trade between east and west, and transformed the dormant frontier into an essential component of the Union. A very different situation existed before the completion of the transcontinental railroad. The western region of the United States was almost completely separated from the east. Travel between the two regions was agonizingly long and difficult, and transportation of goods was costly and inefficient. There were three main routes that could be taken to travel from the east to the west. The first was an expensive four-month sea voyage around the tip of Cape Horn. The second route was the particularly challenging horseback journey through the malaria-infested swamps of the Isthmus of Panama. The final option was to travel across the US mainland by wagon, which a strenuous and lengthy expedition. The settlement of the Oregon boundary dispute, the acquisition of Mexican territory, the discovery of gold in California, and the spirit of manifest destiny were various motives that inspired people to undergo the journey across America. Many people soon believed that a transcontinental railroad would be enormously beneficial to the country. The bitter feelings between the North and South resulting from divergent economies, life styles, and opinions on the divisive issue of slavery needed to be resolved before attention could be concentrated on the transcontinental railroad. By 1860, the North and South had developed two very different economies. The primarily agricultural South relied on its chief crop, cotton, which accounted for a good deal of US exports. To produce cotton in such large amounts, the South depended on the plantation system, and thus on slavery. The North however, was an industrial giant and had no desire for slave labor. The South avoided industrialization and imported nearly all manufactured goods. Therefore, they vehemently opposed high tariffs.