The problem with which this study is concerned is to determine the perceived attitudes of medical and health school deans toward selected factors that are related to employee assistance programs (EPAs). These factors, which are variables in this study, include perceptions toward EPAs of necessity and desirability, purposes and goals, services offered, policies and procedures, sources of referrals, and barriers to successful implementation.

Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), when they first were introduced in the United States of America (USA), were support programmes providing assistance to alcohol addicted employees. During the 1960s, EAPs became comprehensive and offered employee assistance services (EAS) such as financial, marital and family, psychological, work-related stress, chemical dependency (alcohol and drugs), depression, health, anxiety, and even job boredom problems that affect employee work performance. Since then, EAPs have proven to be valuable because skilled and high performing employees who experienced problems could receive assistance in the workplace and once they overcame their problems, they often became more productive and more employers could benefit from EAPs. Due to the benefits provided by EAPs to both employees and employers, South Africa is one of the many countries that have adopted this performance-enhancing strategy. EAPs in South Africa are a relatively new workplace management phenomenon designed similarly to the USA model and thus do not have a long history. In the South African Police Service (SAPS), EAPs are as a result of the operational nature of policing services and the demanding conditions under which police services are carried-out. The EAPs are provided as a means of employee support to promote employee wellness and to create a working environment that is conducive to an effective and efficient delivery of police services. This research investigated the implementation of EAPs at Moroka Police Station, the biggest of the eleven (11) police stations that are situated within Soweto. This station serves approximately a total population of two hundred and fifty thousand (250 000) community members. The research gathered opinions of three selected groups of respondents (non-commissioned officers, EAP practitioners and commissioned officers) about the effectiveness of EAPs in the study area and how they can be improved. Employees in this police station, as in many others, are exposed to daily traumatic events since their duties require them to attend to crime scenes such as murder, collisions of varying seriousness, and often witness the murder of their colleagues. These incidents have a profoundly adverse impact on their psychological well-being and work performance. The findings show that even though remarkable progress has been made with the institutionalisation of EAPs, there are a few concerns which still require management’s attention. From the results of the interviews held with the non-commissioned officers, a few concerns, that if attended to could improve the effectiveness of EAP, include concerns about non-commissioned officers’ lack of knowledge of the functions of EAP, their general experience of EAP, the credibility and adherence by EAP practitioners to ethical guidelines, the frequency of the consultations as well as concerns about the accessibility of the EAP to them. The findings of the interviews held with EAP practitioners tended to be less complimentary than those gathered from non-commissioned officers, and a longer list of concerns was recorded. Numerous concerns that relate to the circumstance under which they administer EAS were articulated. These include concerns about how employees perceive the EAP and their understanding of EAS. Lastly the findings of the questionnaires administered to the commissioned officers, as compared to both the findings gathered from the non-commissioned officers and EAP practitioners, were more positive, especially their understanding of the EAP, how the EAP functions, their overall experience of the services provided through the EAP and their overall satisfaction of the EAS. Although the findings were positive there were few concerns that they identified as needing attention. These concerns are the functions of EAP, implementation of EAP, general experience of EAP, feedback from the EAP practitioners and resistance by employees to consult EAP practitioners. This research concludes by offering recommendations for each of the three groups, and by offering a research agenda for further investigation in this field. / Public Administration and Management / M.Tech. (Public Administration)

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An explorative study of the Social Worker's role and responsibilities to develop the leadership potential of grassrootslevel employees in industrial organisations was undertaken. This subject was chosen with requirements in mind, which are necessary for the transformation process to be presented to industrial organisations for the implementation of affirmative action. A comprehensive literature study revealed that social workers can make a positive and essential contribution to organisations, either as an industrial social worker, or an affirmative action specialist, or as a member of the human resources development team. A discussion of the necessary leadership qualities, the implementation of affirmative action, and useful resources that may be used for development programs, is included. The literature study was followed by an empirical study. The empirical study was made with the assistance of questionnaires. The questionnaires were used to collect data on the perceived role of social work in the industrial organisation. Organisations that do utilise social work services were approached for permission and co-operation to complete the questionnaires. Seventeen respondents from fifteen organisations were selected in a random process, for inclusion in the study. The research indicated that social workers have different roles to play in vanous organisations, and with the values, knowledge base and competencies that are brought to the organisation, have a responsibility to ensure that affirmative action and labour equality is brought to fruition. With regard to the implementation of leadership development programs in industrial organisations, it was noted that grassroots level employees were seldom included in the programs, although the majority of social workers believe that all employees should participate in the programs. A summary of the skills and knowledge base required by the industrial social worker to deliver an effective service in the organisation, and to manage the development and training of employees, is included. Some skills that require further development by social workers were identified. It was also found that individuals hold different perceptions and definitions of affirmative action and it's implementation in organisations. The recommendations are, inter alia, that all leadership development programs must be continuously monitored, evaluated and subsequently followed up to assess their applicability and effectiveness. The training of industrial social workers must focus more on the development of negotiating and training skills and stimulation of assertive actions. A larger variety of resources, such as video recordings, role playing, dramatisation, interactive computer programs and small group discussions, can be used in addition, for the training and development of grassroots level employees. Should these recommendations be implemented, industrial social workers can make a significant contribution to the development and improvement of South Africa's economic, political and social situation by extending the potential of the grassroots level employees, who constitute the greatest portion of the total labour force. A group of people can thus be empowered to function optimally and to respond to the guidelines of the White Paper for Social Welfare 1997. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Verkennende studie oor maatskaplike werkers se rol en verantwoordelikheid om die leierskapspotensiaal van grondvlakwerknemers in bedryfsorganisasies te ontwikkel, is onderneem. Die onderwerp is gekies met die oog op die vereistes wat die proses van transformasie aan bedryfsorganisasies stel om regstellende aksie doeltreffend te implementeer. 'n Omvattende literatuurstudie het aan die lig gebring dat maatskaplike werkers 'n positiewe en onmisbare bydrae het om aan bedryfsorganisasies te lewer, hetsy as bedryfsmaatskaplike werker, as regstellende aksie spesialis of as deel van die menslike hulpbronontwikkelingspan. 'n Bespreking van noodsaaklike leierskapskwaliteite, die implementering van regstellende aksie en hulpmiddels wat vir ontwikkelingsprogramme benut kan word is ook ingesluit. Die literatuurstudie is opgevolg deur 'n empiriese studie. Die empiriese ondersoek is aan die hand van vraelyste uitgevoer. Die vraelyste is benut om data oor die rol van maatskaplike werk in bedryfsorganisasies te bekom. Bedryfsorganisasies wat wel van maatskaplike werkdienslewering gebruik maak, is genader en toestemming en samewerking is verkry. Deur middel van 'n nie waarskynlikheidseleksiemetode is sewentien respondente binne vyftien organisasies in die Kaapse Metropool geselekteer om aan die ondersoek deel te neem. Die navorsing het aangedui dat maatskaplike werkers verskillende rolle in bedryfsorganisasies vertolk, en met die waardes, vaardighede en kennisbasis wat na die organisasie gebring word, 'n verantwoordelikheid het om toe te sien dat regstellende aksie en arbeidsgelykheid in organisasieverband tot volle reg kom. Met betrekking tot die implementering van leierskapsontwikkelingsprogramme in organisasies, het dit aan die lig gekom dat grondvlakwerknemers selde ingesluit word by die programme, alhoewel die meerderheid bedryfsmaatskaplike werkers van mening is dat alle werknemers aan die betrokke programme kan deelneem. 'n Uiteensetting van die vaardighede en kennisbasis wat die maatskaplike werker benodig ten einde effektiewe diens binne 'n bedryfsorganisasie te lewer, asook om die ontwikkeling en opleiding van werknemers te behartig, is voorsien. Enkele vaardighede wat verdere ontwikkeling by bedryfsmaatskaplike werkers verg, is identifiseer. Daar is ook bevind dat individue verskillende definisies en persepsies het met betrekking tot regstellende aksie en die implementering daarvan in bedryfsorganisasies. Die aanbevelings sluit in dat alle leierskapsontwikkelingsprogramme deurlopend, sowel as na afloop daarvan evalueer en ook opgevolg moet word ten einde die toepaslikheid en effektiwiteit daarvan te monitor. Die opleiding van bedryfsmaatskaplike werkers moet meer fokus op die ontwikkeling van onderhandelings- en opleidingsvaardighede, en ook assertiewe gedrag stimuleer. 'n Groter verskeidenheid hulpbronne kan in kombinasie vir die opleiding en ontwikkeling van grondvlakwerknemers gebruik word, soos videoopnames, rollespel, drama, interaktiewe rekenaarpakette asook kleingroepbesprekings. lndien hierdie aanbevelings geïmplementeer word, kan bedryfsmaatskaplike werkers 'n prominente bydrae tot die ontwikkeling en vooruitgang van Suid-Afrika se ekonomiese, politieke en sosiale situasie lewer, deur grondvlakwerknemers, wat 'n groot deel van die totale arbeidsmag uitmaak, se potensiaal te ontgin. Sodoende word 'n geïdentifiseerde groep persone bemagtig om optimaal te funskioneer en word daar terselfdertyd aan die riglyne soos deur die Witskrif vir Maatskaplike Welsyn 1997 bepaal, beantwoord.

The purpose of this study was to examine the Computer-Assisted Instructional (CAI) method as an alternative to the Traditional method of instruction for the lowest level of remediation in the content areas of mathematics, reading, and sentence skills, and to specifically determine the comparative effectiveness of these two delivery modes in terms of student success, retention, and costs. The researcher aimed to (a) determine the extent to which ACCUPLACERª mean scores for CAI participants increase based on pre and post measures, (b) investigate the pros and cons fiscally of each method of delivery (CAI vs. Traditional), respectively, (c) examine whether CAI participants are more likely to enroll during the immediately following semester compared to students enrolled in a Traditional course, and (d) investigate the extent to which CAI participants are equally or more likely to complete successfully the course taken during the immediately following semester compared to students enroll ed in a Traditional course. The study consisted of a two-group design (CAI and Traditional), and four dependent variables. All CAI participants (N = 129) were self-selected to participate in the study. A dependent t-test found that CAI participants increased their ACCUPLACER mean scores significantly over time by 22.74 points or 72.6%. A frequency count found that retention rates were slightly higher for the Traditional group (82.3%) in comparison to the CAI group (76.6%), however, chi-square tests did not reveal a statistical significance. Chi-squares found significant increase in success rates for the CAI group as 86% passed their initial course, in comparison to 59.8% of students taught in the Traditional format. CAI participants were found to have greater success (74.1%) in subsequent classes than students taught via the Traditional instructional method (51.9%). / In addition, a straightforward comparison of expense totals between the two groups was conducted to estimate the differences in cost between the groups. The Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) model used, indicated that CAI is less expensive and more effective than Traditional instruction. The cost per credit analysis projected 54.6% savings if CAI is used as the alternative instructional modality. / by John Vassiliou. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

O objetivo geral desta pesquisa foi avaliar o impacto do PBF e do BPC sobre as despesas com consumo de: alimentos, frutas, carnes e peixes, aves e ovos, vegetais, cereais e oleaginosas, farinhas e massas, tubérculos e raízes, açúcar, panificados, bebidas alcoólicas, educação, higiene, saúde e materiais escolares. Para estimar esse impacto foram utilizados os microdados da Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares do Brasil (POF-2008/09). Foram utilizadas duas metodologias de controle: pela renda famíliar per capita (RFPC) bruta e RFPC líquida. As estimativas do impacto do PBF e do BPC sobre as despesas com consumo, utilizando dados observacionais, foram calculadas a partir de regressão múltipla e a comparação baseada no escore de propensão (propensity score matching). As estimativas do efeito médio do tratamento sobre os tratados apresentaram resultados estatisticamente significativos nas despesas com: alimentos, aves, ovos, vegetais, cereais, oleaginosas, farinha, massas, tubérculos e raízes, açúcar, entre outras. Dessa forma, observou-se que as famílias beneficiárias aumentaram a aquisição de bens prioritários, que aliviam a sua situação de extrema pobreza. No caso das famílias beneficiárias do PBF observou-se aumento nas despesas com materiais escolares, indicando investimento em educação. Já as famílias com beneficiários do BPC aumentaram suas despesas no consumo de saúde e reduziram as despesas com álcool e fumo. / The general objective of this research is to evaluate the impact of the \"Programa Bolsa Família\" (PBF) and \"Benefício de Prestação Continuada\" (BPC - a benefit to very poor elderly and people with deficiencies) on consumer expenditures on food, alcoholic beverages, fruits, meat and fish, poultry and eggs, vegetables, cereals and oilseeds, flour and pasta, tubers and roots, sugar, baked goods, education, hygiene, health and school supplies. Data from the Brazilian Family Budgets Survey (POF-2008/2009). Two control methods were used to estimate the effect: the per capita family income gross and per capita family income excluding the income of programs. Estimates of the impact of PBF and BPC on consumer expenditures, using observational data, were calculated from Multiple Regression and the comparison based on the Propensity Score Matching. The estimates of the ATT showed statistically significant results in expenditure on food, poultry and eggs, vegetables, cereals and oilseeds, flour, pasta and tubers and roots and sugar and others. According to the results found there was an increase in the purchase of foods what make the beneficiaries extreme poverty and malnutrition less hard. Also, for families beneficiary of the PBF, increase in school supplies shows greater investment in education. For the families with BPC beneficiaries increased their spending on consumer health and reduced expenditure on alcohol and tobacco.

Šiame darbe buvo nagrinėjama mokinių, grįžusių iš užsienio, patirtis adaptuojantis bendrojo lavinimo mokykloje: teigiami ir neigiami išgyvenimai. Mokiniai, grįžtantys iš užsienio į bendrojo lavinimo mokyklas, yra naujas, Lietuvos mokslininkų mažai tyrinėtas edukacinis reiškinys. Šiuo tyrimu norima atkreipti dėmesį į švietimo sistemai naujai iškylančias problemas, susijusias su mokinių emigracija ir remigracija . Tyrimo problema yra ta, kad bendrojo lavinimo mokyklos/švietimo institucijos prastai suvokia vaikų grįžusių iš užsienio situaciją: akademines, socialines ir psichologines problemas, jų patiriamus išgyvenimus ir realiai nepasirengę teikti pagalbos, nors teisiniai dokumentai nurodo kryptis, kaip organizuoti vaikų, grįžusių iš užsienio, ugdymą. Tyrimo tikslas atskleisti, kokius išgyvenimus patiria mokiniai, grįžę iš užsienio, į Lietuvos bendrojo lavinimo mokyklą ir kokia parama jiems teikiama. Šio tikslo buvo siekiama atskleidžiant kultūrinio šoko, sugrįžimo kultūrinio šoko, taip pat mokyklos keitimo ypatumų ir paramos programų teorijas, analizuojant įstatymų bazę, nurodančią, kaip organizuoti vaikų, grįžusių iš užsienio, ugdymą, bei atliekant kokybinį aprašomojo tipo tyrimą. Tyrime dalyvavo 8 mokiniai, grįžę iš užsienio į Lietuvos bendrojo lavinimo mokyklą. Buvo vykdoma tikslinė dalyvių atranka. Atrinkti tie mokiniai, kurie galėjo geriausiai atsakyti į keliamus problemos klausimus ir, kurie užsienyje praleido ne mažiau vienerius metus. Tyrimo metu... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The Research analyses the positive and negative experiences of pupils, which came back from abroad, during their adaptation to the secondary schools of Lithuania. A phenomenon of children, coming back from abroad to Lithuanian schools, is quite new and has not been analyzed by Lithuanian researchers yet enough. The aim of this particular research was to address the new emerging problem, related with emigration and remigration of pupils, to the Lithuanian Education system. The Problem is that the Lithuanian schools/Institutions of education poorly perceive a context, which pupils, coming back from abroad are facing: academic, social and psychological problems, their experiences. Although, there is a legal basis, which provides the guidance how to organize the education of pupils, coming back from abroad, the schools are not ready to provide an adequate assistance. The Aim of the Research was to reveal what kind of experiences pupils have faced, coming back from abroad to the Lithuanian schools and, to unfold what kind of assistance they have been provided. In order to achieve this particular aim: the theories of Cultural Shock and Re-entry Cultural shock, Research on Improving the Organization of Pupils’ Transfer from School to School was exposed; the Legal Base, which provides the guidance how to organize the education of pupils coming back from abroad, was analyzed. The nature of the research is a Qualitative Description. There were eight pupils (recently came back from... [to full text]

The purpose of this study was to identify the satisfaction from services received by businesses as members of Wellness Councils. All 105 members of the Wellness Council of Northwest Indiana were invited to participate in the survey. Fifty four (51%) participants completed and returned the survey on satisfaction levels.The instrument was developed to measure member satisfaction with the services provided by the Wellness Council of Northwest Indiana. The member organizations rated the council on a 5 point scale, with 5 being the highest possible score.A two way analysis of variance was conducted to identify differences in satisfaction by size and organization purpose; profit and nonprofit.The least satisfied group was the large for profit, while the most satisfied group was the large nonprofit group. Small for profit member organizations were slightly more satisfied than small not for profit organizations.Satisfaction did vary by size and organization, but in general, members were mostly satisfied with their participation in the Wellness Council of Northwest Indiana.Also, four open ended questions were asked, to allow the members to elaborate on other areas of interests or concerns. These results showed that members were interested in the following 2 areas: 1. education, 2. networking.Future research should include quantitative methodology that examines the meanings behind many of the narrative comments from the study. Future instruments should also include specific areas of satisfaction mentioned in the narrative responses. / Institute for Wellness

Thesis (M.App.Psy.)--University of Waikato, 2007. / Title from PDF cover (viewed May 28, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 108-117)

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Teachers College, Columbia University, 1993. / Includes tables. Typescript; issued also on microfilm. Sponsor: Frank Smith. Dissertation Committee: Ann Lieberman. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 213-221).

abstract: ABSTRACT Fruit and vegetable intake is not uniform across levels of socioeconomic status (SES) and researchers have identified low SES as a risk factor for poor intake of fruits and vegetables. In an effort to eliminate public health disparities and increase fruit and vegetable intake, the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program implemented additional food assistance programs, with a specific emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables. The Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) provides pre-existing WIC clients with coupons to purchase fresh, locally grown produce at farmers' markets. In addition, Congress also approved the WIC Cash Value Voucher (CVV) program, which provides WIC participants with vouchers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets or grocery stores. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the relation of FMNP coupon use with accessibility and WIC CVV redemption rates at farmers' markets. Furthermore, this thesis addressed whether WIC shoppers redeemed a higher percentage of their WIC CVV value at farmers' markets or grocery stores. WIC CVV and FMNP issuance and redemption data were analyzed to establish overall redemption rates and total perecent of WIC CVV value redeemed. Accessibility was assessed using the Geographic Information System, which allowed me to calculate the distance that WIC participants would have to travel to redeem their FMNP coupons at FMNP-approved farmers' markets. The results showed that less than 1% of WIC shoppers redeem their WIC CVVs at farmers'markets in Arizona. However, the redemption of WIC CVV was significantly higher during the months when shoppers had the option of using both WIC CVV and FMNP coupons at farmers' markets. Furthermore, the percent of total CVV value redeemed at farmers' markets was 99%, significantly higher than grocery stores (93.5%). Average FMNP coupon redemption rates for 2008-2010 was 43.3%, well below the national average of 59%. However, my spatial analysis revealed that there was no significant association between the distance traveled to farmers' markets and FMNP redemption rates. This indicates that the distance traveled to farmers' markets is not a major barrier to redemption of FMNP coupons in Arizona. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Nutrition 2012