Commission's Findings Research Articles

A view from managed behavioral health.

people who have serious mental illnesses. We learned many years ago in the community mental health center movement that getting people out of institutions is easier than keeping them out, and if they are to be kept out, they need to be provided with the services and supports necessary for a decent life. The paucity of supportive low-cost housing, which was exacerbated by the housing policies of the Reagan Administration, has been a serious problem for a long time. To those of us in managed behavioral health care, it is apparent that the lack of such housing is a significant contributor to the rehospitalization of people who could otherwise be maintained in the community. It is bad treatment and bad economics. Failure to adhere to a medication regimen is a major factor in rehospitalization and is much more likely when the living environment outside the hospital does not reinforce the need to do so. In the important area of housing, I am afraid that the Commission’s recommendations fall short of what is needed. Nowhere in the report is the Commission’s lack of freedom to recommend anything that would cost money more evident. In this context, the term “New Freedom” in the Commission’s name is ironic. Where will the “150,000 units of permanent supportive housing” that the report recommends come from? No amount of “collaboration” or “transformation” or reduced “fragmentation” (popular words in the report) or, for that matter, “enhanced access” to something that does not exist will produce more low-cost supportive housing. There is no doubt that the Commissioners understand this, and there is also no doubt that more housing for people who are seriously mentally ill will cost money— a lot of it. But the report does not say so, nor does it recommend allocating any additional funds for the 150,000 needed housing units. Without adequate housing, how likely is it that one of the report’s important recommendations—to “end unnecessary institutionalizations”—will be accomplished?

The Melting Pot in Israel: The Commission of Inquiry Concerning the Education of Immigrant Children during the Early Years of the State (review)

Albany: State University of New York Press, 2002. 337 pp. $29.95. In January of 1950, the Israeli government, under pressure from the religious public, launched a Commission of Inquiry to investigate matters in the immigrant camps. The inquiry, which lasted three and a half months, set out to study the issue of anti-religious coercion in the camps, clarify accusations of such coercion that had been made in the press, and examine the sources of propaganda abroad that concerned these accusations. This commission, chaired by former Supreme Court Justice Gad Frumkin, is the major focus of Zvi Zameret's illuminating study. Within the context of this painstaking investigation, however, Zameret also provides a highly useful historical study of a host of issues involved with the immigration of Mizrachi Jews to Israel through the early 1950s, with a special focus on education and politics. In the process, he convincingly demonstrates how these events not only played a major role in Israeli political life of the era, but also how they contributed to more contemporary dynamics including alienation between secular and religious publics, and the rise of Shas as a political force. Zameret sets out in great detail the forces that pressured Ben-Gurion into forming the Frumkin Commission, one of the first of its kind in Israel. These included growing alarm by the religious leadership of the Mizrachim within Israel at the stream of reports from immigrant camps detailing anti-religious educational activities as well as physical coercion such as the forcible cutting of boys' payot. Additionally, foreign pressure was brought to bear, especially by American Orthodox Jews, who staged a mass protest in Manhattan in 1950, the largest Jewish demonstration in the United States since the founding of the State of Israel. While the Prime Minister supported the educational efforts of Labor-oriented teachers in the camps and believed that inevitably Oriental Jews in Israel would take on modern ways and a Zionist ideology, he also recognized that local and foreign religious populations needed to be mollified and so formed the commission of inquiry both to diffuse their concerns and out of personal concern regarding immigrant issues. The commission's conclusions, however, created political problems for Ben-Gurion. After 33 sessions in which it heard the testimonies of 101 witnesses, it issued its report. While denying that there was systematic anti-religious coercion across the immigrant camps, it found numerous instances of pressure. Further, it raised questions about the degree to which sensitivity was paid to immigrants' religious needs, and about the viability of a single model of purely secular education. In the process, Zameret argues, the commission rejected the melting pot theory of immigrant socialization in favor of a more pluralistic societal model. These conclusions flew in the face of the ideology and social agenda of the Labor Zionists who controlled national politics. Zameret judiciously assesses the commission's operation and findings. He considers that the basic conclusions about anti-religious coercion in the camps, based on testimony and archival data, were well founded. However, he believes that the commission erred in grading the various political movements on the basis of the sensitivity of their education programs to immigrant traditions and rightly insists that it came up short in specifically blaming Nahum Levin, of the Culture Department, Y. …

The Truth Commission and Post-Apartheid Literature in South Africa

rom the beginning, it was clear that South Africa's and Rec- onciliation Commission (TRC) would be different from the cold, bureaucratic, and mostly in camera proceedings of similar bodies in Chile and other nations in transition from authoritarian regimes. Rather than issuing blanket indemnity the agents of state terror, as in Chile, amnesty in South Africa was granted on an individual basis those who gave disclosure of politically motivated crimes. Thus amnesty was used as a tool excavating the truth about the past. Moreover, South Africa's Commission attempted balance the perpetrator-oriented nature of the amnesty proceedings with a Human Rights Violation (HRV) Commission that heard stories from survivors and families of the victims of apartheid-era political violence. The victim hear- ings were decidedly nonjudicial, involving no cross-examination of testi- mony, and were intended provide a safe space some victims of human violations have their accounts of the past made part of the offi cial record. Indeed, two of the principal goals of the TRC were establishing as complete a picture as possible of the causes, nature and extent of the gross violations of human rights committed within a thirty-four-year period from 1960 1994 (Justice in Transition 5-6), and compiling a report of the Commission's fi ndings and conclusions. Wilhelm Verwoerd argues that the TRC was largely successful in its efforts to expose as much truth as possible about those (human rights) violations that tend be cloaked in denials and would otherwise, in all likelihood, have remained obscured from the public eye. Through the public testimonies of so many victims and the more or less full disclosures by those responsible gross violations of human at amnesty hearings, the powerful 'conspiracy of silence,' the temptation forget (. . .) has been seriously challenged (160). The TRC was designed at least lay the groundwork reconciliation between the agents and supporters of the former white minority regime and the opponents of apartheid. As the banner hanging at every hearing proclaimed, is the Road Reconciliation. This formulation was perhaps overly optimistic, as the task of determining the Truth about the past based on thousands of confl icting testimonies is a hopelessly muddled enterprise that nevertheless requires the commissioners make absolute determinations of guilt and responsibility. Sometimes the rhetoric of the Commission minimizes this uncomfortable demand by emphasizing the need present multiple perspectives and versions. In his foreword the Final Report, example, former Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Chair- person of the Commission, refers the past as a jigsaw puzzle of which the TRC is only a piece, and alludes a search for the clues that lead, endlessly, a truth that will, in the very nature of things, never be fully revealed (TRC Final Report 4).

The mental health commission tackles fragmented services: an interview with Michael Hogan.

Michael Hogan, chair of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, describes the commission's findings on the fragmentation of the public mental health services infrastructure and its effort to formulate strategies for improving the alignment of federal, state, and local policy and practice. Clinical treatment needs to be coordinated with supportive services such as housing, education, job training, and case management. State planning is crucial to harmonizing diverse revenue streams. Hogan notes the commission's efforts to include stakeholders in its deliberations and to initiate efforts to coordinate policies among the agencies represented by its members.

The Future of Active Global Ageing: Challenges and Responses

This article is based on the second conference of the Global Ageing Commission, which took place in Swiss Re's centre for global dialogue in Ruschlikon, Zurich in January 2001, and the Geneva Association's Four Pillars Research Project that has been analysing questions of old-age security and active ageing for over 13 years. 1 The Global Ageing Initiative (GAI) was established two years ago by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based think-tank, to address the complex issues raised by changing demography. Its 80-person commission, of which the Geneva Association's former Secretary General, Dr Orio Giarini, is a member, will prepare recommendations for national leaders and international governance bodies based on the conclusions drawn from international conferences, held successively in Washington and Zurich in January of 2000 and 2001, respectively. The commission's findings and re- commendations will be released following the project's third, and final, summit in Tokyo on 27-29 August 2001. However, already at this stage, some important issues are emerging from the debates and research results. These will be described in this article, together with the fundamental need to advance our thinking and the perception of work in our societies where the concept of ageing and its implications are changing. It seems that most experts agree that the ageing transition requires a serious but balanced response. Ageing countries need to consider more than simply financing solutions: they need to also address the social and cultural impacts of demographically maturing societies, where the traditional concept of ''old age'' is being challenged. The major social characteristics, gradually extending to the whole world, today concern the extension of the life circle. In this process, older people are gradually and sometimes abruptly excluded from being full active participants of society. Old ideas and habits concerning ageing, derived from another era and obviously inadequate, are still regulating social policies and public attitudes. A major cultural revolution has to take place as a consequence of which at least those between 60 and 80 years of age have to rethink themselves as being mature but not ''old'' and as such destined to be marginalized. The process of marginalization is old in human history: those entering this process often accept their social downgrading until a new perception or even a new culture makes them able to react and reconquer their full position within society. We can be particularly concerned today by the marginalization hitting the population up to at least 80 years of age which is still largely capable of productive activities and of learning.

Are We Building Environmental Literacy?

The Independent Commission on Environmental Education, a panel of scientists, economists, and educators, reviewed some 100 K-12 environmental education teaching materials used in America's classrooms. Its report has received considerable attention. This essay discusses the commission's formation, goals, findings, and recommendations, with special emphasis on areas within the report that have been a source of discussion within the environmental education field.

Forum on the future of academic medicine: Session VI--Issues of change and quality in U.S. health care.

The sixth meeting of the AAMC's Forum on the Future of Academic Medicine, on September 10, 1998, opened with a talk by Paul B. Ginsburg, PhD, president of the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC). He described a major longitudinal study by the HSC of the changing U.S. health care system and reviewed some preliminary findings on topics such as the variety of ways communities are responding to relatively uniform forces driving health care markets; the reasons that uninsured individuals have a much harder time securing needed care in some communities than in others; the changing role of employers as sponsors of workers' insurance; consumers' frequently limited knowledge of their health care plans; the continuing importance consumers attach to having access to a broad choice of providers and the effects of this on the marketplace (e.g., broadening of networks); the different organizational models of care that are evolving; and the changing relationships between primary care physicians and specialists. The second presentation was by Janet M. Corrigan, MD, MBA, who served as executive director of the President's Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry. She discussed the commission's findings about the state of quality in the health care industry and the commission's strategy to address serious shortcomings (e.g., unevenness of quality; avoidable errors; misuse of services). She also commented on the exponential increase in medical knowledge and the need for systems to help practitioners obtain and use it, and discussed the quality of care inside and outside managed care settings (about the same). Both Dr. Ginsburg and Dr. Corrigan discussed how some of the issues and findings they presented apply to academic medical centers, and responded to penetrating questions and statements of forum members.

Anaesthesia under examination

The Audit Commission's most recent publication finds that there is room for improvement in the quality of anaesthetic and pain relief services. Demand for both still outstrips supply, quality is variable despite equitable investment and nurses are underused. This week's report analyses the Commission's findings and studies the implications for nurses.

Childhood matters - implications for northern ireland

Childhood Matters, the Report of the National Commission of Inquiry into the Prevention of Child Abuse, was published at the end of last year. Since then members of the Commission and the Implementation Group which has been established have sought to disseminate and promote the Commission's findings and recommendations. In February some members of the Commission, including its chair, Lord Williams of Mostyn QC, took part in the conference in Ballymena on neglect organised by the Northern Board ACPC. This was used as an opportunity to consider and discuss with conference participants the implications of the Commission's conclusions for Northern Ireland.

Labor law may be affected by federal commission's findings

AORN JournalVolume 60, Issue 4 p. 672-673 Department Labor law may be affected by federal commission's findings JOYCE A. MERRIMAN, JOYCE A. MERRIMAN Managing editorSearch for more papers by this author JOYCE A. MERRIMAN, JOYCE A. MERRIMAN Managing editorSearch for more papers by this author First published: October 1994 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0001-2092(07)63315-8AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume60, Issue4October 1994Pages 672-673 RelatedInformation

Not all doom and gloom for child care.

Nursing Standard's coverage of reaction to the Audit Commission's report on services for children implies universal and comprehensive condemnation of the Commission's findings by nursing unions (Unions condemn Audit's report on HVs), News, June 15).

NSF commission's findings

The National Science Board Commission on the Future of the National Science Foundation, which met several times over the past several months to assess NSF's role in the future, has completed its study and compiled its findings. Their report, “A Foundation for the 21st Century: A Progressive Framework for the National Science Foundation,” was released on November 20. The National Science Board, which is NSF's policymaking body, and the director of the agency asked the commission to stimulate thinking and discussion on the longrange strategies for NSF. Some of the over 800 letters received from individuals and organizations proved useful in generating discussion in the community.

The Future of Our Forests: Report of the British Columbia Forest Resources Commission: A Critique

In April 1991, the first report of the British Columbia Forest Resources Commission was released. This comprehensive document contains 108 specific recommendations which, if implemented, would have far-reaching consequences for the structure of British Columbia's forest products manufacturing sector and the way in which the province's public forests are administered and managed. In this paper, the report is placed in an historical context, the Commission's findings are reviewed and the implications of the major recommendations are critically examined.

The impact of foundation-funded commissions on health policy.

National task forces, commissions, and other ad hoc advisory bodies-both public and pr ivate-have been a prominent feature of the American political landscape since the turn of the century. However, studies of their impact on public policy are relatively recent and have focused primarily on presidential commissions. Privately sponsored bodies have received considerably less attention. This essay reports on a study we conducted with the support of The Commonwealth Fund to learn more about the impact of foundation-funded commissions on national health policy decisions. The study had two main objectives: (1) to assess the policy impact of one of Commonwealth’s own recent commissions (the Task Force on Academic Health Centers), and (2) to extrapolate from the specific experiences of the task force and a small comparison group of commissions some practical lessons about the composition, conduct, and impact of such bodies. Because the sponsorship and funding of commissions is but one way foundations seek to influence public policy, our study cannot settle broader arguments about the policy role of foundations. It can, however, provide useful information for foundations and other sponsors about the design and management of ad hoc advisory bodies. Study methods. We defined foundation-funded commission as (1) an ad hoc, task-oriented advisory body, (2) sponsored (that is, established) by a foundation or other private institution or organization, and (3) funded by one or more foundations to deliberate and formulate recommendations on an issue of public policy. We excluded from this definition all governmental commissions (for example, all ad hoc advisory bodies established by executive or legislative mandate or regulation), even

Hancock condemns move to 'casualise' nursing.

Fashionable moves to 'casualise' nursing are wholly incompatible with the Audit Commission's findings, Royal College of Nursing General Secretary Christine Hancock said. Qualified hands are simply more 'effective and efficient', she told the conference.

Essential National Health Research

The Commission on Health Research for Development, an independent international initiative, was launched in 1987 to study the status, effect, and needs of research on the health problems of developing countries. The commission has now released its final report, Health Research: Essential Link to Equity in Development (New York: Oxford University Press, 1990). Among the commission's key findings is the fact that although the problems of developing countries are the focus of only 5 percent of the world's expenditure on health research, those countries suffer 93 percent of the burden of premature mortality, as measured in potential years of life . . .

The logic of a controversy: the case of Agent Orange in Australia.

Since 1979 the Vietnam Veterans' Association of Australia (VVAA) has claimed that exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange in Vietnam has adversely affected the health of Vietnam veterans and their families. A campaign for government recognition of diseases and disabilities caused by herbicide exposure led in 1983 to the appointment of the Evatt Royal Commission which, after a 2-year inquiry, comprehensively rejected the VVAA's claim. The Evatt Commission's findings have not been accepted by the VVAA and the claim continues to be defended, albeit in a highly qualified form. This controversy exemplifies the way in which a claim can attract public support, and persist despite rejections by Committees of Inquiry. An understanding of the reasons for the persistence of controversy requires an understanding of the logic of rejecting causal claims, the psychology of everyday inductive reasoning, and the interaction between politics and science.

De Amsterdamse verzamelaar Herman Becker (ca. 1617-1678); Nieuwe gegevens over een geldschieter van Rembrandt

De Amsterdamse verzamelaar Herman Becker (ca. 1617-1678); Nieuwe gegevens over een geldschieter van Rembrandt

Electoral reform in New Zealand: The report of the Royal Commission

In late 1986 the Royal Commission on the Electoral System in New Zealand published its report. The Commission's recommendations were both radical and comprehensive. Amongst other things it proposed the introduction of a mixed member proportional (MMP) electoral system, the abolition of the four Maori seats, a substantial increase in the number of MPs, the state funding of political parties, and various changes to the system of boundary redistribution and the administration of elections. This paper outlines the background to the establishment of the Royal Commission, briefly examines the Commission's principal findings, and considers the prospects for reform.

Is obscenity criminogenic?

and should not be condoned was the commission's inquisitorial procedures and intellectual dishonesty. A particularly insidious aspect of the Final Report is the commission's use of feminist rhetoric to attain its right-wing objectives. Replacing the outmoded cant of sin and depravity with the trendier rhetoric of harm, the commission exploited feminist outrage about sexual violence in order to bolster oppressive obscenity laws. The commission would have us believe that sexual aggression can be controlled through the strict regulation of obscene materials, an illusion that shifts our attention away from the structural sources of rape. If the commissioners had been serious about elucidating the precursors of rape, they would have been obliged to examine such issues as sexism, racism, poverty, and a host of other factors ignored in the Final Report. Widening the analysis in this way would have led the commissioners to an investigation of the criminogenic character of structural inequality, This is something that the commissioners were not willing to do. In 1970, the President's Commission on Obscenity and Pornography concluded that there was no evidence demonstrating that sexually explicit materials cause sex crimes. The Meese Commission began its inquiry assuming that the research conducted since 1970 would overturn the earlier commission's findings and support the claim that pornography causes rape. Instead, it was confronted by evidence that was either inconclusive or opposed to a conclusion of harm. The commissioners ignored or distorted that evidence because they were more concerned with censoring sexual depictions than with ending violence against women. []