Welfare Department Research Articles

Airflow Distribution of Hall and Classroom as Temporary Evacuation Centers: A Case Study in Melaka

During floods, the Malaysian Department of Welfare (JKM) oversees the opening and assigning of victims to evacuation centres. Public buildings such as school classrooms and community halls act as Temporary Evacuation Centers (TEC) that can last up to two weeks. The foldable tents will be provided to each family at the evacuation centres to assure that the victims have personal space. For privacy and separation, they were confined in a temporary tent with only a few fans from the building to keep their comfort. Therefore, the thermal comfort level within the temporary tent is usually affected by the airflow distribution from naturally ventilated buildings from building layout and design. In this study, two independent public buildings were hall (School A) and a classroom (School B) in Melaka, Malaysia, were investigated to simulate the airflow distribution accordingly. In-situ air sampling measures were performed using indoor air sampling techniques for 24 hours to measure the air velocity, air temperatures, and relative humidity in the building. Airflow distribution throughout the floor was used to simulate the airflow with the Computer Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model to identify the airflow direction. The average airflow rate between Schools A and B was 0.19 ms-1 and 0.27 ms-1, respectively, after the data collection. Meanwhile, the average air temperature between Schools A and B was 30.3℃ and 29.4℃, respectively. Therefore, School B's classroom layout is the best model for forecasting airflow rate, air velocity, and temperature for the evacuation center.

Foster Care as A Child Protection Measure in Malaysia: A Literature Review

Foster care has been practised widely in other countries as one of the alternative care options for children in need of care and protection. In general, foster care refers to a placement of a child either temporarily or permanently, in the care of a person other than a parent. However, at present, there is no specific legislation governing foster care in Malaysia, except for the limited provisions in the Child Act 2001. A review of foster care as a child protection measure in Malaysia from a legal perspective was conducted and four themes emerged, namely, (a) concept of foster care; (b) international legal framework for foster care; (c) foster care in other countries; and (d) foster care in Malaysia. Results indicate that there is a comprehensive literature on foster care from a legal perspective but small literature in the context of Malaysia since there is no specific legislation governing it. At present, foster care is administered based on the practice of the Malaysia Social Welfare Department.

Big Data Framework Classification for Public E-Governance Using Machine Learning Techniques

Using Machine Learning (ML) in many fields has shown remarkable results, especially in government data analysis, classification, and prediction. This technology has been applied to the National ID data (Electronic Civil Registry) (ECR). It is used in analyzing this data and creating an e-government project to join the National ID with three government departments (Military, Social Welfare, and Statistics_ Planning). The proposed system works in two parts: Online and Offline at the same time; based on five (ML) algorithms: Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree (DT), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Random Forest (RF), and Naive Bayes (NB). The system offline part applies the stages of pre-processing and classification to the ECR and then predicts what government departments need in the online part. The system chooses the best classification algorithm, which shows perfect results for each government department when online communication is made between the department and the national ID. According to the simulation results of the proposed system, the accuracy of the classifications is around 100%, 99%, and 100% for the military department by the SVM classifier, the social welfare department by the RF classifier, and the statistics-planning department by the SVM classifier, respectively.

Improving the efficiency of integrated cancer screening delivery across multiple cancers: case studies from Idaho, Rhode Island, and Nebraska

BackgroundThree current and former awardees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Colorectal Cancer Control Program launched integrated cancer screening strategies to better coordinate multiple cancer screenings (e.g., breast, cervical, colorectal). By integrating the strategies, efficiencies of administration and provision of screenings can be increased and costs can be reduced. This paper shares findings from these strategies and describes their effects.MethodsThe Idaho Department of Health and Welfare developed a Baseline Assessment Checklist for six health systems to assess the current state of policies regarding cancer screening. We analyzed the checklist and reported the percentage of checklist components completed. In Rhode Island, we collaborated with a nurse-patient navigator, who promoted cancer screening, to collect details on patient navigation activities and program costs. We then described the program and reported total costs and cost per activity. In Nebraska, we described the experience of the state in administering an integrated contracts payment model across colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screening and reported cost per person screened. Across all awardees, we interviewed key stakeholders.ResultsIn Idaho, results from the checklist offered guidance on areas for enhancement before integrated cancer screening strategies, but identified challenges, including lack of capacity, limited staff availability, and staff turnover. In Rhode Island, 76.1% of 1023 patient navigation activities were for colorectal cancer screening only, with a much smaller proportion devoted to breast and cervical cancer screening. Although the patient navigator found the discussions around multiple cancer screening efficient, patients were not always willing to discuss all cancer screenings. Nebraska changed its payment system from fee-for-service to fixed cost subawards with its local health departments, which integrated cancer screening funding. Screening uptake improved for breast and cervical cancer but was mixed for colorectal cancer screening.ConclusionsThe results from the case studies show that there are barriers and facilitators to integrating approaches to increasing cancer screening among primary care facilities. However, more research could further elucidate the viability and practicality of integrated cancer screening programs.

Status of Living: Challenges Encountered by the Immediate Family of Patriarch Inmates

Imprisonment of any family member affects the lives of the immediate members, especially if it is the head of the father who is convicted, leaving other members in pain because of the situation. This study determined the challenges encountered by the family members of the patriarch inmates in Iligan City, Philippines, during the first quarter of 2021. The study utilized the phenomenological research design. Ten identified family members composed the number of participants interviewed using a structured interview guide made by the researcher. The study utilized Moustaka’s Transcendental Analysis in analyzing the data. Responses to the interview were analyzed utilizing NVivo software producing the four main themes: striving for sustenance and survival; financial and moral drawbacks; emotional grief; and annoying unsolicited public opinions towards the situation. These identified challenges encountered by the family members may serve as a benchmark for the concerned government agency in crafting programs that will help the family members of the patriarch inmates. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen the support system of the concerned government agency towards the family members of the patriarch inmates. Furthermore, since most of the challenges the family members encounter is more focused on the emotional aspect of their lives, the social welfare department may strengthen their programs in supporting these families through effective evaluation of the situation for them to craft appropriate counseling techniques for these identified families. Keywords : emotional grief, imprisonment, moral drawbacks, striving for sustenance, unsolicited public opinions

The “Appropriateness” of Religious Welfare from Lebanese Christian Churches

Abstract Since 2011, more than a million Syrians have fled to Lebanon. Standing close to the Syrian border, the welfare departments of Eastern Christian bishoprics in Zahle are at the forefront of the humanitarian response. Through the comparison of the Maronite, Greek Catholic and Syriac Orthodox Churches, I argue that these faith-based organisations (fbo s) implement an “appropriate” mode of reasoning to design their humanitarian aid strategies which challenges rational assumptions. This article reveals that the “national” or “diasporic” character of Lebanese Christian fbo s matters more than their welfare capacity in determining the Church’s policy of care at times of crisis. These examples illustrate that fbo s present a rare adaptiveness to their beneficiaries’ needs, notably by relying on transnational and diasporic support. Overall, this research demonstrates that fbo s are essential actors in addressing situations of forced displacements, but it also emphasises the importance of considering each fbo’s identity to understand their mechanisms of solidarity.

The Effectiveness of Group Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Structured Matrix Treatment on Quit Addiction Self-efficacy, Distress Tolerance, and Mindfulness in Individuals with Stimulant Drug Abuse

Background: Drug abuse causes irreversible damage to human health at both micro and macro levels among the aggravating problems of human society. Objectives: This research aimed to evaluate the role of group dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and structured matrix treatment (SMT) on quit addiction self-efficacy, distress tolerance, and mindfulness in individuals with stimulant drug abuse. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was based on a pretest-posttest design with test and control groups. The population included drug abusers referring to the centers of addiction rehabilitation affiliated with the Social Welfare Department, Ahvaz, Iran, in 2021. A total of 75 individuals were selected using convenience sampling and allocated to one control group and two experimental groups. Participants in all three groups completed the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), and the Quit Addiction Self-efficacy Questionnaire. The first experimental groups underwent eight sessions (90-minute sessions per week) of group DBT. The SMT was performed on the second experimental group for fourteen 90-minute sessions, and the control group did not receive any training. Then, the data were analyzed statistically using the multivariate analysis of covariance. Results: DBT and SMT groups increased quit addiction self-efficacy, distress tolerance, and mindfulness in the experimental group compared to the control group (P < 0.001). There was a significant difference between DBT and SMT groups regarding distress tolerance in the individuals with stimulant drug abuse (P = 0.020). Conclusions: Based on the results, DBT and SMT were effective in quitting addiction self-efficacy, distress tolerance, and mindfulness among drug abusers, improved psychological states, and reduced drug abuse in individuals.

The predictive role of coping styles and sense of coherence in the post-traumatic growth of mothers with disabled children: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundCoping and accepting stressful events can lead to positive psychological changes, growth, and excellence. In this regard, the present study was conducted to determine the relationship between coping styles and sense of coherence with post-traumatic growth in mothers with disabled children in Bushehr (a southern city in Iran).MethodsThe present cross-sectional study was performed on 260 mothers with children with disabilities who were filed in the rehabilitation centers covered by the Welfare Department of Bushehr in 2018. Demographic information form, Tedeschi and Calhoun post-traumatic growth questionnaire, Antonovsky sense of coherence, and Billings and Moos coping styles were employed to collect data. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis at a significance level of less than 0.05.ResultsThe mean age and standard deviation were 35.83 ± 7.41 for the mothers, and 7.20 ± 4.05 for the children. The mean and standard deviation of post-traumatic growth was 64.88 ± 14.90, sense of coherence was 116.36 ± 22.65 and coping styles was 30.59 ± 6.39. The results of linear regression show that only the two dimensions of meaningfulness (p = 0.013 and β = 0.170) and manageability from the sense of coherence (p = 0.001 and β = 0.432) can predict post-traumatic growth in mothers with disabled children in Bushehr. Also, from the coping style dimensions, only the emotion-focused variable (p = 0.001 and β = 0.353) is a predictor of post-traumatic growth.ConclusionConsidering the role of sense of coherence and coping style in predicting post-traumatic growth, to implement rehabilitation programs and support the families of these children, it is essential to plan for the development of social and psychological support for mothers with disabled children.

"OPERATIVE DENTISTRY: The Vanishing Discipline," a reprint with Foreword.

"OPERATIVE DENTISTRY: The Vanishing Discipline," a reprint with Foreword.

Efficiency of Local Resource Mobilization in the Implementation of Socio-Economic Programmes by Local Churches in Kibra, Nairobi, Kenya

Poverty is a human phenomenal that society continually ponders about and has been in existence since time in memorial. Governments and international organizations have developed strategies towards poverty reduction. Churches through their social welfare departments have not been left behind in seeking appropriate ways of addressing the socio-economic struggles that members within their community face. This journal article focuses on one of the largest impoverished slums in Nairobi, Kenya; Kibra slum. The reported census population of Kibra has always been contentious but the stories of the residents and the living conditions within the settlement clearly depict the struggles experienced. Kibra is home to unemployed and underemployed residents who struggle to put food on their tables every day. Majority of whom are tenants with months of rent arrears because paying rent is not a priority. They live in one-roomed houses with little organization for sewage and toilet facilities. A single toilet and bathroom are shared by several families at a fee that is not inclusive of their rent. In response to these and other challenges such as education and health care, local churches in the slum have set up socio-action programmes. This article stems from my research work among Kibra residents, and documents the findings that respond to the effectiveness of local church programmes to utilize local resource mobilization in poverty reduction among residents. The researcher uses a mixed methods research approach. Drawing from the research findings, socio-economic programmes run by the church have a high dependency on external finding and are not taking advantage of the human capital within the slum community. Residents also exhibit high levels of dependency on the church or the pastor running the programme. There are however programmes that are set up by the residents such as savings groups or a youth centre encountered in the research that do not rely on any external support. The youth and members of the savings groups contribute their resources to run their programmes. Their local resource mobilization efforts enhance their participation and ability to make decisions and take responsibility of these decisions. Dependency on external support and hand-outs have crippled residents of Kibra slum however on the other hand, it is possible for residents to identify a project that meets their needs and run it successfully with their own resources. Keywords: Local Resource Mobilization, Churches, Slums, Poverty DOI: 10.7176/JPID/61-07 Publication date: November 30 th 2022

Experience of Chinese Medicine Practitioners’ Participation in Community Medical Care and Long-Term Care Services

<p>隨著臺灣逐漸步入超高齡社會，重病或行動不便導致就醫不便的民眾正逐漸增加，居家醫療的需求也隨之而起。中醫於2019年納入「全民健康保險居家醫療照護整合計劃」，中醫師加入居家醫療照護及中西醫療整合，共同提升醫療服務與品質。2020年衛生福利部（以下簡稱衛福部）實施「建立中醫社區醫療及長期照顧服務網絡計畫」，從社區醫療、居家個案及長照服務發現需求，提供適切的資源。另由中醫師公會全國聯合會執行來自衛福部長照司核定的「一般及複雜照顧問題生活調養解決方案之專業指導」試辦計畫，透過跨專業之照顧，提高高齡者主動參與日常生活活動能力，解決困難照顧問題。本文將從人口老化與照護負擔至中醫在長照中所扮演的角色，分享中醫參與社區醫療及長照服務之經驗，希冀更多中醫師能夠參與，共創全民健康福祉。</p> <p> </p><p>As Taiwan enters the superaged society, the number of people who find it difficult to seek medical care because of severe illness or mobility problems is increasing, leading to a rise in the need for home medical care. In 2019, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was incorporated into the National Health Insurance Home Medical Care Integration Program; thus, TCM practitioners joined home medical care, leading to the integration of TCM and Western medicine, improving the quality of medical services. In 2020, the Ministry of Health and Welfare implemented the Program to Establish a TCM Community and Long-term Medical Care Service Network, in which the medical needs of people are identified through community, home, and long-term medical services and appropriate resources are provided accordingly. In addition, the National Union of Chinese Medical Doctor’s Association executed the pilot program Professional Guidance on Solutions for General and Complex Problems in Medical Care by the Ministry of Health and Welfare Department of Long-term Care, in which interdisciplinary care is provided to raise older adults’ capability to autonomously participate in daily life activities, thereby solving the difficulties encountered in medical care. In this study, the experience of TCM practitioners in participating in community and long-term medical care services is presented from the perspectives of population aging, burden of medical care, and the role of TCM practitioners in long-term care, providing incentives to TCM practitioners to participate in community and long-term medical care, thereby enhancing health and welfare across Taiwan.</p> <p> </p>

Transforming the Homelessness Policy by Housing First Approach - The case study of Seoul -

The purpose of this study is to explore the necessity of housing first approach, taking the Seoul homelessness policy as an example, and to derive constraints and policy agendas in applying the housing first approach. For this purpose, this study conducted a literature study, an analysis of raw data from the homeless survey, and advisory meetings. The decrease in the number of homeless people in Seoul has slowed in recent years, and avoiding facilities by homeless people was confirmed. In addition, not only economic problems, but complex service needs are intensifying. It is necessary to critically review whether the policy so far is still effective. Therefore, this study suggested the need to adopt the housing first approach as an alternative. However, the long-established institutional factors are hindering progress toward the housing first approach. In conclusion, first, if the housing first approach is to be adopted, the existing facility-centered support system should be converted into a housing-centered support system. Second, the supply of public rental housing should be increased. Third, support services should be improved in cooperation with the local welfare system. Finally, it is necessary to establish a new governance structure that promotes cooperation between the housing and welfare departments.

Analysis of Factors Affecting the Development of Quality of Life among the Elderly in North Khorasan Province Emphasizing the Role of Participation in Physical Activities

Introduction: This study aimed to analyze the factors affecting the development of the quality of life of the elderly in North Khorasan Province emphasizing the role of participation in physical activities. Method: This study used a qualitative-quantitative research method. The statistical population in the qualitative section included a number of experts, such as sports officials of the province; professors of sports management, psychology, sociology, and geriatrics; as well as officials of welfare and health departments (n=25). In the quantitative section, the statistical population included a number of elderly referring to sports centers (n=247). A purposeful and convenience method was used for sampling. The required data were collected using interviews (in the qualitative section) and a researcher-made questionnaire (in the quantitative section). The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by 8 experts. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS (version 21) and LISREL (version 8.7) software. Results: Based on the results, the most important factors affecting the elderly participation in physical activities and development of their quality of life were management strategies, advertising and noticing, financial and economic, personal, socio-cultural, places, and facilities. Conclusion: According to the findings of the study, managers should pay special attention to the factors affecting the participation of the elderly in sports activities and help improve their quality of life by providing suitable conditions for their participation in these activities.

Big Data in E-government: Classification and Prediction using Machine Learning Algorithms

Many countries have used big data to develop their institutions, such as Estonia in policing, India in health care, and the development of agriculture in the United Kingdom, etc. Data is very important as it is no longer oil that is the most valuable resource in the world, but data. This research examines ways to develop the Iraqi state institutions by using the big data of one of its institutions (electronic civil registry) (ECR) using the mining and analysis of this data. The pre-processing and analysis of this data are carried out depending on the needs of each institution and then using Machine Learning (ML) techniques. Its use has shown remarkable results in many areas, especially in data analysis, classification and forecasting. We applied five ML algorithms that are Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree (DT), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Random Forest (RF), and Naive Bayes (NB) carried out in the Orange Data Mining tool. According to the simulation results of the proposed system, the accuracy of the classifications was around 100%, 99%, and 100% for the military department by the SVM classifier, the social welfare department by the RF classifier, and the statistics-planning department by the SVM classifier, respectively.

Mexican-American Moderates and the Shaping of Federal Education Policy: The Case of the May 25, 1970 Memorandum

During the past several decades, historians have investigated various aspects of the Chicano movement. In most of these studies, the important role that moderate liberal activists have played in promoting significant social change during the same period has been slighted. By moderate liberal activists, I mean those who depended on the federal government to help solve the problems facing the Mexican-American community, trusted mainstream institutions and political leaders to eliminate discrimination, and, most importantly, rejected the politics of protest. Little is known about these individuals. Who were these men and women, and how did they contribute to the struggle for social justice and educational equality?
 The following study examines the role that some moderate liberal educators played in promoting school reform during the height of the Chicano movement. It focuses on the drafting of the May 25, 1970 memorandum and the role played by Mexican Americans in shaping its development. This memorandum was the first major policy developed by the Office for Civil Rights to deal with the issue of discrimination against linguistically distinct children in the public schools. It clarified the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare’s (HEW) position on the responsibility of local school districts to “provide equal educational opportunity to national origin minority group children deficient in English language skills.” I argue that while Mexican- American moderates did not play a direct role in the formulation of this policy due to their exclusion from federal agencies prior to the 1960s, they did play a crucial role in its enforcement. Their involvement in the implementation of the memorandum was the origins of meaningful Mexican-American participation in the shaping of educational policies at the national level.

The Sesquicentennial, So What? An Assessment a Quarter Century Afterward

The Sesquicentennial, So What? An Assessment a Quarter Century Afterward

Dapoli 3: A high yielding variety of finger millet

A high yielding mid-late duration culture DPLN 2 was developed at the Department of Agriculture Botany, College of Agriculture, Dapoli and released as Dapoli 3 during 2020 at the state level and notified by the ministry of Agriculture and farmer welfare, Department of Agriculture and farmer welfare with notification number CG-DL-E-04012022-232406 extraordinary part-II-section 3-subsection (ii) dated 24th Dec. 2021. Dapoli 3 has developed through pure line selection from local germplasm. Out of twenty one culture, the culture DPLN 2 was found promising in respect of yield over check Dapoli 1, Dapoli 2 and PR 202 in station, multilocation and adaptive research trials. It yields an average of 2405 kg/ha of grain under rainfed conditions. Besides high yield culture has semi compact earhead, uniform maturity, non-lodging, continuous spikelets, non-shattering with moderate protein (7.52 %) and calcium (264 ppm) content. The weight of earhead of culture is 8.9 g as compared to 7.2 g of Dapoli 1. The culture recorded a grain yield of 2405 kg/ha which was 26.64 per cent increase over the check Dapoli 1 (1899 kg/ha) in station trails. It recorded a grain yield of 2014  kg/ha which was 13.78 per cent increase over the check Dapoli 1 (1770 kg/ ha) in multilocation trials conducted during Kharif 2016 and 2017 at 13 locations whereas the mean grain yield recorded by culture DPLN 2 (was 1518 kg/ha) which was 12.19 per cent increase over check Dapoli 1(1353 kg/ha) in adaptive research trial conducted in Konkan and Goa region during Kharif 2019. It has given the mean yield of 3228 kg/ha which was 5.76 per cent increase over the national check GPU 45 (3052 kg/ha) and 12.98 per cent increase over the VL 376 (2857 kg/ha) in all India co-ordinated trails tested during kharif, 2019.  Keywords: Finger millet, yield, Semi compact, new variety

A phenomenological study of addiction recovery at a model drug abuse center, Social Welfare Department, Punjab, Pakistan

This article attempts to provide an insight into the experiences of drug addicts at a rehabilitation center, run by the provincial Social Welfare Department in Lahore, Pakistan, through a qualitative approach. The menace of drugs is increasing worldwide, including Pakistan. Effective treatment and rehabilitative services can lower the prevalence rate of drug addiction. The aim of this research was to understand/explore the experiences of research participants about the phenomenon of drug addiction and rehabilitation services provided in the field of social welfare. This research extends the current knowledge of individuals’ drug addiction by revealing the complexities and intricacies of this behavior.

Child Sexual Abuse in India under POCSO Act, 2012: A Critical Analysis

When an adult or a more mature child or adolescent engages in sexual behaviour with a youngster, this is considered sexual abuse. On the other hand, the POCSO Act defines a "child" as anyone under the age of 18. Abuse of a kid can be defined as any action or inaction that causes injury to, or places a child at danger of harm from, another person. Abuse of children can take many forms, including sexual, emotional, and physical. Failure to meet a child's basic requirements constitutes neglect, another kind of maltreatment. Children who have been abused typically experience more severe emotional harm than physical harm. Depression is a common symptom of child maltreatment. It's possible he or she will retreat, entertain suicidal thoughts, or snap. A child who has reached adulthood may experiment with drugs or alcohol, attempt to run away, or abuse others. Abuse of children is a terrible issue. Call the authorities or your state's child welfare department if you have any reason to believe a child is being mistreated or neglected. The prevention of child sexual abuse is the focus of this paper, as are recent amendments to the POCSO Act and related provisions.

Preparedness of Public Health Care System in India- A Case Study

Objectives: To examine the availability and accessibility of primary health care system in Tamil Nadu and to examine the achievements of primary health care system in Tamil Nadu.Methods: Both secondary and primary data were used. Secondary data were from Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare department and Rural Health Statistics of India. Primary data were collected from Theni District. Sample size was 480. Identified respondents were interviewed for to find the reason for using the primary health care system with an interview schedule. The tools applied were simple as annual growth rate, Compound growth rate, and Garret ranking method.Findings: Sub Centre (SC), Primary Health Centre (PHC) and Community Health Centre (CHC) are the mode of serving of primary health care system as three tier to rural and urban people which satisfies their basic needs near their proximities. Tamil Nadu is leading and extending its services to people year by year since its inception and earmarked its service. The Zero priced health care services and medicine are the prime reasons for demanding primary health care system which was a signal and added value for the dynamic nature of primary health care system. Distance and waiting time are the last items in ranking means that people are willing to travel. The compound annual growth rate of out-patients was negative from 2011 to 2021 as -1.45, the calculated statistical number may be the due to reduced accessing of outpatient in 2021 due to Covid-19. The Compound annual growth rate of deliveries in Tamil nadu was -11.41 percentages which reflected a reduction in accessing the health care services for deliveries by secondary sources. Novelty: Planners and Policy maker’s needs for revisiting and reframing the health policy and target to achieve 2030.