Federal Participation Research Articles

Diet quality from early pregnancy through 1-y postpartum: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundAlthough diet quality during pregnancy and postpartum is important for multiple parent and child outcomes, within-person changes in diet quality throughout these periods have not been extensively examined. ObjectivesThis study investigated diet quality from early pregnancy through 1 y postpartum and examined differences by sociodemographic characteristics in participants receiving obstetric care in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. MethodsParticipants completed 24-h dietary recalls at 6 study visits (each pregnancy trimester and 6 wk, 6 mo, and 1 y postpartum) (n = 383). Between-visit mean Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI) scores (min = 0, max = 100) were compared using the population ratio (PR) method. The NCI usual intakes method estimated the distribution of HEI scores in pregnancy and postpartum; unpaired t-tests compared usual mean HEI scores by covariates; paired t-tests compared differences between mean pregnancy and postpartum. ResultsThe total HEI mean ± standard error scores (NCI method) were 61.4 ± 0.8 in pregnancy and 61.7 ± 0.9 in postpartum. Mean HEI scores differed by sociodemographic characteristics, particularly education, marital status, and federal assistance participation. The highest scores were observed in participants with at least a bachelor’s degree (64.1 ± 0.9 in pregnancy, 64.5 ± 1.0 in postpartum, n = 257) and those with other non-Hispanic White race/ethnicity (64.7 ± 1.8 in pregnancy, 66.4 ± 2.2 in postpartum). There were no between-visit differences in mean total HEI scores (PR). Although differences were observed in some mean HEI component scores between pregnancy and postpartum visits, they were small (mostly <1 point) in magnitude and in inconsistent directions. ConclusionsStable total HEI mean scores suggest that adherence to dietary guidelines was consistent throughout pregnancy and postpartum in this sample. Although some sociodemographic characteristics may identify individuals at greater risk of diet-related pregnancy complications, low diet quality was pervasive throughout all subgroups and reflects an urgent need for widespread improvement.

Factors Influencing Athletic Training Services in California Secondary Schools: A Five- Year Update.

California is the only state that does not regulate the athletic training profession, allowing unqualified personnel to be hired and call themselves athletic trainers. The benefits of employing a certified athletic trainer in the secondary school setting are numerous but efforts to push regulation legislation continue to fail in California. To describe the availability of certified athletic trainers in California secondary schools and explore factors influencing athletic trainer employment. Cross-Sectional Study. Online survey. Participants from 1538 California Secondary Schools. Officials from member schools completed the 2022-2023 California Interscholastic Federation Participation Census. Participants provided information specific to enrollment, sport participation, access to AEDs, and whether the school had athletic trainers on staff. The athletic trainer's certification status was independently verified. Enrollment data specific to ethnicity, race, and percentage of students eligible for free meals was obtained through the California Department of Education Statistics. More than half (51.6%) of California secondary schools did not employ a certified athletic trainer and 8.3% employed unqualified personnel as athletic trainers. Nearly half (43%) of student athlete participants were enrolled at schools with no certified athletic trainer. Schools that employed certified athletic trainers had a lower proportion of students eligible to receive free and reduced-price meals. The average percentage of Hispanic or Latino students was greater in schools with no certified athletic trainer and schools that employed unqualified personnel as athletic trainers than schools that employed certified athletic trainers. Data indicates that in a five-year period, access to athletic training services in California secondary schools has not improved. There are large gaps in access to athletic training services and there are clear socioeconomic and racial and ethnic disparities. Efforts to educate stakeholders on the importance of athletic training regulation in California should continue.

Participation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation in Enhancing African Police Personnel Peacekeeping Capacity

The peacekeeping became actual agenda of international relations due to increased number of internal conflicts with mass human rights violations in different regions of the world including Africa. The problems of ensuring peace and security have become priority for United Nations (UN) and regional organizations involved in constant search of conflict resolution best practices. Peacekeeping actors admitted the key role of law-enforcement agencies, and first of all the police, in ensuring security in conflict or post-conflict reconstruction. Therefore, the UN actively developing the strategy of police methods usage in peacekeeping operations. Because of this process, the number of member states contributing police contingents to the UN including formed police units increased. Joint activity of police officers from different countries with different education, professional experience and specialization requires high-quality training of candidates for peacekeeping operations. The purpose of this article is to analyze the needs of African police officers in professional development and the capabilities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation in training of African police officers for the UN peacekeeping operations. The study is based on insights from non-participant observation, interviews and analyses of the UN official documents, policies and training materials. Actual Russian and foreign scientific publications were used. Results confirmed that Russian Federation has many years of experience in African policemen training for the UN peacekeeping operations. The promising areas of Russian Federation participation in the development of the peacekeeping potential of African police, along with the provision of standardized pre-deployment training based on the UN certified programs, can be training in the crime investigation methodology and the training of special police units of the UN member states.

Federal Food Program Participation and Beverage Intake Among Families With Low Household Income

ObjectiveExamine beverage intake among families with low income by household participation in federal food assistance programs. DesignCross-sectional study conducted in fall/winter 2020 via an online survey. ParticipantsMothers of young children insured by Medicaid at the time of the child's birth (N = 493). Variables MeasuredMothers reported household federal food assistance program participation, later categorized as Supplementation Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) only, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP) only, both WIC and SNAP, and neither. Mothers reported beverage intake for themselves and their children aged 1–4 years. AnalysisNegative binomial and ordinal logistic regression. ResultsAfter accounting for sociodemographic differences between groups, mothers from households participating in WIC and SNAP consumed sugar-sweetened beverages (incidence rate ratio, 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14–2.30; P = 0.007) and bottled water (odds ratio, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.05–2.96; P = 0.03) more frequently than mothers from households in neither program. Children from households participating in WIC and SNAP also consumed soda (incidence rate ratio, 6.07; 95% CI, 1.80–20.45; P = 0.004) more frequently than children in either program. Few differences in intake were observed for mothers or children participating in only WIC or SNAP vs both programs or neither program. Conclusion and ImplicationsHouseholds participating in both WIC and SNAP may benefit from additional policy and programmatic interventions to limit sugar-sweetened beverage intake and reduce spending on bottled water.

COVID-19 and Pennsylvania farmers: Financial impacts, relief programs, and resiliency strategies during the 2020 growing season

This article reports the findings of a multimethod study of the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Pennsylvania (PA) farmers during the 2020 growing season. Previous research on resili­ency and the food system has encouraged explor­ing ways to describe the agency and adaptability of farmers as they respond to changing conditions. Further, the research has documented the ways that governments intervene to maintain the overall structure of the food system. This study utilized a three-part framework that focused on (a) under­standing the impact of the pandemic on PA farm­ers, (b) describing farmer adaptation strategies and direct-to-consumer marketing practices, and (c) documenting federal relief program participation. The project included an anonymous survey of more than 300 farmers and semi-structured interviews with a subset of 16 farmers. Based on the findings from the survey, under half (42%) of farmers reported a loss of revenue, while over half reported either no change or an increase in revenue in 2020. We also found that vegetable farmers fared slightly better than livestock/dairy farmers; those with a higher pre-COVID revenue did better than those with a lower pre-COVID revenue; and farms that were able to increase direct-to-consumer sales maintained or increased their total revenues. About half of the farmers surveyed participated in federal aid programs, yet a portion of small farms indicated they did not know whether they qualified for this funding. We discuss the unprecedented scale of federal aid to farmers in 2020 and the remaining access gaps for smaller farmers. Addi­tionally, we discuss the potentially protective role of direct-to-consumer sales for enhancing the resilience of regional food systems.

Food insecurity among households with children during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic

Understanding impacts of the COVID-19 pan­demic among households with children is neces­sary to design appropriate public health responses that protect food and nutrition security. The objec­tive of this research was to understand predictors of food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic among households with at least one child (&lt;18 years), including whether foods reported as out-of-stock were associated with the likelihood of food insecurity. An online survey using validated measures and open-ended questions was distrib­uted to a convenience sample in five states—Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, and West Virginia—during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic (April through September of 2020). Predictors of food insecurity (race/ethnicity, age, marital status, education, federal nutrition assistance program participation, number of adults and children in the household, rurality, and missing foods when shopping) among households with children during the COVID-19 pandemic were modeled using logistic regression (p &lt; 0.05, a priori). To further illuminate household experiences during this time, two researchers independently coded open-ended survey question data using inductive and deductive approaches to construct themes. Households with children had increased odds of experiencing food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic if they had the following characteristics: Hispanic ethnicity; age between 25 and 44 years; additional adult household members; economic hardship; SNAP/WIC participation; being widowed, divorced, or separated; and report­ing foods not available when shopping. Partici­pants described mainly negative changes to dietary patterns and practices as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also described food security chal­lenges and ideas for improving food security. Con­sistent with other data collected and analyzed dur­ing the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study contributes findings that emphasize the need for enhanced public health responses and emer­gency preparedness measures that protect food and nutrition security. Because of the increased short- and long-term consequences including exposure to adverse circumstances, impaired learning, risks to mental health, and poor health outcomes, ensuring an adequate food supply is especially important for households with children.

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Methods of Political Influence of Weak Interests Using the Example of the Reform Process of the Bundesteilhabegesetz (Federal Participation Act)

People with disabilities and their associations should have the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes by following the principle of “nothing about us without us,” according to the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. This slogan was pursued as part of the reform process of the Federal Participation Act (Bundesteilhabegesetz) in Germany. Interest groups of people with disabilities (also referred to as “weak interests” in reference to association research) were intensively involved in various stages of the process. This article is based on results of a dissertation project that involved the process tracing method of the reform process of this new law. This paper takes a closer look at the methods of political influence used by interest groups of people with disabilities. Which activities were particularly effective in the context of the process considered here? What can other interest groups learn from the reform process of the Federal Participation Act about the direct use of power resources and lobbying? The power resource approach adapted to weak interests provides a basis, as do various lobbying activities, for demonstrating different ways in which weak interests influence the reform process. As the paper will show, the mix of different lobbying activities helped to assert some of their demands.

Optimizing clinical guidelines to address antimicrobial-resistant infections: A conceptual framework reflecting stakeholder perspectives.

Clinical guidelines or guidance is an important tool for preventing and treating antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections. We sought to understand and support the effective use of guidelines and guidance for AMR infections. Key informant interviews and a stakeholder meeting on the development and use of guidelines and guidance for management of AMR infections; the interview findings and meeting discussion informed a conceptual framework for AMR infection clinical guidelines. Interview participants included experts with experience in guidelines development and physician and pharmacist hospital leaders and antibiotic stewardship program leaders. Stakeholder meeting participants included federal and nonfederal participants involved in research, policy, and practice related to prevention and management of AMR infections. Participants described challenges related to timeliness of guidelines, methodologic limitations of the development process, and issues with usability across a range of clinical settings. These findings, and participants' suggestions for mitigating the challenges identified, informed a conceptual framework for AMR infection clinical guidelines. The framework components include (1) science and evidence, (2) guideline and guidance development and dissemination, and (3) implementation and real-world practice. These components are supported by engaged stakeholders whose leadership and resources help to improve patient and population AMR infection prevention and management. Use of guidelines and guidance documents for management of AMR infections can be supported through (1) a robust body of scientific evidence to inform guidelines and guidance; (2) approaches and tools to support timely, transparent guidelines that are relevant and actionable for all clinical audiences; and (3) tools to implement guidelines and guidance effectively.

EEFED: Personalized Federated Learning of Execution&amp;Evaluation Dual Network for CPS Intrusion Detection

In the modern interconnected world, intelligent networks and computing technologies are increasingly being incorporated in industrial systems. However, this adoption of advanced technology has resulted in increased cyber threats to cyber-physical systems. Existing intrusion detection systems are continually challenged by constantly evolving cyber threats. Machine learning algorithms have been applied for intrusion detection. In these techniques, a classification model is trained by learning cyber behavior patterns. However, these models typically require considerable high-quality datasets. Limited attack samples are available because of the unpredictability and constant evolution of cyber threats. To address these problems, we propose a novel federated Execution & Evaluation dual network framework (EEFED), which allows multiple federal participants to personalize their local detection models undermining the original purpose of Federated Learning. Thus, a general global detection model was developed for collaboratively improving the performance of a single local model against cyberattacks. The proposed personalized update algorithm and the optimizing backtracking parameters replacement policy effectively reduced the negative influence of federated learning in imbalanced and non-i.i.d distribution of data. The proposed method improved model stability. Furthermore, extensive experiments conducted on a network dataset in various cyber scenarios revealed that the proposed method outperformed single model and state-of-the-art methods.

Fachlichkeit und Mut als Basis für den Schutz von Kindern und Jugendlichen (mit Behinderung) vor sexualisierter Gewalt

The paradigm shift from institution-centredness to person-centredness is the basis for the protection against violence both for integration aid and for child and youth welfare. In this way, the power relations in the support system can be modified and the focus can be placed on respecting boundaries and avoiding the legitimisation, trivialisation, concealment and glorification of violent behaviour in the system. There are certainly many reasons why this has not yet happened, one of which could be the lack of attention to professionalism in competition with economic efficiency and perhaps also the lack of courage to look. The Federal Participation Act (Bundesteilhabegesetz) now calls on the integration aid sector to make the paradigm shift. For this, it needs massive changes in the entire support system, i.e. courageous actors who set out to put professionalism before economic efficiency to make the system usable for people and to break old patterns.

Effects of family history of alcohol problems on alcohol consumption: Stronger for medically underserved men

Family history (FH), informed by genetics and family environment, can be used by practitioners for risk prediction. This study compares the associations of FH with alcohol outcomes for medically underserved (MUS) men and women with the associations for non-underserved individuals to assess the utility of FH as a screening tool for this high-priority group. Data were from 29,993 adult lifetime drinkers in the Wave 1 (2001−2002) and Wave 2 (2004–2005) National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. All variables except FH were measured at Wave 2. Dependent variables were 12-month alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorder (AUD). FH scores (FH-SCORE) measured the proportion of first- and second-degree biological relatives with alcohol problems. MUS status was defined by household income at or below 100% of the federal poverty line and participants reporting no usual source of health care. Multivariate linear and logistic regression models tested main and interaction effects. Models showed a significant interaction of FH-SCORE with MUS status (p < .01), with a stronger effect of FH on alcohol consumption for the MUS group. This moderating effect was weaker for women than for men (FH-SCORE x MUS x Sex three-way interaction: p < .01). AUD models showed a significant positive association with FH-SCORE (p < .001) but no association with MUS status and no significant interaction effects. In this sample of lifetime drinkers, FH was associated with higher alcohol consumption, especially for MUS men. These results encourage additional validation of FH scores to prioritize MUS adults at high risk for alcohol problems to receive preventive interventions.

Investigating emotion regulation and social information processing as mechanisms linking adverse childhood experiences with psychosocial functioning in young swiss adults: the FACE epidemiological accelerated cohort study

BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences increase the risk for psychological disorders and lower psychosocial functioning across the lifespan. However, less is known about the processes through which ACE are linked to multiple negative outcomes. The aim of the FACE epidemiological study is to investigate emotion regulation (emotional reactivity, perseverative thinking and self-efficacy for managing emotions) and social information processing (rejection sensitivity, interpretation biases and social understanding) as potential mechanisms linking adverse childhood experiences and psychosocial functioning in a large population sample of young adults. It is embedded in a larger project that also includes an ecological momentary assessment of emotion regulation and social information processing and informs the development and evaluation of an online self-help intervention for young adults with a history of ACE.MethodsThe study plans to recruit 5000 young adults aged 18 to 21 from the German-speaking Swiss population. Addresses are provided by Swiss Federal Statistical Office and participants are invited by mail to complete a self-report online survey. If the targeted sample size will not be reached, a second additional sample will be recruited via educational facilities such as universities or teacher training colleges or military training schools. Three follow-ups are planned after 1 year, 2 years and 3 years, resulting in ages 18–24 being covered. The main exposure variable is self-reported adverse childhood experiences before the age of 18, measured at the baseline. Primary outcomes are psychosocial functioning across the study period. Secondary outcomes are social information processing, emotion regulation and health care service use. Statistical analyses include a range of latent variable models to identify patterns of adverse childhood experiences and patterns and trajectories of psychosocial adaptation.DiscussionThe results will contribute to the understanding of the underlying mechanisms that link ACE with psychosocial functioning which is crucial for an improved insight into risk and resilience processes and for tailoring interventions. Furthermore, the identification of factors that facilitate or hinder service use among young adults with ACE informs healthcare policies and the provision of appropriate healthcare services.Trial registration number: NCT05122988. The study was reviewed and authorized by the ethical committee of Northwestern and Central Switzerland (BASEC number 2021-01204).

Reproductive health among married and unmarried mothers aged less than 18, 18-19, and 20-24 years in the United States, 2014-2019: A population-based cross-sectional study.

BackgroundStudies in low- and middle-income regions suggest that child marriage (<18 years) is a risk factor for poor reproductive outcomes among women. However, in high-income-country contexts where childbearing before age 18 occurs predominantly outside marriage, it is unknown whether marriage is adversely associated with reproductive health among mothers below age 18. This study examined the joint associations of marriage and adolescent maternal age group (<18, 18–19, and 20–24 years) with reproductive, maternal, and infant health indicators in the United States.Methods and findingsBirth registrations with US resident mothers aged ≤24 years with complete information on marital status were drawn from the 2014 to 2019 Natality Public Use Files (n = 5,669,824). Odds ratios for the interaction between marital status and maternal age group were estimated using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for covariates such as maternal race/ethnicity and nativity status, federal program participation, and paternal age. Marriage prevalence was 3.6%, 13.2%, and 34.1% among births to mothers aged <18, 18–19, and 20–24 years, respectively. Age gradients in the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) were present for most indicators, and many gradients differed by marital status. Among births to mothers aged <18 years, marriage was associated with greater adjusted odds of prior pregnancy termination (AOR 1.64, 95% CI 1.52–1.77, p < 0.001), repeat birth (AOR 2.84, 95% CI 2.68–3.00, p < 0.001), maternal smoking (AOR 1.24, 95% CI 1.15–1.35, p < 0.001), and infant morbidity (AOR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.14, p = 0.03), but weaker or reverse associations existed among births to older mothers. For all maternal age groups, marriage was associated with lower adjusted odds of late or no prenatal care initiation, sexually transmitted infection, and no breastfeeding at hospital discharge, but these beneficial associations were weaker among births to mothers aged <18 and 18–19 years. Limitations of the study include its cross-sectional nature and lack of information on marriage timing relative to prior pregnancy events.ConclusionsMarriage among mothers below age 18 is associated with both adverse and favorable reproductive, maternal, and infant health indicators. Heterogeneity exists in the relationship between marriage and reproductive health across adolescent maternal age groups, suggesting girl child marriages must be examined separately from marriages at older ages.

On the eve of the era of "highways": on the History of Federal Highway Construction in the USA

The object of the study is the history of the formation of the federal highway construction system in the United States before the First World War. The subject of the study is the economic, social and political prerequisites for the emergence of the idea of federal financing of road construction. The article examines the socio-political struggle that unfolded in American society at the beginning of the XX century on the need for federal participation in the creation of a highway network. The most important link in the Government's road policy was the creation of a system of federal agencies dealing with road construction problems. The study of this issue allows us to trace the evolution of the approaches of the public and politicians in solving the problem of the separation of powers of the states and the federal government in the field of road construction. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that the issue of federal funding is considered in the context of traditional discussions about the separation of powers of the states and the federal government, as well as the problems of strategic planning. The authors' attention is focused on the fact that previously the allocation of money for the construction of roads from federal funds was considered an unacceptable measure that violates the constitutional autonomy of the states. But strategic problems demanded a new look at this feature of the US state structure. The results of the study allow us to conclude that the Federal Road Assistance Act of 1916 meant recognition of the need for federal regulation of road construction and became an important precedent that opened up the possibility of creating a nationwide road network in the future.

Patterns of Food Assistance Program Participation, Food Insecurity, and Pantry Use among U.S. Households with Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study aims to describe differences in participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women and Children (WIC), and school meal programs by household characteristics prior to and during the pandemic, and to examine the association of program participation with food security status and food pantry use. We analyze secondary data (n = 470) from an online survey collected in July/August 2020 using weighted multiple logistic regression models. Participation in SNAP declined among households with children in the first four months of the pandemic, while participation in WIC increased slightly, and participation in school meals remained unchanged. There were significant differences in SNAP, WIC, and school meal programs use by race/ethnicity, income, and urbanicity before and during the pandemic. Food insecurity prevalence was higher among SNAP participants at both periods but the gap between participants and non-participants was smaller during the pandemic. Pantry use and food insecurity rates were consistently higher among federal nutrition assistance program participants, possibly suggesting unmet food needs. These results highlight the need for increased program benefits and improved access to food, particularly during periods of hardship.

Diffusion of Complex Governance Arrangements: State Approaches to Addressing Intimate Partner Violence

AbstractIn the 1970s, many viewed domestic violence as a private concern. Since then, every state has adopted a domestic violence coalition to address intimate partner violence (IPV) through government intervention. States vary, however, in the structure of the coalitions, participation in federal programs, and the comprehensiveness of IPV services offered. Using the theoretical lenses of policy diffusion and policy drift, this study assesses the development of IPV coalitions from 1976 to 2018, paying particular attention to institutional structures, intergovernmental resources, and strategic service priorities. We find evidence of policy drift and multidirectional policy diffusion in state IPV institutional structures, service delivery, federal program participation, and strategic priorities of these activities. Federal grant programs increase the likelihood of program emulation among states and may encourage innovation within existing institutional and policy structures for the development of comprehensive services and a preventive approach to IPV that best serve vulnerable groups.

Promoting Readiness of Minors in Supplemental Security Income (PROMISE): Early Impacts from a Multi-Site Random Assignment Evaluation.

PROMISE was a federal initiative to support youth receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) during the transition to adulthood. This article presents estimates of the impacts of the six PROMISE projects on youth and family outcomes as of 18 months after enrolling in PROMISE. The study uses a randomized controlled trial design. The six PROMISE projects each enrolled a minimum of 2000 treatment and control youth (and their parents) residing in their service areas who were aged 14 to 16 and receiving SSI. We estimated impacts on outcomes related to youth and family service use, school enrollment, training, employment, earnings, and federal disability program participation using survey and administrative data. The projects succeeded in connecting more youth to transition services and more families to support services during the 18 months after enrollment, and most increased the likelihood that youth applied for state vocational rehabilitation services. On average, there was no impact on youth's school enrollment, but there were favorable impacts on youth's receipt of job-related training, employment, earnings, and total income. The projects did not affect parents' employment, earnings, or income, on average. For most outcomes PROMISE affected, the impacts varied substantially across the projects. The positive short-term impacts of PROMISE on youth's use of transition services, youth employment, and families' use of services are consistent with the program logic model and suggest there might be potential for longer-term favorable impacts on youth and family outcomes.

Person-centered care but living in aclosed setting? The situation of closed residential facilities in Germany

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Federal Participation Act state that all human beings have the right to choose where to live. This human right is compromised by the institutional limitations of the community psychiatric system, where persons with severe mental illnesses and with intensive support needs are often housed in closed (i.e. physically locked) living contexts. How can the concept of person-centered care help to solve this conflict? Description of the nationwide situation of closed residential facilities and discussion of the person-centered approach as asolution to the problem of closed living contexts. Summary of current knowledge on the structural and procedural data of closed residential facilities in Germany, which were collated within the framework of the "Coercive measures in the psychiatric care system-Collation and reduction" (ZIPHER) study. The empirical data indicate agreat need for regionally based care of the target group and alack of individual arrangements as alternatives to closed living contexts. The necessity for regional care obligations is highlighted by the example of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The avoidance and reduction of closed accommodation can primarily be achieved by individual arrangements within the framework of person-centered and flexible proposal landscapes. For this the service providers of integration assistance, including the psychiatric hospitals, must be committed to the care of all people in their region. An appropriate accompaniment and refunding by the service provider are also necessary.

Challenges for Representatives of Employees with Severe Disabilities Amid the Legal Reforms Resulting from the Federal Participation Act

Representatives of employees with severe disabilities play a key role in achieving inclusive working conditions. This has been taken into account by the Federal Participation Act and the rights of the representatives of employees with severe disabilities have been expanded. The aims of the present exploratory analysis are to clarify the modified legal status from the perspective of the representatives of employees with severe disabilities, to identify challenges in the practical application of the legal reforms and to reveal unconsidered needs. Considering that research on the implementation and evaluation of social legislation are core elements of rehabilitation research, this study intends to close the gap between legal implementation and practical application and aims to advance the process of a learning legislation. Across Germany, a total of 1552 representatives of employees with severe disabilities were interviewed via online survey. The present analysis focuses on the answers regarding challenges for representatives of employees with severe disabilities. The answers were evaluated according to the content-structuring qualitative content analysis of Kuckartz and analysed with regard to the legal reforms resulting by the Federal Participation Act. The Federal Participation Act is critically evaluated from the perspective of the representatives of employees with severe disabilities. The survey data demonstrate that the representatives of employees with severe disabilities consider parts of the legal reforms not to be comprehensive enough. Certain provisions, such as the consultation of deputies and the lowering of the exemption limit, are seen as not extensive enough and only affect the subgroup of representatives in large companies. Other rights, such as the right to information and consultation, do not include the possibility for sanctions in case of non-application of the law by the employer. The introduction of the invalidity clause regarding terminations is considered insufficient. Although the rights of the representatives of employees with severe disabilities are being expanded by means of the Federal Participation Act, there are still challenges in the implementation, specification and binding nature of the individual reforms, which must be observed and further discussed in the sense of a learning legislation. The present results indicate that further involvement of the representatives of employees with severe disabilities is required in order to derive approaches for targeted optimisation of the application and the design of the legal reforms.