Regional Professional Organizations Research Articles

Revisiting Police–Adult Probation Partnerships in Texas: Troubling Signs

It has been almost 10 years since the Correctional Management Institute of Texas surveyed police chiefs in Texas in 2007, concluding that the overwhelming majority of police–probation partnerships in Texas were informal rather than formal. This study revisits police–adult probation partnerships in Texas using new state-wide data collected from both police and adult probation chiefs in 2016. This study found some troubling signs in the nature and extent of partnerships: The majority of police agencies in 2016 had no partnerships at all, but approximately 75 of probation agencies did, albeit mostly informal ones. Although both police and adult probation chiefs appeared to be open to future formal partnerships, they were only interested if initiated by another agency. The findings of this study highlight the importance of formalizing and institutionalizing partnerships for sustainability over the long term. The roles of regional professional organizations will be critical to expand partnerships.

Orientation of university students about brain-death and organ donation: A cross-sectional study.

The gap between demand and supply of organs continues. No country has found a concrete solution for tackling this problem. We attempted to evaluate the general information and attitude of university students in their primary basic science stage, when they did not receive special education regarding brain death and organ donation in Saudi Arabia. Since they were from different cities with different cultures and values, we believe that we could assess the educational needs of future doctors and paramedical staff, to help them gain enough competence for solving the concerns of the population at large. The present study is a secondary analysis of a survey conducted at the King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia, from March to May 2014, about the knowledge of and attitudes toward brain death, organ donation, and transplantation in a sample of university students. A total of 873 university students participated in the survey and 93% from the cohort had heard about brain death. Eighty-five percent got their information about brain death from the media. Seventy-three percent of the cohort had the impression that there is no difference between brain death and natural death. An organized educational program about all aspects of organ donation, particularly from deceased donors, seems necessary in the curriculum, which can be started at an early level and built up gradually to impart a gradual comprehensive knowledge on beliefs and practices about brain death, organ donation, and transplantation. The Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation in collaboration with other regional societies and regional professional organizations has to work together to achieve this long-term goal to save the precious lives of people, awaiting transplantation.

Ethics and International Discourse in Social Work: The Case of Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Legislation

This paper discusses the role of international professional discourse in responding to cases of ethical and cultural dissonance. The discussion builds on the recent controversy over proposed legislation that would further criminalize homosexual behaviour in Uganda and the responses from international and regional professional organizations. For social work, the case was compounded by a statement from a local social work leader. The contributions and limitations of global ethical principles and international human rights standards in such cases are considered, with special attention to the salience of universalism and cultural relativism. Principles of discourse ethics and leadership ethics are also applied in the analysis. The authors conclude by recommending a moderately universalist stance that respects the dignity of all humans while preserving positive elements of African culture and worldview.

Regional pharmacovigilance practice in China

Objective: To formulate a system which has been developed for the purpose of accomplishing the function of the Jiangsu Center for ADR Monitoring according to the international Pharmacovigilance practices. Method: The ADRs signal is considered the core of the ADR monitoring system, including drug safety information collection, handling, and also associated communication processes. Results: Regional Pharmacovigilance can effectively keep the public safe in drug use and offer a reference for drug policy in the future. Conclusion: The experiences of Jiangsu Center for ADR Monitoring will help establish a foundation for developing the consummate Pharmacovigilance system and provide knowledge, experience and advice to other regional professional organizations.

An Argument for the Use of Para-Professional Counselors in Premarital and Marital Counseling

Current social changes reinforce the need for trained marriage and family counselors. After a brief examination of these changes, the authors suggest para-professional training as one alternative for providing needed marriage and family counseling services. Already established programs, advantages, disadvantages, and the criterion for the establishment of a nation-wide paraprofessional program are discussed. Areas in which the para-professional could make a vital contribution, segments of the nation's population which need para-professional counseling, and target groups which might benefit most from para-professional training are identified. Marriage and family counseling is a specialization focusing on the interpersonal interaction of the marital dyad and the larger family. The establishment of national and regional professional organizations and journals has strengthened this specializaed area of counseling. The standards adopted by the American Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (A.A.M.F.C.) and the new licensing laws drafted by several states, moreover, have added credence to the professionalization of marriage and family counselors.