Child Delinquency, ACEs, and the Juvenile Justice System: Does Exposure to ACEs Affect Justice System Experiences for Children?

Thousands of children ages 12 and under are referred to juvenile justice systems each year, and little is known about how their experiences may differ from those of older youth. The purpose of this study was to compare risk factors associated with juvenile justice referral between children and adolescents and examine differences in adjudication and disposition of referred children and adolescents. The moderating role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) was also examined. Using data from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, results suggest children referred to the juvenile justice system are more likely to have experienced greater numbers of ACEs, have family and school problems, and be referred by schools. Results also indicate children and adolescents differ in their experiences within the juvenile justice system, and that experiences vary according to exposure to ACEs. Results suggest juvenile justice system officials should consider the unique needs of children referred to the system and be cognizant of the influence of non-legal factors in decision-making for this population.

Big Brother Mentoring in the Let's Teach for Hungary Program

The number of mentoring programs within the framework of schools is increasing both internationally and domestically (Raufelder & Ittel, 2012; Fejes et. al., 2009). Besides traditional mentoring, the role of peer mentoring (Miller, 2002) has also come to the fore in recent years. In our study, we focus on cross-age peer mentoring (Miller, 2002; Sipe, 2005), where older youth mentor younger youth. One example of this in Hungary is the Let's Teach for Hungary (LTHMP) mentoring program, where undergraduate students mentor primary school students. In our research, we studied mentors at the University of Debrecen who had completed at least two semester-long cycles in the program. We were curious about how the COVID-19 pandemic period affected mentoring, so we examined the transition of a mentoring program based on a personal meeting to online mentoring, and its pivotal points, advantages, and disadvantages. As a method, we used qualitative interview analysis, during which we worked with semi-structured interviews, recorded in the spring of 2020 and 2021 – during the global pandemic situation – with a total of 50 mentors. The content analysis of the interview texts was performed based on the codes formulated based on the theory, and the emic codes emerged in the interviews (Creswell, 2012). Our results show that mentors can be grouped into different types based on their attitudes towards online mentoring. Overall, the digital transition has been a big challenge. The biggest problem was the lack of equipment. The issue of age has been also an important factor in terms of the sense of digital comfort. We noticed the phenomenon of Big Brother Mentoring and the importance of chameleon mentors. Our research, which can fill a gap, highlights both the challenges and benefits of online mentoring. In addition, we can also contribute to the effective and successful operation of the Let's Teach for Hungary Mentoring Program.

Predictors of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Youth at a Large, Urban Healthcare Center in California, March–September 2020

Objective: To understand which social, epidemiologic, and clinical risk factors are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in youth accessing care in a large, urban academic institution.Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study with case–control analyses in youth who received testing for SARS-CoV-2 at our academic institution in Los Angeles during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (March–September 2020).Results: A total of 27,976 SARS-CoV-2 assays among 11,922 youth aged 0–24 years were performed, including 475 youth with positive SARS-CoV-2 results. Positivity rate was higher among older, African American, and Hispanic/Latinx youth. Cases were more likely to be from non-English-speaking households and have safety-net insurance. Zip codes with higher proportion of Hispanic/Latinx and residents living under the poverty line were associated with increased SARS-CoV-2 cases. Youth were more likely to have positive results if tested for exposure (OR 21.5, 95% CI 14.6–32.1) or recent travel (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0–2.3). Students were less likely to have positive results than essential worker youth (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3–0.8). Patterns of symptom presentation varied significantly by age group; number of symptoms correlated significantly with age in SARS-CoV-2 cases (r = 0.030, p < 0.001). SARS-CoV-2 viral load did not vary by symptom severity, but asymptomatic youth had lower median viral load than those with symptoms (21.5 vs. 26.7, p = 0.009).Conclusions: Socioeconomic factors are important drivers of SARS-CoV-2 infection in youth. Presence of symptoms, exposure, and travel can be used to drive testing in older youth. Policies for school reopening and infection prevention should be tailored differently for elementary schools and universities.

Rural youth’s exposure to firearm violence and their attitudes regarding firearm safety measures

Background In the wake of an epidemic in firearm-related deaths and injuries, youth have become leading voices of concern. This study’s objective was to investigate rural youth’s personal experiences with firearm-related violence, and their attitudes towards firearms and gun violence prevention strategies. Methods Attendees of the 2019 Iowa FFA Leadership Conference were surveyed about personal experiences with firearm-associated deaths and injuries, and their attitudes regarding firearm-related issues. Descriptive (frequencies), bivariate (chi square, Fisher’s exact test) and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed utilizing Stata 15.1 (StataCorp, College Station, Texas). Results Responses from 1382 FFA members 13–18 years of age were analyzed. About 5% had personally seen someone threatened with a firearm. Over one-third (36%) stated they knew someone who had been killed or injured by gunfire. Of these, over two-thirds knew of someone who had died or was injured unintentionally and 30% knew of someone killed or injured intentionally (e.g. suicide). Nearly all agreed or strongly agreed that the right to use firearms for hunting and shooting sports should be legal (94%), that a firearm safety course should be required to get a hunting license (89%), and that there should be a required background check before purchasing a firearm (89%). Over three-fifths (61%) agreed or strongly agreed that there should be laws requiring safe storage of firearms in homes. Although still high, lesser support for firearm safety policies was seen among males, older youth, participants living on farms or in the country, and youth who hunted, had firearms in their homes, and/or were in homes with unsafe firearm storage. Conclusions The majority of youth in this study supported firearm safety measures including required training, background checks, and safe firearm storage in homes. These findings are consistent with the national youth-led call for firearm safety. Additionally, over one-third of respondents personally knew someone who was killed or injured by a firearm and 5% had seen someone or been personally threatened with firearm violence. Our study did not investigate the effects of firearm violence on participants’ mental health and wellbeing, but future studies addressing this question seem highly justified.

Listening to Youth Through 17 Cross-Sectoral Youth Assessments: Implications for Programming and Policy

Between 2015 and 2020, USAID invested in 17 country-focused and regional youth assessments to investigate young people’s priorities and needs. This article analyzes the results of those assessments and their implications for youth programming and policy in low- and middle-income countries. Primary data collection, document review, and secondary data analysis form the basis for the findings presented in the article. Our analysis across all assessments focused on identifying the most marginalized and vulnerable youth within each country of focus and understanding youth’s priorities and the barriers and facilitators for achieving them across the sectors. Securing a decent livelihood was the top priority cited by youth in each of the 17 assessments. The youth saw education as a step towards self-reliance and a better future. Older youth recognized the importance of gaining tangible work-related skills and wanted more opportunities to learn and apply these skills. Health priorities related to mental health, substance abuse prevention, and reproductive health, specifically early pregnancy. Young people expressed frustration that adults and society writ large do not hear their voices and acknowledged limited opportunities to develop leadership roles. Youth in conflict or unstable contexts expressed a strong desire to engage in their society. Common implications focus on sectoral programming, research, and policy using a positive youth development framework, acknowledging the importance of any program to foster cross-sectoral collaboration. Building awareness, improving coordination, and increasing the skills of actors supporting youth development—and ensuring youth are at the center of these efforts—increase the effectiveness and consistency of youth programming and policies as part of the enabling environment.

CORRELATIONS BETWEEN FUNCTIONAL TESTING AND THE PEDI-CHAMP© AGILITY TEST IN YOUTH ATHLETES

Background: The Pediatric Comprehensive High-Level Activity Mobility Predictor (Pedi-CHAMP©) is a 4-part agility test which assesses balance, lateral agility, directional changes, and acceleration/deceleration. Designed to assess children with orthopedic conditions or sports medicine injuries, it is unclear if the agility assessed with the Pedi-CHAMP© correlates to other clinical performance measures in uninjured healthy youth athletes. Hypothesis/Purpose: To determine if the Pedi-CHAMP component (Single-Limb-Stance [SLS], modified Edgren Side Step [mESS], L-Test, Illinois Agility Test [IAT]) and composite scores are correlated to the Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test (LQ-YBT) and sprint speed. Methods: Uninjured youth athletes were recruited to undergo a battery of tests as part of the Specialized Athlete Functional Evaluation (SAFE) Program. Completion times for each component of Pedi-CHAMP© were converted to points using age-sex matched scoring algorithms. Each participant completed the LQ-YBT and a single repetition of 10m and 20m sprints. Spearman correlations assessed relationships between the Pedi-CHAMP© component and composite scores and the LQ-YBT components, LQ-YBT composite score, and sprint times. Results: Forty-two, right-leg dominant youth athletes (30F, age:13.9±2.6yrs; BMI:20.±3.1) completed functional testing. 62% of participants specialized in a single sport and 83% participated in high-impact sports. There were no significant correlations between the SLS component score and functional tests (Table 1). While the posteromedial and posterolateral components of the LQ-YBT showed significant, fair correlations to the mESS (PM:r=0.338, PL:r=0.379), L-Test (PL only:r=0.374), IAT (PM:r=0.307, PL:r=0.407) and Pedi-CHAMP© composite scores (PM:r=0.370, PL:r=0.361), the anterior component and LQ-YBT composite scores were not significantly correlated to the Pedi-CHAMP©. There were strong correlations between the 10m and 20m sprints and the mESS (10m:r=-0.660, 20m:r=-0.693), L-Test (10m:r=-0.663, 20m:r=-0.736), IAT (10m:r=-0.704, 20m:r=-0.693) and Pedi-CHAMP© composite score (10m:r=-0.617, 20m:r=-0.678, all p<0.001). Conclusion: Performance on the mESS, L-Test, and IAT components of the Pedi-CHAMP© correlated to sprint times and posterior components of the LQ-YBT. The SLS component of the Pedi-CHAMP© may not be challenging enough for the older youth athlete, as this simple 30sec single limb balance test was designed for children with injuries or underlying orthopedic conditions. Replacing the SLS with one or more LQ-YBT components may be more appropriate for uninjured youth, particularly elite athletes. It is not surprising that forward sprint speeds were highly correlated with the agility portions of the Pedi-CHAMP© in this cohort of relatively high-level youth athletes. Future work should focus on evaluating the ability of the Pedi-CHAMP© to detect differences based on sport. Tables/Figures: [Table: see text]

Missouri foster parents : advocating for the educational needs of children from hard places

The educational attainment rates of foster youth are abysmal, and positive changes in policy and funding have not improved the rates to an adequate level. Research shows a positive relationship exists between the educational attainment of older youth in foster care and the presence of supportive adults in their lives (Clemens, Helm, Myers, Thomas & Tis, 2017; Dworsky & Perez, 2010; Neal, 2017). This study will explore foster parents as supportive adults, specifically, educational advocates. Educational advocacy comes from the field of special education and refers to behaviors of supportive adults who intervene and mediate for a child or someone who cannot advocate for self. This study will expand educational advocacy research (Duquette, Fullarton, Orders, & Robertson-Grewal, 2011; Duquette, Orders, Fullarton, & Robertson-Grewal, 2011; Duquette, Stodel, Fullarton, & Hagglund, 2011; Mulick & Butter, 2002; Olivos, Jimenez-Castellanos, & Ochoa, 2011; Wilson Cooper, 2007) to foster parents. Framing the study will be the four dimensions of advocacy proposed by Duquette, Stodel, Fullarton, and Hagglund (2011). The framework will inform the interview protocol: items will follow the four dimensions (awareness, seeking information, presenting the case, and monitoring) to explore how foster parents tacitly advocate for the educational needs of their foster children. This qualitative study will seek to answer the research questions How do foster parents serve as educational advocates for foster children? and What challenges do foster parents face as they serve as educational advocates? The study will use a qualitative research design with a phenomenological approach. Data collection will include in-depth interviews of eight to ten foster parents. By extending educational advocacy research to foster parents, this study will highlight the need for foster youth to have educational advocates and the ways in which that need is, or is not, being met. This study will provide a research foundation for additional research, with the hope of helping to ensure an educational advocate, foster parent or otherwise, is engaged in advocacy behaviors for every foster child in Missouri.

Attitudes of Modern Youth to the Innovative Activities: Based on the Materials of Sociological Research

Introduction. Orientation of the Russian to innovative way of development requires the provision of the state of human resources – qualified specialists with a certain set of qualities, skills and competencies. Researchers studying the matter, concluded that such a resource is the youth as the most active and creative social and demographic groups. Important components of the innovative potential of young people are the open mindedness, self-interest and involvement in innovative processes.The author carries out a case study, the aim of which is to study the attitudes and engagement of young people of the Ivanovo region in innovation activities.Methodology and sources. The methodological basis of this work is the sociological researches conducted by the author. The subject of these studies were representatives of youth of the Ivanovo region in age from 14 to 30 years. During the research, several sub-groups divided the youth group: senior pupils, students and representatives of working youth. Sampling error does not exceed 5 %, for a given level of significance of 95 %.Results and discussion. The study showed that only half of the youth in the region would like to take part in innovative activities. At the same time over the past 3 years, about 44 % of young people have taken part in some form of innovation activity. Revealed that innovative practices are most common for pupils and students. Young people engaged in professional activities in more than half of the cases had no experience of participation in innovative activities.Conclusion. The results of the author of sociological studies show varying degrees of readiness of youth to innovative activities. Pupils and students largely than older youth, interested in innovative practices, due to its involvement in these processes through the use of new educational technologies. The interest of working youth is determined by the content of the profession.

Measuring Irritability in Early Childhood: A Psychometric Evaluation of the Affective Reactivity Index in a Clinical Sample of 3- to 8-Year-Old Children

The parent-report Affective Reactivity Index (ARI-P) is the most studied brief scale specifically developed to assess irritability, but relatively little is known about its performance in early childhood (i.e., ≤8 years). Support in such populations is particularly important given developmental shifts in what constitutes normative irritability across childhood. We examined the performance of the ARI-P in a diverse, treatment-seeking sample of children ages 3 to 8 years ( N = 115; mean age = 5.56 years; 58.4% from ethnic/racial minority backgrounds). In this sample, confirmatory factor analysis supported the single-factor structure of the ARI-P previously identified with older youth. ARI-P scores showed large associations with another irritability index, as well as small-to-large associations with aggression, anxiety, depression, and attention problems, supporting the convergent and concurrent validity of the ARI-P when used with children in this younger age range. Findings support the ARI-P as a promising parent-report tool for assessing irritability in early childhood, particularly in clinical samples.