This study identified a reasonable one-factor eight-item depression measure that was noninvariant across gender. This validated measure was used to confirm the association between financial assets and mental health outcomes, hence, supporting the hypothesis that financial assets are associated with mental health outcomes.

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), youths (23 years or younger)-who account for almost half the population-are particularly vulnerable to poverty and exclusion from financial markets and intermediaries. In addition, a significant factor in the financial instability of the region appears to be the economic functioning of its youths. In recent years, social work interventions throughout the region have focused on investing in the economic functioning of youths. This study looked at baseline data from one such intervention in Kenya (N = 3,965), using the financial capabilities framework to evaluate the factors related to youths' saving behaviors. Authors investigated the association between youths' financial literacy (that is, knowledge, socialization), financial access, and financial capabilities and savings behaviors. Results indicate that adolescents who rate themselves as financially literate and those living in close proximity to a bank are more likely to report higher capabilities. Furthermore, financial capabilities in turn partially mediate the relationship between financial literacy, access, and savings. Overall, the study's findings point to the positive effect of enhanced financial capabilities among youths and offer support for asset-based interventions targeting youths in SSA.

Motivation: Intergenerational wealth transfers are economically important and have direct consequences on the distribution-or redistribution-of household and community wealth. In sub-Saharan Africa, documented instances of weakly enforced statutory laws and outdated or misaligned customary laws create a space for practices that undermine the fair and smooth transition of wealth across generations. Purpose: This study presents data drawn from a larger mixed-methods study that evaluated a succession (inheritance) curriculum offered in a farming community in Kenya. Approach and Methods: A sub-set of intervention participants (n = 58) ranging in age from 20 to 78 were invited to participate in post-test focus group discussions. Discussions followed a semi-structured interview guide and included questions that evaluated the succession curriculum. Findings: In addition to evaluating the intervention, emerging conversations centred on the economic and sociocultural significance of intergenerationally held family wealth. The narrative from these focus groups underscores the importance the community places on family-held wealth and how failures in the financial socialization process have compromised the generational wealth-transfer system. Further, both younger and older participants identified youth unemployment and substance misuse as factors that have led to a breakdown in the wealth-transfer process. This breakdown can and has resulted in the loss of household wealth, as well as in the marginalization of vulnerable individuals including women and children. Implications: This article concludes by identifying mutable factors that have implications for economic empowerment policies and programmes. This includes strengthening parental financial capabilities and facilitating access to legal resources to facilitate wealth transfers. K E Y W O R D S inheritance planning, intergenerational wealth transfers, sub-Saharan Africa | O43 KAGOTHO eT Al. O44 | KAGOTHO eT Al.tenuous property rights have a further impact on land use and productivity (Willy & Wawuda, 2014), thereby compromising household economic security.

Purpose Worldwide mandates for social distancing and home-quarantine have contributed to loneliness and social isolation. We conducted a systematic scoping review to identify network-building interventions that address loneliness and isolation, describe their components and impact on network structure, and consider their application in the wake of COVID19. Methods We performed forward and backward citation tracking of three seminal publications on network interventions and Bibliographic search of Web of Science and SCOPUS. We developed data charting tables and extracted and synthesized the characteristics of included studies, using an iteratively updating form. Findings From 3390 retrieved titles and abstracts, we included 8 studies. These interventions focused on building networks at either individual- or group-levels. Key elements that were incorporated in the interventions at varying degrees included (a) creating opportunities to build networks; (b) improving social skills; (c) assessing network diagnostics (i.e. using network data or information to inform network strategies); (d) promoting engagement with influential actors; and (e) a process for goal-setting and feedback. The effect of interventions on network structures, or the moderating effect of structure on the intervention effectiveness was rarely assessed. Conclusions As many natural face-to-face opportunities for social connection are limited due to COVID19, groups already at risk for social isolation and loneliness are disproportionately impacted. Network-building interventions include multiple components that address both the structure of individuals’ networks, and their skills and motivation for activating them. These intervention elements could be adapted for delivery via online platforms, and implemented by trained facilitators or novice volunteers, although more rigorous testing is needed.

School mental health practitioners, including social workers, are mandated through federal, state, and professional entities to provide evidence-based practices to students. Nevertheless, rates of use of evidence-based practices among mental health professionals in schools remain low, even as knowledge about effective practices increases. This study aimed to further knowledge about how to promote and support the use of evidence-based practices among school practitioners using online technology. School social workers attending a summer professional development event took part in focus groups exploring (a) their current perceptions of evidence-based practices, (b) their experiences finding evidence-based practice information online, and (c) their preferences for the formatting and content of online resources. Participants described a willingness to use evidence-based practice, efforts to find information, and difficulties encountered with online sources. Preferences for readily available, searchable, brief, and understandable online information were expressed. Implications for meeting the needs of school social workers with online resources are discussed.

To support student success effectively, school teams need information on known predictors of youth behavior and academic performance. In contrast to measures of behavioral and academic outcomes that are commonly relied on in schools, the School Success Profile (SSP) for middle and high school students provides comprehensive information on predictors of outcomes that reside in students’ neighborhoods, schools, peer systems, and families. This article presents the SSP 2020, a newly revised version of the SSP that is now freely available to schools and researchers. The online, self-report SSP 2020 retains the strengths of the SSP but is shorter and simpler. Revised group- and individual-level reports are automatically generated once SSP data are collected. The SSP 2020 dashboard allows users to request reports on numerous demographic subgroups. A comprehensive prevention road map walks teams through each step of an evidence-informed decision-making process based on SSP 2020 data. Resources embedded in the road map include information on evidence-informed prevention strategies for SSP dimensions with corresponding brief assessments and fidelity checklists. School social workers are encouraged to take the lead in bringing the SSP 2020 to school teams charged with promoting student behavioral and academic success.

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