The past two decades have seen a transformation in youth programming toward a comprehensive positive youth development (YD) framework. Cool Girls, Inc., a YD program, focuses on improving girls' life chances by promoting positive behaviors and attitudes in multiple domains. These include self-concept, academic orientation, future orientation, and healthy behaviors. The present study uses a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent comparison group design to examine short-term effects of participation in Cool Girls, Inc. on multiple indicators of each of these domains. Participants were predominately African American and included 86 program participants and 89 comparisons in grades 4-8. Self-report questionnaires were administered at pretest (September-October) and posttest (April-May) of the 2005-2006 academic school year. We hypothesized that program participants would show improvements across domains of self-concept, academic orientation, future orientation, and healthy behavior. Relative to comparisons, program participants experienced gains in scholastic competence, hope for the future, and physical activity. Cool Girls participants with a mentor experienced significant gains in social acceptance and body image relative to other Cool Girls and were more than four times as likely to have expectations of avoiding drug use in the future. The role of mentoring as well as the study's practical significance, strengths, and limitations are discussed.
Evidence‐based treatments (EBTs) are interventions that have been proven effective through rigorous research methodologies. Evidence‐based practice (EBP), however, refers to a decision‐making process that integrates the best available research, clinician expertise, and client characteristics. This study examined community mental health service providers’ knowledge of EBP and perceived advantages, disadvantages, reasons for not implementing full EBT protocols, and attitudes toward EBTs. Qualitative examination of mental health service providers’ definitions of EBP reveals confusion between the terms EBP and EBT. Service providers indicated several advantages and disadvantages of using EBTs. Analysis suggests that many perceived EBT disadvantages would be eliminated if EBTs are implemented as part of the EBP approach, thus allowing for clinician expertise and patient characteristics to be combined with EBTs. Alternatively, distinguishing between EBP and EBT may be more confusing than useful for most community mental health practitioners, which indicates new terminology may be needed.
On December 6, 2013, the Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia convened, as part of its 225th Anniversary celebration, the symposium entitled “Emerging Roles for Historical Medical Libraries: Value in the Digital Age.” Sponsored in part by a Library Project Award from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine Middle Atlantic Region, this event offered a rare opportunity for librarians and researchers to discuss collectively the challenges and opportunities presented by the digital age.1The fact that the College Library chose to celebrate its past by hosting a conference centered on planning strategically for the future . . .
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