Soccer Scholarship Essay :: Scholarship Essays

Soccer Scholarship Essay 2 Â My complete name is Elizabeth Mason Godwin however I pass by Libby. I have grown up living with my folks Barry and Nancy Godwin in Traverse City. I went to Willow Hill Elementary School where my affection for sports began. I began playing soccer in fifth grade when my companion Carrie welcomed me to one of her practices to perceive what it resembled. They let me play with the group that day and I experienced passionate feelings for! I quickly joined and joined the YMCA group. I kept on playing for the YMCA until I was in the seventh grade and climbed to TBAYS. I joined a rec group with a few my companions who likewise played soccer. We rehearsed two times per week in the spring and fall and had games each end of the week. We additionally went to competitions in the mid year. My most loved was consistently the Canton Invitational down in Canton, Michigan. Other than wanting to play the games that we had throughout the end of the week, I cherished hanging out and meeting the entirety o f different children that had my equivalent interest....SOCCER! I was on another TBAYS rec group with certain companions in eighth grade yet then in ninth grade the time had come to go for the huge shebang...the secondary school group. I was lucky to make the Varsity group at Traverse City West Senior High as a green bean. Since my first year I have played in the group each spring and now am at present a co-commander in my senior year. Through the secondary school group I have found out such a great amount about soccer, the significance of group, and kinship. Other than wanting to play soccer I likewise appreciate pastimes, for example, tennis, snowboarding, cruising, photography and perusing. I truly appreciate outside exercises. In ninth and tenth grade I went out traveling with my childhood gathering to Pennsylvania where we went wilderness boating the two years. I found that experience mind blowing and can hardly wait to go again sometime soon. Â My tentative arrangements are to graduate this year from West Senior High and to spend another late spring at our bungalow on Torch Lake where I am anticipating being a babysitter for certain companions of our family. My closest companion Carrie (the person who at first got me into soccer) and I additionally are at present arranging an excursion for the finish of summer before we both head out to class.

What are the advantages and disadvantages for society, when people Essay

What are the points of interest and detriments for society, when individuals live longer lives - Essay Example This survey will explain the way that when individuals live more, it is both helpful and inconvenient to the social orders in which they live. To begin with, investigate has demonstrated that in spite of the discernment that when individuals live longer they are just weight to society; there are in reality some huge advantages if individuals live more. For example, when individuals live longer lives, they are a significant resource for society on account of the immense measure of information they have gained about various issues for the duration of their lives. While elderly folks individuals may frequently be seen as old and obsolete, it is undeniable that the present-day progressions in many circles of life were a result of establishments that were set up when the individuals who are in their mature age today were more youthful (Johnson and De Souza, 2008, p. 24). All things considered, the sentiments and aptitude that can be achieved from the individuals who have lived long are significant to society. While the assessments of the old may not be given from an expert stance, the negligible truth that they have invested more energy alive makes their feelings worth chasing. For example, in the present intense financial occasions, the vast majority overlook that there are individuals who have lived, and endure harder monetary occasions during the financial downturns that followed the two universal wars. In this circumstance along these lines, the assessment of somebody who survived the two wars is plainly priceless to society. Another bit of leeway of individuals living longer is that they can give positive cultural qualities to the more youthful age. During late decades, social orders universally have had the option to dispose of esteems that were inconvenient to society. Such qualities incorporate male bullheadedness and bigotry. Nonetheless, social orders have likewise received a few qualities that are pointless for them. Indeed, the nuclear family which is the most fundamental unit of any general public has been contrarily influenced by the present pattern of getting rid of any worth that is considered ‘traditional’ regardless of

SIPA and Careers in the U.S. Government COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

SIPA and Careers in the U.S. Government COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog The Admissions Committee continues to work away and today I present the following student entry.   The following was prepared by SIPA student Joshua Huneycutt, a second year MIA student concentrating in Energy and Environmental Policy. ___________________________ So you’re interested in working for the U.S. Government, but are worried that SIPA may be too far from Washington, D.C. for you to effectively work your way in.   Well, have no fear â€" SIPA has a strong track record of placing graduates in civil service positions and a large (and friendly) alumni network within government. For those students at SIPA seeking government jobs, opportunities abound for networking and gaining entry to special career development programs at various agencies.   SIPA career panels frequently feature U.S. government-employed alumni, and the annual D.C. Career Fair features site visits with alumni to various government agencies. Another great way to gain access to a career in government is through the Presidential Management Fellows Program.   Thanks in part to the dedicated effort of the Office of Career Services and the various workshops, guides, and one-on-one consultations, 18 SIPA students were recently named as PMF Finalists for 2010. Below you can find the employment statistics for recent graduates, provided by the Office of Career Services.   A link to the information is here. Program Year # of Hires % of Program Graduates Median Salary 2009 Graduates MIA 32 15.6 $55,000 MPA 5 3.5 $73,100 2008 Graduates MIA 23 11.36 $55,000 MPA 6 3.3 $72,500 In addition to SIPA being a great “in,” you will also have the pleasure of enjoying all that NYC has to offer, prior to beginning your days as a resident of the lovely, yet very culturally different, city of Washington D.C.   Policy schools in D.C. certainly have many things to offer, but a significant advantage over SIPA for government positions is not quite one of them.

Feminism And The First Day Of Class - 1135 Words

What does the word feminism mean to an individual? Do people believe it means fighting for equality? Do people believe the negative stereotypes? Feminism is a widely debated topic across the world. People either support feminism or protest against it. It is important to know the correct meaning of feminism as it is commonly used in an incorrect manner. Even though the majority of people do not acknowledge the true meaning of feminism and the history it has created, we are oblivious to social media shaping our thoughts. My understanding of feminism before taking this course was foul and misleading of the actual definition. On the first day of class, I believed that feminism was about women wanting power or dominance over men. I assumed the fight for feminism was only about women wanting more rights and freedom. In fact, when I imagined feminist protests, I received the impression that all feminist women were anti-male. I believed that all feminists hated men since males tend to have more dominance over them. In my mind, this made sense because women were protesting about taking power away from males. Prior to this class I has only heard about feminism in songs or public speeches; I never had a reason to look up the real definition of feminism. My understanding of feminism might have been incorrect at the start of this class, but from reading the book and being involved in classroom activities I can improve my definition. After viewing multiple readings and videos in lessonShow MoreRelatedFeminism And Gender And Ethnic Studies1172 Words   |  5 PagesMy Interpretation of Feminism Feminism has had a deep impact on me since I was infantile. Though she never mentioned it, my mother was an active feminist. I grew up playing with toys considered to belong to either sex. I was taught to be strong and to let my emotions out, and I was given freedom to make my own identity. This was my first experience of social feminism, followed years later by learning the definition of feminism and learning to also see discrimination politically and economicallyRead MoreGender Equality And The Movement For Women s Rights On A Global Scale1174 Words   |  5 Pagescontroversial perceptions of the meaning of feminism and what feminists stand for. For many years, feminism is considered a series of mere actions exhorting for only women, which is anti-men and overaggressive. Recently, there is a gradual change in the understanding of what feminism is. It is all about the equality that every living human should be treated regardless of gender, race, religion or class. My essay will an alyze in-depth the case study of Emma Watson’s feminism campaign, HeforShe campaign, basedRead MoreFeminism Is A Political, Cultural, Or Economic Movement?1542 Words   |  7 PagesFeminism has been around since the early 1900s, but the longer it stays around the less needed it’s become (â€Å"History and Theory of Feminism†). What is feminism though? â€Å"Feminism is a political, cultural, or economic movement aimed at establishing equal rights and legal protection for women (â€Å"History and Theory of Feminism†).† But, people in this day and age are more interested in equal rights for all genders, not just for women. People believe that feminism is over and done because feminists haveRead MoreThe History of Feminism Essay750 Words   |  3 PagesThe History of Feminism The definition of feminism is very elusive. Maybe because of its ever-changing historical meaning, it’s not for certain whether there is any coherence to the term feminism or if there is a definition that will live up to the movement’s variety of adherents and ideas. In the book â€Å"No Turning Back,† author Estelle Freedman gives an accurate four-part definition of the very active movement: â€Å"Feminism is a belief that women and men are inherently part of equal worth. Because mostRead MoreFeminism : A Man s World Essay1380 Words   |  6 Pagesverity, feminism has emerged and exists to empower women all over the globe. The roots of the feminist movement date back to the middle of the nineteenth century. In the United States, the first major progress of feminism was the battle to gain women’s suffrage in the early twentieth century. It successfully resulted in the 19th amendment being passed in 1920, granting women the right to vote. Then in the 1960 s, feminism had another phase which attracted more diverse people. â€Å"Whereas the first waveRead MoreFeminist Theory And International Human Rights786 Words   |  4 Pagesused these opportunities from the UN to push several different feminist theoretical frameworks. The author examines the interaction of these various feminist. theories. She is drawing attention to the gap between theory and praxis. She discusses how feminism has changed throughout the last 50 years . The United Nations is informed by the contemporary liberal feminist movement. When you treat power as a property, the approach ignores the differences of status and power. The moto some st important thingRead MoreWhat I Learned in the Women and Gender Studies Class1541 Words   |  7 Pagesvery vivid memory of discussing my classes to my mother before this first semester began, and whenever I listed off my Women and Gender Studies class I remember my mother asking me, â€Å"What do you think you are going to le arn about in there?† I recall opening my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. I stopped, and looked at her and said, â€Å"You know, I’m not really sure. I guess we will find out!† I knew going in to this class I was excited, but for what I had no clue. However, looking backRead MoreFeminist Theory1248 Words   |  5 PagesFeminism refers to political, cultural, and economic movements aimed at establishing greater rights, legal protection for women, and or womens liberation. It includes some of the sociological theories and philosophies concerned with issues of gender difference. Nancy Cott defines feminism as the belief in the importance of gender equality, invalidating the idea of gender hierarchy as a socially constructed concept. Feminism has earned itself a bad reputation, but it never undermined gender differencesRead MoreFeminism : A Heavy Stigma Surrounding The Word `` Feminism `` Essay1275 Words   |  6 Pagesthe word â€Å"feminism†, saying it out loud evokes emotional responses from many people. During my conversations, I received many casual responses to feminism, or rather the traditional, â€Å"I believe in equality† response. I also received some negative responses from people that did not approve with modern day feminism, or believed that we had already achieved equality. And finally, I received some very strong — yet positive — responses to feminism, however, these people explained that feminism itself isRead MoreFeminism is simply a sociological theory, which states that men and women are equal. Feminism is900 Words   |  4 PagesFeminism is simply a sociological theory, which states that men and women are equal. Feminism is mainly concerned with giving rights to women by highlighting the numerous ways in which women have rendered to society. Feminist theorists believe in the social, political, and economic equality of genders and believe that each has his own rights as well as duties. They strive to give the oppressed women their full rights that are being taken every day. History of Feminism Feminism first started in

Leadership Power - 10259 Words

MCOM200 Management Communication GROUP REPORT 2008 b MCOM231- 08(A) Group Report: Leadership, Power Influence. {draw:frame} Which form of power has the best influence on effective leadership? Word count: 2,746 Executive Summary Leadership, power and influence is a theme within management that is constantly developing overtime. Leaders are continuously developing new and innovative ways to empower their followers in order to get the best out of them. For the purpose of this report, we have decided to look at the assumption that leadership is based on the different types of relationships between people, rather than the skills and abilities of just one person. We know this theory allows for a†¦show more content†¦It has been said that â€Å"today’s leaders must rely on core values to keep the organization centred and balanced† (acting from the centre), perhaps this is why a traditional approach of leaders relying solely on their position to influence followers n o longer stands for much today. Leaders must adopt a strategy that in turn gains the respect of followers by leading through exemplary behaviour and standing for values that are communicated openly and often with others. â€Å"John Gillespie, former CEO and vice president of operations at Innovation Luggage, Secaucus, says the following: â€Å"I found that if I wanted people to follow me, I had to be the first person to take risks and work without a safety net under me†. (Acting from the centre) It is through actions such as this that leaders gain the respect of followers and in turn gain what is known as ‘referent power’. (McShane Travaglione, 2007, p.359). Like many other leaders, Don Makie, vice president of quality assurance, has had to face the following question: â€Å"how can they (leaders) help others in the organization evolve so that they, too, reflect and embody those values?† (Acting from the centre) This ties in with the ideas of referent an d expert power; when followers hold respect for a leader they are more willing to believe in their expertise and ideas, â€Å"leaders empower their followers† (Hackman Johnson, 2009). Makie believes inShow MoreRelatedPower Leadership : Power And Leadership846 Words   |  4 PagesPower and Leadership This week, the author provided various kinds of powers in leadership as a tactics in order to influence their followers. The positions of power include legitimate, reward, coercive, expert and referent power. Having a legitimate power means the leaders are aware of their current position as their manager or supervisor and therefore their employees must follow their leadership. Leaders use reward power to control their followers by providing incentives or rewards such as promotionRead MoreLeadership And Power And Leadership1313 Words   |  6 Pages Leadership and Power (MICROSOFT) Bhaumik Oza BUS-567 Introduction Leadership is the ability of an individual to Lead or guide the other team of individuals, or an entire organization. The leader should have research skills as well as Practical skills and should have high ability of managing and executing the tasks. The qualities of an effective leadership can be use of superior mental energies and motivational powers to make their teams encouraged and determined to perform. According toRead MorePower and Leadership2618 Words   |  11 PagesPower and Leadership The topic that I chose for my semester project is Power and Leadership. The main points within the main subject I am focusing on are Power in Organizations, Sources of Power, The Dark Side of Power, and Empowerment. I will define each, apply them to every day business situations and theoretically analyze the context. The topics that I have chosen will give good insight to what Power and leadership really are and how they are used in are everyday businesses organizations to giveRead MorePower Of Leadership : Reward Power937 Words   |  4 PagesPower: Effectiveness in Leadership. Reward Power can be gained from one s capacity to reward compliance. Reward power is used to support legitimate power. When someone is rewarded or might receive a potential reward such as through recognition, a good job assignment, a pay rise, or additional resources to complete a job, the employee may respond in kind by carrying through with orders, requests and directions, according to Gibson et al. (1991:331). Reward power is a powerful motivator in the workplaceRead MorePower And Leadership Influence On Leadership Essay882 Words   |  4 PagesTutor: Date: Power and Leadership Influence Introduction Leadership has been a topic that has been researched for a long time in many disciplines. Leadership as a personality focuses on the characteristics of an individual that gives them power to act as leaders. There is leadership as an attribution this approach views leadership as phenomenon that causes group of followers to have outcomes.(Wu et al, 2010, 90).Researchers have used the following approaches to study leadership; they are mainlyRead MoreManagement, Power, And Leadership1560 Words   |  7 PagesManagement, power and leadership all in one way or the other add up to the same thing. This is because for each of the terminologies to be effected as require, power is vital. Despite the fact that any individual can possess power and not be in leadership, the reverse is not the case; one cannot be a leader and not possess power (Sarkissian, 2010). In the same way managers and CEOs for organizations need to possess some degree of power, better still authority for them to perform th eir duties effectivelyRead MoreReferent Power in Leadership2276 Words   |  10 PagesReferent Power I. Topic of Inquiry It is important for managers to understand the sources of power and influence as they must rely upon the cooperation of subordinates in order to be successful. Strong managers rely upon more than just authority they also use leadership skills and power to obtain the most productivity from their staff. According to French and Raven (1959) there are five sources of power. Referent power seems to be the most influential and the least affected by change. To quoteRead MoreLeadership As A Position Of Power1545 Words   |  7 PagesLeadership may be defined as a position of power held by an individual in a group, which provides him with an opportunity to exercise interpersonal influence on a group of members for the direction of their efforts toward a common goal. Leadership is also a position of power held by a group or individual (Chand, n.d.). There are several styles of leadership that must be reflected upon before an organizational manager can develop their own style. Models of leadership have been developed to assistRead MoreLeadership As A Position Of Power1325 Words   |  6 PagesLeadership may be defined as a position of power held by an individual in a group, which provides him with an opportunity to exercise interpersonal influence on a group of members for the direction of their efforts toward a common goal. Leadership is also a position of power held by a group or individual (Chand, n.d.). There are several styles of leadership that must be reflected upon before an organizational manager can develop their own style. Models of leadership have been developed to assistRead MoreLeadership and Power Essay1236 Words   |  5 Pagesrole have referent power and expert power played in leadership at Intel? Which Intel CEOs seen to have inclined toward job-countered leader behavior? Toward employee-centered leader behavior? Toward initiation-structure behavior? Toward consideration behavior? Referent power comes from being trusted and respected. It based on identification, imitation, loyalty, or charisma. (Griffin, 549) Expert power comes from one’s experiences, skills or knowledge. (Griffin, 549) Both powers played big role in

The Architecture Of Theatres Architecture Essay Free Essays

string(139) " to the margin of the infinite the oculus of the spectator may be drawn to the exterior of the phase instead than inwards at the histrion\." Back to the first half of the twentieth century and it was in America that mass production was going of all time more efficient and ironss of theaters were blossoming all over the state. Architects commissioned to plan these theaters were no longer being briefed by the dramatists and directors but by the proprietors of the ironss with the exclusive purpose on increasing box office gross revenues. The aesthetics were clearly intended for the paying client and the money directed at the entryway anteroom and the of all time turning auditorium infinites and the less exhausted on the of all time smaller dressing suites. We will write a custom essay sample on The Architecture Of Theatres Architecture Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now This job was less common in Britain around that clip as really few theaters were built during the war but a premier illustration for Britain did come about with the renovation of the Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1930. Designed by modernist designer Elizabeth Scott, after months of fundraising and commission meetings, was expressed by the manager of the theatre William Bridge-Adam as holding, â€Å" Absolute flexibleness, a box of fast ones out of which the kid like head of the manufacturer may make whichever form it pleases. It should be able to offer Mr Poel an Elizabethan phase after his bosom ‘s desire. † The Architectural Review responded to it with critical acclamation. Sightline was an country singled out as being particularily good with no pillars blockading any positions and no boxes. Acousticss were besides mentioned, â€Å" the form of the theater resembles a elephantine horn and is so deigned that the participants can be herd from all parts of the phase and the sound distributed equally throughout the auditorium. The splays and the ceiling of the apron, together with the proscenium when in usage, act as reinforcment to the beginning of sound. † Finally the usage of stuffs and the manner where mentioned. â€Å" Though new theaters continue to look in changeless sequence throughout the state, each fledgling, with really occasional exclusion, represents no more than another measure along the boring way of motif decoration and nonmeaningful ornament. Since Palladio built his theater of Vicenza there has been no development other than an increasing inclination towards coarseness and over-elaborationaˆÂ ¦ in the new theater in Stratford-on-Avon stuffs are used with intelligence, choice and fittingness of intent and designed by the nature of the stuff. † It subsequently became clear that the histrions did non experience the same manner. Remarks were made over the distance from the phase and front row and the bare walls stretching from the apron to the circle. It was described in The Other Theatre, published in 1947, Word count: 294 as if â€Å" acting to Calais from the drops of Dover. † ( Baliol Holloway ) Clearly the designer had non achieved what she had wanted ( an confidant theater ) nor what the client desired. What had happened here was a deficiency of communicating and cooperation between the two professions. In the yesteryear there was an apprehension of what was required and small was said between either professions but back so the designers working on theatre edifices would hold specialised in Theatre design, most of them being builders themselves with several old ages of experience under their belts. The word specializer was non used in Britain until the mid-19th century, pervious to that an designer who designed theaters would merely be referred to as a Theatre Designer. Earlier instances have been recorded in other parts of the universe where renowned general designers have thought they could work out the jobs aroused by the old theater designs. At the terminal of the eighteenth century London had several theaters which had work done to them such as Benjamin Dean Wyatt ‘s Theatre Royal in Drury Lane which besides received architectural critical acclamation. Too frequently theatres built by celebrated Renaissance man designers are more excessive and stop up holding work done to the auditorium within and around a decennary. Fortunately for both designer and theater proprietor money had become available for rebuilds and amendments nevertheless huge. The theatre professions displeasure with the plants of Wyatt ‘s at Drury Lane and Elizabeth Scott at Stratford -upon-Avon are merely a twosome of illustrations of what happens when celebrated designers try and enforce a solution to and old and accustomed job. Their belief that they could rethink the nature of the auditorium ‘s issues upon their first effort can be seen as naA?ve and as the theater profession is more voluble than the architectural kingdom when provoked, the public tend accept the incrimination being placed on the designer. Word count: 385 Fortunately there are a few first clip Architects, Theatre Designers and Consultants who do listen to their clients and are willing to pass the clip analyzing the codification for auditorium design every bit good as meet proficient demands. As a consequence there are many theaters in both Britain and America which function out of a healthy relationship between both theaters and architecture professions. The dislocation in communicating is what both sides have to be wary of and this can frequently be caused by the designers instinctive to offer slight resources to the external design. In some instances it may be the instance that the designer has taken a modernist mentality, strange to the theatrical precedency which is by and large that the exterior of the edifice should show what ‘s interior and besides the other manner around. Therefore in the name of architectural truthfulness as a whole, the particularization and form to the auditorium could be sacrificed by the designer un der his pronunciamento. Looking at it the issue in item, the same result can be caused by the sentiment that the designer is non altering anything merely reorganizing the auditorium elements more efficaciously which is merely every bit unsafe as believing that they can alter the nature of the auditorium itself. Therefore by seeking to organize these cardinal constituents such as lighting, side seating and acoustic stuffs, and traveling them to the margin of the infinite the oculus of the spectator may be drawn to the exterior of the phase instead than inwards at the histrion. You read "The Architecture Of Theatres Architecture Essay" in category "Essay examples" The attending would be drawn to the side walls and ceiling hence the histrion will hold to seek harder to derive the attending of the audience. The job with auditoriums in the yesteryear was the failure to pull the attending to the front 15ft of the phase which should â€Å" look to drift † . Some of the causes may ho ld been that the seating went excessively far back or was spread excessively broad. The root for this job maybe that some designers are taught and become house trusters that form follows map, therefore the functionality false belief. They work merely with statistics in making a design which is dictated strictly on Numberss. Areas of the design which could non be measured were frequently ignored or left to the designer to make up one’s mind on the result unattended. This is a clear illustration of a deficiency of a existent philosophical treatment on the nature of how theatre maps, between the theatrical technician and the designer. Word count: 403 To understand the designer Lashkar-e-Taiba ‘s expression at how the development of the proper attack to theatre design. First of all a squad needs to be formed dwelling of: an designer, applied scientist, acoustic adviser, cost adviser and theater adviser. An designer of course heads the squad as is in the designer ‘s office where he or she works alongside spouses, associates and has technicians underneath heading different sections on the building drawings. There will be some younger members of the squad which would hold graduated high from their architectural schools desiring to work for an experient designer on high degree undertakings who spend their clip seeking to happen rational solutions through planing study strategies with the designer. These immature people are who the Theatre Consultants should intercede with. The Engineers on occasion have a inclination to take over a undertaking which can be unsafe for the place of the designer. The electrical applied scientist has the safest function in footings of illuming which can be overseen by the Theatre Consultant and more cardinal to the success of the undertaking is the mechanical applied scientist. The mechanical applied scientist takes charge of the warming and airing. Theatres require that the infinite be dry and cool whilst besides being soundless, something theater directors specify as being indispensable is the silence. Architecture Actor A ; Audience states that â€Å" Quite merely there is nil more expensive and nil more necessary. † The overall occupation of the applied scientists be them electrical, structural or mechanical is to work out how the design is put together as opposed to the â€Å" what † and the â€Å" why † of the design. This leads us to the unsafe instances in which the applied scientists take over the function of interior decorator of theaters from the designers. 1950 ‘s America and applied scientists were emerging with legion makings in phase design and acoustic and scenic technology claiming they had solutions to sights and sounds. Fixed angles where determined for acceptable sightlines in the auditoriums. Ceilings hidden by illuming, antecedently referred to as â€Å" the celestial spheres † to capture the lifting human spirit and to maintain a cap on the theatre infinite to concentrate the attending back down to the histrion. The side walls which had been lined with humanity in the early old ages were besides now shaped for acoustic advantages. To make a theater that was confidant, it was suggested that the furthest seats from the phase had to be of a certain distance. Jo Melziner ‘s so called field trials in which he concluded that the furthest distance of: â€Å" 55ft ( 16.8m ) for Julie Harris in play, somewhat more for Gertrude Berg in a instead wide comedy and 100ft ( 30m ) for Ethel Merman in anything. † What had non seemed to be considered was the denseness of the infinite given to the single audience member or of the impact of the sum of people to be fitted into the full distance allocated. Merely to advert some of the theaters loved by the theatre profession ; the Old Vic in London, the Lyceum and the Booth in New York, all of which would be considered severely designed with positions obstructed with bad sightlines and countries with a deficiency of legroom but shows win in these theaters Word count: 331 Nowadays this is realised as being a error in design as functionality really took away from the experience but in the 50s and 60s this confusion of the standards of what makes a good theater experience had non been realised. What differentiates the unrecorded theater is the sense of community and engagement non the accent on the ocular lines and sound quality. Possibly if we take a measure back and expression at what Marcus Vitruvius Pollio wrote in the early first century BC on theatre architecture, we could perchance happen another angle on design. Vitruvius holding been an designer and builder shared most if non all his cognition in his 10 books on architecture. He makes elaborate mention to bing edifices and gave recommendations on how to construct new 1s. Word count: 248 The decision is that clients are looking to be progressively avaricious desiring larger seating volume with equal comfort. The designer must non fall for the naivete that they can work out the jobs which have been around for centuries. An designer ‘s certitude in his proficient accomplishments can easy do the failure of a production and non hold the endowment of the production or authors to fault. Many freshly emerging designers believe that theaters need modernization but at that place needs to be a greater apprehension of the thaumaturgy and illusionistic handling of the infinite of such a complex edifice type. It seems better so to lodge to old schemes which work and if there is an old theater in inquiry so maintain it if it works. Amendments can be made to the dressing room and saloon, perchance the anteroom but non to the infinites in which the audience interact with the performing artists. By looking to the yesteryear for replies we will happen that the bulk of successful theaters are based on the rules of the â€Å" sacred geometry † which should be considered as particular harmoniousness with the purpose to promote motion of energy non as a robust cyberspace of formations. Finally the sightline paradox. It seems the theaters which work good suffer from the occasional positions with obstructors but those theaters which have first-class sightlines all-round are universally disliked by histrions and audience. How to cite The Architecture Of Theatres Architecture Essay, Essay examples

Perry Hall, Md Essays - Perry Hall, Maryland, Harry Dorsey Gough

Perry Hall, Md INTRODUCTION Perry Hall is located in Northeast Baltimore County. It is a prominent community with many businesses. Its boundaries are often confused with that of White Marsh because they share many things, including White Marsh Mall. Even though it is named White Marsh Mall, Perry Hall and White Marsh boundaries cut through the mall. Most people know that Perry Hall is a old town. The town was established before it was called Perry Hall. Perry Hall has had many names, Germantown being one. The town was finally called Perry Hall in 1775 after Perry Hall mansion, started by Corbin Lee and finished by Harry Dorsey Gough. Gough named it after his home Staffordshire, England ?Perry Hall?. (McGrain, p.58) Ellis 2 HISTORY Perry Hall's earliest records of settlement are the Susquehannock Indians. The Susquehannock Indians settled near what was then called Gunpowder River Valley; now called Gunpowder Falls State Park. In 1608, Captain John Smith lead the first European exploration of Gunpowder River Valley. In 1658, the first Europeans began to settle in the Gunpowder River Valley. In 1669, Henry Howard acquired 200 acres of land, later called Cullenbourne. In 1681, George Lingan purchased 1,000 acres of land near Great Gunpowder Falls, which will become later the Perry Hall estate. In 1697, one of the Indian sightings in Baltimore County was recorded, when Charles Hewitt testified that Susquehannock Indians raided his home in Perry Hall. (Marks, p.159) During the time of 1700-1759 things began to fall into place in this small town of what is now Perry Hall. Industries were starting, such as forges, furnaces, and farms. In 1729, The Maryland General Assembly created Baltimore Town, later becoming Baltimore County. In 1731, The Baltimore Company opened the region's first iron furnace in Gwynns Falls. In 1749, a flood swept through The Great Gunpowder Falls region and Ellis 3 destroys many buildings, including the Gunpowder Iron Works. Also in 1749, Nottingham Furnace was up and running. In 1752, a devastating fire destroyed Nottingham Furnace. In 1754, Baltimore County Court granted Selah Barton to operate a ferry over ?Long Calm? at the Great Gunpowder Falls. In 1757, the Nottingham Forge was opened on the Great Gunpowder Falls. In 1759, Cullenbourne was sold to the Nottingham Company. (Marks,p.159) During the years of 1760-1850, Perry Hall was going through a religious revolution, also the town was still going through its industrial period. In 1760, Robert Strawbridge, a Methodist missionary, went to northeastern Baltimore County and converted many slaves and backcountry residents. In 1774, Harry Dorsey Gough purchased the 1,000 acres, once owned by George Lingan, and renames it Perry Hall. In 1780, Nottingham Furnace and Forge was confiscated as British Property. In 1784, the Methodist church was formally organized and Francis Asbury was named bishop. In 1807, Camp Meeting Chapel was built. In 1880, Harry Dorsey Gough died, he was born in 1745. In 1812, the first cannon fires were heard in Perry Hall during the British invasion of Baltimore. In 1814, Gunpowder Copper Works was up and running, producing materials for the Ellis 4 U.S. Navy during the War of 1812. In 1817, the Joppa Iron Works is operating. In 1824, fire destroyed the Perry Hall mansion. In 1832, fire destroyed the Joppa Iron Works. In 1848, Camp Chapel closed until 1850. (Marks,p.159-160) During the time between 1850-1900, Perry Hall was called Germantown. This was when German and Irish immigrants settled in Perry Hall, also when new religions were introduced to the people of Perry Hall. In 1850, Catholics began to congregate at the Krastel farmhouse, this represent the start of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church. The year 1852 was the turning point in local history, when Harry Dorsey Gough Carroll, Harry Dorsey Gough's grandson, sold the Perry Hall estate to Eli Slifer and William Meredith. They divided the estate between new European immigrants. In 1858, the dam at ?Long Calm? due to flooding and destroys Gunpowder Furnace. In 1859, Lutherans begin organizing St. Michael Lutheran Church. In 1866, Baltimore City purchased the Gunpowder Copper Works. In 1874, Baltimore County's commissioners approve the first public school in Germantown. In 1876, the Akehurst family began Perry Hall's first nursery. In 1877, George Penn became Germantown's first postmaster. In 1878, local residents organized Germantown

FORP FAQ Section

FORP FAQ Section Free Online Research Papers Again, thank you for visiting and participating in FORP (www.FreeOnlineResearchPapers.com) without students like you this site would not make it. Below are some of the most commmon questions we get by newer users: 1.) Does www.freeonlineresearchpapers.com cost money? No, FORP does not charge for any of the services we offer unless you are not willing to participate by contributing a paper. If you are not willing to contribute a paper there is a mooching charge of $12.50 per monthly access. 2.) Do I have to be a registered user in order to post a paper or an article to FORP? No, Although we encourage people to register to get a unique username so that other users can more easily follow their work. However, it is not required. If you post an article or paper as a unregistered user the article will appear to be written by anonymous. 3.) How can I obtain some help from the other users on FORP with my article or paper? This is a good question and one we get often. Here is what we suggest: 1.) Register as a user on FORP so that other students start to identify your work and your style. 2.) Post a few comments about other papers you read. Imagine that, making an effort to help someone else actually will result in you getting help. Also, make sure you post as your registered user name so that someone will identify that it was you who extended help to them. 3.) In the title section when posting your paper write Please Review. This will make it clear to students that you are requesting help with an article. Example The Long Road Home Ethics (300 Level Course) Please Review If you put something other than Please Review be aware that your article will be deleted or at the very least the title will be edited. 4.) Is it ethical for me to cut/paste an article from FORP and submit it as my own work to my college or university. No, FORP is a research website intended for students to view great examples of works that other students have written and submitted. Please take full advantage of the style and works cited as examples but if you choose to cut/paste a paper you are doing so at your own risk. 5.) Should I put my name or email address in a paper before posting it? No, we try to do everything we can to prevent spam in all its forms. It is never a good idea to post your email address on any kind of public forum! If you have done this by mistake please use our feedback form to let us know of the article title so that we can remove your email address for you as quickly as possible. If you receive any kind of pop up while on our site we guarantee it is not coming from www.freeonlineresearchpapers.com. We hate that stuff as much as anyone! 6.) I have posted a few articles as an anonymous user and now that I have given FORP a test run I want to take credit for the papers I have submitted. How do I go back and change who it was submitted by? In this event please submit a statement to our feedback form naming which papers you submitted. However, if we get more than one person wanting to take credit for a paper it will be simply changed back to anonymous. 7.) I have too many papers to list myself? I am cool with doing 2 or 3 but I have 25 papers. Can I just email them to you? Yes, what a fantastic problem to have! Please email us at admin@freeonlineresearchpapers.com with your papers attached. It might take a few days for us to get them all posted but we will surely do so. Do not forget to include your username so that we know who to give credit too. Or of course if you want them posted anonymously that is cool too. Also, include the course title and course level. We will email you back when we have finished uploading the papers. 8.) How do I say thank you for offering this website? 1.) Post as many papers, articles, reviews, journal entries, or poems that you have. 2.) Comment on papers that others are seeking help with. 3.) Come back to see what is new. 9.) I submitted my paper but it is not showing up? All papers submitted to FORP are reviewed by our administrators before they are published. You should expect to see your paper published within 24 hours of submitting it for review. Thank you so much for participating in FORP and we hope that it will continue to grow along with its users. If you do not see your issue listed please do not hesitate to use our feedback form. Best Regards, Admin admin@freeonlineresearchpapers.com Research Papers on FORP FAQ SectionMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesStandardized TestingAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThe Project Managment Office SystemHip-Hop is ArtPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyOpen Architechture a white paperBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of Self

How to Format an Ebook for Kindle

How to Format an Ebook for Kindle Congratulations!   You’ve finished your book.   If you’ve polished your manuscript and had it edited, you’re ready to publish on Kindle.   Not much in life is free anymore, but publishing a Kindle book is.   You can format a Kindle book yourself and upload it to Amazon for no charge.   Here’s how. First, SAVE your manuscript as a new doc so you’ll have a copy of the original.   You won’t be able to use the Kindle version for anything else once you’re done. Margins should be around .5 top and bottom, .8 for left and right margins. Don’t use more than three or four line spaces to separate text- more than that can cause text to break to a new page on smaller readers such as i-Phones. Use font sizes of 16pt or smaller- a title with a lot of text can easily run over to a second line. Be sure to include a title page and brief copyright notice. Marketing tip:   If you’ve written other books, you can include them on an â€Å"Also Option: you can make the chapter titles in the Table of Contents into clickable links Don’t include page numbers or page breaks- just let the text run on.   Otherwise, the finished product will be a mess!   You can, however, insert page breaks at the end of chapters. Don’t add headers or footers. Amazon usually indents paragraphs during formatting, so I suggest not adding any.   But they sometimes change their process.   If your final uploaded version doesn’t show indents, .3 is a good indent for paragraphs. Include a line space between each paragraph for a little more â€Å"white space.†   Also, shorter paragraphs are more visually appealing on a Kindle reader or i-Phone than longer ones. When you’ve finished formatting (and spellchecking!), save the file so you have a final copy for Kindle, then save it again TO A DIFFERENT FOLDER as â€Å"Web Page, filtered.†   If you don’t save it to a different folder, Word will automatically transform the doc you just worked on into the html file, and then you won’t have the original (which you might like to use to create an EPUB version or PDF later). Then page through the html file to make sure it looks okay (use the Paragraph tool on the toolbar to check the number of line breaks between paragraphs).   Go to Amazon’s Bookshelf (https://kdp.amazon.com), click on â€Å"Create a New Title,† and follow the instructions to upload the book.   You can also use the Cover Creator tool to create a cover at that point. After you upload the interior of the book, BE SURE TO PREVIEW IT using the Amazon previewer.   There will probably be errors, and readers who write book reviews on Amazon are not always kind about typos or formatting errors in the books they read (this is why editing is so important).   You can fix and re-upload it as many times as you need to in order to make it perfect.   Remember, you’re creating your reputation as a writer with every book you publish. Best of luck!   And Happy Writing!

Communication, Gender, & Sex Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Communication, Gender, & Sex - Article Example This essay "Communication, Gender, & Sex" outlines the issue of the behavioral pattern of the genders that exist in the society. Using the American community as an example, Kivel (1985) labels the stereotype given to males in America as Act-Like-a-Man box. The name given by the writer has two major derivations.. It is for the reason that boys are forced to belong to the order of toughness that the writer hold the opinion the whole system has generated into a stereotype. The name ‘box’ given by the customer has its reasons from the fact that the compulsion given to males to be touch is carried around on a 24 hour basis. This is to say that the practice does not end in a day. Another perception is given by the writer in his text in the context of cultural differences. The writer makes the point that even though boys all around the world are touted to be tough the rate of toughness and compulsion varies with different cultures. The advocacy that the writer assigns to the te xt is that the need for boys to be in control should not be mistaken for the need to be violent. Hur (2011) writes on the topic â€Å"Why I am a Male Feminist. The article is a typical narrative of the real life experience of the writer. As a typical family setting that is made up of its own challenges and strengths, the writer reports of growing up in a home where male dominance over females was shown in a rather bizarre manner. The bizarreness is seen in the sense that the writer reports of his father constantly abusing his mother and showing extreme lordship over her. Indeed if two captains paddle the same ship the ship wil sink and so there is the need for one to be a master whiles the other serves as a follower. This means that the family should certainly have a head. This however should not be mistaken for lordship of the head of the house over the others. Unfortunately, the father of the writer did not view the situation from such perspective and went ahead to abuse the mother. There are issues of socio-cultural concerns raised in the article. The writer holds the perspective that people with Black origin have a special attribute that is leading them in the wrong direction. It was generally due to how the father of the writer treated the mother that made the writer take the stand of becoming a feminist to fight for the right of women. In al two summaries above, there is a peculiar subject of gender stereotype that cuts across. Both articles have instances where males are seen as lords over females. In their attempt to show lordship, they go t he extreme to characterize their attitude with violence, force and compulsion. This is the perspective that is most regrettable. There is a clear misplacement of priority in the sense that men take the wrong approach towards the issue of gender difference. It is in this direction that Gandhi (2001) posits circumstances under which people of certain gender are portrayed as being with traitorous identity. If the scenarios presented by Kivel (1984) and Hurt (2011) are anything to go by, then it could be said without doubt that the answer to Gandhi’s question is that males are those with traitorous identity and the do this though various forms such as imposing their authority on females, abusing females by beating them, harassing females sexually and putting up other

Using specific examples, compare how inflammatory and hypersensitive Essay

Using specific examples, compare how inflammatory and hypersensitive reactions to parasites can be a defence of the hosts against the parasites and also a disease problem for the hosts - Essay Example 2007] The parasites discussed here mostly refer to helminths, protozoa and arthropods. Inflammation is ‘’a protective response of the animal host caused by cell injury and tissue damage, aiming to eliminate the cause of cell injury and to wall off and remove the injured tissue.’’ [Blood et al. 2007] Cardinal signs of inflammation include the triple response – heat, redness and swelling; and also pain and loss of function. Hypersensitivity is a modified and exaggerated immune reaction of the body to a foreign antigen and is the same as allergy. [Blood et al. 2007] There are different forms of hypersensitivity, namely Type I (immediate anaphylaxis), Type II (cytotoxicity), Type III (immune complex disease) and Type IV (cell-mediated delayed type hypersensitivity). Understanding the dynamics of host/parasite behaviour may be an important point to start any research of any medical or veterinary intervention to boost the animals’ ability to fight back parasitic invasion. The base line however is that it is possible to achieve 100% prevention against pathogenic effects of the parasites if a little and timely immune based intervention can be applied. An organism’s body has a natural way of responding to undesirable stimuli because of exposure to pathogenic organisms (usually parasites) in the environment. The response can be inflammatory or hypersensitive depending on the causative agent and the magnitude of the effect of the invasion. Inflammation is the quick response of the organism to harmful stimuli such as parasites, damaged cells and other agents that cause irritation to the body manifested through increase in body temperature, swelling, and function loss at the affected area. On the other hand, hypersensitivity refers to the immune reaction of the body against an invading parasite or other pathogenic material. It is undesirable unlike

Child Abuse Interventions Within Black African Families

Child Abuse Interventions Within Black African Families Introduction Child abuse within Black African families is an important topic which has been given extensive attention in British social work research and literature to date. However, only a limited research on child abuse in African families have really considered the impact of socio-economic factors on social work interventions since the inception of the Children Act 1989 (England and Wales). Now the question is why is the issue of socio-economic status of West African families living in the UK an important factor to consider in social work intervention in child abuse cases? My aim in addressing this topic is that research works and literature show that Black children and their families are more likely than whites to be subjected to unnecessary child abuse interventions by social work agencies and other professionals (Bernard Gupta, 2006). Recent research show that in all groups, black children were over-represented on the child protection register under the category of poor parenting behaviour leading to all forms of abuse compared to white children (Bernard Gupta, 2006). This may also be seen within the context of the pathologization of Black families which, incorporates the view that black people, their socio-economic lifestyles are inherently problematic and need correcting (Singh 2006, p. 19) and therefore social workers may intervene unnecessarily in such families. Social workers on the contrary may hesitate to intervene with Black families due to being unsure whether certain parenting behaviours resulting from low socio-economic status are really an abuse or not. The potential consequences of such approach for Black families will be either that the children and their families will be unnecessarily investigated under the child protection system and may be subject to court orders, admitted to local authority care, and/or adopted, or that there will not be appropriate intervention by social workers for black children at risk of significant harm, and therefore children may continue to be harmed or even die. This is evident in recent years, where the vulnerability of some black African children in Britain has been highlighted by the tragic deaths of two African children: Victoria Climbià © (Laming, 2003) and the young boy known as Adam, whose torso was found floating in the River Thames (Sale, 2005). Also more recently, media reports of possible ‘ritual abuse of African children in Britain were fuelled by the criminal prosecution in relation to Child ‘B, who was physically abused because it was believed she was a ‘kindoki a victim of witchcraft possessed by the devil (Tendler and Woolcock, 2005; Thompson, 2005). In a broader context Socio-economic status is defined as: ‘a composite measure that typically incorporate economic status, which is measured by income; social status, measured by education; and work status, measured by occupation (Dulton Levine, 1989, p.30). The three indicators are interrelated but not fully overlapping variables. In this context socio-economic status is considered in terms of economic status, defined as low income or poverty. The difficulties for majority of West African Black families who are mainly asylum seekers from poverty-stricken and war-torn countries now living in the UK are not confined only to how they may be viewed by social workers involved in child care but significantly by their child-rearing differences arising from their socio-economic backgrounds (Beranard Gupta 2006). The Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (Department of Health, 2000) based on the ecological approach places a requirement on social workers to consider families histories, cultural and socio-economic status. Therefore the low socio-economic status of many West African families living in the UK is one big challenge for social work professionals working to safeguard and protect these children from abuse from parents responsible for their care. Therefore key information from the literature will be discussed to explore a number of issues that will help social work professionals to deploy the most appropriate and effective method of social work interventions in child abuse cases with West African families in poverty so as to protect these children from all forms of abuse. Moreover, difficulties in social work intervention in child abuse cases may arise, as explained by Korbin (2004), because the process of assessing a child abuse case is complex and parent al behaviours and child outcomes may not be the same in different socio-economic settings. Henceforth, child abuse within West African families can risk reproducing stereotypes of this ethnic minority as ‘deficient, thus fostering pathological viewpoint of African family relationships (Platt, 2005). This raises the question of how can social work practices direct attention to pertinent socio-economic issues framing the experiences of West African children at risk of significant harm, yet not to reproduce ideas of all West African families as deficient. These complex circumstances make social work intervention a major challenge in recent times and therefore, calls for a new perspective in terms of skills, knowledge and conceptual tools to distinguish between the styles of parenting that differ from those of the majority culture, but at the same time safeguarding and protecting children from significant harm. The dissertation has built its theoretical framework on social work theory, policy and practice and will use key conceptual framework from the social-contextual approaches to intervention. The methodology for this work was mainly qualitative and the literature search has been obtained from primary and secondary sources. The dissertation will lay out various issues regarding the social work intervention processes used for West African families with low socio-economic status. The first chapter provides literature on black African children and the child protection system. Chapter two provides a discussion on the increased complexity of social work intervention in child abuse cases involving West African families with low socio-economic status. It also analyse how socio-economic factors cultivate a particular parenting behaviours that impact on social work interventions and thus, bringing West African children living in the UK into the child protection arena. Then chapter three draws on legislations and policies regulating social work practices in the UK. It examines social work practices required to provide competent social work interventions in child abuse cases among West African families and at the same time would not compromise children safety and protection. Chapter four critically analyse the methods of interventions available to social workers to use in effecting positive change in black African community. Finally chapter five discusses the implicat ions of social work intervention made by social work professionals among West African families of low socio-economic status. Chapter one Black African Children And Child Protection Systems The Prevalence Of Black Children On Child Protection Systems There are a number of recent studies on Black families and the child protection system which suggest that these families are disproportionately represented at different levels in the child protection system. Gibbons et al (2005) study looked at the operation of the child protection system in eight local authorities in Britain. A part of their study looked at the racial background of the referred families and they found that Black families were over-represented compared with White families on referrals involving physical injury (58% vs. 42%). Black families were also more often referred for using an implement to inflict the physical injury. The researchers argue that this finding illustrates parenting differences in child-rearing, and the difficulty of deciding what forms of physical punishments are ‘acceptable in Britain. They continued to report that the consequences of the injuries inflicted on the Black children were no more likely to be long-lasting, but what seemed unaccep table for the people who referred these children to social services was the form the punishment took. This research study raises an interesting point about child-rearing and parenting differences. Is it the case that Black families, as part of their culture of child-rearing stemming from their poverty status, use physical punishment more as a means of discipline than White families? A recent study by Ellis (2007) found that some West African parents adopted a harsh disciplinary approach with their children as they believe there is no other alternative way of instilling discipline in their children. But the vast people of the majority ethnic community could use options like keeping playing toys away from the children or not taking the children on a holiday and/or depriving them of visiting their friends as a form of instilling disciplining in the children. Ellis (2007) also noted that these punishments are likely to be meted out in a fairly public situation and, though they may be painful, they are unlikely to get out of hand and go beyond what is culturally acceptable. This would appear to support Gibbon et al (2005) findings that the consequences of the injuries to the Black children in their study were not likely to be long-lasting. Another research study by Gibbon Wilding (2005) looked at three local authorities, two of which had significant populations of Black families. One of their findings indicate that referrals around inadequate supervision of children in the two authorities show that a significant number of children referrals came from Black families with low income status than black families with medium/high income status. It could be argued that families with low income status have to strive hard to make ends means by engaging in two or more menial jobs to financially sustain the family. As a result children are inadequately supervised by the very people who are responsible for their care. Considering this kind of socio-economic circumstances, Gibbon Wilding (2005) question whether such referrals should be considered within the child protection framework, or whether it would be better to provide welfare interventions and services for such families under the children in need Act (The Children Act 1989 , England and Wales, S.17). This finding has a number of possible implications for West African children and their families, it may mean that they will remain in the child protection system for longer whilst the necessary services are identified and implemented; or perhaps that assessments and intervention services are provided but are not socio-economically sensitive, and therefore only serve to disadvantage families further. Furthermore, as part of their study, they found that proportionately more Black children were subject to child abuse investigations than White children. They found that of all the children in their study sample on the register, 60% were Black. A possible reason for this over-representation was that social work professionals working with the families had no or little understanding of the socio-economic backgrounds of these black African families (Barn et al. 2007). The researchers also found that White social workers and practitioners emphasized their lack of socio-economic awareness as a weakness when working with Black families, whilst Black social workers and practitioners argued that poverty and ethnicity were not adequately taken into account due to euro-centric child protection procedures. One might speculate whether the parents/guardians of these children refuse to cooperate with social service agencies or whether these agencies are taking a heavy-handed approach, perhaps have pathological approach towards such families. Further data shows that the number of African children in need in the sample week in 2005 is 8,000 (Department for Education and Skills, 2006a). This figure accounts for 3 per cent of the overall total, which is an over-representation inferring from the 2001 census where African children makes up 1.4 per cent of the population. A number of studies indicate that most families of children in need, regardless of ethnicity, struggle to bring up their children in conditions of poverty (Department of Health, 1995, 2001). Many West African children in need will not be drawn into the child protection system, if they are made to receive voluntary welfare support services. Thoburn et al.s (2005) review of the research into the nature and outcomes of child welfare services for black children concluded that African children are almost twice as likely to be looked after than the white majority children in the population as a whole, which then suggest, that some of these children will be accommoda ted under section 20 of the 1989 Children Act, by virtue of being raised by families of low socio-economic status. Beranard and Gupta (2006) found that in relation to the reasons for African children being involved in the child protection system, no official national data are collected on ethnicity and reasons for referral or registration on the child protection register (Department for Education and Skills, 2006b). Research data paint a complex and often contradictory picture and once again the information is often aggregated with data on other minority ethnic children. Brophy et al.s (2003) study, which separated data on different minority ethnic families, highlights an increase complexity in the cases involving African children and found that many involved ‘multiple concerns and allegations about parental behaviour. Arguably, there are a number of contributory factors which could be perceived as important in understanding the involvement of West African families with social work agencies and the resultant over-representation of their children in public care and in the child protection system. Broadly speaking, these range from poverty and social exclusion, to child abuse and neglect, poor social work assessments and intervention, and overt and covert racism. The Government Policies And Initiatives The Commission for Racial Equalitys submission to the DFES/HM Treasury Joint Policy Review on children and young people identifies a number of shortcomings of some government policy initiatives such as Sure Start (CRE, 2006). As is the case with many other government policy initiatives, it is expected that Sure Start Centres will be responsive to black minority ethnic needs and concerns. The commitment of such policies is questioned when there is ‘no race equality impact assessment of the Childcare Act 2006 and only a brief mention of black ethnic minority families in the ten-year childcare strategy (CRE, 2006, p. 10). Whilst black ethnic monitoring of children in care, in need and on the child protection register now takes place at regional and national levels, there is little evidence that such information is utilized for policy and planning purposes to effect positive change. It is evident that race and welfare policy has been constrained by parochial perspectives which have tended to focus on how to deal with those in the system. For example, the policy and practice debate on ethnicity and substitute family placements diverts attention from preventive services which could help to obviate the admission of minority children into care in the first place. Similarly, preventive methods of intervention with West African families, such as Family Group Conferences, and systemic practice, as well as particular approaches such as kinship care, are less well developed (Broad and Skinner, 2005; Farmer and Moyers, 2005). Chapter Two Poverty, West African Families And Child Proctection Poverty And Child Protection All families and children for whom social work intervention is likely to be needed are also more than most subject to a range of social and economic problems and barriers. One major factor is chronic poverty which is often associated with unemployment or immigration, ethnic minority, or a single parent family. Poverty often goes hand in hand with other disadvantages and obstacles such as poor educational and employment opportunities, poor parenting, and allegations of child abuse cases. Many West African families and children problems are exacerbated by the interaction between socio-economic factors and their individual impairments and family situations. Unemployment levels are very high among West African families, who are also subject to stigma and prejudice on the part of the community. West African families living in the UK without jobs and no access to benefit and/or dependent on benefits find it hard to access credit. Poor children growing up in single-parent families suffer se rious parental disadvantage, which in turn result into social work interventions. Poverty as we all know is not even-handed. The chances of experiencing poverty are far higher with people from West Africa than with white people (Amin Oppenheim 2002). Institutional oppression is suffered by many West African people in many areas including housing ( Amin Oppenheim 2002), employment ( Chakrabarti et al. 2000), welfare state ( Sadiq-Sangster 2001), education and health which not only means that they are more likely to experience poverty and deprivation, but may also make them more susceptible to social work interventions in terms of child protection. Indeed one may expect Black children to be over-represented in child abuse statistics because their families are more open to surveillance as a result of figuring highly among indices of deprivation (Corby 1993, p.69). The relationship between poverty and child abuse has been broadly established (Thobum et al. 1993; Gibbons et al. 2005). Arguments favour the impact of poverty on child abuse shows an increasing number of child protection allegations referred into the system, and second was the proportion of cases leading to social work interventions and/or other forms of services. Numbers entering the system were hard to quantify. Whilst they showed an increase in registrations up to 1991 (Gibbons et al., 1995), no national records had been kept about referrals, and differences in recording practices and interpretation were widespread. Regarding proportional figures, the discussion was on slightly safer ground. A key finding from the 2005 research studies show that a large number of children were entered into the child protection system compared with those who were subject to social welfare procedures. Of a total number of child protection referrals, around 75 per cent were investigated and intervened, 25 per cent were subject to a child protection conference and only 15 per cent had their names placed on the child pr otection register as a result (Gibbons et al., 2005). Consequently, it was argued that the child protection ‘net was picking up too many cases inappropriately. This finding undermines the government aim of keeping children with families and reducing the number of children that enter the child protection register. On the contrast, it is important to consider the effectiveness of the child protection system. Broadly, it seemed to be achieving as much as could be expected in terms of the limited aim of preventing further abuse to identifiable children. There are, however, identifiable shortcomings of the child protection system. Social work interventions appeared to have quite traumatic effects on families (Department of Health, 1995), often generating anxiety and uncertainty for either children or parents, or both (Farmer and Owen, 2005). Poverty And Child Welfare Services Research shows that the poverty experienced by many West African families may be better met through preventative measures rather than child protection ones. Yet despite section 17 of the Children Act 1989, which places a duty on the local authority social workers to provide support for children in need, many social services children and family teams, barely have sufficient resources to meet their duties under child welfare and children looked after. However, unless these issues are tackled, West African families who need support for their children will receive it only when there is an issue of child protection. Furthermore, using socio-economic variables such as poverty as a predictor of high-risk families (Greenland 1997) fails to acknowledge the part prejudice plays for Black people. Consequently, these indicators of child abuse are seen as failings of the individual rather than the product of social inequality (Jones 2004). A number of studies have indicated that most West African families, struggle to bring up their children in conditions of material and emotional adversity (Department of Health, 1995, 2001). For instance West African families cannot take their children on a holiday trip or meet their wishes and wants. Brophy et al.s (2003) study suggests that immigration and asylum issues, combined with financial problems, are likely to be reasons for the increased complexity for social work professionals assessing and intervening child abuse cases involving West African children. The child protection system that exists in Britain will be unfamiliar to many West African families, especially those who recently arrived, as similar state systems do not exist in most West African countries, particularly where socio-economic factors overshadow intra-familial child maltreatment and intervention into child abuse and neglect (Lachman et al., 2002; Pierce and Bozalek, 2004). Brophy et al.s (2003) study conclud es that many black West African parents saw social work assessment and intervention in child welfare cases as a complete anathema and distrust, especially where parents migrate from countries in political turmoil and where there is no existence of child welfare services. There is also concern about the quality of social workers interventions in child abuse cases. For example, it is shown that investigations of alleged child abuse tended to focus on risk assessment rather than assessment leading to social work interventions of the needs of the whole child (Thoburn et al., 2007). In particular, social workers carrying out an investigation might not pick up problems emanating from poverty or social deprivation (Farmer and Owen, 2005). However, at least superficially, social work interventions appear to contrast with section 17 responses, where research reveals high levels of satisfaction amongst parents and children receiving social work services (Colton et al., 1995; Tunstill and Aldg ate, 2000). Thus, if allegations were minor, it was suggested that the costs to families were unacceptably high, and it was by no means clear that interventions, as a social work response, was better or worse than other options. Engaging in social welfare policy addresses low socio-economic status through intervention aimed at promoting social change, while intervention aimed at the poor family or individual addresses poverty at the micro level by helping those in need to develop better coping strategies. The argument that the social work mission of pursuing social change and dealing with poverty cannot be attained by micro practice has been the source of strong and recurrent criticism against the dominance of micro practice in social work although Hugman (2008) questions the truism of this argument (Asquith et al 2005). The relationship between the mission of social work with regard to poverty and the type of social work practised poses a dilemma for social workers. A particular challenge for social work services is how to work to the required standards regarding thresholds for assessment and intervention with West African families with low socio-economic background and to safeguard and promote childrens we lfare (Platt, 2005). Poverty And Parenting Practices The literature suggest that poverty among black West African families affect the life chances of many African children and the capacity of their parents to provide adequate care and this should be considered in social work assessment and interventions involving child abuse cases. The relationship between values and child up bringing patterns illuminates the relationship between socio-economic factors and parenting behaviours (Shor, 2000). Shor (2000) suggests that parents from low social class differ in terms of the values they uphold for their children and this impact on child upbringing. It is also found that there is correlation between black African mothers with low income status using a more authoritarian approach of caring for children than mothers with high income status. Shors (2000) underpin the relationship between values and child-bearing patterns which illuminate the relationship between socio-economic factors and parenting behaviours. He suggests that parents from divers e social class differ in terms of what characteristics they value most for their children and that these differences in value contribute to differences in parenting behaviour. This variation in child-rearing attitudes based on socio-economic variables was underpinned by Shaefer and Edgerton (1995). In order to develop a sensitive knowledge of child abuse, not only across culture but also across socio-economic contexts, it is possible to draw upon knowledge from studies that look at the parenting patterns of black parents with low income. In families it is the children to whom social workers owe the greater duty of care. Children can be clear about what they need. There may be tensions between childrens needs and wishes, parents needs and wishes, the views and wishes of the wider family, of the community, other professionals, and with the requirements of the law, regulation and procedure. Even where the decision is to remove a child from a family the way social workers conduct their business can make a difference. Thus social work has to respond to parental needs- financial and social, for the sake of the children, but may need to abandon them to maintain the primacy of the childs welfare. The consequences of getting the balance wrong in either direction expose both black African children and parents to suffering and pain. Sometimes the nature of the socio-economic issue will demand decisions that appear to undermine that commitment of not putting children at risk of significant harm. Social workers have to take the decision and maintain the commitment. The Government Regulatory Policies And Poverty By the 21st century, there was a growing view that many West African children who were subjects of section 47 investigations were also eligible for services as children in need (section 17 of the 1989 Children Act). Often, such children did not receive these welfare services because of the apparent incident driven focus of child protection services. One way forward in these circumstances was to encourage local authority social work teams to conduct initial assessments, rather than child protection investigations, in borderline cases, with a view to finding less intrusive forms of social work intervention practice that address the wider developmental needs of the child. Procedures supporting such changes were first introduced by local authorities independently, and were subsequently incorporated into government guidance in England, with the expectation that all referrals of children would first be offered an initial assessment except in emergency cases or where it is suspected that a crime has been committed (Department of Health, 1999). Concurrently, a detailed framework was issued regarding the assessment of all children in need (Department of Health, 2000). The now familiar Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families was based on an ecological model of assessment, and included supporting pro formas covering the initial assessment period. Platt, (2000) in his study on refocusing initiative attracted a degree of criticism. For many health and social work professionals, there was concern that serious child protection issues might not receive an adequate response if handled outside child protection procedures (Calder and Hackett, 2003). A key factor here would be whether cases can be switched successfully from family support back into child protection—an issue that has given cause for concern over a number of years (Laming, 2003). Parton (1996) criticized the recommendations of Messages from Research because they ignored the basic socio-economic reality for many families. Furthermore, cu rrent social expectations may support a formal response to allegations of child abuse and neglect. It is thus unreasonable to expect social workers to act alone since to do so runs counter to the dominant view of wider society. The idea that fewer investigations would mean that resources could simply be transferred to family support services is somewhat naive. The resource problems include the provision of social work time, the provision of adequate family support services, and the need to support a period of change and transition. Few would argue that resourcing levels in any of these respects have been adequate (Calder and Hackett, 2003), and the question of resources was sidestepped almost completely by Messages from Research. The difficulties of implementing such changes were highlighted more recently by Cleaver and Walker (2004) in their research on the impact of the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families. The role of the state in these processes was also examined critically by Spratt and Callan (2004). They argued that reductions in numbers of children on the child protection register have been achieved largely as a result of modern governance and measures to promote compliance with performance targets. Whilst these achievements are laudable, they suggest, they may serve to obscure ‘underlying tensions in the relationship between the state and the family. The idea of refocusing has been affected by complex, often competing pressures since the introduction of the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families. Arguably, the death of Victoria Climbià © reinforced a ‘child protection orientation, and may have led, in some areas, to a lowering of the child protection threshold (Laming, 2003). The Laming report, furthermore, draws attention to the professional confusions that arise from the distinctions in practice between sections 17 and 47. In circumstances such as this, the role of the social worker in any changing pattern of provision takes on parti cular importance. Chapter Three Social Work Practices History Of Social Work Practice Social work has its roots in the struggle of society to deal with poverty and the resultant problems. Therefore, social work is intricately linked with the idea of charity work; but must be understood in broader terms. The concept of charity goes back to ancient times, and the practice of providing for the poor has roots in all major world religions (www.globalvision.org. Retrieved on 14/04/2009). The term social work intervention usually describes work undertaken with individuals, families, groups and communities. In this context the term to cover the use of social work knowledge and skills when using it within a social care organisation to facilitate the provision of services and practice consistent with the Codes of Practice and with standards of service and practice, and to promote the social inclusion and life opportunities of people using services. Successful social work includes the capacity to work effectively within organisations and across organisational boundaries. In the vast majority of instances social work intervention is a collective activity not an individual activity whether as social worker employee or an independent social worker. The most common form of methods of social work intervention is Individual or family casework. Here social work is the intervention. It supports the individual or family to identify, and use, their own and their social networks exp erience and expertise as a resource for problems or difficulties may have resulte Child Abuse Interventions Within Black African Families Child Abuse Interventions Within Black African Families Introduction Child abuse within Black African families is an important topic which has been given extensive attention in British social work research and literature to date. However, only a limited research on child abuse in African families have really considered the impact of socio-economic factors on social work interventions since the inception of the Children Act 1989 (England and Wales). Now the question is why is the issue of socio-economic status of West African families living in the UK an important factor to consider in social work intervention in child abuse cases? My aim in addressing this topic is that research works and literature show that Black children and their families are more likely than whites to be subjected to unnecessary child abuse interventions by social work agencies and other professionals (Bernard Gupta, 2006). Recent research show that in all groups, black children were over-represented on the child protection register under the category of poor parenting behaviour leading to all forms of abuse compared to white children (Bernard Gupta, 2006). This may also be seen within the context of the pathologization of Black families which, incorporates the view that black people, their socio-economic lifestyles are inherently problematic and need correcting (Singh 2006, p. 19) and therefore social workers may intervene unnecessarily in such families. Social workers on the contrary may hesitate to intervene with Black families due to being unsure whether certain parenting behaviours resulting from low socio-economic status are really an abuse or not. The potential consequences of such approach for Black families will be either that the children and their families will be unnecessarily investigated under the child protection system and may be subject to court orders, admitted to local authority care, and/or adopted, or that there will not be appropriate intervention by social workers for black children at risk of significant harm, and therefore children may continue to be harmed or even die. This is evident in recent years, where the vulnerability of some black African children in Britain has been highlighted by the tragic deaths of two African children: Victoria Climbià © (Laming, 2003) and the young boy known as Adam, whose torso was found floating in the River Thames (Sale, 2005). Also more recently, media reports of possible ‘ritual abuse of African children in Britain were fuelled by the criminal prosecution in relation to Child ‘B, who was physically abused because it was believed she was a ‘kindoki a victim of witchcraft possessed by the devil (Tendler and Woolcock, 2005; Thompson, 2005). In a broader context Socio-economic status is defined as: ‘a composite measure that typically incorporate economic status, which is measured by income; social status, measured by education; and work status, measured by occupation (Dulton Levine, 1989, p.30). The three indicators are interrelated but not fully overlapping variables. In this context socio-economic status is considered in terms of economic status, defined as low income or poverty. The difficulties for majority of West African Black families who are mainly asylum seekers from poverty-stricken and war-torn countries now living in the UK are not confined only to how they may be viewed by social workers involved in child care but significantly by their child-rearing differences arising from their socio-economic backgrounds (Beranard Gupta 2006). The Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (Department of Health, 2000) based on the ecological approach places a requirement on social workers to consider families histories, cultural and socio-economic status. Therefore the low socio-economic status of many West African families living in the UK is one big challenge for social work professionals working to safeguard and protect these children from abuse from parents responsible for their care. Therefore key information from the literature will be discussed to explore a number of issues that will help social work professionals to deploy the most appropriate and effective method of social work interventions in child abuse cases with West African families in poverty so as to protect these children from all forms of abuse. Moreover, difficulties in social work intervention in child abuse cases may arise, as explained by Korbin (2004), because the process of assessing a child abuse case is complex and parent al behaviours and child outcomes may not be the same in different socio-economic settings. Henceforth, child abuse within West African families can risk reproducing stereotypes of this ethnic minority as ‘deficient, thus fostering pathological viewpoint of African family relationships (Platt, 2005). This raises the question of how can social work practices direct attention to pertinent socio-economic issues framing the experiences of West African children at risk of significant harm, yet not to reproduce ideas of all West African families as deficient. These complex circumstances make social work intervention a major challenge in recent times and therefore, calls for a new perspective in terms of skills, knowledge and conceptual tools to distinguish between the styles of parenting that differ from those of the majority culture, but at the same time safeguarding and protecting children from significant harm. The dissertation has built its theoretical framework on social work theory, policy and practice and will use key conceptual framework from the social-contextual approaches to intervention. The methodology for this work was mainly qualitative and the literature search has been obtained from primary and secondary sources. The dissertation will lay out various issues regarding the social work intervention processes used for West African families with low socio-economic status. The first chapter provides literature on black African children and the child protection system. Chapter two provides a discussion on the increased complexity of social work intervention in child abuse cases involving West African families with low socio-economic status. It also analyse how socio-economic factors cultivate a particular parenting behaviours that impact on social work interventions and thus, bringing West African children living in the UK into the child protection arena. Then chapter three draws on legislations and policies regulating social work practices in the UK. It examines social work practices required to provide competent social work interventions in child abuse cases among West African families and at the same time would not compromise children safety and protection. Chapter four critically analyse the methods of interventions available to social workers to use in effecting positive change in black African community. Finally chapter five discusses the implicat ions of social work intervention made by social work professionals among West African families of low socio-economic status. Chapter one Black African Children And Child Protection Systems The Prevalence Of Black Children On Child Protection Systems There are a number of recent studies on Black families and the child protection system which suggest that these families are disproportionately represented at different levels in the child protection system. Gibbons et al (2005) study looked at the operation of the child protection system in eight local authorities in Britain. A part of their study looked at the racial background of the referred families and they found that Black families were over-represented compared with White families on referrals involving physical injury (58% vs. 42%). Black families were also more often referred for using an implement to inflict the physical injury. The researchers argue that this finding illustrates parenting differences in child-rearing, and the difficulty of deciding what forms of physical punishments are ‘acceptable in Britain. They continued to report that the consequences of the injuries inflicted on the Black children were no more likely to be long-lasting, but what seemed unaccep table for the people who referred these children to social services was the form the punishment took. This research study raises an interesting point about child-rearing and parenting differences. Is it the case that Black families, as part of their culture of child-rearing stemming from their poverty status, use physical punishment more as a means of discipline than White families? A recent study by Ellis (2007) found that some West African parents adopted a harsh disciplinary approach with their children as they believe there is no other alternative way of instilling discipline in their children. But the vast people of the majority ethnic community could use options like keeping playing toys away from the children or not taking the children on a holiday and/or depriving them of visiting their friends as a form of instilling disciplining in the children. Ellis (2007) also noted that these punishments are likely to be meted out in a fairly public situation and, though they may be painful, they are unlikely to get out of hand and go beyond what is culturally acceptable. This would appear to support Gibbon et al (2005) findings that the consequences of the injuries to the Black children in their study were not likely to be long-lasting. Another research study by Gibbon Wilding (2005) looked at three local authorities, two of which had significant populations of Black families. One of their findings indicate that referrals around inadequate supervision of children in the two authorities show that a significant number of children referrals came from Black families with low income status than black families with medium/high income status. It could be argued that families with low income status have to strive hard to make ends means by engaging in two or more menial jobs to financially sustain the family. As a result children are inadequately supervised by the very people who are responsible for their care. Considering this kind of socio-economic circumstances, Gibbon Wilding (2005) question whether such referrals should be considered within the child protection framework, or whether it would be better to provide welfare interventions and services for such families under the children in need Act (The Children Act 1989 , England and Wales, S.17). This finding has a number of possible implications for West African children and their families, it may mean that they will remain in the child protection system for longer whilst the necessary services are identified and implemented; or perhaps that assessments and intervention services are provided but are not socio-economically sensitive, and therefore only serve to disadvantage families further. Furthermore, as part of their study, they found that proportionately more Black children were subject to child abuse investigations than White children. They found that of all the children in their study sample on the register, 60% were Black. A possible reason for this over-representation was that social work professionals working with the families had no or little understanding of the socio-economic backgrounds of these black African families (Barn et al. 2007). The researchers also found that White social workers and practitioners emphasized their lack of socio-economic awareness as a weakness when working with Black families, whilst Black social workers and practitioners argued that poverty and ethnicity were not adequately taken into account due to euro-centric child protection procedures. One might speculate whether the parents/guardians of these children refuse to cooperate with social service agencies or whether these agencies are taking a heavy-handed approach, perhaps have pathological approach towards such families. Further data shows that the number of African children in need in the sample week in 2005 is 8,000 (Department for Education and Skills, 2006a). This figure accounts for 3 per cent of the overall total, which is an over-representation inferring from the 2001 census where African children makes up 1.4 per cent of the population. A number of studies indicate that most families of children in need, regardless of ethnicity, struggle to bring up their children in conditions of poverty (Department of Health, 1995, 2001). Many West African children in need will not be drawn into the child protection system, if they are made to receive voluntary welfare support services. Thoburn et al.s (2005) review of the research into the nature and outcomes of child welfare services for black children concluded that African children are almost twice as likely to be looked after than the white majority children in the population as a whole, which then suggest, that some of these children will be accommoda ted under section 20 of the 1989 Children Act, by virtue of being raised by families of low socio-economic status. Beranard and Gupta (2006) found that in relation to the reasons for African children being involved in the child protection system, no official national data are collected on ethnicity and reasons for referral or registration on the child protection register (Department for Education and Skills, 2006b). Research data paint a complex and often contradictory picture and once again the information is often aggregated with data on other minority ethnic children. Brophy et al.s (2003) study, which separated data on different minority ethnic families, highlights an increase complexity in the cases involving African children and found that many involved ‘multiple concerns and allegations about parental behaviour. Arguably, there are a number of contributory factors which could be perceived as important in understanding the involvement of West African families with social work agencies and the resultant over-representation of their children in public care and in the child protection system. Broadly speaking, these range from poverty and social exclusion, to child abuse and neglect, poor social work assessments and intervention, and overt and covert racism. The Government Policies And Initiatives The Commission for Racial Equalitys submission to the DFES/HM Treasury Joint Policy Review on children and young people identifies a number of shortcomings of some government policy initiatives such as Sure Start (CRE, 2006). As is the case with many other government policy initiatives, it is expected that Sure Start Centres will be responsive to black minority ethnic needs and concerns. The commitment of such policies is questioned when there is ‘no race equality impact assessment of the Childcare Act 2006 and only a brief mention of black ethnic minority families in the ten-year childcare strategy (CRE, 2006, p. 10). Whilst black ethnic monitoring of children in care, in need and on the child protection register now takes place at regional and national levels, there is little evidence that such information is utilized for policy and planning purposes to effect positive change. It is evident that race and welfare policy has been constrained by parochial perspectives which have tended to focus on how to deal with those in the system. For example, the policy and practice debate on ethnicity and substitute family placements diverts attention from preventive services which could help to obviate the admission of minority children into care in the first place. Similarly, preventive methods of intervention with West African families, such as Family Group Conferences, and systemic practice, as well as particular approaches such as kinship care, are less well developed (Broad and Skinner, 2005; Farmer and Moyers, 2005). Chapter Two Poverty, West African Families And Child Proctection Poverty And Child Protection All families and children for whom social work intervention is likely to be needed are also more than most subject to a range of social and economic problems and barriers. One major factor is chronic poverty which is often associated with unemployment or immigration, ethnic minority, or a single parent family. Poverty often goes hand in hand with other disadvantages and obstacles such as poor educational and employment opportunities, poor parenting, and allegations of child abuse cases. Many West African families and children problems are exacerbated by the interaction between socio-economic factors and their individual impairments and family situations. Unemployment levels are very high among West African families, who are also subject to stigma and prejudice on the part of the community. West African families living in the UK without jobs and no access to benefit and/or dependent on benefits find it hard to access credit. Poor children growing up in single-parent families suffer se rious parental disadvantage, which in turn result into social work interventions. Poverty as we all know is not even-handed. The chances of experiencing poverty are far higher with people from West Africa than with white people (Amin Oppenheim 2002). Institutional oppression is suffered by many West African people in many areas including housing ( Amin Oppenheim 2002), employment ( Chakrabarti et al. 2000), welfare state ( Sadiq-Sangster 2001), education and health which not only means that they are more likely to experience poverty and deprivation, but may also make them more susceptible to social work interventions in terms of child protection. Indeed one may expect Black children to be over-represented in child abuse statistics because their families are more open to surveillance as a result of figuring highly among indices of deprivation (Corby 1993, p.69). The relationship between poverty and child abuse has been broadly established (Thobum et al. 1993; Gibbons et al. 2005). Arguments favour the impact of poverty on child abuse shows an increasing number of child protection allegations referred into the system, and second was the proportion of cases leading to social work interventions and/or other forms of services. Numbers entering the system were hard to quantify. Whilst they showed an increase in registrations up to 1991 (Gibbons et al., 1995), no national records had been kept about referrals, and differences in recording practices and interpretation were widespread. Regarding proportional figures, the discussion was on slightly safer ground. A key finding from the 2005 research studies show that a large number of children were entered into the child protection system compared with those who were subject to social welfare procedures. Of a total number of child protection referrals, around 75 per cent were investigated and intervened, 25 per cent were subject to a child protection conference and only 15 per cent had their names placed on the child pr otection register as a result (Gibbons et al., 2005). Consequently, it was argued that the child protection ‘net was picking up too many cases inappropriately. This finding undermines the government aim of keeping children with families and reducing the number of children that enter the child protection register. On the contrast, it is important to consider the effectiveness of the child protection system. Broadly, it seemed to be achieving as much as could be expected in terms of the limited aim of preventing further abuse to identifiable children. There are, however, identifiable shortcomings of the child protection system. Social work interventions appeared to have quite traumatic effects on families (Department of Health, 1995), often generating anxiety and uncertainty for either children or parents, or both (Farmer and Owen, 2005). Poverty And Child Welfare Services Research shows that the poverty experienced by many West African families may be better met through preventative measures rather than child protection ones. Yet despite section 17 of the Children Act 1989, which places a duty on the local authority social workers to provide support for children in need, many social services children and family teams, barely have sufficient resources to meet their duties under child welfare and children looked after. However, unless these issues are tackled, West African families who need support for their children will receive it only when there is an issue of child protection. Furthermore, using socio-economic variables such as poverty as a predictor of high-risk families (Greenland 1997) fails to acknowledge the part prejudice plays for Black people. Consequently, these indicators of child abuse are seen as failings of the individual rather than the product of social inequality (Jones 2004). A number of studies have indicated that most West African families, struggle to bring up their children in conditions of material and emotional adversity (Department of Health, 1995, 2001). For instance West African families cannot take their children on a holiday trip or meet their wishes and wants. Brophy et al.s (2003) study suggests that immigration and asylum issues, combined with financial problems, are likely to be reasons for the increased complexity for social work professionals assessing and intervening child abuse cases involving West African children. The child protection system that exists in Britain will be unfamiliar to many West African families, especially those who recently arrived, as similar state systems do not exist in most West African countries, particularly where socio-economic factors overshadow intra-familial child maltreatment and intervention into child abuse and neglect (Lachman et al., 2002; Pierce and Bozalek, 2004). Brophy et al.s (2003) study conclud es that many black West African parents saw social work assessment and intervention in child welfare cases as a complete anathema and distrust, especially where parents migrate from countries in political turmoil and where there is no existence of child welfare services. There is also concern about the quality of social workers interventions in child abuse cases. For example, it is shown that investigations of alleged child abuse tended to focus on risk assessment rather than assessment leading to social work interventions of the needs of the whole child (Thoburn et al., 2007). In particular, social workers carrying out an investigation might not pick up problems emanating from poverty or social deprivation (Farmer and Owen, 2005). However, at least superficially, social work interventions appear to contrast with section 17 responses, where research reveals high levels of satisfaction amongst parents and children receiving social work services (Colton et al., 1995; Tunstill and Aldg ate, 2000). Thus, if allegations were minor, it was suggested that the costs to families were unacceptably high, and it was by no means clear that interventions, as a social work response, was better or worse than other options. Engaging in social welfare policy addresses low socio-economic status through intervention aimed at promoting social change, while intervention aimed at the poor family or individual addresses poverty at the micro level by helping those in need to develop better coping strategies. The argument that the social work mission of pursuing social change and dealing with poverty cannot be attained by micro practice has been the source of strong and recurrent criticism against the dominance of micro practice in social work although Hugman (2008) questions the truism of this argument (Asquith et al 2005). The relationship between the mission of social work with regard to poverty and the type of social work practised poses a dilemma for social workers. A particular challenge for social work services is how to work to the required standards regarding thresholds for assessment and intervention with West African families with low socio-economic background and to safeguard and promote childrens we lfare (Platt, 2005). Poverty And Parenting Practices The literature suggest that poverty among black West African families affect the life chances of many African children and the capacity of their parents to provide adequate care and this should be considered in social work assessment and interventions involving child abuse cases. The relationship between values and child up bringing patterns illuminates the relationship between socio-economic factors and parenting behaviours (Shor, 2000). Shor (2000) suggests that parents from low social class differ in terms of the values they uphold for their children and this impact on child upbringing. It is also found that there is correlation between black African mothers with low income status using a more authoritarian approach of caring for children than mothers with high income status. Shors (2000) underpin the relationship between values and child-bearing patterns which illuminate the relationship between socio-economic factors and parenting behaviours. He suggests that parents from divers e social class differ in terms of what characteristics they value most for their children and that these differences in value contribute to differences in parenting behaviour. This variation in child-rearing attitudes based on socio-economic variables was underpinned by Shaefer and Edgerton (1995). In order to develop a sensitive knowledge of child abuse, not only across culture but also across socio-economic contexts, it is possible to draw upon knowledge from studies that look at the parenting patterns of black parents with low income. In families it is the children to whom social workers owe the greater duty of care. Children can be clear about what they need. There may be tensions between childrens needs and wishes, parents needs and wishes, the views and wishes of the wider family, of the community, other professionals, and with the requirements of the law, regulation and procedure. Even where the decision is to remove a child from a family the way social workers conduct their business can make a difference. Thus social work has to respond to parental needs- financial and social, for the sake of the children, but may need to abandon them to maintain the primacy of the childs welfare. The consequences of getting the balance wrong in either direction expose both black African children and parents to suffering and pain. Sometimes the nature of the socio-economic issue will demand decisions that appear to undermine that commitment of not putting children at risk of significant harm. Social workers have to take the decision and maintain the commitment. The Government Regulatory Policies And Poverty By the 21st century, there was a growing view that many West African children who were subjects of section 47 investigations were also eligible for services as children in need (section 17 of the 1989 Children Act). Often, such children did not receive these welfare services because of the apparent incident driven focus of child protection services. One way forward in these circumstances was to encourage local authority social work teams to conduct initial assessments, rather than child protection investigations, in borderline cases, with a view to finding less intrusive forms of social work intervention practice that address the wider developmental needs of the child. Procedures supporting such changes were first introduced by local authorities independently, and were subsequently incorporated into government guidance in England, with the expectation that all referrals of children would first be offered an initial assessment except in emergency cases or where it is suspected that a crime has been committed (Department of Health, 1999). Concurrently, a detailed framework was issued regarding the assessment of all children in need (Department of Health, 2000). The now familiar Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families was based on an ecological model of assessment, and included supporting pro formas covering the initial assessment period. Platt, (2000) in his study on refocusing initiative attracted a degree of criticism. For many health and social work professionals, there was concern that serious child protection issues might not receive an adequate response if handled outside child protection procedures (Calder and Hackett, 2003). A key factor here would be whether cases can be switched successfully from family support back into child protection—an issue that has given cause for concern over a number of years (Laming, 2003). Parton (1996) criticized the recommendations of Messages from Research because they ignored the basic socio-economic reality for many families. Furthermore, cu rrent social expectations may support a formal response to allegations of child abuse and neglect. It is thus unreasonable to expect social workers to act alone since to do so runs counter to the dominant view of wider society. The idea that fewer investigations would mean that resources could simply be transferred to family support services is somewhat naive. The resource problems include the provision of social work time, the provision of adequate family support services, and the need to support a period of change and transition. Few would argue that resourcing levels in any of these respects have been adequate (Calder and Hackett, 2003), and the question of resources was sidestepped almost completely by Messages from Research. The difficulties of implementing such changes were highlighted more recently by Cleaver and Walker (2004) in their research on the impact of the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families. The role of the state in these processes was also examined critically by Spratt and Callan (2004). They argued that reductions in numbers of children on the child protection register have been achieved largely as a result of modern governance and measures to promote compliance with performance targets. Whilst these achievements are laudable, they suggest, they may serve to obscure ‘underlying tensions in the relationship between the state and the family. The idea of refocusing has been affected by complex, often competing pressures since the introduction of the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families. Arguably, the death of Victoria Climbià © reinforced a ‘child protection orientation, and may have led, in some areas, to a lowering of the child protection threshold (Laming, 2003). The Laming report, furthermore, draws attention to the professional confusions that arise from the distinctions in practice between sections 17 and 47. In circumstances such as this, the role of the social worker in any changing pattern of provision takes on parti cular importance. Chapter Three Social Work Practices History Of Social Work Practice Social work has its roots in the struggle of society to deal with poverty and the resultant problems. Therefore, social work is intricately linked with the idea of charity work; but must be understood in broader terms. The concept of charity goes back to ancient times, and the practice of providing for the poor has roots in all major world religions (www.globalvision.org. Retrieved on 14/04/2009). The term social work intervention usually describes work undertaken with individuals, families, groups and communities. In this context the term to cover the use of social work knowledge and skills when using it within a social care organisation to facilitate the provision of services and practice consistent with the Codes of Practice and with standards of service and practice, and to promote the social inclusion and life opportunities of people using services. Successful social work includes the capacity to work effectively within organisations and across organisational boundaries. In the vast majority of instances social work intervention is a collective activity not an individual activity whether as social worker employee or an independent social worker. The most common form of methods of social work intervention is Individual or family casework. Here social work is the intervention. It supports the individual or family to identify, and use, their own and their social networks exp erience and expertise as a resource for problems or difficulties may have resulte