Exchange Rate Regime Tendency and Regulations Essay

Exchange Rate Regime Tendency and Regulations - Essay Example These variables affect conditions in the local capital market within emerging markets. It is the obligation of these markets to identify the links between emerging markets and the global markets. They, therefore, deepen local markets in emerging market countries. An international capital market includes all transactions with an international dimension (Woepking, 2007). It represents a number of closely integrated markets. The foreign exchange market is forming a major component of the international capital market. The world’s major financial centers are; Singapore, London, Hong Kong, New York, and Paris. New securities are issued in primary markets while a majority of capital transactions take place in secondary capital markets (AÃŒ rvai, & Heenan, 2008). The spot market involves the sale of goods for cash and their delivery done immediately (Cuthbertson, & Nitzsche, 2001). A futures market involves transactions of goods and their delivery completed on a specified future date (Kline, 2000). Theory offers numerous insights to the possibility of linkages between the exchange rate regime and macroeconomic performance. A country’s exchange rate regime is classified as either â€Å"fixed† or â€Å"floating.† A country that operates a fixed (pegged) exchange rate regime has its exchange rate tied to another country’s currency. This regime is set by the government or central bank of such a country so as to maintain its currency’s value within a narrow band. A floating exchange rate regime is concerned with the demand and supply for a country’s currency relative to other currencies. In such a case, a country’s exchange rate regime is set by the foreign-exchange market (Adams, 2006). Exchange rate regimes have unique characteristics. These characteristics are accompanied by various principle issues.  

The Integrated Solution Limited using the criteria of HKMA quality award program Essay Example for Free

The Integrated Solution Limited using the criteria of HKMA quality award program Essay Q.1: The Integrated Solution Limited (ISL) is a specialist in providing professional quality I.T. solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in HK and southern China. There are several factors leading to the success of ISL today. The remarkable achievement of ISL started with its founder and Managing Director, Dr. Ricky LEUNG. Dr. LEUNG personally had in-depth understanding of the needs of manufactures in HK. He recognised that most of imported packages did not provide enough management information to them and no foreign vendors provided MRP system in HK. That is the gap where ISL successfully comes in. With the strong commitment from Dr. LEUNG, ISL has laid down a companys motto ISL is to build quality people, products and relationships and a mission statement ISL is to provide quality products and services towards better data integration and information management for manufacturers that strive to provide excellent products and services to its customers. In this connection, ISL has been very active in improving its products and services through continuous research, service quality improvements, and the changing needs and requirements of customers. Q2: The remarkable achievement of ISL shows once again that producing world-class quality is ultimately a matter of the heart more than the mind It is companies with such emotional pride in their products and with such heroic hopes for their customers that set the quality standards in every industry around the world said by Larry Farrel of the Farrel Company. Quality management has played a significant role in ISLs success. As mentioned previously, ISL has always commits to become the leader in providing professional quality I.T. solutions for SMEs in Asia Pacific. Quality management has always been their main focus in strategic planning, market positioning, and nearly every aspects. ISLs efforts in quality management has lets them successfully to built up an image of a total solution company with prestige quality, as the leading supplier of manufacturing software in Hong Kong by successfully differentiate it from its competitors, and is fast to become Hong Kongs showpiece in innovation and quality. Actually, Total Quality Management is a strategic weapon, which includes a broad set of processes, which helps ISL to enhance its competitive advantages. It is a basic belief that each day it can become better and that all employees are infected with the enthusiasm and religion of improvement. Thus, it accelerates the continuous improvement in products and services, and overall organizational performance. It also helps to develop a Roadmap to business excellence which has attained significantly higher performance levels, therefore, driven to their overall success. Q3: By applying and receiving the HKMA Award, ISL has achieved the following benefits: 1) Gain Competitive Advantage Sound Reputation Successfully Differentiate from its Competitors: ISL received the HKMA award in 1994 for its dedication to quality improvement and customer services. This awards brings the company public recognition for having achieved outstanding standards of quality and for having make a lasting commitment to the process of quality management. Thus, ISL is able to gain many competitive advantages that lead to its success in the IT industry. It not only helps ISL to successfully differentiate from its competitors, but also accelerates the continuous improvement, and gaining prestige reputation from the market. 2) Professional Productive Work Force by Empowerment, Teamwork, Recognition Training : Being a successful company, human resources, is definitely one of the most valuable resources.. ISL understands that keeping the staff growth means keeping the company growth. So, the Human resources development is also one of the focuses in companys strategic planning. As quality management lets ISL to realize the important of empowerment and teamwork, therefore, when ISL recruits new employee, they will measure their ability of teamwork, potential for growth and quality awareness instead of measuring their technical skill only. For the existing employee, ISL also encourage for their involvement. For example, they will have a regular meeting where all employees are welcome to give their own suggestion and opinions. Moreover, the company always tries to strengthen staffs technical skill and quality awareness through various training or seminar from outside experts. Furthermore, the company also empowers the employee and gives special awards to well-performed staff in order to enhance the employee satisfaction. All these efforts helps ISL to achieve outstanding operational results, such as improve in punctuality, reduce absenteeism due to sickness, lower staff turnover rate, faster technical support response time, better trainer quality, higher maintenance incomes, and faster invoice processing time, etc. 3) Clear Strategic Planning and Leadership : By applying and receiving the HKMA awards, ISL has benefits from a very clear strategic planning and leadership. It lets Dr. Leung, the company leader, to aware of the importance of quality, but also pushes him to make some changes in ISL in order to enforce the quality enhancement, such as restructured the company units to a supportive organization structure, and to form a Quality Committee from senior management to co-ordinate and organize quality efforts. Moreover, the HKMA award program ensures ISL to have a very clear goal in quality and performance. For example, at the beginning of each year, ISL undergoes an annual Extensive Strategic Planning Process to plan for the goal and the actions of the current year base on the customer and staff satisfaction and economic factors. It helps ISL to continuously improving in its quality of services and products and leads to its success. 4) Enhance Customer Satisfaction by Customer Focus : ISL has realized that customer satisfaction and a good reputation for quality are vital to the companys survival. Therefore, it uses many marketing tools such as Product Life Cycle (PLC), Product Space Map and GAP analysis to determine market opportunities, segmentation, moving trends and the market position of its product. It helps ISL to be more efficient and be able to continue to understand more about its customers needs and requirements and improve its product and services in order to improve its market position. For example, the amount of repeat sales has grow from 4% to 23% of the total sales from 1992 to 1994. This rapid grow in repeat sales demonstrates that the customer satisfaction of ISL has been improved, and there is pro-active account management and development of long-term relationships with customers in ISL. 5) Profit Maximization and Cost Efficiency : Quality management also benefits ISL financially by maximizing its profits and lets it spends its cost more efficiency. During the eight years before the company applied for the HKMA award, ISLs annual sales grow rapidly. For example, the annual growth rates were 50% or above throughout the period from 1987 to 1994. Besides that, since the company embarked on the TQM programme, profitability has also improved. Moreover, the improvement in various aspects, such as the production process, lets ISL to spend its cost more efficiency. 6) Accelerate Continuous Improvement : The HKMA helps to accelerate the improvement efforts. It helped to set a pace for the quality improvement efforts. It created an accountability that moved the organization faster and further than it could have done on their own. For example, concerning the product improvements, ISL is constantly upgrading it products and services. It also has to keep up its product development programme in order to maintain its competitiveness in the marketplace. Besides that, it also engaged in improving the quality of its internal operations in order to improve in its process. These help to demonstrate ISLs efforts to accelerate its improvement continuously. Q.4: The strengths and weaknesses of ISL in the current competitive environment are as follows: 1) Leadership : * Dr. LEUNG has strongly commitment in promoting quality/products to the industry and to the ISL. For the industry, seminars and articles on Quality Management given by Dr. LEUNG not only educate the public, but also act as outside pressure to push ISL to improve its quality. For the company, he has laid down a companys motto and mission statement stressing on quality products/services to its customers. * Furthermore, a quality committee chaired by Dr. LEUNG has been established to co-ordinate company-wide efforts on quality improvement. The terms of reference for the committee are specified, which includes setting up companys quality standards, developing long- to short-term quality plans, monitoring quality implementation progresses, tackling customer issues, and so froth. * ISL in 1994 established a 3 levels supportive organization structure including front line staff, managers and top management. This organizational structure provides a supportive skeleton from one level to another so as to facilitate the performance of subordinates. ISL also formed the RD Department focusing on product direction and acting as the catalyst for quality improvement. ? Although Dr. LEUNG from time-to-time participates in public activities, ISL itself and other senior staff have not paid much attention to address their public responsibilities and citizenship. 2) Strategy Planning : * To improve product/services quality, ISL has introduced an annual Extensive Strategic Planning Process. At the beginning of each year, the Quality Committee meets externally to examine customer satisfaction and review/access impacts from environmental factors, and internally to motive and satisfy ISL staff and minimize waste and unproductive work. ISL also has set up 5 quality and performance goals, including Product Leadership, Quality Leadership, Consultancy, Implementation and Technical Support. ? Human resources plan has not considered. Key performance indicators are also not considered for tracking the progress of action plan, not to say projecting organizations future performance. 3) Customer and Market Focus : * ISL has adopted a number of marketing tools such as Product Life Cycle, Product Space Map and Gap analysis to determine market opportunities, segmentation, trends and the market position of its product. To collect information from customers, departments of TS and Sales Marketing have constantly contact and visits their customers with the aim to explore possible areas for improving its products and services. ? Mechanism has not formulated to handle customers complaints promptly and effectively. ISL should group all complaints together and analyze it for further improvement. Moreover, ISL should obtain and analyze information and customer satisfaction about their competitors for benchmarks. 4) Information and Analysis : * ISL has introduced an integrated management system, PURSUIT, for its operational processes. A SQL tool, FLEXQL is employed to extract data to generate ad-hoc or routine management reports for the departments of Sales, TS and RD. To effectively use the data, the management adopt the concept of Management-By-Facts and, wherever practicable, make decisions on a factual basis. * Key performance has been constantly communicated to ISL staff, its customers and suppliers via a wide range of communication channels; Internally ISL rely on weekly colloquium, monthly staff newsletter, departmental meetings, annual report, display boards and emails, while externally they rely on user newsletters, press releases, customer visits and customer surveys. ? A system for ensuring the accuracy, reliability and security of data and information has not in place. 5) Human Resource Focus : * The management of ISL in 1994 recognized that exchanges of experience and information among staff and managers were informal, and tasks and functions were mainly performed by a single person. In this regard, ISL has introduced a daily Japanese-style morning meeting for reporting work progress, planning of the schedule, seeking assistance from colleagues with relevant experience, and presenting a topic by members on a rotation basis with assessment. Besides, ISL launches a program, Quality in Action (QIA), which based on facts and data and empowered its staff to respond quickly to customer needs. * All suitable candidates have had at least 2 interviews to judge their competence in interpersonal skills, quality awareness, and so on forth. In addition, TS and the 3D development departments have a work rotation scheme to ensure that everyone receives a mix of job functions. * ISL provides a company colloquium with attendance of all staff on every Friday morning for brainstorming, team building and training of theories, concepts and tools in quality management. Departmental meeting is another place where customer and operational issues can be resolved. Group sessions are also organized for sharing experiences and new ideas. * ISL sends staff to external training courses and provides an annual HK$6,000 education allowance to each employee for job-related external training courses. * ISL has put a system in place to maintain a high level of staff morale. The system consists of communicating changes with feedback, making use the companys supportive organizational structure, coordinating with top managements direction, and providing counseling and mediation. ISL also has a Social Welfare Committee responsible for organization of key annual events. Furthermore, the company put a smoke-free working environment policy in force. * Three front line departments have its own incentive scheme. Employees have an annual appraisal to determine their pay. Special awards would be given to those who have exceptional performance. ? ISL not places much attention on providing assessment methods or measures, like upward appraisal, to determine employees well-being and satisfaction. The company shall also consider formulating a system to ensure safety and health of employees at work. 6) Process Management : * ISL emphasizes the quality of its development process. All software projects are headed by senior software staff and developed in accordance with a software engineering cycle. Moreover, ISL follows the best practice guidelines in the industry by allocating sufficient time and effort for System Analysis and Final Testing stages. To meet customers special needs, ISD also offers a tailor-made software service and develops User Manuals, Technical Manuals, Implementation Guide, and Training Notes Exercises, and provides Customer Training Programme and Implementation Consultancy Services. * To promulgate continuous improvement, ISL regularly upgrades its products and services based on the feedback from listening to customers, getting in touch with the marketplace, and valuing input from staff. * ISL acts as a value-added reseller by organizing marketing and education event, meeting with vendors, and dealing of hardware purchases. 7) Business Results : * ISL has established a series of services and indicators to focus on customers; Firstly, hotline support logging system has been introduced to gauge the performance of technical hotline support. Secondly, ISL offers a one-day training programme to its customers. Trainees request to evaluate and give feedback for the effectiveness of programme. Thirdly, ISL measures the percentage of purchasing maintenance service and maintenance income to reflect the satisfaction of customers. Finally, ISL conducts full-scale customer satisfaction survey to assess the strengths and weakness of its operation. * ISL tracks its annual sales, profitability, amount of repeat sales and number of installation sites to measure the results of company and quality and customer satisfactions of customers. * ISL measures punctuality, absenteeism, staff turnover rate to evaluate staff morale and work attitude. All these indicators move positively since its inception. ? Although ISL has successfully boosted its sales revenue by 50% annually from 87 to 94 with exception of 93, the net profit margin does not grow as much as the sales revenue. It also noticed that the percentage of increment of the sales revenue has been declined from 95 to 97, as compared with the annual growth from 87 to 94. Q. 5: With the limitation of resources available to ISL, we are of a view that ISL should concrete their efforts to target on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in both Hong Kong and southern China. ISL should modify its existing products to suit the special needs of the largest manufacturing sectors in Hong Kong and southern China. (i.e.: Toys, Garment, and Electronic Industries.) 1) Products : Looking ahead, the following products should be provided by ISL to its client. As there is a growing trend for user-friendly software, a new software system with Window/Novell/Web-based application will become a potential product of ISL. In addition, with the growing connection between Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, industrial undertakings headquartered in Hong Kong and with manufacturing plants scattered in Mainland China are on the increase. Coupled with this growth, there is an increasing need for such undertaking having an integrated computer system. Development of an effective communication system that facilitates the connection and communication between offices at different locations will be a potential product for ISL. Furthermore, ISL should explore the feasibility of developing an ERP and Global supply chain management software in collaboration with QAD. As QAD has experience in developing such product, it may reduce the product development time and help ISL stay in the forefront and keep in pace with the logistics business proposed in Hong Kong. 2) Services : On top of its current services, ISL should provide free software to academic institutions for education and promotion purposes. ISL may also provide free-trial software with limited effective date and authority to potential customers and existing customers for evaluation and promotion purposes. Besides that, ISL may regularly organize free training courses to their potential users or customers. Q. 6: As more and more aggressive competitors (e.g. SAP, MPIX, Minx Symix) have launched their businesses in Hong Kong and China, ISL should consider the following actions to further improve their quality or services to its customers. Firstly, it should pursue China market by more empowerment and participating in joint venture or co-operation programmes with China firms. It helps ISL increase/improve its cash flow, distribution channel and technology. Secondly, it should further improve their software systems in order to maintain their market position. It is noteworthy that some features / functions of ISLs software systems are far from satisfactory as compared with similar products offered by their competitors. The limited power of Envision is a good illustration of this. Thirdly, by means of joint venture, ISL should exchange their technical skill with foreign companies. It also allows ISL to exchange its stock shares with various companies for improving cash flow within the company. Fourthly, in addition to its cooperation programmes with the City University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Productivity Council, ISL shall extend it to various Universities in China. As these institutions have first-hand and in-depth understanding of the needs in China, such cooperation programmes not only help ISL develop its products but also can be their executive arms to disturb new software systems to China. Finally, ISL should set up a website to introduce their company background and new products to all visitors (potential customers) and existing customers. It can also build up FAQ (Frequently asked Questions) to help existing customers to solve common problems. Moreover, as a means of advertising, it can let more people to recognize ISL throughout the world.

Definition And History Of Foster Care Social Work Essay

Definition And History Of Foster Care Social Work Essay New World Enclopedia (2012) defines foster care as full-time substitute care of children outside their own home by people other than their biological or adoptive parents or legal guardians.] History of foster care Placement of children in foster homes is a concept which goes as far back as the Old Testament, which refers to caring for dependent children as a duty under law. Early Christian church records indicate orphaned children lived with widows who were paid by the church. English Poor Laws in the 1500s allowed the placement of poor children into indentured service until they became adults. This practice was imported to the United States and was the beginning of placing children into foster homes. [1] The most significant record of fostering was in 1853, a child was removed from a workhouse in Cheshire and placed in a foster family under the legal care of the local government.At the beginning of the 1900s only orphaned or abandoned children under the age of 11 years were fostered, and they had to have a demanding psychological profile well adjusted, obedient and physically normal. Until World War II, foster care was recognized as a charitable service. Two important events that pushed the state to look at the foster care system in a different angle was the first mass evacuation of millions of children and then the death of a child in a foster care in 1945. In 1969 research was carried out on the foster care system and it was found that foster families required training on how to deal with the foster children and make them fill secure in the placement. (Jeune Guishard-Pine, 2007) Foster care as a global concept Foster care is probably the most widely practised form of substitute care for children world-wide, depending on the needs of the child, the culture and the system in place. There are many different kinds of fostering and definitions of foster care vary internationally. It can be short -term, a matter of days ,or a child whole childhood. A review of foster care in Twenty-two countries found considerable diversity in the way of fostering in both defined and practised.(Hannah Johnson, 2005).Kinship foster care ,which is the most common form of fostering in African countries is not defined as foster care in all countries. In Ireland for example only children placed with no relatives are said to be fostered. In some countries foster care is seen only as a temporary arrangement ,whereas in others the norms is for long term and quasi adoptive placement.(Colton William ,1995) Hannah Johnson (2005) stated that the process to be registered as foster parents in different countries such as U.K , Australia, Uganda and South Africa is practically the same. In some countries foster care programme is managed either by the government or agency, and each country has their basic criteria that need to be fulfilled ,such as being physically and mentally fit and healthy, having a room for the child ,having time to spend with the child .The process to be registered as foster families can take approximately six months. Individuals who are willing to become foster families must make their applications to the agency. A home study is conducted by a social worker to assess the capability of the applicants for taking care of a child. The assessment form is then forwarded to the final panel who will decide whether the applicants are fit to become foster carers. Placement in Foster care According to zuravin Deponfilis (1997) children are removed from their homes to protect them from immediate abuses. In many situations, these children have suffered physical, sexual abuse, or neglect at home, and therefore they are placed in a safe environment. A small percentage of children are in foster care because their parents feel unable to control them, and their behaviour may have led to delinquency or fear of harm to others. Some children have been neglected by their parents or legal guardians, or have parents or legal guardians who are unable to take care of them because of substance abuse, incarceration, or mental health problems. These children are then placed into foster care until the parents or guardians are capable of looking after them.[1] In all foster care cases, the childs biological or adoptive parents, or other legal guardians, temporarily give up legal custody of the child. (The guardian gives up custody, but not necessarily legal guardianship.) A child may be placed in foster care with the parents consent. In a clear case of abuse or neglect, a court can order a child into foster care without the parents or guardians consent. Before any placement the foster care family is screened by the Government or agency through a psychologist or social worker that assess the foster care families under certain criteria such as emotional stability, motivation, parental skills and financial capabilities.[2] The government provides foster families with an allocation taking in foster children. They are required to use the funds to buy the childs food, clothing, school supplies, and other incidentals. Most of the foster parents responsibilities toward the foster child are clearly defined in a legal contract. Foster placements may last for a single day or several weeks; some continue for years. If the parents give up their rights permanently, or their rights to their child are severed by the court, the foster family may adopt the foster child or the child may be placed for adoption by strangers.[3] The Aim of Foster Care System According to Hayden (1999), the aim of foster care system is to protect and endorse the security of the child, while providing foster parents and biological parents with the sufficient resources and available services needed to maintain the childs healthy development. Foster care environments are proposed to be places of safety and comfort, and are monitored by several welfare agencies, representatives, and caseworkers. Personal caseworkers assigned to a foster child by the state or county are accountable for supervising the placement of the child into an appropriate foster care system or home. The caseworker also carries out regular visits to the foster care family home to monitor progress. Other agents involved in a childs placement into foster care may include private service providers, welfare agencies, insurance agents, psychologists, and substance abuse counselors. Types of Foster Care Parents may voluntarily place children into foster care for various reasons. Such foster placements are monitored until the biological family can provide appropriate care for the child, or the biological parental rights are terminated and the child is adopted. A third option, known as guardianship, is sometimes utilized in certain cases where a child cannot be reunified with their birth family and adoption is not a suitable solution. This generally includes some older foster children who may be strongly bonded to their family of origin and unwilling to pursue adoption. Voluntary foster care may be utilized in circumstances where a parent is unable or unwilling to care for a child; a child may have behavioural or psychological problems requiring specialized treatment, or the parent might have a problem which results in a temporary or permanent inability to care for the child. Involuntary foster care is implemented when a child is removed from their caregiver for his or her own personal safety. A foster parent receives monetary reimbursement from the placement agency for each foster child while the child is in his or her home to help cover the cost of meeting the childs needs (Dorsey et al 2008) stated that in many countries ,most of the children enter the foster care system due to neglect. Children may join the foster care system via Voluntary or involuntary means. Voluntary placement may happen when the biological parents are facing difficulties to take care of the child. Involuntary placement occurs when the child is being at risk under the care of the biological parents. Adoption and Foster Care Reporting System recorded , different types of fostering such as: (i) Foster family home, relative A licensed or unlicensed home of the childs relatives regarded by the state as a foster care living arrangement for the child. (ii) Foster family home, non-relative A licensed foster family home regarded by the state as a foster care living arrangement. (iii)Group home or Institution A group home is a licensed or approved home providing 24-hour care for children in a small group setting that generally has from 7 to twelve children. An Institution is a facility operated by a public or private agency and providing 24-hour care and/or treatment for children who require separation from their own homes and group living experience. These facilities may include child care institutions, residential treatment facilities, or maternity homes. Problems in Foster Care System [1]Foster children face a number of problems both within and outside the foster care system. Foster children are more vulnerable to neglect, abuse, family dysfunction, poverty, and severe psychological conditions. The trauma caused to a child when removed from their home is also severe and may cause depression, anger, and confusion. Studies have shown that psychological conditions of abused and neglected children are required to improve when placed in foster care, however the separation from their biological parents causing traumatic effect on the child. Children with histories of maltreatment, such as physical and psychological neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse, are often at risk of developing severe psychiatric problems and may be described as experiencing trauma-attachment problems. The trauma experienced may be the result of abuse or neglect, inflicted by a primary caregiver, which disrupts the normal development of secure attachment. Associated Problems with Foster Care Child In long term the foster care children suffer from psychological, cognitive and epigenetic effects. The Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study on foster care children showed that foster care children, were found to have double the incidence of depression, and were found to have a higher rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than combat veterans. Tarren-Sweeny (2010) reported that Children in foster care have a higher probability of having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and deficits in executive functioning, anxiety as well as other developmental problems. Neurodevelopmental Disorder A neurodevelopmental disorder is an impairment of the growth and development of the brain or central nervous system. It refers to a brain disorder of brain function that affects emotion,learning ability and memory and that unfolds as the individual grows. Most foster care children are placed in foster care families at a very young age which is a critical period for the children as the development of mental and psychological processes occur during early childhood. According to kristen Rollins, the human brain does not develop fully until the age of 25, and one of the most critical periods of brain development occurs in the first 3-4 years. Therefore, the human brain is influenced by negative environmental factors such as emotional neglect, poor nutrition and exposure to violence in the home and any type of abuses. The study by McCrory E et al ( 2010) states that the negative environmental factors influences all areas of neurodevelopment: neurogenesis (creation of new neurons), apoptosis (death and reabsorption of neurons), migration (of neurons to different regions of the brain), synaptogenesis (creation of synapses), synaptic sculpturing (determining the make-up of the synapse), arborization (the growth of dendritic connections, myelinzation (protective covering of neurons), and an enlargement of the brains ventricles, which can cause cortical atrophy including decreased activity of the prefrontal cortex. Harden BJ (2004) reports that Foster children have elevated levels of cortisol, a stress hormone in comparison to children raised by their biological parents. Elevated cortisol levels can decrease the immune system. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) According to Dubber (1999) 60% of children in foster care who were sexually abused had post traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD). 18% of children who were not abused faced PTSD just by witnessing violence at home. These children then suffer from intrusive memories, flashbacks, avoidance, and psychological and physiological reactivity. Eating Disorders Eating disorders refer to a group of conditions defined by abnormal eating habits that may involve either insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of an individuals physical and mental health. Hudson, JI; Hiripi, E; Pope Jr, HG; Kessler, RC (2007). According to Hadfield Sc (2008), Obesity in all age groups of children has become an increasing concern in recent years. Children in foster care are more prone to become overweight and obese, and in a study done in the United Kingdom, 35% of foster children experienced an increase in Body Mass Index (BMI) once in care. The children also suffer from Food Maintenance Syndrome which is a pattern of excessive eating and food acquisition and maintenance behaviour without concurrent obsesity. The syndrome is said to be caused by stress and maltreatment of foster care children. Tarren-Sweeney (2006) study states that children in foster care also suffer from Food Maintenance Syndrome which is characterized by a set of aberrant eating behaviors of children in foster care. It is a pattern of excessive eating and food acquisition and maintenance behaviors without concurrent obesity; it resembles the behavioral correlates of Hyperphagic Short Stature. It is hypothesised that this syndrome is triggered by the stress and maltreatment foster children are subjected to. Northwest Foster Care Alumini study (2011) reports that Bulimina Nervosa is seven times more prevalent among former foster children than in general population. Epigenetic effects of environment According to Weaver (2004) negative environmental influences, such as maternal deprivation, child abuse and stress have a profound effect on gene expression, including transgenerational epigenetic effects in which physiological and behavioral (intellectual) transfer of information across generations-not-yet-conceived is effected. Neighh GN et al (2009) states that the effects of abuse may be extended beyond the immediate victim into subsequent generations as a consequence of epigenetic effects transmitted directly to offspring. Suicide -Death Rate Charles (1991) states Children in foster care families are at a greater risk of suicide. Children from foster care families as compared to general population have a risk ratio of suicidal attempts of four to five time greater. A study conducted in Finland have indicated that children in foster care have a higher mortality rate compared to the general population due to incidence of acute and chronic medical conditions and developmental delays.(Kalland M,2001) Academic Prospects According to Neild Ruth et al (2006) foster care children tend to underachieve academically with many never completing high school. The children have low concentration in class and perform poorly in exams. Very few children attempt University and obtain a degree. Barriers in foster care System Timing in Placement Children are more prone to experience insecurity in the foster home during the initial phase of placement, especially in the first six to seven months.(Mary Bruce Webb et al, (2010) Peter J Pecora, James K. Whittaker et al,(2010 )suggest that older children experience placement Stability during the initial phase compared to infants. In order to decrease the chances for placement disruption which children normally experience during the initial phase of placement, it is recommended that children develop trust and not feel lost in the system. Characteristics of the Home (Berridge Cleaver, 1987) stated that children have difficulty to adapt in foster home when they are placed with other children who are roughly the same age or if they are placed in foster homes where the foster parents have children of their own. Foster Children placed with other children may feel insecure and start competing for affection and materialistic objects eventually this leads to conflicts in the foster care family. Childrens mental and behavioral health According to J.Gavin Bremner Theodore D.Wachs (2010), Child behaviour problems is among the frequent reason that foster parents request the removal of a child in their care. Children over the age of four (4) are more prone to experience placement instability due to behavioural problems. (Strijker, Zandberg, van der Meulen, 2002) Foster Parent Characteristics Training and support for foster parents are of a paramount importance to avoid children experience disruption in their foster homeFoster parents who have bigger support system such as extended family are more possible to provide a secure placement for the child. .(Walsh Walsh 1990;Redding et al 2000). Furthermore, foster parents who seize suitable hope and understand causes and reason for a childs behaviour is predictive of placement stability.(Butler Charles 1999) Counselling in the Foster Care System Definition of counselling Counselling often described as talking therapy, is a process aimed at providing clients with the time and space to explore their problems, understand their problems, and resolve , or come to terms with their problems, in a confidential setting. The Royal College(2006 a) defines counselling simply as a type of psychotherapy which helps people address and resolve their problems and work through their feelings.(Jan Sutton William stewart ,2008) Counselling involves the development of a relationship between the client and a trained professional that focuses on the clients concerns and difficulties . it is a process in which individuals have the opportunity to improve upon their understanding of themselves ,including their patterns of thoughts ,behaviours ,feelings and the ways in which these may have been problematic in their lives. Counselling is a collaborative effort as it involves the client and the counsellor working together to identify goals. Throughout the counselling process the client is encouraged ,supported and empowered to look at himself/herself from a different perspective . The aim is not only to help the client cope with a current issue of crisis ,but to do so in a way that produces learning for the future ,so that the client can feel more in charge of his/her life.(M.Ravi 2008) 3.4.1 Foster Child Counselling Williams (1994) ,Children in foster care have often suffered abuse, neglect or maltreatment. Trauma will affect children in different ways, depending on age, family support, developmental level and basic temperament. The objective of child counselling (taken from Children and Trauma) include: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The safe release of feeling à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Relief from symptoms and post traumatic behaviors à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Recovery of a sense of mastery and control in life à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Correction of misunderstanding and self blame à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Restoration of a sense of trust in oneself and the future à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Minimizing the scars of trauma à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Development of specific skills or coping tools The Therapy is meant to be a process to work through trauma and help a child understand what has happened to him/her. It also aims to help a child function better in the world around him /her. 3.4.2 Foster Family Counselling (Fernandez Elizabeth, 2010) Therapy does not change family dynamics. Placing a child in therapy will help the child but will not fix the problems in the family. Family counselling offers a better chance at successful family reunification. Nevertheless, steps need to be taken to provide assistance to the child and foster family who are in need of counselling. Thus, counsellors and therapists need to construct a relationship based on mutual trust for the counselling process to begin. According to Silva (1991), to establish therapeutic mutual trust, there need to be the following requirements: Accurate Empathy: The therapist conveys his or her understanding of the childs background and experience; Genuineness: The therapist is as spontaneous, tactful, flexible, and non-defensive as possible; Availability: The therapist is accessible and available (within reason) when needed, and avoids making promises and commitments he or she cannot realistically keep; Respect: This is both gracious and firm, and acknowledges the childs sense of autonomy, control, and responsibility within the therapeutic relationship. Respect is manifested by the therapists general attitude, as well as by certain specific actions Concreteness: Therapy should, at least initially be goal-oriented and have a problem-solving focus. Foster parents are into action and results, and to the extent that it is clinically realistic, the therapeutic approach should emphasise active, problem-solving approaches before tackling more sensitive and complex psychological issues. Counselling Strategies and Techniques Blau (1994) recommends that the first meeting between the therapist and the child establish a safe and comfortable working atmosphere by the therapists articulating : a positive endorsement of the foster parents decision to seek help; a clear description of the therapists responsibilities and limitations with respect to confidentiality and privilege; and Blau (1994) also delineates a number of effective intervention strategies for foster children including the following: Attentive Listening: This includes good eye contact, appropriate body language, and genuine interest, without inappropriate comment or interruption. Empathy: This therapeutic attitude conveys availability, concern, and awareness of the turbulent emotions being experienced by the traumatised children. Reassurance: In acute bahvioural situations, this should take the form of realistically reassuring the child that matters will be taken care of. Supportive Counselling: This includes effective listening, restatement of content, clarification of feelings, and reassurance. In appropriate cases, this therapeutic strategy can stimulate the officer to explore underlying emotional stresses that intensify a naturally stressful traumatic event. In a few cases, this may lead to ongoing psychotherapy (Miller, 2006).

The Joy Luck Club Essay -- Papers Amy Tan Essays

The Joy Luck Club 1. From the film The Joy Luck Club, Chinese girls were supposed to act obedient and respectful to their parents and elders. This included the girls having to abide by each and every Chinese tradition that their parents instilled in them. Girls were also expected to be quiet and considerate to their parents and elders. They were only supposed to speak when spoken to at all times. Acting out against anything their parents enforced upon them was completely unacceptable. 2. Much like to their parents and elders, Chinese girls were supposed to be quiet and obedient to their husbands and mothers-in-law. Girls were supposed to respect, and not openly question the decisions that were made in the household. These women were taught to always ask what the husband wants and to ignore their own wants and needs. Chinese wives were there mainly to provide the mother-in-law with grandsons. 3. Chinese victims of rape were treated with complete disrespect and disbelief. As with the one mother in The Joy Luck Club, she was kicked away by her own family for making such a claim. These rape victims were seen as disrespectful to their families and themselves. One social consequence of claiming rape is that their families shun the women and force them to leave their homes. Secondly, the community shuns them as well. As with the woman in the film, she was denied work and abandoned by her neighbors. She was eventually forced to marry her assailant in order to save her child. 4. One of the main psychological consequences of having the system of many wives and concubines is that not only the husband, but also wives have complete power over each other as in a hierarchical system. As in the film, the secon... ... did not afford her these things, Lindo is being very cautious, often critical, of her daughter and the choices that she has. 10. The daughters in this film struggled with traditional sex roles mainly due to the influence of their mothers. In many cases, the mothers tried desperately hard to encourage their daughters to have power over their lives, be successful, and have a strong self-esteem. This over-encouragement to lead a life that they could not, led many of the daughters to feel inferior because they could not live up to their mother's expectations. In some cases, this led to the daughters getting involved in relationships in which they relied on their husbands for power and support. So in essence, it was their mothers' extremely high hopes for their daughters that led them to feeling inferior as women when these hopes could not be fulfilled.

An A student

So much so that common phrases such as â€Å"An easy ‘A'† and â€Å"An ‘A' for effort† have emerged, while others insist that an â€Å"A† is closer to perfection Han it is to â€Å"a good effort†. Grades are supposed to be a numerical/letter representation of ones academic progress in a course or lesson. But more often than not, good grades become a goal and not a reward; thus students are striving for grades and not the knowledge which they represent. In his article â€Å"Making the Grade†, Kurt Westfield points out that students are often undeserving granted good grades.This allows the same students to graduate with a degree and find a Job, without the actual knowledge needed to strive in their field. Similarly, he then goes on to note that these under-qualified students that are now in the workplace aren't ready for the tasks at hand. Universities are sending students into their careers with the same immediate they had throughout chor eographs, find the quick and easy way to get the Job done. Consequently, Jobs and projects could be done incorrectly or left incomplete. The difference is, though, that when these real world Jobs are incomplete or incorrect, they can create real world problems and difficulties.The grading system was made with the intention that it would accurately reflect a dents performance in a class. It's commonly believed that if a student understands a subject well, they deserve an â€Å"A†. But for a student to actually deserve that grade, they must also complete the entire workload, whether they know they information or not. The grade in the class is determined by the amount of work the student completes correctly, and this is where the controversy starts. Some argue that if a student demonstrates that he/she understands the given subject, he/she should be given a passing grade (whether their work was completed or not).Others argue that if a student truly works their hardest and gives a strong effort in the class, they deserve a passing grade (whether their work was correct or not). At the end of the day though, if searching for a simple â€Å"A† grade in a class, one must be willing to work and study for that class, and complete each assignment with accuracy (easier said than done, of course! ). The source of the problem resides in the earliest years of the school system. Starting from a young age, students are being taught and prepared for the next school year instead of for life.Elementary school students are being prepared for adolescent, meddlesomeness are being prepared for householders, householders for college, etc. Each year of schooling teaches you Just enough to get through the next year. The problem is, though, that by the time the student reaches college he/ she is not ready for life as an adult, only for more school. Meaning that students are going into college with the idea that they need to pass, and not the idea that they need to be prepar ing for their future. Students aren't realizing that what they are learning is essential for their Job until it's too late and they are unable to perform.

Contract Sperm Whales Essay

This agreement is drawn up and signed in Dubai, UAE on the 25 th of April 2012, by and between 1. Jetta Pharmaceuticals Ltd., producer of special medicaments for improving the immune system, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, represented in this matter by its sales director Mr. L. Dziel, hereinafter referred as „seller† and 2. Vegan Perfumes, sole producer of SKY ® perfumes, based in 19 Royce Avenue, Nottingham, United Kingdom, represented in this matter by its sales manager Ms. Sara Zydorczak, hereinafter reffered as „buyer† Whereas: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Jetta Pharmaceuticals Ltd. buys the entire output of Sperm Whales from Whales Hunting Ltd. Jetta Pharmaceuticals Ltd. pays Whales Hunting Ltd. in lump sum. Whales Hunting Ltd. transports 200 Sperm Whales to the new-built warehouse (costs of transport included in output price) From the warehouse organs will be shipped to the both companies headquarters. Vegan Perfumes repays Jetta Pharmaceuticals Ltd. in lump sum (bank account transfer, 72 hours after receiving the e-mail address will all needed data). All prices are expressed in American dollars ($). The parties agree as follows: 1. 2. 3. The Quantity of the Sperm Whales, which will be bought from Whales Hunting Ltd. The initial price of mammals bought from Whales Hunting Ltd. by Jetta Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Building the new warehouse where the whales will be stored and eviscerated. The work will be outsourced to the local company. 4. 5. 6. Creating the new limited liability company „Whales Medicaments & Perfumes†. Founding a charity organisation „Sea forever†. Details, which are connected with the transaction (transport, custom duty, etc.) Negotiated issues: Price: †¢ The Price includes all taxes and costs of transport – first from Whales Hunting Ltd. headquarters to the warehouse and then to Malaysia and to the United Kingdom †¢ Currency: $ (US dollars) Details: Jetta Pharmaceuticals Ltd. buys the entire yearly output of Sperm Whales from Whales Hnting Ltd. The date of the transaction is 25th April 2012 Price: $ 25.000 per Sperm Whale Output: 200 Sperm Whales Amount of money: $ 5.000.000 Jetta Pharmaceuticals Ltd. pays $ 5.000.000 and after receiving the money Whales Hunting Ltd. transports 200 Sperm Whales to the new warehouse which location will be send in the e-mail after transfering money to the given bank account. From the warehouse organs needed by Jetta Pharmaceuticals Ltd. will be send to Malaysia and organs needed by Vegan Perfums will be send to the United Kingdom. The eviscerated mammals will be sold to the museums in Australia, New Zealand and another countries. The money from this sales will be transfered to the special 2 bank account created for the new charity organisation „Sea forever†. The activity of „Sea forever† will be descripted in another contract signed during the first visit in the new warehouse. The Import Licence is the Buyer’s responsibility, if required. If the Buyer fails to obtain the Import Licence, the Seller has the right to terminate the present contract. The deadline of this transaction depends on the day when the new warehouse will be built and the work outsourced to the local company. Payment terms: Form of payment: money transfer to the bank account Time of effecting the payment: 72 hours Goods: The cases from 200 Sperm Whales – sent to Malaysia Ambergis from 200 Sperm Whales – sent to the United Kingdom 200 eviscerated Sperm Whales – left in the warehouse until bought by museums or private collectors Packaging: Containers suited to the transportation of organic matter Warranty: The transport company is responsible for deli vering the products Type of transport: first two – planes, eviscerated mammals – container ships Place: Transport to Malaysia and the United Kingdom, in the future another directions Costs of the transport: All costs of transportation included in Transaction Price. The seller is obligated to cover all additional costs if necessary. Time range of a contract: This contract come into force within 7 days after it is signed. The contract terminates when the parties decide. Force Majeure: natural disasters, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, wars, riots or other major upheaval, government restictions, UN or EU restrictions, performance failures of parties outside the control of the contracting party (subcontractors, suppliers, carriers, outsourced company, company building the warehouse) Applicable law: This contract shall be governed by and constructed according to New Zealand law Disputes: Any disputes, controversies or claims between the parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be enforceable and judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in the state court of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, having jurisdiction. The parties will have rights to enter state courts in case of strong disagreement with the judgment of the arbitration court.