Patient Centred Care in the NHS

Patient Centred Care in the NHS Introduction The NHS is a large multi-functioning health care service that deals with over 1 million patients every 36 hours1. The NHS sets out to provide quality health care which include three important parts; Clinical efficiency, patient safety and patient experience2 . The need for even greater quality health care in the NHS saw a shift in focus towards a more patient centric NHS3. This is because they believe a patient centric care, care that encompasses the patients’ needs and values and allowing this to shape and guide all clinical decisions4, will allow for a better quality of health care. This essay will explore how patient centric the NHS really is in terms of the different departments it encompasses, policies, laws and overall patient satisfaction. It will also investigate whether there are certain areas that the NHS needs to improve in terms of patient centric care and exploring if this is the case how to do so. Departments The NHS is made up of many departments and collaborates with a wide range of organisations such as the National Institute for Health &. Clinical Excellence (NICE)5. The structure can be described as complex and can cause confusion for patients trying to access these services6. In addition the complex structure makes the health care provided by these, less efficient and effective in the health services they are providing; and brings about questions of who is really responsible for the care of the patients7-10 In 2014 the NHS released the Five Year Forward View2, which outlines planned improvements for various areas of the NHS. Since the five year forward view plan was released, there has been a focus of new models and an increased focus on integrated care7. This emphases a more holistic approach to health care and looks to encompass all services11. Integrated care sets out to bring together a range of services so that all aspects of the patients’ needs are more closely met11. One of the new care models, called Vanguards has been set up around the country12. Vanguards aims to trial new integrated care methods which were presented in the five year forward view. Some of these new integrated care methods include Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships (STPS)13 and Accountability Care Systems (ACS)14. STPs are there to help organizations including GPs, hospitals, local authorities to work together and have unified services for the most vulnerable13. ACS’ have been developed to co-ordinate services under a set budget for organisations outside the NHS that impact health, this includes working with housing and social care organisations to create accountable care to assure that patients needs are being met7. Quality Surveillance groups (QSGs) identifies risks to patients in terms of quality and safety of the health care being received from the NHS and associated organisations acts as safeguarders15. This creates accountability for those providing health care services to the public. One individual organization within QSG is Care Quality Commission (CQCs). CQCs regulates the health and social care act, directly relating to patient centric care within the NHS as   regulation act 9 with this act says that providers must take action to make sure every individual has access to personal care treatment16. If this not being provided the CQC can take regulatory action, this provides further evidence that the NHS is patient centric as they are constantly monitoring the quality of patient care. Another QSG group is the clinical commission group (CCGs) this group, led by GPs commissions services on the behalf of the NHS, works to improve the health of the population in their area. CCGs are important because they allow the clinicians (GPs) that have knowledge on the needs of that particular area to provide the required healthcare services17. An example of this is the provision of integrated care within Oldham to provide a budget for vulnerable people to have fuel in the winter18. Although CCGs have been widely successful in terms of some of the services its commissioned, 19 one year after the creation of CCGs, a report commissioned by King’s Fund and Nuffield trust saw that less than half of GPs felt that CCGs reflects their views20. This report questions the patient centrism of CCGs as one of the reasons that CCGs are led by GPs is that they’ll have a better understanding of the patients’ needs in that area21, if GPs are not being consulted then this could also lead to less patient centered services. Furthermore, CCGs recently have had to make difficult decisions which have led protests from the public. One such decision is the closure of   Accidents and Emergency’s across the country22. CCG have decided these   A &E’s are unsustainable and are creating a larger deficit than necessary23. This has led to dissatisfaction from the public and feeling like their voices in regard to this matter is not being heard 24   .This goes against patient centered care, which is there to involve the patient in every step of care1. However, this is only one issue, overall the CCGs are a step in the right direction toward a more patient focused health care services for the NHS. With further consideration of GPs and the public views the CCGs can become an effective tool for building a patient centric health system. Policies and Legislation There are several laws in place that are there to protect the patient but also to put the patient at the forefront of every clinical decision that is made in the NHS. The health and Social Care Act 201225 allowed for the patients to be more involved in their care on every level. It does this by allowing patients support to manage their health in their everyday lives, it also gives them control over the care that they are receiving and also treating each patient as an individual with an individual circumstance25. In addition, this Act allowed for the establishment of Healthwatch England which will provide crucial information to the CQC on the opinions of the patients using their service26. To a certain degree this has been successful as Healthwatch England has published 1450 reports as of 201627 and has worked with local health ministers and the public to implement the care that is wanted by the patient. They have also worked closely together with CQC to provide information on which health services in which area need to improve28. However, they have only engaged 385,000 people28 to find out their view. Although this seems like a large sample the total amount of outpatients the NHS had in 2015/2016 was 89.436 million people29 and so this is a relatively small sample of the people treated by the NHS views which are being heard and so those which have the most need for improvement in the health care services may not be heard. Other legislation which provides the case of a patient centric NHS includes the Social Value Act30, This encourages commissioners of public services to think about how the services will benefit the public. The use of the Social Value Act in policy and practice can only be clearly shown by 13% of the CCGsand 43% of CCGshad no policy or were in the process of making a policy on the Social Value Act31.To improve to become more patient centric, the Social Value Act could be implemented on a wide scale basis into main policy of NHS England but also within the framework of QGS`. In addition to the previous laws, The Equality Act32, which protects patients from discrimination and permits them to get quality health care, also helps a patient centered NHS. It Allows for every Citizen of England no matter their culture and values to have health care which is free and of quality. These legislations are designed to make the NHS patient centric through creating a patient- NHS relationship free of discrimination and allows for the patient’s values and opinions to be respected. Although there could be some improvement on the implementation such as making sure these laws are practiced this can be done by setting up accountability groups and incentives for healthcare professionals to provide better patient centered care, these laws go a long way in making the patient the focus of the NHS healthcare33 Patient Survey Patient experience has been seen as vital to the care provided by the NHS34. Listening and taking action on a patients’ feedback about their experiences of health care is seen as critical to making sure that care within the NHS is centered around the person35. patient reported information can be described as Information which comes from the patient or family and Carers as an account or through surveys36. There has been increase in the number of surveys carried out by the NHS but have found that GPs were resistant to feedback which was to do with the patient or was dismissive questioning the validity of the report37. However there have been positive reports on services attempting to improve due to feedback from Patients38. This Creates a more patient centered NHS as they are listening to the feedback and taking action to it, meaning the views and experiences of the patient are valued.   Conclusion To conclude, The NHS has had a shift in view towards a more patient centric NHS, this can be seen as widely successful due to the policies and legislation its placed but also different quality surveillance groups and the listening of patients’ feedback. Although some improvement could be made in terms of CCGs and a straight forward pathway for the patient, the NHS can be seen as patient centric. Reference List 1. Department of Health. Chief Executive’s report to the NHS: December 2005. 272002. Department of Health, 2005. 2. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20080728140415/http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4124276. Accessed 26th October 2017 3. NHS. Next Steps On The NHS Five Year Forward View. 06669. NHS. 2017. https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/next-steps-on-the-nhs-five-year-forward-view/ Accessed 26th October 2017. 3. The Rt Hon J. Hunt. Making healthcare more human-centred and not system-centred. GOV.co.uk. 2015. https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/making-healthcare-more-human-centred-and-not-system-centred Accessed 26th October 2017 4. Institute of Medicine. Committee on Quality of Health Care in America. Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2001. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK222262/ Accessed 26th October 5. National Health Service (NHS). Putting Patients First: The NHS England Business Plan for 2013/14 2015/16.   England. 2013. http://www.thehealthwell.info/node/454557 Accessed 5th November,2017 6. Bamford, David  and  Daniel, Stephen  A case study of change management effectiveness within the NHS. Journal of Change Management, (2005).   5 (4). pp. 391-406. ISSN 1469-7017. 7)  Ã‚  Ã‚   Kings fund, Creative connection. How does the NHS in England work? An alternative guide Kings Fund, 2017 https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/audio-video/how-does-nhs-in-england-workï » ¿Accessed 5th November 2017 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚   HJarmon. The new NHS structure is unstable.HSJ. 2014https://www.hsj.co.uk/comment/the-new-nhs-structure-is-unstable/5067897.article Accessed 5th NovemberDayan M. who is accountable in the NHS?. Nuffield Trust. 2016. 9. https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/who-is-accountable-in-the-nhs Accessed 5th November 10.   NHS. Challenging bureaucracy. England. 2013. NHS. http://www.nhsconfed.org/~/media/Confederation/Files/Publications/Documents/challenging-bureaucracy.pdf Accessed 5th November 11.   Department of Health. Integrated Care: Our Shared Commitment. England. NHS. 2013. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/integrated-care Accessed 8th November 12. Williams. NHS England reveals new care model vanguard. HSJ. 2015.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   https://www.hsj.co.uk/topics/service-design/nhs-england-reveals-new-care-model-vanguard/5083135.article Accessed 8th November 13. N. Laccobucci. Community hospitals: still a viable option? BMJ.2017. 358 :j3581 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j3581. Accessed 8th November 14. T. Moberly. Accountable care systems and accountable care organisations in the NHS: progress or route to privatisation?, BMJ.2017. 358  :j4105 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j4105   Accessed 8th November 15.   NHS England. Quality Surveilance groups. England. 2017. https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/quality-surveillance-groups-guidance-july-2017.pdf   Accessed 8th November 16. The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 https://www.brad.ac.uk/library/media/library/documents/numeric-referencing-guide-October-2017.pdf Accessed 8th November 17. Kings Fund. An alternative guide to the new NHS in England.. Kings Fund, 2013. https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/nhs-65/alternative-guide-new-nhs-england-2013 Accessed 8th November 18. Oldham CCG. Oldham Affordable Warmth Strategy. 2014 http://committees.oldham.gov.uk/documents/s66368/Affordable%20Warmth%20Progress%20Update.pdf Accessed 8th November 19. NHS Clinical Commissioners. Delivering a healthier future: How CCGs are leading the way on prevention and early diagnosis. 2016. https://www.nhscc.org/policy-briefing/5061/   Accessed 10th November 20.   Kings Fund. One year on, new commissioning groups are an improvement on their predecessors but do not reflect the views of members, say GPs. 2014 https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/press/press-releases/one-year-new-commissioning-groups-are-improvement-their-predecessors-do-not Accessed 10th November. 21. Kings Fund. Clinical Commissioning, GPs in Charge?. Kings Fund and Nuffield Trust. 2016 https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/default/files/field/field_publication_file/Clinical_commissioning_web_pdf.pdf Accessed 10th November 22. G. Newton. Slideshow: Thousands march through Grantham in protest against overnight closure of A&E. Grantham Journal.2017. http://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/news/slideshow-thousands-march-through-grantham-in-protest-against-overnight-closure-of-a-e-1-7839498 Accessed 10th November 23. CCGS. Preconsultation business case.NHS.2016 https://www.calderdaleccg.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Right-Care-Right-Time-Right-Place-pre-consultation-business-case-15-January-2016.pdf Accessed 10th November 24.Robertson. Public Satisfaction with the NHS- 2015. Kings Fund. 2015 https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/public-satisfaction-nhs-2016 Accessed 10th November 25. Health and Social Care Act 2012 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/7/contents/enacted Accessed 11th November 26. Tingle, Kribb. Nursing law and Ethics. Forth Edition. Blackwell Publishing. 2014 27. Health Watch England. Every Voice Matters. 2015-2016. Healthwatch http://www.healthwatch.co.uk/news/every-voice-matters-our-annual-report-parliament-20152016?mc_cid=1f74368018&mc_eid=da5769ac78. Accessed 11th November. 28. NHS. NHS statistics, facts and figures.2017.NHS. http://www.nhsconfed.org/resources/key-statistics-on-the-nhs. Accessed 11th November. 29. 30. Social Value Act.2016. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-value-act-information-and-resources/social-value-act-information-and-resources Accessed 11th November. 31. National Voices. Healthy commissioning: How the Social Value Act is being used by Clinical Commissioning Groups.2017. https://www.nationalvoices.org.uk/publications/our-publications/healthy-commissioning-how-social-value-act-being-used-clinical Accessed 12th November 32. Equality Act 2010. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents Accessed 12th November 33. Department Of Health. The NHS Constitution For England. Government.2015. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england/the-nhs-constitution-for-england. 34.   Department of Health.  High quality care for all: NHS Next Stage Review final report.Stationery Office,  2008.

Retaining Tomorrows Scientists :: Education Learning Gender Essays

Retaining Tomorrow's Scientists I chose to summarize the article "Retaining Tomorrow's Scientists". This article described a study done on differences between men and women enrolled in scientific curriculums in college. It looked at how individual characteristics, experiences, and goals affected a person's success rate in graduating. It also explained why women are not as successful as men in completing their science education. For starters, the study showed that women don't seem to be as interested in math and science courses in school. Studies show that boys and girls show equal capabilities in these courses while in elementary school. Girls, however, don't show much interest in them. Therefore, they take less of these courses in junior and senior high school. This in turn leads to lower rates of women taking these classes at a college level. Because they don't have the basic knowledge of these subjects, they are reluctant to major in scientific areas. Confidence also plays a major part in women choosing a major. By not taking these classes in high school, women feel that they aren't smart enough to select a scientific major. It was shown in this study that "Émath self-confidence is the most influential predictor of women's SAT scores, as well as of their decision to pursue math and science fields in college"(Sax, 46). Another reason that women are reluctant is the so-called "glass ceiling." It has long been known that women earn less than men, and aren't promoted as quickly. This is true in the laboratory as well as the office. Lastly, women are often forced to choose between the workplace and the home. Most scientific jobs demand long days and a lot of travel. Women realize this, and it interferes with their desire to have children and a home. Though men are also affected, it seems to be easier for men to make that choice. As with any scientific study, there are uncontrollable variables. The variables involved in this study were separated into blocks. Individual characteristics were classified as "É race, citizenship, parents' education, family income, religion, SAT scores, high school academic information, high school activities, reasons for coming to college, degree aspirations, life goals, views, personality types, and expectations about college"( Sax, 49). The second set of characteristics dealt with students' intended majors. Since everyone's college experience is so different, scientists had to figure in environmental variables, also. These variables were also classified into blocks. The first dealt with financial aid and living arrangements.

Graffiti Art Essay

In the late 1960s’s, another art genre was recognized and developed although its lack of form and other basic aesthetic elements has been once a topic of debates as regard its acceptance in the artistic world. Obviously, it differs from the works of art found in museums and galleries and its kind are not found in those elite locations because its location is specific. The location of graffiti art has been actually a subject of oppositions as well as its bold, unexpected and unconventional presentation. Although still, its location, may it be illegal, does not disqualify it as art. Thus, graffiti art is a form of art despite criticisms on its legality, coherence and presentation. It is also argued that graffiti art is a form of vandalism, but this is true only if they appeared on private or public property without permission. Graffiti art is indeed another genre of visual masterpiece. Graffiti comes from â€Å"grafficar†, an Italian word for drawings, markings, patterns, scribbles, or messages that are painted, written, or carved on a wall or surface. Graffiti is the plural of grafficar. Grafficar also signifies a process meaning â€Å"to scratch†. Examples of which are different wall writings ranging from â€Å"cave paintings†, bathroom scribbles, or any message that is scratched on walls. In the ancient Egypt and Rome, in particular, graffiti has been visible in monuments and building walls which are now being explored. It is originally used to term inscriptions, figure drawings, and other carvings found on the walls of ancient sepulchers or ruins. Examples are the Catacombs, or those found at Pompeii. (Whitford, 1992. pp. 137) In the modern era, present day graffiti is also associated to any unsolicited markings on a private or public property, usually considered to be vandalism. In the early 1970s young New Yorkers has started to adopt tags, signatures and signs using aerosol sprays and markers in public places. The youngsters, belonging to the black and Puerto Rican communities have initiated the tagging which eventually developed and soon covered the city’s walls, buses and obviously in subway trains. Tags even cover the entire train. Some may contain screen names or reflections of the writer, comes in subtle and often cryptic messages. Taki, an artist of Greek-American descent, was the first modern identified tagger in New York. He signed himself Taki 183, the number probably derived from the number in his apartment block. Some names also made their appearances in some real urban murals painted with spray-paint. Tags such as Futura 2000, Dust and Pink gained fame and recognition in the world of hip-hops. There were also Basquiat and Haring who also started to work in the street and the subway but their works swiftly spread beyond the works of graffiti. Their works attracted the attention of influential dealers which put them in great demand although their works were considered one of the rare forms of graffiti art. (Graffiti†¦ 2007, p. 1) Tagging and graffiti differs from each other although arguments about this difference still arise. Tagging is associated negatively as gang-motivated and illegal because it is usually meant as vandalism. It is also viewed as too vulgar or controversial to have public value. On the other hand, graffiti can be viewed as creative expression, not to mention its usual link to politics. Main Types of Graffiti Art The main types of graffiti fall into different categories and have their own names which are recognized in cities all over the world. First is â€Å"Hip Hop Graffiti†. This is characterized by ‘pieces’ which hip hop graffitists create by aerosol spray paints. They are large and colorful works, usually including either a complex mix of letters or a cartoon-style picture. This type of graffiti often lacks much thought and planning in design and usually takes an extended period of time. Second is the â€Å"Opportunistic Graffiti† which location is selected impulsively, on the basis of low risk and low natural surveillance. Graffitists of this type usually use â€Å"tags† or â€Å"scrawling† to mark their territory. Third type is the â€Å"Gang Graffiti†. Gang graffiti is not art work but a sophisticated communication to publicize gang power, status, and territory. This type is somehow related to opportunistic graffitists because they also use â€Å"tags† or â€Å"scrawling† to mark territory. But in addition to this, gangs use graffiti to create notoriety or show off their defiance of the law and society, and as a mode of marking their presence. The fourth, the â€Å"Political & Social Graffiti† is obviously of racial or political motivation. This is uncommonly regarded as part of the graffiti subculture, although it is recognized as damaging to property. The last type is the â€Å"Commercial Graffiti† which is an emerging civic problem. This involves huge compensations paid by private organizations to graffitists to spray advertising logos onto walkways and buildings for promotions of their products. This type is an illegal form of advertising that avoids normal planning laws. (Stowers 1997, pp. 1-2) Gang Graffiti: The Most Dangerous Graffiti The gang graffiti is the most controversial not just because of the characters of its writings but because of its social impact in the neighborhood. Gang graffiti is an indication of gang presence in the community. Gangs use graffiti as their â€Å"newspapers,† thus they usually call it â€Å"newspaper in the wall† as gangs use them to send messages. This is their way of marking boundaries and warning rival gangs. Graffiti may also be an instrument to advertise drug market or, as a memorial to a killed gang member. Symbols and cryptic writing style is exclusive in each gang. Death warrants and beat downs are known to be posted in graffiti. Upside down or crossed out graffiti generally means a put down or threat to a rival gang or person. (Bland and Read 2000) According to Michael Carlie (2002), graffiti is the most common method of gang communication and a major symbolism of their gang affiliation. Jonathan Kellerman (1994) as cited by Carlie referred to graffiti as â€Å"the hieroglyphics of rage† because of the violence associated with it. On the surface, a person who is not familiar with it might think of graffiti as a simple nonsense painting on the wall or in poles or elsewhere, or just a plain vandal. Carlie adds that among other things, graffiti communicates the â€Å"role call† or the roster of gang members, or the hierarchy of gang members. It also implies who’s around, who’s with who, who’s disrespecting who, which gangs are claiming what territory and which areas are in dispute. It may be an announcement of current gang activities and who’s getting ready to attack who, or who’s already been killed. A familiar language, for example, is the â€Å"X† which if marked on a member’s name means he is the likely target for an attack or murder. (Carlie 2002, pp. 2) An important not on gang graffiti is, in many ways, it is a code and codes in general are subjects to analysis. Deciphering gang graffiti requires the understanding of the symbols, abbreviations, structure, that composes the gang language. In the United States, gang graffiti is usually based on two dominant styles – the L. A. and Chicago styles – which vary greatly and influence to some degree across the country. Some gangs use an exclusive style while others use a combination. For example, the Gangster Disciples originated in south-side of Chicago might combine L. A. style gang lettering with Chicago Folks Nation symbols. In New York, Latin Kings might use Chicago Latin King symbols but with New York tagger style graffiti lettering. (Graffiti†¦ 2010) These styles and some of the variations are seen throughout the country and a person who understands both styles is more likely to understand most, if not all, gang graffiti. Characters of gang related graffiti has sharp, angular stick letters, or mostly contains religious, even â€Å"satanic† imagery, or is done in one color of paint. Most of the times they are very simple and flat-out which make them easy to figure out. But no matter how simple they appear, it still requires some basic code-breaking skills. (Deciphering Gang†¦2010. p. 1) Figure 1: â€Å"WS 18 St, HGS† – West Side Eighteenth Street (gang), Hoover Gangsters (a clique of 18th Street) Two-digit numbers, especially â€Å"13? , â€Å"14? , or â€Å"18? , signifies graffiti for a hispanic gang while three digits, especially if they are the area code of your neighborhood, it’s almost certainly not a hispanic gang, but a typical prison or street sort. Exception to this is numbers followed by â€Å"K† which means a threat from a rival gang. â€Å"WS18? (figure 1) is a tag for the (hispanic) West Side 18th Street gang out of California. â€Å"WS18K† means a threat towards 18th Street by a local gang. Note that â€Å"K† is short for â€Å"Kill†. If there are two digits, see if they’re prefixed by â€Å"N†, â€Å"S†, â€Å"E†, or â€Å"W† – (or â€Å"NS†, â€Å"SS†, â€Å"ES†, or â€Å"WS†) – which relate to the cardinal directions, and form part of the gang’s identity. Hispanic gangs more often use 13 and 14 – the 13th letter of the alphabet is â€Å"M†, which generally stands for â€Å"Mexico† or â€Å"La Eme†, the Mexican Mafia and the 14th letter â€Å"N† generally means â€Å"North† that symbolizes which end of California the gang originated from. It is a division as gangstas from the north and south parts of California frequently clash. Figure 2: â€Å"Lil Capone WS VSLC, crossed out BK, Crossed out PBGK† – Lil Capone (name of gang member) West Side Venice Shoreline Crips, Blood Killer, Playboy Gangster Killer (disrespect to rival gangs) Certain patterns appear without the numbers. As always, â€Å"K† is a threat to â€Å"(K)ill†, as are any crossed-out letters. â€Å"A† as in â€Å"Almighty† â€Å"N†, that virtually stands for â€Å"Nation† can be safely ignored. When seen together, which usually occurs, it show up that the gangs used to calling themselves the Almighty Whatever Nation. Figure 3: â€Å"GD around Star of David with number six inside the star, pitchfork extending from the D† – Gangsters Disciples with six point star representing GDs and Folks. Pitchford represents GD’s and Folks Gangs which are known in the country carry a finite code which makes them easy to identify. â€Å"GD† is the Gangster Disciples and â€Å"VL† are the Vice Lords. â€Å"LK† are the Latin Kings, and â€Å"LQ† the Latin Queens; sometimes when they’re getting along, they’re the LKQ – Latin Kings and Queens. Crossed-out letters in gang graffiti usually mean a threat. Letters â€Å"B†, â€Å"C†, â€Å"F†, â€Å"P†, or â€Å"S† crossed-out in a piece of gang graffiti, it signifies a threat towards a gang whose name, â€Å"nation†, or nickname begins with that crossed out letter. In the Vice Lord tag, the letter â€Å"C† is not crossed out which tells you the local Vice Lords don’t have complaints with the (C)rips. Gangs should write very carefully because all too often, little slights in graffiti like crossing out letters, or painting over rival gangs’ tags, are a sure warning sign of impending gang war. Figure 4: â€Å"CVLN† – Conservative Vice Lords Nation. Cane extending from the â€Å"L† is a CVL symbol. Upside down pitchfork shows disrespect towards Fold Nation gangs. Knowledge in deciphering gang graffiti introduced you to a neighborhood of gangs. In (figure 4) the â€Å"C† is short for â€Å"Conservative†. The â€Å"Conservative Vice Lords† are one of several dozen larger Vice Lord â€Å"sets† around United States. Some communities have taken a massive campaign against graffiti and also intensifies gang reduction. In Florida, the Florida Department of Corrections website posts information to help educate the public in reducing gang activities, which imposes threat to the community. Some gangs, the website says, even use graffiti as ‘Death warrants’ to authorities specifically to police officers. Community awareness program in most part of America uses the 4 R’s of graffiti to intensify campaign against gangs and gang graffiti. The slogan says, â€Å"READ IT, RECORD IT, REPORT IT & REMOVE IT†. (Deciphering Gang†¦2010, p. 1) Thus, citizens should read it and report it to police, and police will record it and then remove it. These steps are important but the removal of the graffiti is the most risky. Removal of graffiti manifests the neighborhood’s refusal to be dominated or intimidated by gangs which is a language most gang members understand. Neighborhood residents who ignore graffiti and bother not to remove them are viewed as frightened and weak by the gangs who made them. At the worst, there are instances that gang members attack people who attempt to remove or cover their graffiti. Gang graffiti is the most dangerous of all graffiti and can usually be found around community rail stations. It marks territory and rival gangs usually challenge for territory by crossing out another gang’s graffiti. It imposes real and great danger to the residents. Messages in graffiti are taken seriously by gangsters and the longer graffiti is, the greater the risk that the threats will be acted on. Graffiti is a gateway crime and membership in gangs certainly guarantees a criminal record. Since juvenile of minor age receives more lenience when it comes to punishment, the minors are the usual target of recruitment and the doer of crimes. Residents Against Graffiti Everywhere (RAGE) is a community group that looks at social issues and works with local councils and Governments towards promoting a zero tolerance policy on graffiti. (Bland and Read 2000, p. 179) By legal definition, graffiti is vandalism. It is the unauthorized application of markings on someone else’s property, especially without permission. Therefore, legality wise it is a crime. The manner that graffiti is regularly produced as illegal detracts it from the concept to be considered an art form. Very unfortunately that graffiti is responded with outrage over the abuse of someone’s property. This negative connotation may take away the value or impact of the artist’s original message. Perhaps, it would be better to get permission from the owner of the â€Å"canvas† to display the art. Yet, graffiti still elicits emotional response even in its illegal state. Furthermore, it is composed of lines, shapes, color, tones, and forms in a display that conveys a certain message and elicits an emotion. Therefore, it is safe to say that graffiti is indeed an art. As George Stowers (1997) presented four criteria as basis that some forms of graffiti become a work of art. First, the artist’s intention to produce a work of art separates graffiti art from everyday graffiti markings. Second, graffiti art established a history of development in style and technique. Third, the art world has already recognized graffiti as an art form. Fourth is the public response to graffiti art indicates that it is art. Regardless of the message it conveys, the fact that graffiti carry the aesthetic and creative symbolism and expression, public agrees that graffiti is a form of art. Like other art forms, graffiti art is a definite art when both the artist and the audience agree on the works ability to provide maximal aesthetic satisfaction. Graffiti is presently known as spray can art which is a form indeed recognized as art. It has form, color, and other base properties as any other art pieces. It also has as an arrangement of these elements into structures that qualify it aesthetically as being art. However, something that is done with spray paint might make it graffiti, but not necessarily qualify as art or graffiti art. Location and presentation still are the factors that hinder the general acceptance of graffiti art. However, the instances that the art world’s acceptance of graffiti art shows that conventional methods of presentation are not all that matters in determining graffiti as an art. Graffiti in the form of spray can art is art like any other work that might be found in a gallery or a museum. References Bland, N. & Read, T. (2000). Policing Anti-social Behaviour. Police Research Series 123, Policing and Reducing Crime, British Home Office, London, UK. Carlie, Michael. (2002) Graffiti and Other Gang Identifiers. (Into the Abyss: A Personal Journey into the World of Street Gangs) Retrieved 23 May 2010 from . Deciphering Gang Graffiti (2008). The Slugsite. com. Retrieved 23 May 2010 from . Graffiti. (2007) The Huntfor. com retrieved 23 May 2010 from .

Grace Abbott The Mother of Americas Forty-Three Million...

From the humble beginning of Social Work there have been many people who have tirelessly worked, fought, and dedicated their life advocating for the people in our world who are disadvantaged. Furthermore, many of these people have been women who not only were strong enough to fight for the rights of others, but also had to fight the forces whom thought that women where in some way second hand citizens themselves. These women were brave and determined enough to break out of the box that society placed them in, and stand up for the social injustices that they seen taking place, and try to make a difference. Of the many women from the early days of Social Work none fought harder for social reform than Grace Abbott. Grace Abbott spent her life†¦show more content†¦Grace graduated college in 1898 from Grand Island College, and then worked as a High School teacher in her hometown. In 1902 Grace began her graduate studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Grace eventually obta ined her PhD in political science from the University of Chicago in 1909. Grace grew up in an era when women were fighting for their own rights through the women’s suffrage movement. Grace had already realized she wanted to do more than teach on the prairies of the Midwest. She would be exposed to even more injustices when she chose to leave the prairies of Nebraska and travel to Chicago with her sister Edith. In 1908 Grace moved in to Jane Adam’s Hull House which served as a settlement house for the poor, furthermore, Hull house was a place where dedicated and active women worked toward social reform, including the areas of the early feminist movement. This is when Grace began becoming interested in Social Work, which would eventually become her life’s work. Grace spent much of her life in the poorest and depressed area of Chicago’s urban city. Grace was faced with many challenges through her life which included trying to change society’s percepti on of child labor, maternity law, immigrants’ protection, state’s responsibilities to their people, and expanding women’s role in our government. By the time Grace would finish her challenging work she was held in high esteem. Franklin Delano Roosevelt recounted her career asShow MoreRelatedFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 PagesSenior Production Editor. Others deserving special mention for their contributions are Brenda Moorehead and RaeAnn Guns. Last, we want to acknowledge a few people individually. From Dave: To my wife, Terri, for all her support and love. And to my children— Mark, Meredith, Gabriella, and Natalie—thank you for all you do. You continue to be the â€Å"light of my life.† From Steve: To Laura for all that she brings to my life. From Susan: To my husband John, my daughter Katie, and my Mom. Thanks for yourRead MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 Pagesnew initiatives and new management reverse a decline? KPMG (A) – managing change in professional services. Xerox – difficulties with leadership at the global giant. UNHCR – managing change in a global not-for-profit organisation. Burtons (A,B,C) – three stages of a retailer’s development under different leaders. Key: ââ€" Ã¢â€"  = major focus ââ€"  = important subsidiary focus Introduction to strategy Business environment: general Five forces analysis Capability analysis Corporate governance Stakeholder expectationsRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesof Power 283 Abuse of Power 285 Strategies for Gaining Organizational Power 286 The Necessity of Power and Empowerment 286 Sources of Personal Power 288 Sources of Positional Power 293 Transforming Power into Influence 298 Influence Strategies: The Three Rs 298 The Pros and Cons of Each Strategy 300 Acting Assertively: Neutralizing Influence Attempts 304 SKILL ANALYSIS 310 Case Involving Power and Influence 310 River Woods Plant Manager 310 SKILL PRACTICE 311 Exercise for Gaining Power 311 Repairing