Unraveling the layers of cultural competence:exploring the meaning of meta-cultural competence in the therapeutic community.

Social work practice has become more complex and complicated, as social workers wade through the burgeoning call for empirical evidence, the demand to deliver services in shorter periods and with restricted resources. In substance abuse treatment organizations, implementing evidence-based, culturally competent treatment initiatives can seem counter-intuitive to program staff and are subsequently not administered or administered in a way that sabotages the integrity of the intervention. This paper examines cultural competence and explores the meaning of meta-cultural competency that is, the organization's culture, the client's cultural background, and how these factors are interpreted by practitioners within the organizational network.

In vivo efficacy study of the anti-inflammatory properties of Surolan.

This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory properties of Surolan with the use of a pinna model of inflammation in 80 mice and a randomized complete block design. Within each of 8 blocks, 10 treatments, consisting of different combinations of the constituents of Surolan with and without the prednisolone acetate component, were randomly assigned to the 9-wk-old CD-1 mice. The treatments were administered as a single dose 30 min after pinna inflammation was induced with tetradecanoylphorbol acetate. Ear-skin edema and erythema were assessed and measured 4 and 6 h thereafter. Treatment effects were evaluated with repeated-measures analysis of variance. Inclusion of prednisolone acetate with the Surolan vehicle, either alone or in combination with the nonsteroidal constituents of the suspension, resulted in a significant reduction in mean ear-skin thickness and erythema. The inflammation-reducing properties of prednisolone were not significantly affected by the other components of Surolan.

Youth at risk of homelessness in an affluent Toronto suburb.

BACKGROUND: This study examines the characteristics and needs of 69 youth who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness at Pathway's Home Base Youth Drop-In Centre in the affluent suburb of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. METHODS: A semi-structured interview examined demographics, characteristics, living arrangements, family characteristics, substance use, mental health, criminal activity and educational experiences of the youth in this sample. RESULTS: The majority of youth came from economically advantaged families and were currently residing with their parents, but were substantially more at risk than their mainstream peers in measures related to youth homelessness. The majority of Home Base youth had left home and school prematurely, been arrested in their lifetime, and used at least one illicit drug in the past 12 months. A substantial number of youth had been imprisoned, experienced physical abuse, and exhibited depressive symptomatology and suicidal ideation. CONCLUSION: Although living mainly at home and in a relatively affluent suburb, these youth have many attributes related to homelessness and may progress to homelessness without intervention.