Recent Submissions

  • Payday Lending in Missouri: Leading the Nation in Predatory Lending 

    McCaulley, Graham (University of Missouri-Columbia Center for Family Policy and Research, 2010-06)
    Payday lending is commonly considered to be predatory lending. Practices typically involve high interest rates, excessive fees, deceptive and aggressive marketing, and a general lack of concern for a borrower's ability to ...
  • Examining Obesity Issues 

    Blake, Ashley; Semelka, Sara (University of Missouri-Columbia Center for Family Policy and Research, 2010-06)
    This policy brief examines the problems related to over-consumption, excess, and obesity in Missouri. The topic is analyzed, and policy recommendations are explained.
  • Why Not a Missouri QRS 

    (Center for Family Policy & Research, 2009-01)
    Opponents of a Quality Rating System have raised concerns about rating early childhood and after-school programs.
  • Why a Missouri QRS 

    (University of Missouri-Columbia Center for Family Policy and Research, 2009-01)
    Proponents of a Quality Rating System claim that it will help Missouri target limited resources and monitor the outcomes of early childhood and after-school program investments. Are the claims really valid?
  • Improving Missouri's Bottom Line: The Significant Economic Impact of Early Childhood Programs 

    (Center for Family Policy & Research, 2009)
    The challenge to fund Missouri's state budget, with escalating costs and dwindling revenue, is daunting. Across party lines, the question is: how can Missouri improve the state's economic climate? The surprising answer is ...
  • Strengthening Missouri's Economic Performance: The Far-Reaching Impact of Investments in Early Childhood Programs 

    Semelka, Sara; Hawks, Jacqueline (Center for Family Policy & Research, 2010-06)
    The current economic climate is challenging for the state of Missouri and its many industries and businesses. Everyone is seeking investments that will yield significant returns. One important, but frequently overlooked, ...
  • Poverty and Developmental Disabilities: Improving the Lives of Families and Individuals 

    Calix, Shaun (Center for Family Policy & Research, 2010-06)
    Developmental disabilities affect approximately 17% of children younger than 18 years of age in the United States. The prevalence of developmental disabilities is greater within the population of people living in poverty. ...
  • Prevent Crime: Early Childhood Education as a Crime Prevention Tool 

    Semelka, Sara; Hawks, Jacqueline (University of Missouri-Columbia Center for Family Policy and Research, 2010)
    Since the mid 1990s, the general revenue funds appropriated for the Department of Corrections has more than tripled, from about $217 million (1994) to about $670 million in 2009. The ripple effects of crime are far reaching: ...
  • The Missouri Quality Rating System (QRS) School Readiness Study Results 

    Harris, Tricia (University of Missouri-Columbia Center for Family Policy and Research, 2009-10)
    New findings from the Missouri Quality Rating System School Readiness Study indicate that some aspects of children's school readiness are hurt by low quality early childhood programs. Children in poverty are particularly ...
  • Pediatric Dental Health Care: Recommended Practices for Helping Children and Parents 

    Mayfield, Wayne A. (Wayne Andrew), 1966-; Thornburg, Kathy R.; Scott, Jacqueline L., 1963- (Center for Family Policy & Research, 2003-02)
    This brief contains recommendations focused on early childhood education practices that can strengthen pediatric dental care. It included recommendations for educating both parents and children in dental practices.
  • Preschool Classrooms: Recommendations to Improve the Quality of Early Childhood Programs 

    Thornburg, Kathy R.; Scott, Jacqueline L., 1963-; Snyder, Linley A. (Center for Family Policy & Research, 2007)
    Recommendations for practices that strengthen early childhood programs are proposed based on findings from two studies. The Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale-Revised is widely used to assess preschool classrooms. A ...
  • Home-Based Programs: Recommendations to Improve Program Quality 

    Thornburg, Kathy R.; Scott, Jacqueline L., 1963-; Snyder, Linley A. (Center for Family Policy & Research, 2007)
    Recommendations for practices that strengthen early childhood programs are proposed based on findings from two studies. The Family Day Care Rating Scale is widely used to assess program quality. A total of 223 home-based ...
  • Infant and Toddler Programs: Recommendations for a Stimulating Learning Environment 

    Thornburg, Kathy R.; Scott, Jacqueline L., 1963-; Snyder, Linley A. (Center for Family Policy & Research, 2007)
    Recommendations for practices that strengthen early childhood programs are proposed based on findings from two studies. The Infant-Toddler Environment Rating Scale-Revised is widely used to assess infant a toddler classrooms. ...
  • Infant and Toddler Programs: Recommendations for Quality Child-Teacher Interactions 

    Thornburg, Kathy R.; Scott, Jacqueline L., 1963-; Snyder, Linley A. (Center for Family Policy & Research, 2007)
    Recommendations for practices that strengthen early childhood programs are proposed based on findings from two studies. In one study, researchers in the Midwest Child Care Research Consortium conducted a study to assess ...
  • The State of Child Welfare in America: 2009 

    Thornburg, Kathy R.; Scott, Jacqueline L., 1963-; Stout, Hailey (Center for Family Policy & Research, 2009-01)
    In terms of physical and emotional suffering, an estimated 905,000 children were determined to be victims of child abuse or neglect in 2006 according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. From the fiscal ...
  • The State of Early Childhood Programs: 2009 

    Thornburg, Kathy R.; Scott, Jacqueline L., 1963-; Stout, Hailey (Center for Family Policy & Research, 2009)
    Enriching experiences in the context of high quality early childhood programs give young children an enhanced chance at success in school. Poor children, who are particularly at risk for academic failure, can benefit greatly ...
  • The State of Children and Families: 2009 

    Thornburg, Kathy R.; Scott, Jacqueline L., 1963-; Stout, Hailey (Center for Family Policy & Research, 2009-01)
    This report contains information on current trends in the United States in areas including poverty, violence and crimes, unwed and teen pregnancy, education, nutrition, child health, child welfare, and housing.
  • The State of Missouri's Children: 2009 

    Thornburg, Kathy R.; Scott, Jacqueline L., 1963-; Stout, Hailey (Center for Family Policy & Research, 2009-01)
    A variety of problems affect the children of Missouri. The report contains details in categories including poverty, nutrition, education, health and welfare, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and violence.
  • Insuring Quality Long-Term Nursing Care 

    Rantz, Marilyn J.; Marek, Karen Dorman (Center for Family Policy & Research, 2008-04)
    The oldest members of the Baby Boom generation born between 1946 and 1964 will turn sixty-five in 2011. As the size of our senior population increases over the next few decades, so will their health care needs. In the early ...
  • Improving the Quality of Elder Care: The Continuing Care Retirement Community 

    Dunn, Katie; Gayer, Debra A., 1953-; Rantz, Marilyn J. (Center for Family Policy & Research, 2002)
    By 2020, the segment of the population 65 and older will have increased by 42% to reach over one million persons and those 85 and older will number roughly 129,000. These trends indicate an increase in the demands for ...

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