Adolescent social competence: effectiveness in a group setting.

We used a longitudinal data set to evaluate an observational assessment of adolescent competence within a group context. Participants were 40 (21 males, 19 females) ethnically diverse children who had earlier been observed in summer camp (age 10) and preschool (age 4 1/2), as well as in infancy. A revealed differences task was videotaped as part of an intensive weekend camp reunion at ages 15 to 16. Raters, blind to the adolescents' developmental histories, coded each adolescent on the following behavioral rating scales: enjoyment of the task, involvement, leadership, self-confidence in the task, and global social competence. Both concurrent validity (strong correlations with independent camp reunion counselor ratings and peer sociometric measures) and clear associations with antecedent measures of peer competence in preschool and middle childhood were demonstrated. A pattern of correlations revealed considerable discriminate validity. Neither IQ nor socioeconomic status accounted for these associations. Overall, the results confirm the power of a developmentally appropriate, taxing, behaviorally based assessment of group functioning as a measure of competence in adolescence.

Experiences of families that applied for government-sponsored child health insurance: report of a follow-up study in New York City.

CONTEXT: This study followed up on a summer 1997 advocacy project by the Children's Defense Fund--New York, which assisted families in New York City in enrolling their children in government-sponsored health insurance programs (Medicaid and Child Health Plus). OBJECTIVE: To determine how many participants from the 1997 project acquired insurance, to document their experiences during the application process, and to solicit their suggestions on improving the application process. DESIGN: Guided telephone interviews in summer 1998 with all families from the 1997 program that could be located. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-five families from New York City that, with the assistance of the Children's Defense Fund--New York, applied for Medicaid or Child Health Plus in summer 1997. RESULTS: Of the 55 families, 46 acquired insurance for their children at some point during the year. A number of families changed insurance status several times during the year, and some insured originally through government-sponsored programs later acquired private insurance. The families experienced many difficulties in dealing with the health insurance bureaucracies. CONCLUSION: The process of applying for Medicaid and Child Health Plus is more difficult and time consuming than may be realized, and many families may go through the application repeatedly. Current efforts to decrease the number of uninsured children in the US must take into account the bureaucratic barriers faced by families that are eligible for these programs and must consider ways to make the application process less formidable.