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\"The sleepy town Robyn moves to for the summer appears safe enough--it's definitely a far cry from her crime-filled hometown. But Robyn notices the townspeople's anxiety about a home for at-risk youth. Run by Jerry Wilson, it's a spot for teenage boys who come from troubled families; if they have them at all. Robyn's convinced Jerry's boys are polite and helpful--until her ex-boyfriend Nick shows up one night, using his at-risk youth status to stay and work at Jerry's place. But why? As it turns out, Nick's best friend Seth lost his little brother who was in Jerry's care. Seth knows his brother, and knows he wouldn't commit suicide. With Seth's health failing, it's up to Nick to find out the truth--but not without Robyn's help.\"--Amazon.com.

Books can play a crucial role in helping children develop social-emotional learning (SEL) skills, including emotional regulation, empathy, and decision-making. PICTURE BOOKS Fighting Words written by Leonarda Carranza illustrated by Erika Medina Annick Press, 2024 When Ali's cousin rips his favourite book, angry words explode out of him. Butt Sandwich & Tree written by Wesley King Paula Wiseman Books, 2022 Green didn't want to try out for the basketball team; he only did it to make his big brother, Cedar, happy. Taming Papa written by Mylene Goupil translated by Shelley Tanaka Groundwood Books, 2024 Melie had never met her father, Sami, until he moved into their Montreal apartment.

While helping police officers Esther and Lon investigate a suspicious death at her group home, nineteen-year-old Sal Miyake, who is mentally challenged, gains insights into herself and makes new friends.

BOARD BOOKS AND PICTURE BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOL TO GRADES 4 We Sang You Home/Ka KTweh Nikamostamatinan written by Richard Van Camp illustrated by Julie Flett translated by Mary Cardinal Collins Orca Book Publishers, 2018 This sweet and lyrical dual-language book captures the wonder new parents feel as they welcome baby into the world. Look Out for the Fitzgerald-Trouts written by Esta Spalding illustrated by Sydney Smith Tundra Books, 2016 Meet the Fitzgerald-Trouts, a band of four loosely related children living together on a tropical island. Hitchhiking out of town, Bun learns that the world extends beyond the walls of her mother's house and discovers the joy of being part of a new family-a family of friends who care.

\"Cray got into the same college his father attended and is expected to go. And to go pre-med. And to get started right away. His parents are paying the tuition. It should be an easy decision. But it's not. All Cray knows is that what's expected of him doesn't feel right ... Until he meets Rayne, a girl who is taking a gap year, and who helps him find his first real job, at a home of four adults with developmental disabilities. What he learns about himself and others will turn out to be more than any university could teach him and twice as difficult\"--Provided by publisher.

Background and aims Children’s early interactions with books are important for fostering development of oral language and emergent literacy skills. It is not known whether children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder show different preferences for text types in the home environment prior to school entry. The current study aimed to: (i) investigate parent-reports of the favourite books of their children with autism spectrum disorder compared to typically developing children and (ii) identify whether there are differences in the reasons why books were preferred across the two groups. Methods Participants included children (aged 26–70 months) with autism spectrum disorder (n = 41) and typically developing peers (n = 164). Parent-reports of their child’s current favourite book/s were coded as fiction versus non-fiction and also category type. Parents also reported why the book was considered a favourite and this was coded. Results There were no differences between groups for fiction versus non-fiction, with both groups preferring fiction (>95% of responses). A strong category preference for animal topics across both groups was present. Significant group differences were found when asked to select specific reasons for favourite book preferences. Conclusions This study provides preliminary evidence of similarities between preschool children with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing peers’ preferences for fiction books during the early years. Implications It should not be assumed that children with autism spectrum disorder have different preferences for book types compared to typically developing children in the early years of development. Providing preschoolers with a range of book types during the preschool years will help to facilitate early language and emergent literacy skills.

\"Trouble starts brewing when a halfway house for at-risk teenagers opens up next door to a seniors' home.\"-- Provided by publisher.

Nurses make significant contributions to the American healthcare system and should have knowledge of major healthcare policies such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), particularly those nurses in leadership. More nurse leaders of African descent need an understanding of PPACA to advocate for the policy provisions in the law as it relates to social determinants of health (SDH). This paper illustrates a need for a better understanding of PPACA among nurses of African descent to promote health equity. Keywords Patient protection and affordable care act; Social determinants of health; African American nurse leaders; Health equity; Health disparities. Introduction Nurses are the most trusted healthcare providers[1] and are ideally positioned to play an integral role in moving the U.S. healthcare system forward. With the passage into law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) have provided opportunities that may help achieve health equity. Communicating aspects of the law with patients, families, and communities is a major objective of nursing leaders[2]. Fellows of the Leadership Institute for Black Nurses (LIBN) have a duty, as healthcare providers, to be equipped with the tools that promote health equity. LIBN Fellows were immersed in healthcare both professionally and educationally, and it was expected that they would have more knowledge of PPACA than those of the general public who were surveyed by Kaiser[3] in 2010. Understanding provisions in the law is fundamental to healthcare leadership, and nurse leaders have a mandate to remain current in policy and practice[2]. Kaiser[4] reported that by the end of 2015, the number of uninsured nonelderly adults had decreased by nearly 13 million since 2013 due to PPACA. The decrease was due, in part, to the removal of barriers such as pre-existing conditions and healthcare insurance coverage for dependent children up to age 26. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services5 (DHHS) reported that PPACA has improved the quality of healthcare along with lowering the cost. For example, the cost of prescriptions for seniors has been reduced, and there are now tax credits for small business owners[5]. However, provisions in PPACA that improved access to care such as the health insurance exchanges remain a mystery to many. Moreover, awareness of the benefits of the law still eludes many currently including nurses and more importantly, those who it is intended to help the most. Therefore, this topic remains an issue and more education is needed among nurses as they advocate for healthcare consumers. Knowing fact from fiction is essential to effective leadership. It is necessary that nurses understand new and exciting programs in the U.S. healthcare system regardless of whether the nurse is: • providing direct patient care as a staff nurse, • directing patients’ care as an Advance Practice Nurse (APN), • overseeing a nursing department as a healthcare administrator, • preparing future nurses as a nurse educator, or • Generating nursing science as a scholar. Moreover, since many African American nurses work in urban settings and care for large minority populations, an understanding of PPACA is essential. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to (1) highlight policy provisions in PPACA; (2) discuss the link between social determinants of health (SDH) and PPACA; (3) compare knowledge levels of the American public in December, 2010 to nurses of African descent in December, 2013; and (4) recommend strategies to identify and improve areas of PPACA knowledge deficit. Summary of PPACA PPACA consists of two bills that were signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The two bills consisted of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872). Once signed by President Obama, the bills became Public Law 111-148[6] (Table 1) and Public Law 111-152[7] respectively (Table 2). Approximately two years later, on June 28, 2012, the Supreme Court rendered a final decision to uphold the healthcare law[8]. However, there are still efforts to repeal the law. PPACA focuses on provisions to expand coverage, control healthcare costs, and improve the healthcare delivery system. One key provision of PPACA bans discrimination against preexisting conditions[9]. There are ten titles in the law6 which address various areas in healthcare that contribute to the improvement of the U.S. healthcare delivery system (Table 1). The focus of the provisions of PPACA are quality of healthcare, affordable healthcare for all Americans, improved efficiency of healthcare, prevention of chronic disease, and improvement of public health. Title V of PPACA focuses on improving workforce training and development, and encompasses several areas targeting nursing education and training aimed at adequately preparing nurses at all levels to serve the population. Public Law 111-1527 adjusted revenue and financing schedules for private insurance coverage, Medicare, Medicaid; and reduced fraud, waste, and abuse in healthcare financing. In addition, key components of this law addressed investing in students and families through student loan reform, modifying financial assistance for higher education, and eligibility criteria for dependent children (Table 2). Together, Public Laws 111- 148 and 111-152 are referred to as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Quality Affordable Health Care for All Americans a.Eliminates lifetime annual limits on benefits. b.Prohibits rescissions of health insurance policies. c.Provides assistance for those who are uninsured because of a pre-existing condition. d.Prohibits pre-existing condition exclusions for children. e.Provides coverage of preventative services and immunizations. f.Extends dependent coverage up to age 26. g.Develops uniform coverage documents to help consumers better compare policies. h.Limits insurance company non-medical administrative expenditures. i.Ensures consumers have access to an effective appeals process. j.Creates a temporary re-insurance program to support coverage for early retirees. k.Establishes an internet portal to assist in identifying coverage options. l.Facilitates administrative simplification to lower health system costs. Role of Public Programs a.Expands Medicaid availability to consumers previously ineligible. b.Requires states to maintain eligibility levels for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through September 2019. c.Simplifies enrollment through state-run Web sites. d.Creates the availability of the Community First Choice Option. e.Reduces states’ Disproportionate Share Hospital Allotments (DSH). f.Improves federal and state coordination for individuals enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid. Quality and Efficiency of Health Care a.Links payment to quality performance on common, high-cost conditions. b.Establishes national strategy to improve service delivery, patient outcomes, and population health. c.Encourages development of new patient care, payment, and delivery models. d.Ensures beneficiary access to physician care. e.Offers rural protections. f.Improves payment accuracy. g.Rearranges Medicare Advantage (Part C) payment schedules. h.Reduces Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) costs. i.Ensures Medicare sustainability. j.Improves quality of community health care. Chronic Disease and Public Health a.Modernizes disease prevention and public health systems. b.Increases access to clinical preventive services. c.Creates healthier communities. d.Offers supports for prevention and public health innovation. Health Care Workforce a.Encourages innovative review of the workforce. b.Increases the supply of health care workers. c.Enhances health care workforce education and training. d.Supports the existing health care workforce. e.Strengthens primary care and other workforce improvements. f.Improves access to health care services. Transparency and Program Integrity a.Encourages physician ownership and transparency. b.Improves nursing home transparency. c.Targets enforcement. d.Improves staff training. e.Institutes nationwide program for background checks on direct patient access employees of long term care facilities and providers. f.Establishes patient-centered outcomes research. g.Establishes integrity provisions for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. h.Enhances integrity provisions for Medicare and Medicaid. i.Encourages additional Medicaid program integrity provisions. j.Encourages additional program integrity provisions. k.Encourages enforcement of the Elder Justice Act. l.Expresses the sense of the Senate regarding medical malpractice. Access to Innovative Medical Therapies a.Establishes biologics price competition and innovation. b.Provides more affordable medicines for children and underserved communities. Community Living Assistance Services and Supports a.Establishes national voluntary insurance program for purchasing Community Living Assistance Services and Support (CLASS). Revenue Provisions a.Levies excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage. b.Increases transparency in employer W-2 reporting of health benefits values. c.Supports distributions for medicine qualified only if for prescribed drugs or insulin. d.Increases additional tax on distributions from HSAs and Archer MSAs not used for qualified medical expenses. e.Limits health-care related FSA contributions. f.Institutes requirement of corporate information reporting. g.Establishes new requirement for non-profit hospitals. h.Imposes a pharmaceutical manufacturer’s fee. i.Imposes a medical device manufacturer’s fee. j.Imposes an insurance provider fee. k.Instates requirement of Department of Veterans Affairs report. l.Eliminates the deduction for employer Part D subsidy. m.Modifies the threshold for claiming the itemized deduction for medical expenses. n.Limits executive compensation. o.Imposes additional hospital insurance tax for high-wag

SCI-FI/FANTASY Fate of Flames (The Effigies, Book 1) written by Sarah Raughley (Simon Pulse, 2016) The Effigies, four girls each with the power to control one of the elements - earth, air, fire and water - have protected the world from Phantoms - massive beasts of nightmare. HISTORICAL FICTION The Farmerettes written by Gisela Tobien Sherman (Second Story Press, 2015) Defying convention, a group of mismatched girls live and work on a farm during the summer of 1943: dutiful Helene; fun-loving Peggy; Isabel, whose fiancé is in Europe; rich Binxie and reliable Jean, whose family farm is taken over by the group of \"farmerettes.\" The Disappearance written by Gillian Chan (Annick Press, 2017) Tragic circumstances throw two boys - Mike, disfigured and guilt-ridden by his brother's death, and Jacob, an elective mute who is isolated, withdrawn and bullied - together in a group home.

According to Naomi Klein, George W. Bush came to office determined to take neoliberal rhetoric and policies even further than they had been taken under Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan in the eighties by targeting minority communities--traditionally out of the Republican Party's reach--for easy homeownership. Under 50% of African Americans and Hispanic Americans own a home, Bush observed in 2002. That's just too few. This appeal to minorities was an attempt to spread the values of what Bush called \"the ownership society throughout the early years of his presidency. In the wake of the collapse of the subprime market and with some evidence that this collapse has hurt African American homebuyers disproportionately, it is tempting to accuse the Bush administration of a cynical attempt to extract the limited resources of minority communities. There is also widespread evidence that Black writers and intellectuals, with some exceptions, have not embraced the free-market ethos or the devotion to property rights promoted by the conservative movement and Republican governments.