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Follow‐Up of Pararofressionals Working With Low‐Income Families
Author(s) -
Engelbrecht Iscan Walda,
Nelson Helen Y.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
home economics research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.372
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1552-3934
pISSN - 0046-7774
DOI - 10.1177/1077727x7700600207
Subject(s) - seekers , referral , psychology , significant difference , medicine , family medicine , political science , law
To provide guidelines for selection and recruitment of paraprofessionals in New York State Cooperative Extension's Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), an investigation was undertaken to: (1) determine significant differences between aides presently employed and aides who had left EFNEP, (2) ascertain the number of former aides reentering the labor market and their later success on other jobs, (3) analyze procedures followed to recruit and select aides. The sample consisted of employed and former aides in eight upstate New York counties. Data were collected through interview schedules designed for the study. There were significant differences between the two aide groups. The group most likely to stay in EFNEP employment was made up of older women, married, from nuclear families, homeowners, and whose husband and children favored the aide's pursuit. Most former aides had dropped out of employment for personal or family reasons. Approximately one‐ half reentered the labor market and were rated as doing satisfactory work. Agencies with which Extension agents had a close working relationship or which were in a situation to know the occupational needs of low‐income job seekers provided the best referral sources. A significant difference of opinion existed among former aides, employed aides, and agents as to the most important characteristics for an aide to possess; the greatest difference existed between the two aide groups and agents.