The Effects of Volunteering for Non-profit Organizations on Social Capital Formation: Evidence from a Statewide Survey

We use the household production framework to theoretically connect sociability and purposive incentives for volunteering and two forms of social capital: social connections and civic capacity. Then, using a unique statewide data set, we estimate the determinants of (a) the probability of receiving social capital benefits and (b) the level of such benefits. We show that: religious and social service organizations have a large impact on social capital formation; the probability of being socially and civically engaged increases with volunteering; and two-adult families are more likely to feel socially and civically engaged. These results are consistent with recent aggregate evidence on the decline of social capital in the United States: social capital formation declines with less religious and altruistic orientation at the community level, and as families move away from a two-adult family structure. By contrast, through volunteering, one can increase the likelihood of being socially and civically engaged.household production, civic engagement, social capital

Effects of Volunteering for Nonprofit Organizations on Social Capital Formation: Evidence from a Statewide Survey

As membership in traditional civic organizations declines in the United States (Putnam, 2000), could volunteering for nonprofit organizations be an alternative source of social capital formation? We use an updated household production framework (Becker, 1996) to theoretically connect volunteering with two forms of social capital: social connections and civic capacity. Using a unique statewide data set from Vermont, we then use the Cragg (1971) model to estimate the determinants of the probability of receiving a social capital benefit, and the level of such a benefit. We first show that the probability of receiving a social connection or a civic capacity benefit from one's most important nonprofit organization is increased: (a) if it is a religious or social service organization; (b) if one increases their volunteering for the organizations; and (c) if one is female, college educated or in a two-parent family. However, the relative magnitude of volunteering is similar, or relatively small, compared to the other significant determinants. We then show that an increase of volunteer hours does increase the levels of social connection and civic capacity, but the magnitude of this effect is also relatively small.household production, civic engagement, social capital, volunteering

The UVM Food Systems Summit makes more room at the table

https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fss2014/1004/thumbnail.jp

Place-Based Marketing Opportunities for Vermont

Vermont is widely recognized as a national leader in the place-based marketing of the state’s food products. This has been accomplished through the work of Vermont farmers and producers, and the support and programs of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and a variety of nonprofit organizations. Together, these groups have been able to take advantage of the connection made by many consumers between Vermont products and the idea of quality. This connection has often enabled Vermont products to command a price premium, both in markets within the state and in other areas of the country. Preliminary market research suggests that consumers in two northeastern U.S. markets may be interested in a Geographic Indicator label to identify Vermont products and that feelings of connectedness with Vermont and Vermont food products exists outside of the state. This paper addresses four objectives for place-based marketing in Vermont: The market definition, the market potential, product attributes and authentication, and the potential impact of place-based marketing on the Vermont brand

How Can You Recognize Success? Individual Responses to Food System Policy Aimed at Children

Farm-to-school (FTS) programs and similar programs are gaining attention for many reasons, one of which is the recognition that they could help stem the increase in childhood overweight and obesity. Most programs that have been evaluated have increased students\u27 selection or intake of fruits and vegetables following the incorporation of FTS components. However, the wide range of activities that are typically part of FTS programs make it difficult to pinpoint which components have the greatest potential to improve students\u27 health behaviors. Within the field of nutrition education, theory-based interventions that target the key underlying factors influencing health behavior offer the most promise.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fss2014/1016/thumbnail.jp

Role of Physicians in Addressing Food Insecurity in Vermont Seniors

Introduction: This study investigated Vermont physicians’ awareness of - and engagement in – addressing food insecurity experienced by their elderly patients. This information is needed to better understand the role physicians play in solving this problem and to know how education and access to services could ensure that the needs of elders are met in a culturally sensitive manner. Many elders must choose between paying bills, buying medication or buying food. Some elders are unaware that they qualify for food assistance, or would feel stigmatized using it. Nationally, 56% of physicians reported that they were not knowledgeable about food insecurity. Food insecurity can be screened for by using Hunger Free Vermont’s Two Question Screen. Screening, followed by a multidisciplinary team approach with contributions from dietitians, geriatricians, social workers and psychologists may be the most effective way of assessing at-risk patients.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1214/thumbnail.jp

Farm-to-School: Implications for Child Nutrition

Farm-to-School (F2S) programs are gaining attention for many reasons, one of which is the recognition that they could positively influence the trend of increasing prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity. Of the F2S programs that have been evaluated, most have demonstrated increased selection or intake of fruits and vegetables by students following the incorporation of farm produce into school salad bars, meal selections, or class-based education. With that said, the wide range of activities that are part of typical F2S programs makes it difficult to pinpoint which components have the greatest potential to improve student’s health behaviors. Within the field of nutrition education, theory-based interventions that target what we know to be the key underlying factors influencing health behavior are considered to offer the most promise. Therefore, this paper explores how components of Vermont F2S programs address key constructs of the Social Cognitive Theory. The types of activities that are part of F2S are found to touch upon many of the theoretical constructs in the Social Cognitive Theory, leading to the conclusion that F2S programs have great potential to facilitate movement towards desired dietary changes. However, in the current approach, the likelihood is low that a set of activities in any one F2S program addresses multiple constructs of the theory in a systematic manner. Hence, a more intentional inclusion of diverse activities would likely be beneficial. More research is needed to test these assertions

The Law Review Divide: A Study of Gender Diversity on the Top Twenty Law Reviews

My goal in this Note is to provide the first comprehensive statistical analysis of independently reported and verified data on law review membership in order to determine whether or not a gender disparity exists on law reviews. I further hope that this analysis would indicate whether any given admissions process correlates particularly strongly with that gender disparity. Interestingly, no single selection method or even combination of selection methods appears to consistently yield any greater number of women than men; some law reviews with similar admissions processes have very different membership compositions by gender, and some law reviews with very different admissions processes have very similar membership compositions by gender. One might interpret this as a rather bleak picture of women’s law review participation showing that no matter what a law review does, women will still have a more difficult time becoming members than men. I prefer instead to emphasize the non-universality of the gender disparity and suggest that the fact that seven of the twenty law reviews I studied did not display a significant gender disparity continues a positive narrative about women’s increasing participation in law schools and the legal profession