Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
Israel: Discriminatory Death Penalty Bill Passes
NEW YORK, March 31 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following news:
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Israel: Discriminatory Death Penalty Bill Passes
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(Beirut) - On March 30, the Israeli Knesset passed a discriminatory bill expanding use of the death penalty for terrorism-related offenses, Human Rights Watch said today. The wording of the bill makes it clear that it would primarily, if not exclusively, be applied to Palestinians.
Within the civil court system in Israel, the bill imposes the death penalty for the deliberate killing of a person with the intention of "negating the existence
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, March 31 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following news:
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Israel: Discriminatory Death Penalty Bill Passes
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(Beirut) - On March 30, the Israeli Knesset passed a discriminatory bill expanding use of the death penalty for terrorism-related offenses, Human Rights Watch said today. The wording of the bill makes it clear that it would primarily, if not exclusively, be applied to Palestinians.
Within the civil court system in Israel, the bill imposes the death penalty for the deliberate killing of a person with the intention of "negating the existenceof the State of Israel." It mandates execution by hanging, restricts access to legal counsel and visits from family members, limits external oversight, and grants immunity to those involved in carrying out executions.
Within the military court system of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the bill imposes the death penalty for killings classified as acts of terrorism, as defined under Israeli law, even without a prosecutorial request. The bill only allows courts to order life imprisonment in unspecified exceptional cases where "special reasons" are found, limiting judicial discretion. It also prohibits commutation of sentences and mandates execution within an accelerated timeframe of 90 days.
Israeli citizens and residents are explicitly excluded from this provision: military jurisdiction applies exclusively to Palestinians, while Israeli settlers are tried in civilian courts. The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem said in a statement that military trials of Palestinians have " an approximately 96% conviction rate, based largely on 'confessions' extracted under duress and torture during interrogations."
Human Rights Watch opposes capital punishment under all circumstances, as a practice unique in its cruelty and finality.
The following quote can be attributed to Adam Coogle, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch:
"Israeli officials argue that the imposing the death penalty is about security, but in reality, it entrenches discrimination and a two-tiered system of justice, both hallmarks of apartheid. The death penalty is irreversible and cruel. Combined with its severe restrictions on appeals and its 90-day execution timeline, this bill aims to kill Palestinian detainees faster and with less scrutiny."
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Original text here: https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/03/31/israel-discriminatory-death-penalty-bill-passes
IFPTE Endorses Representative Steve Cohen
WASHINGTON, March 31 -- The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers issued the following news:
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IFPTE Endorses Representative Steve Cohen
Congressman shares our vision for the expanded role the TVA will play as a provider of great jobs and growing as America's largest publicly owned utility
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The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), representing 90,000 workers across North America, including members employed at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), is proud to endorse Congressman Steve Cohen to reelection to Tennessee's 9th
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, March 31 -- The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers issued the following news:
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IFPTE Endorses Representative Steve Cohen
Congressman shares our vision for the expanded role the TVA will play as a provider of great jobs and growing as America's largest publicly owned utility
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The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), representing 90,000 workers across North America, including members employed at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), is proud to endorse Congressman Steve Cohen to reelection to Tennessee's 9thDistrict in the House of Representatives.
IFPTE's executive officers commented on the endorsement:
IFPTE President Matt Biggs: "Across North America, power producers work because IFPTE members are on the job. Employment in the energy sector provides good-paying careers, and new technologies for power generation represent new opportunities for American workers and the unions who represent them. Rep. Steve Cohen understands the strong relationship between energy production and job opportunities, and that's why IFPTE is excited to endorse him to continue representing central Tennessee and the thousands of people who work at the Tennessee Valley Authority."
IFPTE Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson: "As a proud Tennessean and worker at the Tennessee Valley Authority, I am honored to stand with my friend Steve Cohen and support his bid for reelection. From workers to ratepayers to small businesses to people who love the outdoors, generations of Tennesseans have led better lives because President Franklin Roosevelt had the vision to create the Tennessee Valley Authority way back in 1937. We know that Rep. Steve Cohen appreciates that legacy and understands and shares our vision for maintaining and growing the Tennessee Valley Authority as America's largest publicly owned power utility and provider of thousands of great, union-represented jobs; producer of cutting-edge clean energy technologies; steward of natural resources; and a reliable source of affordable electricity for our families and small businesses."
Learn more about Representative Cohen here (https://cohen.house.gov/).
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Original text here: https://www.ifpte.org/news/ifpte-endorses-representative-steve-cohen
[Category: Engineering]
Public Advocate of the U.S.: Vice President J.D. Vance Has Full Authority To Disrupt Crooks Nationwide
MERRIFIELD, Virginia, March 31 -- The Public Advocate of the U.S. issued the following news release:
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Vice President J.D. Vance Has Full Authority To Disrupt Crooks Nationwide
Eugene Delgaudio, president of Public Advocate says: We here at Public Advocate on behalf of our 100,000 suppporters, are supportive of the decision to end the $250 billion in fraud targeted by Elon Musk in his DOGE vision and stalled for the past year. This fraud has only gotten worse since Elon Musk started his fraud fighting effort. Vice President J. D. Vance seems to have the full confidence of the entire federal
... Show Full Article
MERRIFIELD, Virginia, March 31 -- The Public Advocate of the U.S. issued the following news release:
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Vice President J.D. Vance Has Full Authority To Disrupt Crooks Nationwide
Eugene Delgaudio, president of Public Advocate says: We here at Public Advocate on behalf of our 100,000 suppporters, are supportive of the decision to end the $250 billion in fraud targeted by Elon Musk in his DOGE vision and stalled for the past year. This fraud has only gotten worse since Elon Musk started his fraud fighting effort. Vice President J. D. Vance seems to have the full confidence of the entire federalgovernment to do whatever it takes including disruption and arrests to cut down on the theft," says Delgaudio.
Public Advocate cites several sentences from the order as pointing to possible arrests forthcoming:
FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL ORDER:
Quote
"v) disrupt and dismantle fraud networks and facilitators, including providers, contractors, or other entities and repeat cross-program offenders through interagency information sharing and coordination;
(vi) investigate and disrupt the mechanisms through which fraud is committed, including any mechanisms involving facilitation of fraud by Federal, State, local, tribal, or territorial officials;"
Unquote
The Federalist:
The Trump administration's efforts to attack government fraud is beginning in earnest, with a memo directing the first steps for the President's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, which the government says accounts for $250 billion in losses every year.
"Every year, hardworking Americans pay taxes to fund a vast benefits system for citizens in need. These benefits programs are laudable and are a testament to the generosity of the American people," the memo to task force members from Vice President J.D. Vance and Federal Trade Commission Chairman (FTC) Andrew N. Ferguson, who serves as the task force's vice chair, states. "Unfortunately, these programs have been plagued by decades of waste, fraud, and abuse.
By one estimate, fraud in federal benefits programs results in losses of about $250 billion per year, and the true number may be higher. These funds are stolen both from the taxpayers and from vulnerable Americans most in need of help."
FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL ORDER:
The staggering fraud and waste in Minnesota alone is a case in point. Federal prosecutors in the State estimate that Medicaid fraud in recent years could total in the billions. Nearly 9 percent of the roughly $866 million spent on food stamps in Minnesota each year is estimated to be spent in error.
The non-profit Feeding our Future engineered a scam that stole nearly $250 million intended to feed needy children in Minnesota by opening fake meal sites and submitting fraudulent claims for millions of meals that were never served. One of the defendants in this scam was also charged with submitting false claims to an autism services program that was subject to widespread fraud.
Hundreds of millions of dollars in Federal childcare funding to Minnesota were stolen by an organized ring of Somali immigrants and others who used the stolen money to purchase cars, property, and luxury travel, and sent the funds overseas.
The Federal Government is investigating allegations that some of the United States taxpayer dollars subject to fraud in Minnesota were even funneled to one of Africa's most heinous terror groups.
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Original text here: https://www.publicadvocateusa.org/news/article.php?article=13515
[Category: Sociological]
Hard-hit Asian countries must tax windfall profits, deploy renewables to combat price shocks
BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 31 [Category: Energy]-- 350.org, an organization that works to end the age of fossil fuels and build a community-led renewable energy, posted the following news release:
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Hard-hit Asian countries must tax windfall profits, deploy renewables to combat price shocks
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As the Iran conflict enters its second month, 350.org and its partners urged Asian governments to tax windfall profits of oil and gas companies, while accelerating a just transition away from fossil fuels. Climate campaigners in the most crisis-affected Asian countries urged governments to protect
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 31 [Category: Energy]-- 350.org, an organization that works to end the age of fossil fuels and build a community-led renewable energy, posted the following news release:
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Hard-hit Asian countries must tax windfall profits, deploy renewables to combat price shocks
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As the Iran conflict enters its second month, 350.org and its partners urged Asian governments to tax windfall profits of oil and gas companies, while accelerating a just transition away from fossil fuels. Climate campaigners in the most crisis-affected Asian countries urged governments to protecthouseholds from surging energy costs by:
* Taxing windfall oil and gas profits and use revenues to support households
New 350.org analysis reveals that as much as US$111 billion have been lost by consumers and businesses due to oil and gas spikes in the first month of the Iran conflict. Oil giants such as Chevron, Shell and Exxon Mobil are poised to rake in billions of dollars in windfall profits.
Fossil fuel companies cashing in obscene profits from high oil and gas prices should contribute to shielding consumers from the worst impacts. A windfall tax can capture excess oil and gas profits and redistribute them directly to consumers through measures such as targeted bill support, direct cash transfers to most affected sectors, free or heavily subsidised ("lifeline") electricity tariffs to vulnerable households, and free public transportation.
Philippine lawmakers have recently proposed a windfall tax to curb profiteering by oil companies, while India has reintroduced a windfall tax on oil exports. Following the 2022 Ukraine war, the UK imposed a windfall tax on oil and gas producers and raised around PS12 billion in 2024, helping fund its Energy Price Guarantee and limiting average household bills during the crisis.
* Accelerating decentralized renewable energy to lower energy costs
To shield consumers from higher electricity bills and fuel costs, governments should fast-track just renewable energy solutions, prioritizing decentralized renewables that can be deployed quickly and easily - including solar mini-grids, rooftop and balcony solar, clean cooking solutions, and electric public transport.
Instead of straining public finances for costly fossil fuels, emergency energy response funds and development support should be used to fund renewable energy systems that ensure energy access, equity, long-term sustainability, and community ownership.
Governments must act now - not later - to prioritize homegrown renewable energy and avoid the high costs of importing fossil fuels. In Asia, LNG prices have skyrocketed 143% since the war began. The IEEFA Asia Pacific calculates that 1GW of solar energy could save countries roughly US$3 billion on imported LNG.
Sisilia Nurmala Dewi, 350.org Indonesia Country Manager, said:
"The Indonesian people pay for the hidden costs of fossil fuels - not just through our energy bills, but through taxes that go towards subsidies and climate damages. President Prabowo's directive to build 100GW of solar power to build energy independence is a step in the right direction. But the energy transition must not be a burden to low and middle-income communities - it must be paid for by coal, oil and gas companies through windfall taxes."
Amanullah Porag, 350.org Bangladesh Coordinator, said:
"We are witnessing the real cost of fossil fuel dependence. A conflict thousands of kilometres away is rapidly undermining economic stability in Bangladesh. Our people should not have to pay for a crisis they did not cause. Governments must act now to tax fossil fuel windfall profits, protect consumers from price shocks, and invest in decentralized renewable energy at scale. Energy security for Bangladesh will not come from imported fuels, but from building systems we can control."
Fread de Mesa, 350 Pilipinas National Coordinator, said:
"Despite its short-term framing, the Philippine government's state of national energy emergency declaration contains language that echoes what climate activists have been raising for years. By calling for reduced dependence on petroleum and the scaling of renewables, the government is implicitly acknowledging that clean energy must be central to our long-term resilience. Renewables -from community-led solar to distributed wind and efficiency measures -offer not just climate benefits but energy independence, price stability, and greater protection for everyday Filipinos from the ripple effects of global crises. This moment is an opportunity to pivot from reactive crisis response to a proactive, structural transformation of our energy system."
Omkar Subedi, Digo Bikas Institute Nepal Campaign Officer, said:
"Today's energy crisis deepens inequities that stem from decades of dependence on coal, oil, and gas. The answer is not more of the same. It's high time we focus on renewable energy solutions that put communities at their core and prioritize people over profits. Nepal must invest in homegrown renewable energy solutions that are affordable and locally owned. When communities control their energy resources, we secure not just our energy needs but also social and climate justice that ensures no one is left behind."
Masayoshi Iyoda, 350.org Japan Campaigner said:
"Japan should accelerate renewable energy deployment and improve energy efficiency, instead of continuing to rely on unstable fossil fuels and dangerous nuclear energy. Consumers have been at the mercy of imported fossil energy for far too long. The window of opportunity to permanently insulate Japan from oil and gas price shocks -and keep its climate commitments -is wide open. The Takaichi administration should take this opportunity, or risk falling behind further on its promises of energy independence and lower energy costs."
Media Contact:
Ilang-Ilang Quijano, 350.org Media Campaigner, ilang.quijano@350.org, +639175810934
Kim Bryan, 350.org Media Strategy and Relations Manager, kim.bryan@350.org, +447770881503
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Original text here: https://350.org/press-release/hard-hit-asian-countries-must-tax-windfall-profits-deploy-renewables-to-combat-price-shocks/
CAIR-NY Condemns Attempt to Desecrate Mosque With Feces, Pages Torn From the Quran
WASHINGTON, March 31 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on March 29, 2026:
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CAIR-NY Condemns Attempt to Desecrate Mosque with Feces, Pages Torn from the Quran
The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a reported attempt to desecrate a Brooklyn mosque with feces and pages torn from the Quran, Islam's holy text.
According to law enforcement authorities, a suspect targeted the Islamic Mission of America in Brooklyn
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, March 31 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on March 29, 2026:
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CAIR-NY Condemns Attempt to Desecrate Mosque with Feces, Pages Torn from the Quran
The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a reported attempt to desecrate a Brooklyn mosque with feces and pages torn from the Quran, Islam's holy text.
According to law enforcement authorities, a suspect targeted the Islamic Mission of America in BrooklynHeights by throwing pages from the Quran on the front steps of the building and then returned to smear what police said was feces on the door. The suspect wore a black skullcap and a black face mask hanging down below his chin. The March 9 incident is being investigated as a hate crime.
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, Esq., said:
"This reported act of attempted desecration is deeply disturbing and reflects a blatant act of hate targeting a house of worship. We commend law enforcement authorities for investigating this incident as a hate crime and urge a swift and thorough investigation to hold the perpetrator accountable. No community should have to fear harassment or attack because of their religious beliefs.
"We reaffirm our commitment to protecting the civil rights and dignity of all people. Acts of hate have no place in our society, and we must collectively reject and confront bigotry in all its forms."
CAIR offers a "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety" booklet, which offers advice on how to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to houses of worship of all faiths.
On Friday, Washington, D.C., based CAIR and CAIR-NY welcomed the reported disruption of a plot to firebomb the home of New York-based Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani.
According to CAIR's most recent civil rights report, complaints of anti-Muslim bias and discrimination have continued to rise nationwide, reflecting an ongoing pattern of Islamophobia impacting communities across the country.
SEE: 2026 Civil Rights Report: The Right to be Different (https://action.cair.com/a/the-right-to-be-different)
CAIR's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/breaking-cair-ny-condemns-attempt-to-desecrate-mosque-with-feces-pages-torn-from-the-quran/
[Category: Sociological]
Americans for Tax Reform: Mamdani's 50% Death Tax Would Hit Middle Class Homes
WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following commentary on March 30, 2026, by Sean Rowen:
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Mamdani's 50% Death Tax Would Hit Middle Class Homes
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is backing a proposal that would impose a 50% Death Tax on any New York resident owning a home worth more than $750,000.
Combined with the federal Death Tax, the top combined federal-state Death Tax on New York state residents would reach 70%.
Let's look at a few homes that would be considered a taxable "estate" under this proposal:
* $799,000 - 503 Falcon Ave, Staten Island, NY 10306
1,184
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following commentary on March 30, 2026, by Sean Rowen:
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Mamdani's 50% Death Tax Would Hit Middle Class Homes
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is backing a proposal that would impose a 50% Death Tax on any New York resident owning a home worth more than $750,000.
Combined with the federal Death Tax, the top combined federal-state Death Tax on New York state residents would reach 70%.
Let's look at a few homes that would be considered a taxable "estate" under this proposal:
* $799,000 - 503 Falcon Ave, Staten Island, NY 10306
1,184sq ft | 3 Bed / 2 Bath
Overage is $49,000 | Survivor would have to pay $24,500 in NY death taxes
* $828,000 - 3414 Avenue P, Brooklyn, NY 11234
1,068 sq fr | 4 Bed / 3 Bath
Overage is $78,000 | Survivor would have to pay $39,000 in NY death taxes
* $789,888 - 330 Isabella Ave, Staten Island, NY 10306
1,073 sq ft | 3 Bed / 2 Bath
Overage is $39,888 | Survivor would have to pay $19,944 in NY death taxes
* $839,000 - 100 Acacia Ave, Staten Island, NY 10308
1,152 sq ft | 3 Bed / 2 Bath
Overage is $89,000 | Survivor would have to pay $44,500 in NY death taxes
* $759,000 - 1835 Narragansett Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461
2,030 sq ft | 3 Bed / 2 Bath
Overage is $9,000 | Survivor would have to pay $4,500 in NY death taxes
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These are not luxury estates. They are ordinary homes.
For many families, a home is their primary asset. Under this proposal, passing that home to the next generation could trigger a significant tax bill.
At rates as high as 50 percent, families may be forced to sell assets just to cover the tax.
Economists have warned that estate taxes can do exactly that. As one researcher noted, these taxes can force families to liquidate homes, businesses, or savings to meet the obligation.
Like other "tax the rich" policies, this follows a familiar pattern.
The threshold starts high. Over time, it moves down.
What was once aimed at the wealthy expands to include everyone else.
We have seen this before in New York.
Lower the threshold far enough, and the tax no longer targets wealth.
It targets the middle class.
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Original text here: https://atr.org/mamdanis-50-death-tax-would-hit-middle-class-homes/
[Category: Political]
Access the Latest NCFR Journal Research
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, March 31 -- The National Council on Family Relations issued the following news:
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Access the Latest NCFR Journal Research
Read 9 New Early-View Articles Published March 22-28
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Keep up with the latest research from NCFR's three scholarly journals -- Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF), Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science (FR), and Journal of Family Theory & Review (JFTR).
Most Recent Journal Issues:
JMF April 2026 issue (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17413737/2026/88/2): Includes articles on financial and childcare resources,
... Show Full Article
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, March 31 -- The National Council on Family Relations issued the following news:
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Access the Latest NCFR Journal Research
Read 9 New Early-View Articles Published March 22-28
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Keep up with the latest research from NCFR's three scholarly journals -- Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF), Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science (FR), and Journal of Family Theory & Review (JFTR).
Most Recent Journal Issues:
JMF April 2026 issue (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17413737/2026/88/2): Includes articles on financial and childcare resources,couple and family dynamics, and more.
FR April 2026 issue (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17413729/2026/75/2): Features research on parenting and development, family resources, romantic relationships, family resources during COVID-19, and much more.
JFTR March 2026 issue (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17562589/2026/18/1): Includes an "Original Voices" piece by NCFR Fellow Pauline Boss, Ph.D.; several articles on theoretical advances; a number of scoping reviews and "Emerging Voices" articles; and more.
New Early-View Articles Published Online (March 22-28):
Journal of Marriage and Family
* Couple Mobility and Employment Patterns. A Gender Perspective in Six European Countries (open access) -- Nazareno Panichella, Antonina Zhelenkova, Hanne Gaukel, Roberto Impicciatore
Journal of Family Theory & Review
* Logical Consequences: Toward an Integrative Theoretical Framework (open access) -- Gabrielle Gagnon, Jean-Michel Robichaud, Genevieve A. Mageau
* Forgiving Failures and Fallibility in Parenting: A Self-Forgiveness Framework for Managing Guilt and Shame Among Parents -- Poulami Sengupta, Vidisha Rai, Atasi Mohanty
Family Relations:
* Caregiving, maternal burnout, and child dysregulation: Validating the Italian Caregiving Experiences Questionnaire -- Jacopo Tracchegiani, Andrea Zagaria, Laura E. Brumariu, Nicola Carone
* Being there for mom: The strengths of daughtering (open access) -- Allison M. Alford, Kaitlin E. Phillips, Luke V. Stipanovic, Cayd A. Rocha-Barnette, Michelle Miller-Day
* Expected Upward Mobility and Fertility Intentions: Evidence from China -- Chi Zhang, Longxuan Lin, Li Wang, Pengfei Qu
* Influence of mobility and work-family conflict on U.S. military spouse employment (open access) -- Kelly A. Woodall, Claire A. Kolaja, Hope M. McMaster, Rudolph P. Rull, Andrew Furne, Nicholas J. Armstrong, Valerie A. Stander, the Millennium Cohort Family Study Team
* Parenting across borders: Experiences of Black English-speaking Caribbean parents abroad -- Charlene Harris, Lisa Dunkley, Helyne Frederick
* Rethinking human-AI "attachment" in family systems: A response to McDaniel et al. (2025) -- Gizem Erdem, Minel Guler, Melike Coskun, Gokcenay Baser
NCFR member journal subscribers can access articles by logging into their NCFR account.
Learn more about NCFR's scholarly journals prior to submitting your manuscript.
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NCFR is a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose members support all families through research, teaching, practice, and advocacy.
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Original text here: https://www.ncfr.org/news/access-latest-ncfr-journal-research
[Category: Sociological]
