Digital Commons Network^™

"Creative Interpretation And Fluidity In A Rights Framework": The Intersection Of Domestic Violence And Human Rights In The United States, Karen Lynn Morgaine

Dissertations and Theses

This study explores the manner in which leaders working in the domestic violence field in the US have or have not adopted a human rights framework and what impact this has had on domestic violence policy and intervention. Participants included leaders from national domestic violence and human rights organizations. These organizations are instrumental in developing policy and in framing the issues of domestic violence and human rights, many of which also work with specific racial and ethnic populations. Some of the primary research questions included: If the human rights discourse is being put to practical use within the US, how …

City Club Report On Ballot Measure 50, City Club Of Portland (Portland, Or.)

City Club of Portland

No abstract provided.

City Club Resolution On Ballot Measure 49, City Club Of Portland (Portland, Or.)

City Club of Portland

No abstract provided.

Regional Travel Options 2005-06 Program Evaluation, Jennifer Dill

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

Regional Travel Options contracted with the Portland State University Center for Urban Studies to evaluate all program efforts over the 18-month period July 1, 2005 to Dec. 31, 2006. Services provided were shown in relationship to the Regional Travel Options program 5-Year Strategic Plan. The level of participation, satisfaction and the use of alternative travel options were measured where possible. Finally, the extent to which programs supported RTO objectives and connections to other regional goals was assessed. Results included auto-trip reductions. Recommendations for improving data collection were made. Each RTO-partner program is detailed individually in the appendices.

Information Technology Training In The Public Sector : Essential Planning Elements, Betty Jean Reynolds

Dissertations and Theses

Information technology (IT) has revolutionized the workplace and the provision of government services, and rapidity of change makes IT training essential. Planning, however, can be haphazard, and public sector training might not fulfill training needs. Elements that are essential to planning for the success of IT training in the public sector were identified from the literature: IT training organization structure/training provider, methods of IT training delivery, assessment of IT training needs, IT training expenditures, specific IT training needs, and strategies for improving IT training.

IT directors of Oregon state agencies and chief information officers (CIOs) of exemplar states were surveyed …

Global Civil Society Finding Collective Voice In Diversity, Kristen Marie Magis

Dissertations and Theses

The research question that forms the basis of this dissertation is: "What characteristics do members of Global Civil Society define as critical to the successful functioning of coalition processes designed to generate specific policy positions?" The dissertation's objective is to develop a canon of knowledge about these critical characteristics.

The relative lack of research on the question of the internal organization and operations of GCS coalitions necessitated the use of inductive methodology. Three sources of data were utilized; interviews with knowledgeable persons in Global Civil Society, a conference of GCS experts, and papers commissioned for the conference. The data were …

Focal Point, Volume 21 Number 02, Portland State University. Regional Research Institute

Research and Training Center - Focal Point

Evidence–based programs produce positive outcomes for consumers, providers, and the greater public. However, not all evidence–based programs have been proven to work with diverse groups. This issue of Focal Point features programs that have been developed specifically to meet the needs of underserved youth such as immigrants, rural or homeless youth, and those from racial or sexual minority groups.

The Changing Paradigm Of Emergency Management : Improving Professional Development For The Emergency Manager, Robert Edward Grist

Dissertations and Theses

Throughout its short and remarkable history, emergency management has been subjected to a vast array of fast-moving and radical changes which have presented significant challenges to the men and women in this emerging profession. This study was designed to help determine the adequacy of their professional development to meet those challenges.

The study is framed within an environment where emergency managers face the pressure to professionalize; explore the world of risk, trust, and the distribution of power; confront revolutionary changes; and concern themselves with the social impact of disasters in their own communities. This study asks: "Do Emergency Managers feel …

From Prison To The Community : The Role Of Citizen Participation In Female Prisoner Reentry, Dana Roderick Torrey

Dissertations and Theses

Growing attention is being given to the design of programs for female prisoners to assist their successful reentry into the community upon the completion of their incarceration. However, current programs have been largely designed and implemented with the goal of seeking parolee compliance through mandatory rules and practices. Little emphasis is placed on preparing inmates to assume their duties as citizens and active participants in the lives of their community. In short, existing programs pay little attention to the importance of creating what I call for purposes of this study, “citizen participation”.

This study tests the importance of developing a …

Network Analysis Of A Shared Governance System, Debra Reifman Whitall

Dissertations and Theses

This study contributes to the growing body of literature on the role of networks in creating efficacious systems of governance. In particular, this study considers if, in addition to network structure, two network characteristics, network social capital and network management, each have direct and indirect effects on network performance. Also considered are the combined effects of these three network characteristics on network performance. The findings of this study re-examine the relationship between network characteristics and performance, especially the influence of network structure on performance. Thus, this study has practical implications for policy makers regarding effective collaborative strategies.

This study used …

Diversity Training Needs Assessment, Masami Nishishiba

Center for Public Service Publications and Reports

The Diversity Action Council of Wagner College requested a needs assessment for a diversity-training program for the Wagner campus community. A series of informal meetings with students, faculty, staff, and administrators was arranged on March 28, 2007.

Several key themes emerged from the various group discussions. They are organized in three categories: (a) Strengths, (b) Issues, and (c) What needs to be done.

City Club Report On Ballot Measures 26-91 & 26-92, City Club Of Portland (Portland, Or.)

City Club of Portland

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of The Oregon Dmv Driver Improvement Program, James G. Strathman, Thomas J. Kimpel, Paul Roland Leistner

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report provides an evaluation of the Oregon Department of Transportation-Driver and Motor Vehicle (DMV) Services Driver Improvement Program (DIP), which was substantially changed in 2002. Prior to 2002, the DIP was organized around four progressive steps involving advisory letters, warning letters, probation, and suspension. The current program is organized around two steps: restriction and suspension. The timeline to the steps in the current program have also been shortened. To evaluate the current program, driver records of persons suspended between January and July of 2004 were examined in relation to a sample of Oregon’s driving population. The incidence of crashes …

The World Health Organization Age-Friendly Cities Project In Portland, Oregon, Usa, Margaret B. Neal, Alan Kenneth Delatorre

Institute on Aging Publications

The older population is increasing in size in Portland, the state of Oregon, the United States, and the rest of the world. Our cities and regions are vital to the support of this demographic shift through the provision of quality built environments, services, and social, cultural, and civic engagement opportunities promote healthy and active aging.

Over the next 30 years, the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area will see dramatic growth in the proportion of the population that is aged 65 and older. Although the total population will increase by 47 percent, the 65+ population will more than double, growing by over 137 …

Writing A New Chapter: A City Club Report On School Funding, City Club Of Portland (Portland, Or.)

City Club of Portland

No abstract provided.

Unexpected Implications Of An Expanding European Union, Birol Yesilada, Brian Efird

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Using a power transition perspective, this presentation analyzes the regional and global implications of different enlargement formulations of the European Union (EU) during the first half of the 21st century. First, it assesses the consequences of expanded EU membership with varying enlargement scenarios on global power distributions and considers the EU's position in the new world order. Next, it examines EU's external economic and security relations and considers how they might be affected by future enlargement of the Union.

Population Outlook For The Portland-Vancouver Metropolitan Region, George C. Hough Jr., Amy Koski

Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies Publications

While many people both inside and outside Oregon envision the state as a place of picturesque coastal bluffs, mountain ranges, the Columbia River Gorge, and oldgrowth forests, the population is primarily urban. It has been for many decades. In 2000, three-quarters of Oregon’s 3.4 million residents lived in towns and cities. Almost one-half of Oregon’s population lived in the metropolitan Portland area. This paper offers an overview of population dynamics in the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area, which includes five of Oregon’s thirty-six counties–Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah, Washington, and Yamhill–and Clark County in the state of Washington. It refers to the “metropolitan Portland-Vancouver …

Evolution Of An Academic Village: Vision For Inner South Portland, Scott Beattie, Manzell Blakeley, Allen Davis, Malia Kalahele, Alexander Moore, Michael Pina, Thomas Rousculp, Sky Rousse, Sierra Gardiner, Nick Ofcacek, Oren Eshel, Harleen Kaur, Kenya Williams, Rey Erickson

Urban Design Workshop

This vision of an Academic Village is a culmination of three months of work by 12 students in the Spring 2007 Urban Design Workshop at Portland State University. Our understanding of the Academic Village arose out of an exploration of connections between neighboring academic institutions – Portland State University, Oregon Health and Sciences University on Marquam Hill, and OHSU’s emerging campus on the South Waterfront – and the Corbett and Lair Hill neighborhoods. We discovered that people from these institutions and communities live, work, study, and play in a shared urban space, but that the potential for creating an Academic …

Focal Point, Volume 21 Number 01, Portland State University. Regional Research Institute

Research and Training Center - Focal Point

This Focal Point issue focuses on child traumatic stress, particularly as experienced by children involved in the child welfare system. The causes and effects of traumatic stress are discussed, as are evidence-based treatments, and prevention strategies.

The Emlen Scales: A Packet Of Scales For Measuring The Quality Of Child Care From A Parent's Point Of View, Arthur C. Emlen

Arthur C. Emlen

Presented and reviewed in a compendium of 35 sets of measures of quality of child care, published by Child Trends. The so-called “Emlen scales” are the only parent measures of childcare quality in the national compendium— assessments based on detailed perceptions of the care of their own child. The other 34 sets of measures are based on professional standards, observations, and ratings that have questionable relevance to the vast diversity of childcare arrangements. This document was prepared under Contract # HHSP233200500198U with the Administration for Children and Families, U S Department of Health and Human Services. Prepared for: Ivelisse Martinez-Beck, …

Enviromental Enforcement Solutions: How Collaborative Seps Enhance Community Benefits, National Policy Consensus Center

National Policy Consensus Center Publications and Reports

In March 2006, the National Policy Consensus Center (NPCC) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) co-hosted a multi-stakeholder Colloquium to consider whether collaborative approaches would allow Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs) to leverage environmental, public health, economic, and social benefits for communities affected by environmental law violations. A SEP is an environmentally beneficial project that a violator voluntarily agrees to perform, in addition to actions required to correct the violation(s), as part of an enforcement settlement.

Colloquium participants explored the benefits of expanding the SEP process to incorporate multisector, community-based collaborations in the selection, design, and/or implementation of …

Integrative Collaborative Activities: Public Deliberation With Stakeholder Processes, National Policy Consensus Center

National Policy Consensus Center Publications and Reports

Collaborative governance is the process of public, private, and non-profit sectors jointly developing solutions to public problems.

This process—convening people from different sectors to work together on a shared issue—can yield the best solutions to public problems. Research and experience show that solutions created in a collaborative governance process are “better informed, stronger in concept and content, and more likely to be implemented,” according to Terry Amsler, Director of the Collaborative Governance Initiative.

These solutions go beyond what any one sector could achieve on its own. They are more lasting and effective than solutions from traditional approaches. They are more …

City Of Longview Cultural Assessment: Employee Survey Report, Masami Nishishiba, Jun Suzuki, Pachida Lo

Center for Public Service Publications and Reports

This report summarizes the result of the cultural assessment employee survey administered in April 2007 to all City of Longview employees. Responses were obtained from 235 people (response rate 67%).

The survey results include the following key findings:

* Average scores indicate that employees generally support diversity and understand the importance of diversity in the workplace.

* On average, employees rated departmental support and understanding toward diversity lower than their personal support.

* Average scores on the level of comfort discussing diversity-related issues was somewhat lower than other scores. Some people expressed that they do not feel comfortable speaking up …

Main Street Parkrose, Doug Bruchs, Laura Butler, Todd Johnson, Sean Mccusker, Brian Monberg, Erik Rundell

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

PlanPDX worked to assess existing district conditions and assist in the development of goals for the district that could inform and guide future improvement efforts. Utilizing a variety of research methods including community outreach efforts, in-person interviews, technical analysis and organizing two well-attended community workshops, the Vision Team and PlanPDX successfully generated a set of recommendations for Main Street Park Rose. This project was conducted under the supervision of Ethan Seltzer and Sumner Sharpe.

Inclusive Business Prosperity In North/Northeast Portland, Max Coffman, Renee Garrels, Erin Grushon, Sarah Logiudice, Sanela Ruznic, Sara Vonde Veld

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

Building Business Equity undertook a research study on the nature of commercial displacement. Demographic data and anecdotal evidence suggest that major shifts are occurring in the population and commercial markets in inner N/NE Portland. Therefore, BBE chose to identify and evaluate strategies to assist minority, women owned and emerging small businesses (MWESB) in the area. This project was conducted under the supervision of Ethan Seltzer and Sumner Sharpe.

Mitgation And Conservation Banks: Report For River Plan Consideration, Matt Harding, John Hazlett, Matt Lustig, Anita Macauley

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The project investigated and analyzed potential program mechanisms, receiving sites and funding opportunities for off-site mitigation. River Plan staff will use feedback received from the River Plan Committee and others to further development of an off-site mitigation program. This project was conducted under the supervision of Ethan Seltzer and Sumner Sharpe.

Action Plan Report: Aurora 2017 Vision Implementation, Delia Chi, Diana Hale, Laurie Miskimins, Joe Recker, Jeannine Rustad

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

In early 2007, the City of Aurora Planning Commission sought the assistance of JDL Planning, a consultant team consisting of five members in the Masters ofUrban and Regional Planning program at Portland State University, to update the City's 1995 Vision. JDL Planning guided an intensive visioning process to capture the current values of both new and long-time residents and businessowners. This project was conducted under the supervision of Ethan Seltzer and Sumner Sharpe.

Westside Trail Feasibility Study: An Analysis Of Opportunities And Constraints, Amanda Owings, Kate Lyman, Kim Voros, Paul Herman Wachana, Ted Reid, Tomoko Kanai

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

This team provided Metro with an assessment of conditions along the power line corridor on the proposed Westside Trail. The team developed trail goals and objectives, as well as criteria by which to assess the study area. The final product highlights opportunities and constraints for meeting the trail's goals and objectives, and a set of recommendations for the trail. This project was conducted under the supervision of Ethan Seltzer and Sumner Sharpe.

A People's Plan For Overcoming The Hurricane Katrina Blues: A Comprehensive Strategy For Building A More Vibrant, Sustainable, And Equitable 9th Ward, Richard Hayes, Ken Reardon, Lisa K. Bates

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Peoples’ Plan is a strategic action plan for the recovery of the 9th Ward. We’ve created it based on conversations with residents – some struggling to return home, others intent on remaining in a neighborhood that has always been there own. The Peoples’ Plan provides a thorough assessment of what must be done to provide recovery in one of the hardest hit areas of the City, and provides a recovery model for all badly flooded areas. Our Plan seeks to transform the 9th Ward as it is rebuilt. The proposed transformation will be resident-driven and will provide improved employment …

Making Connections Beyond The Choir, David Johns

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Conservationists rely heavily on support from sectors of the population that want wildlife and wild places protected, but for whom it is not a priority. Support for conservation is widespread but not deep and seems to be weakening. This must be changed. Some of the obstacles are material—such as, fewer people have spent any part of their childhood immersed in nature. But many of the obstacles to deepening support among various constituencies rests with conservationists' prejudices: a belief that if people know the facts they will do the right thing; that truth by itself can overcome propaganda; that people are …