Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Nongovernmental Program Replication And Implementation: What Can Community-Based Programs To Support The Uninsured Learn From Other Communities?, Raymond J. Higbea

Dissertations

This research study evaluated the replication and implementation of Project Access (a nongovernmental, structured program providing physician and health care services to the working-poor) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A mixed methodological approach was used and included quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The qualitative method used was a self-administered mailed survey of all Project Access enrollees. This survey evaluated the enrollee's perceived health and lifestyle function, access to physician services, access and adherence to prescribed medication regimen, and barriers to physician services during the year pre- and post-enrollment in Project Access. The survey also evaluated the amount enrollees were able or willing …

The Cover-Up Is More Damaging Than The Sin: Sexual Scandals At The Cabinet And Sub-Cabinet Levels, Craig Korpela

Dissertations

Based on the sexual scandals of Alexander Hamilton, John Eaton, Sumner Welles, and the recently concluded investigation of Henry Cisneros, this research provides an initial, and subsequently revised, set of phases and factors that describe sex scandals of Cabinet and sub-Cabinet secretaries. Garnered from these historical cases and other scandal literature are factors that impact the development of a sex scandal. Presidential support, traits of the indiscretion, relationships between executives, public opinion, legal matters, Congressional oversight, and efforts to cover-up a sexual affair are just a few of the factors that could impact the tenure of an appointee.

A Heuristic Study Of The Decision To Privatize Local Government Service, David L. Rich

Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to explore the nature of local government decision making. Six Michigan cities, selected from respondents to an International City/County Management Association (ICMA) privatization survey, are the basis of this multi-case study examining the decision to privatize public services.

Classical decision-making theory is used to identify six foundational elements from which to analyze the privatization decision: (1) identification of theproblem(s) that triggered the decision to consider privatization; (2) the solutions considered; (3) the processes or mechanisms used to make the decision; (4)the environment in which the decision was made; (5) the identification of the key …

Changing Nature: Globalization And Economic Reforms In Brazil, Lucas Gimenes Loureiro

Theses and Dissertations

Globalization is affecting our lives in ways that we never expected before. Greater interdependence, some scholars argue, weakens the ability of nation-states to retain their authority over individuals and corporations. However, nation-states are highly adaptable and they have the power to maintain their primacy . Governments have the ability to choose which model of development their economies should pursue. Thus, based on the choice of economic model, nation-states shape their economies and the way business operates within it. In other words, governments will essentially steer their economies in a certain direction, even though they cannot determine the exact path that …

Department Of Family Services: Adoption Program Evaluation, Bonnie Abramson, Kristy Amasaki, Michael N. Johnson, James Padgett

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Persons contemplating adoption in Clark County face many legal boundaries and lengthy delays. Since adoption is a creature of Clark County, the answers usually can be found in state statutes, agency regulations, and court opinions. Federal statutory and constitutional laws also play a huge part in such areas as adoption subsidies, adoption of children with special needs, and training of all adoption workers.

While the overall adoption program is similar in all states, the fine points frequently differ. This research outlines the legal foundation of adoption, describing the adoption legal process, and the workings of the Department of Family Services …

Clark County Outreach Assistance To The Chronically Homeless, Sandy Von Wolffradt, Kirk Medina, Tony Vibabul

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The COACH program was created through a Social Security Administration (SSA) grant provided to assist eligible chronically homeless individuals apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. On April 1, 2004, the SSA released $6.6 million in "HOPE" awards to 34 organizations, including Clark County Social Services (CCSS) who received $450,000 over three years. Later in 2004, they released additional funding to include seven more organizations in the program. In total, the SSA has committed nearly $18 million to the program over three years. The purpose of the assistance is to improve the quality of life …

The Evolution Of Community Policing In Chatham-Kent: Citizen Engagement, Organizational Change, And The Neighbourhood Policing Project, Dennis Poole

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the factors that contribute to the successful implementation of community policing based on a case study of the neighbourhood policing program in Chatham-Kent. The findings reveal that police need to describe their mission in terms of crime prevention, fear reduction, and crime control and neighbourhood police officers can effectively address the local circumstances that lead to crime and disorder depending on the willingness of citizens to help them detect and solve crimes.

Clark County Parks And Recreation, Daniel Davis, Josh Martinez, Steven Schyman

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

As our primary assignment in PUA 791 (Topics in Administration), the following report has been prepared. It includes an examination of the current policies governing the programs offered by the Clark County Parks and Recreation Department as well as a comparison (benchmark) of two similar metropolitan areas. The following analysis was completed during the months of February thru July, 2006. It consisted of a series of interviews with Recreation Department managers from various agencies as well as information gathered from Management of Park and Recreation Text, 2005 and CAPRA (Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies).

Policy Analysis Of The Victim Offender Restitution Program, Veronica Damon, Marie Bostick, Lamont Mcgary

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Both the criminal justice and the juvenile justice systems have experienced increased strain due to criminal acts committed by juveniles. Many experts suggest that one way to ease the burden of the courts can be found in the theory of restorative justice. Most often the juvenile justice system is most concerned with the risk and needs of youthful offenders without significant consideration for the victims. A key component in the restorative justice theory is victim offender mediation which seeks to reduce the impact of crime on victims and the community. Clark County, Nevada has one such program, the Victim Offender …

The Impact Of Higher Education On Police Management In Three Ontario Police Services, Jason Dale

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the impact of higher education on the management of police services in Ontario and whether education has a direct impact on the retention of officers in their police organizations. A survey administered to sworn police officers from three Ontario police services – Strathroy-Caradoc, Chatham-Kent, and the Niagara Region – was conducted. The findings reveal that officers with higher levels of education seek different career rewards and are harder to retain because they are much more willing to leave for job opportunities elsewhere.

No Equity In A Vacuum: The Ontario Municipal Diversity Project – An Examination Of The Current State Of Employment Equity And Diversity In Ontario Municipalities, Benjamin Elling

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines employment equity practices at the municipal level in Ontario based on a survey of 121 municipalities to determine the degree to which they utilize employment equity practices in their organizations and the extent to which these practices are voluntary. The findings reveal that few municipalities engage in any sort of comprehensive employment equity processes and without legislation that provides guidelines for municipalities, it appears unlikely that employment equity in Ontario will improve.

Coping With Diversity: Municipal Actions In Response Of Increased Immigrant Diversity In The Cities Of Hamilton And Markham In Ontario, Erika Hegedues

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the methods for coping with increased diversity and its consequences at the local level based on a literature review, case studies of the selected municipalities – Hamilton and Markham – and interviews with experts from these municipalities. The findings reveal that financial support from both the provincial and federal government is necessary to support the integration of immigrants, especially in large urban areas, in addition to the prioritization of certain policy areas and the municipal development and enhancement of their own services.

A Public Policy Analysis: The Effect Of Issue Framing And The Policy Network On Environmental Tobacco Smoke Bylaw Development In Peel Region, Deborah Keen

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the decision-making process used by local officials in the Region of Peel in the development of the environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) bylaw based on an analysis of literature, public documents, and media accounts. The findings reveal that the factors consistent with a weak policy outcome were evident in the decision-making process, including the poor networking skills of external proponents, a strong network of opponents, the primary use of an economic frame, and a council that was receptive to economic arguments.

Service Delivery Review: The Ontario Experience, Kelly Stymiest

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the application of service delivery review approaches in Ontario local governments based on surveys and consultations with municipal managers in Barrie, Brantford, and the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. The findings reveal that there is a strong commitment among municipal managers to excellence, improvement, and information sharing and they are seeking more information and advice on how to manage organizational performance, people, and money.

Electronic Government Accessibility For People With Blindness Or Low Vision Who Utilize Assistive Computer Technology, Robert J. Sobie

Dissertations

Citizen access to electronic government information and services continues to enjoy an expansionary phase in local government. This expansionary phase holds a prominent place in service delivery strategic planning as governments address on-going operational challenges caused by increased fiscal pressures and greater accountability to the citizenry for their actions. Since the advent of the World Wide Web, in the mid 1990s, static information and interactive applications are available on government websites to facilitate information dissemination and citizen interaction.

The presence of electronically delivered information and services may not address the accessibility needs of people with blindness or low vision who …

Providing Uninsured Adults With Free Or Low-Cost Primary Care: Does It Influence Their Use Of Hospital Emergency Departments?, Anne G. Zahradnik

Dissertations

This study analyzes one component of the health care safety net to determine whether or not being enrolled in a free or low-cost primary care physician access program subsequently affects emergency room utilization by uninsured adults ages 18 through 64. Those individual decisions are analyzed from both public goods and rational choice schemas. Additionally, physician access programs of different formats (a low-cost physician referral program and a freewalk-in clinic) are analyzed and compared for relative effectiveness. The study is a quantitative analysis of more than 40,000 individual patient records rather than relying on qualitative patient recall or on analyzing broad …

Evaluating Collaboration Constructs: An Analysis Of The Paradise Creek Restoration Plan, Pamela Trump Dunning

School of Public Service Theses & Dissertations

This study examines collaboration constructs using Gray & Wood's framework of theoretical dimensions of collaboration and two conceptual models found in the literature in an effort to determine which constructs are present in the successful collaborative efforts of the Elizabeth River Project's Team Paradise as they developed the Paradise Creek Restoration Plan. The study used a mixed method approach involving both qualitative (interview and documents) and quantitative (survey) methods to gather data. The findings from this study support construct findings from three other studies on collaborative processes: Gray & Wood's framework of theoretical dimensions of collaboration; the Selin & Chavez …

The Interactions Between Carbon Regulation And Renewable Energy Policies In The United Kingdom, Hal Thomas Nelson

Dissertations and Theses

The power sector is experiencing profound changes worldwide as policies are enacted to address the linkages between energy use and environmental degradation, as well as improve energy security and local economic development outcomes. This research examines the carbon dioxide (CO2) cap and the renewable energy quota in the United Kingdom's power sector using a constrained optimization model of the U.K. electricity grid. Scenarios simulate the dynamic nature of the supply curve for CO2 mitigation based on the availability of nuclear technologies, energy efficiency investments, fossil fuel prices, and access to emissions reductions from the EU CO2 Cap.

The analysis shows …

Presidential Values : Implications For Foreign Policy, Jordan Katherine Durbin

Dissertations and Theses

Highlighting presidential values brings to center stage the leadership dimension of foreign policy. Because values play an instrumental role in the policy process, understanding the dominant values of powerful leaders is crucial to sustaining democracy at its most basic level. An empirical study of public statements on Iraq by Presidents Bush, Clinton, and W. Bush from August 2, 1990, the date Iraq invaded Kuwait, through March 19, 2003 provides the data for analysis. Combining Lasswell's theory of political values and dictionary construct based on the language of values provides an analytical tool to minimize influence of political ideology and researcher …

Implementing Community Policing Successfully: An Analysis Of The Degree Of Police Engagement With The Philosophy And Practice Of Community Policing, Robert G. Muladore

Dissertations

The police community in the United States began to adopt the philosophy of community policing in the early 1970s as a solution to rising crime rates. Since that time a great many police departments have officially stated that they have embraced and practice this concept. When later studies began to question theeffectiveness of community policing in reducing crime rates, measures such as reduction of citizens' fear of crime and citizen's attitudes toward policebecame the secondary measures of success of this philosophy. Few comprehensive studies have specifically looked at the degree of congruence betweenpolice agency adoption of the community policing philosophy …

Mercury Concentrations In The Muscles Of The North American Bullfrogs (Rana Catesbeiana), Jarrod Connell

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Many studies have be done on mercury in the environment. The studies though have focused on sport fish and migratory waterfowl. North American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) has been one species neglected from studies. One study has shown that bullfrogs due accumulate significant amounts of mercury (Gerstenberger S., and Pearson R. 2002). Though, no study has been done to find out if hind limbs have more concentrations that front limbs. Also to see if there is a difference between skin-off and skin-on, to find out if skin accumulates mercury. This study found that there was no significant difference between front and …

Elasticity Of The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Tax Structure, Bradly Settle

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

No executive summary.

Nutrition On Wheels Business Plan: A Strategic Analysis, Seena Gill Kakar

Theses Digitization Project

Describes the business plan for an entrepreneurial venture called Nutrition on Wheels, which will be the first locally owned and operated gourmet diet food delivery service in the Coachella Valley of California. The service will provide customized meals to fit the specific dietary needs of its customers. Covers the essential components of the business plan for Nutrition on Wheels including industry analysis, market potential, marketing plans, organization and operational plans, strategic management and a financial plan.

Policing Performance Management Systems: Identifying Key Design Elements Within A `New' Public Management Context, John Gillespie

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The new public management (NPM) philosophy and move towards a governance approach places emphasis on the accountability of individuals, supervisors and managers relative to practice, processes and designated outcome - conformance and performance. A dichotomy is highlighted working within the NPM environment where managers need to practice creative and innovative freedoms, and at the same time to exercise constraint and compliance within a regulated and permission seeking framework. This situation can create inertia in respect to performance reforms within the public service. Police Services in Australia, and in particular the Western Australia Police (WAPOL) have made some inroads into providing …

The Politics And Economics Of Health: A Cross-National Comparison Of Civic Engagement And Health Status, Suzanne J. Wood

School of Public Service Theses & Dissertations

Over the past two decades, various structural modifications associated with the provision of national health and its systems have been undertaken. The preponderance of liberalization experiences have occurred in the absence of epidemiological, political, or social considerations associated with adoption and implementation. Often, financial and political manipulation by international organizations and powerful foreign governments has served as the impetus for fundamental shifts leading to an asymmetrical distribution of resources by population density, geography, and along various socio-cultural boundaries. Consequently, structural adjustments have resulted in unpredictable and divergent outcomes with regard to health status. The question of whether or not health …