Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Developing And Integrating A Lessons Learned Methodology For Humanitarian Mine Action, Cisr Jmu

CISR Studies and Reports

The demand for a centralized lessons learned database has made it clear that there is value in consolidating the experience derived from the numerous de-mining missions by a variety of teams in a variety of countries. Consequently, the James Madison University Mine Action Information Center developed a methodology for collecting, validating, and distributing lessons-learned within the mine action community.

A Comparison Of The Establishment Of The Organizational Structure Of A Citizen Review Board At The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department And The City And County Of Denver Public Safety Review Commission, Glenn Glover

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The study focuses on the issue of establishing a citizen review board at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) for the purpose of reviewing allegations of misconduct. With the recent increase of police officer misconduct the LVMPD has come under a great deal of scrutiny by residents of the community. The credibility of the department has been jeopardized as a result of the current complaint investigations process which is conducted by the Internal Affairs Bureau. Community activist have demanded that a citizen review board be established to investigate complaints of police misconduct. The purpose of setting up a citizen …

Officer Involved Shooting: The Emotional Impact And The Effective Coping Strategies, Patrick P. Charoen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The emotional impact of a shooting incident on the individual police officer has been recognized and detailed by both police and mental health professionals (Lippert & Ferrara, 1984). The human cost and financial costs to Police Departments as a result of "post shooting" trauma has sensitized many departments to the need for professional support for officers involved in shootings. Recent survey research has provided information about the percentage of officers who experienced great, moderate, or no emotional impact after being involved in shootings (Stratton, 1982). However, information about the degree to which police departments have responded to this need has …

A Comparative Analysis Of Southern Nevada Municipalities, And Their Active Participation To Implement Historical Preservation, Rhonda M. Reeves

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A comparative analysis of southern Nevada municipalities, and their active participation to implement historical preservation is the foundation of research for this paper. The city of Las Vegas and surrounding municipalities have varying preservation programs in place. The distinctions between the municipalities historic preservation programs foster little protection for the historic site itself in most cases. Historic preservationists are actively bringing to the attention of government the importance of preservation, and are seeking more and more action on the part of the government to implement historic preservation mandates and protection.

The federal government funding for historical preservation within states is …

A Study Of Issues Related To Privatization Of Workers’ Compensation In Nevada, Kathryn A. Mack

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The key purpose of this study is to examine and evaluate current legislative initiatives for reform of workers’ compensation in Nevada. The examination will focus on issues relating to open competitive markets, market pricing, privatization of a state fund, and cost controls that have affected workers’ compensation in the state. The methods used in this paper include an in-depth examination of legislative statutes that have been enacted to control spending. Also, included is a review of literature that relates to privatization of state funds, and issues that are inherent in the transition from a state agency to private enterprise. Key …

Symbolic Politics: Government's War Against The Working Class, Warren Charles Gregory

Dissertations

Symbolism and substance are essential parts of any political system. In our system of government, we typically think of symbolism as serving substantive ends. Using a triangulation of _methods (Participant Observation, Archival Data, and Documentary Evidence), the paper examines two cases (Social Security and criminal justice) and concludes that the mix between substance and symbolism has changed dramatically in recent years with symbolism now assuming the central role.

The current debates over Social Security funding and criminal justice sanctions, for example, are less about the concerns of old-age security or making the public safer as much as they reflect a …

Hot Topic: Growth Plan Policy Requires Joint Development Board, Don Darden

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

As part of the urban growth planning process, Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) 6-58-114 requires each county to establish a Joint Economic and Community Development Board by interlocal agreement. Cities need to be aware that forming a Joint Economic and Community Development Board is part of the growth plan process. Certain grants will be unavailable to counties and cities if a board is not established by July 1, 2001.

Census Bureau Seeks Partners In Business, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"By now you should have seen the advertisements for the U.S. Census Bureau to apprise us of the forthcoming census on April 1, 2000. And there will be plenty more since the Bureau has budgeted $167 million on this push for public awareness, something it has never perviously paid to do."

Hot Topic: Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act Of 1996: You Must Comply, One Way Or Another, Richard Stokes

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) amended the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide, among other things, improved portability and continuity of health insurance coverage.

Marketing The City Of North Las Vegas: Marketing Plan And Image Enhancement Program, Janet Zimmerman

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Like many other Southwestern states, Nevada is experiencing a tremendous growth in population. As the second fastest growing city in Nevada, North Las Vegas is facing its own unique challenges and opportunities. Growth in Southern Nevada has also brought internal competition for those residents and businesses entering the area. It has also created a need to update the city's image and appeal.

One example of how a city effectively enhanced its image can be found in the same population area, Henderson, Nevada. Henderson, the state's fastest growing community, is attracting new residents and businesses at a rate that was 1.5 …

A Comparison Of Public Agency And Casino Employee Turnover Rates In Las Vegas, Timothy A. Clemens

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The primary focus of this professional paper is to determine and then compare turnover rates between public agencies and the gaming industry in the Las Vegas area. The paper's intention is to discover what differences and similarities in employee turnover rates exist between public agencies and casinos. A secondary focus is to determine if the public sector can provide any lessons to lower employee turnover to the Las Vegas gaming industry. This secondary focus is based on the assumption that public agencies have higher employee retention (and, therefore, a lower rate of turnover) than those found within the Las Vegas …

What Is Y2k And How Did The University Of Nevada System Solve It?, Diane R. Dietrich

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The turn of the century change from 1999 to 2000 will create chaos for the world's computer systems. This paper will discuss the causes of the Y2K problem, the reaction to this problem by the University of Nevada System Computer Services and possible repercussions of this problem for Nevada, the United States and the world.

U.S. Census Nears; Results To Be Questioned, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"It is the largest peacetime activity of the United States government, and since its inception in 190 takes place every 10 years. It will employ, at its peak, 860,000 workers who will receive a major portion of the $4.5 billion that Congress recently appropriated for the task. And the total population will be recorded for one day, a far cry from the 18 months that were necessary for U.S. Marshals who tried to find everyone in 1790."

Hot Topic: Fair Credit Reporting Act, Richard Stokes

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The Fair Credit Reporting Act is designed primarily to protect the privacy of consumer report information and to guarantee that the information supplied by consumer reporting agencies is as accurate as possible. The amendments to the Fair Credit Reporting Act make numerous and significant changes to using consumer credit information and restrict an employer's ability to obtain background information without the consent of the individual, whether he or she is an applicant or employee.

City Manager Recruitment Guide (1999), Warren Nevad

MTAS Publications: Full Publications

The purpose of this project is to examine and assess MTAS management's recent roles in the selection process for a city manager. As a result of this research, a brief guide is provided herein to assist MTAS consultants with future city management selection projects.

Hot Topic: Public Acts Affecting Cities, Dennis Huffer

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The 1999 Tennessee General Assembly passed into law several acts that affect Tennessee municipalities. This Hot Topic summarizes some of these acts.

Financing Urban Transit: An Analysis Of Ontario Urban Transit Trends, John Cicuttin

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the public policy issue of transportation funding by analyzing the urban transit trends in Ontario regarding operating subsidies, ridership, service levels, cost and efficiency, revenue and fare, and productivity. The findings reveal that the elimination of provincial funding for urban transit in Ontario contradicts the integrated policy approach that is required for balanced urban transportation systems.

The Role Of Government In Economic Development: A Case Study Of The Tourism Industry In Bruce County, Malcolm Mcintosh

MPA Major Research Papers

This paper examines the role of government in economic development based on a case study of the tourism industry in Bruce County involving questionnaires and interviews with key stakeholders. The findings reveal that there can be a proper role for government in economic development and this role is determined by the severity of the economic and social circumstances affecting the community.

Hot Topic: Requirements Of Fingerprint Law, Rex Barton

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The Fingerprint Law was originally passed in the 1997 legislative session. The original law mandated that local law enforcement agencies (1) Fingerprint every person arrested and forward the fingerprint cards to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and (2) Maintain at least an 85 percent retention rate. (This means that the TBI should not reject more than 15 percent of the fingerprint cards due to poor quality.)

Hot Topic: Y2k Preparedness Planning, Don Darden

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

This Hot Topic discusses a law passed by the Tennessee General Assembly that provides a five-year immunity to local governments for any Y2K computer failures, provided that the municipalities have adopted a Y2K preparedness plan. Included is a sample Y2K preparedness plan.

Level Adjusted Exponential Smoothing: A Method For Judgmentally Adjusting Exponential Smoothing Models For Planned Discontinuities, Dan Williams, Don Miller

Publications and Research

Forecasters often make judgmental adjustments to exponential smoothing forecasts to account for the effects of a future planned change. While this approach may produce sound initial forecasts, it can result in diminished accuracy for forecast updates. A proposed technique lets the forecaster include policy change adjustments within an exponential smoothing model. For 20 real data series representing Virginia Medicaid expenses, initial forecasts and forecast updates are developed using the proposed technique and several alternatives, and they are updated through various simulated level shifts. The proposed technique was more accurate than the alternatives in updating forecasts when a shift in level …

Hot Topic: The 1998/99 Mtas Salary And Fringe Benefit Survey, Richard Stokes

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

The MTAS annual salary and fringe benefit survey for 1998/99 is complete and shows salary increases for city employees grew at a rate slower than 1997/98. This report contains a summary of the findings as well as a means to request specific information.

Social Work And Downsizing: Theoretical Implications And Strategic Responses, Samuel J. Rosenberg

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The economic, political and social changes of the past 25 years have undermined most working American's assumptions about job security. Large segments of the population now find their jobs threatened by "downsizing" -which results from the reduction of staff by employers, usually for economic reasons. Downsized individuals typically experience personal and familial crises of major magnitude, and have increasingly been turning to social workers for assistance. Social workers, however-who have had relatively little experience delivering services to this clientele--are themselves being threatened by downsizing. Given this situation, the present study assesses-through interviews and participant observation-(a) how social workers are conceptualizing …

Helping Teachers Help Students Enjoy Geography, Chester Smolski, Anne K. Petry

Smolski Texts

"The concern to improve the education of your young people, whether at the national, state or local levels, is manifesting itself in a variety of ways. One of these is the national program sponsored by the National Geographic Society.

Hot Topic: Changes In Federal And State Reimbursement Rates For Travel, Mtas

MTAS Publications: Hot Topics

For those cities that elected to reimburse for travel using the federal reimbursement rates, the federal government decreased the vehicle-cents-per-mile reimbursement rate for 1999 to 31 cents per mile. This decrease became effective on April 1, 1999. Any mileage allowances paid to an employee before April 1, 1999, for mileage expenses incurred prior to April 1, 1999, still qualified for the previous rate of 32.5 cents per mile.

American Indian Elderly And Long-Term Care : Interorganizational Barriers To The Use Of Oregon's Home And Community-Based Medicaid Waiver, Jo Lynn Isgrigg

Dissertations and Theses

Developing culturally supportive long-term care services for Native American elderly has gained increasing attention on the federal level. On the state level, Oregon's Senior and Disabled Services Division (SDSD) possesses a federal Medicaid waiver that allows for the development of home and community-based long-term care services. While this waiver is culturally neutral, its value is that it would allow tribal governments within Oregon to develop their own culturally supportive home- and community-based services, yet none have done so.

The purpose of this study was to determine why senior service agencies of tribal governments within Oregon have not participated in the …

The Lobbyist No. 25 (May 1999), Maine Women's Lobby Staff

Maine Women's Publications - All

No abstract provided.

Life Beyond Nuclear Testing The Nevada Test Site, Fina Martinez-Myers

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Nevada Test Site (NTS) has served a crucial role in protecting the nation's security over the last 50 years. Changing national budgets and fiscal priorities have signaled dramatic adjustments for the NTS. Following the 1992 nuclear testing moratorium, the U.S. government has begun to make parts of the NTS available for private-sector use in an effort to generate money, utilize the Test Site's unique resources and capabilities, and provide economic development to southern Nevada. The initiative to attract private industry to the NTS is similar to activities taking place at other nuclear facilities across the nation. With a change …

Public Participation In Clark County, Nevada: An Analysis Of Public Participation In The Land Use Planning Process, Fred R. Turnier

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This paper explores public participation as determined through three land use planning case studies in Clark County, Nevada. Chapter One outlines the existing conditions for public participation and introduces a set of questions to be explored. Chapter Two defines the scope and methodology employed in the research. Chapter Three is a literature review for levels of public participation. The next Chapter discusses statutory requirements for planning and formal public participation. Further, Chapter Four outlines the events leading up to a revised planning participation process and implementation in three land use plan updates. Finally, Chapter Four explores themes derived through the …

An Analysis Of The Impact Of The Internet As A Marketing Tool For Economic Development In Municipal Governments In The Western Region Of The United States, Jacquelin Risner

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This professional paper is a cross-sectional analysis of the western United States that explores the research question of whether the internet, when used as a marketing tool, has an impact on urban economic development for municipal governments. Economic development has changed throughout the years. It is now global in perspective. The necessity for municipal governments to compete on a global level requires an investigation into new technology and its importance to economic development efforts. Specifically, the advent of the internet and its significance to economic development in municipal governments was explored. A survey was constructed and sent to one hundred …