Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Digital Records Management: The History Of Your City, Rachel Rowe

Certified Public Manager® Applied Research

As technology rapidly advances, city governments face the challenge of preserving the past and preparing for the future. This article explores digital records management, outlining the background of historical records and their significance in understanding a city’s history. Crucial digitization steps include gathering the right team, following records retention policies, identifying documents, and efficiently managing data. The challenges of preservation efforts, technical and training concerns, workflow management, and compliance with open records laws are addressed. The City of Kilgore’s digitization process reveals how managing records is key to forming a city’s identity and linking the community to its history. This …

Illegal Dumping: Prevention, Abatement, And Compliance Strategies For Cities, Ingrid Self

Certified Public Manager® Applied Research

Illegal dumping, with its many monikers and negative impacts, is a prevailing issue challenging Texas local government. Whether driven by malicious intent or stemming from ignorance of policies and laws, illegal dumping creates health and safety risks for Texans, degrades wildlife areas, impedes economic development and becomes an expensive burden on city budgets. The growing amount of e-waste and the proliferation of improper tire disposal exacerbate the issue, compelling Texas cities to find ways to quickly abate junk piles and deter future dumping crimes.

Across Texas, programs to combat illegal dumping are gaining momentum. These initiatives establish methods for immediate …

The Duality Of Public Procurement: How Can Cities Engage In Ethical And Legal Procurement Procedures?, Michael Andrew Flores

Certified Public Manager® Applied Research

Despite its crucial role, public procurement often suffers from neglect and disregard until a city or public officer commits the misuse or misappropriation of public funds. As stewards of taxpayers’ dollars, public officers are tasked with traversing the often forked paths of ethicality and legality. These paths manifest in every instance and aspect of life, from acts of impulsiveness to the careful consideration of outcomes. Ultimately, a path must be taken, which will carry a consequence subject to criticism and proportionate to its outcome. Yet, despite this notion, unethical and illegal practices are invariably committed. There are few greater opportunities …

Comprehensive Planning In Small Communities, Peter B. Lamont Jr.

Certified Public Manager® Applied Research

The comprehensive plan is a vital tool in any city’s toolbox. It serves first and foremost as the general guide for a city’s development. Consisting of multiple parts, history, demographics, land use planning, transportation planning, and goals and objectives, it is the plan that all other plans should relate back to. Any growth and development decisions should be reviewed through the lens of the comprehensive plan. Proper planning has many benefits, especially in small, developing communities. These benefits include promoting sustainability, fostering a sense of community, enhancing quality of life, promoting economic development and managing new growth and infill. However, …

Adjustments To Social Work Practice During The Covid-19 Pandemic In North Carolina: Effects On Burnout And Commitment, Aaron R. Brown, Jayme E. Walters, Aubrey E. Jones, Lara Cates

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for social workers in the U.S. and abroad has increased. There is demand for more social workers in North Carolina due to ongoing and increasing mental health, substance use disorder, and child welfare needs. COVID-19 has taken a toll on the personal and professional lives of social workers, and research is needed to understand the pandemic’s effects on burnout and commitment among social workers. The present study sought to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the personal and professional lives of social workers practicing in North Carolina and to determine how …