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Impact – Information Management, Public Access, Community Transformation: Final Evaluation Report, Oscar Gutierrez, John Mcgah

Center for Social Policy Publications

In 2000 the Department of Commerce awarded the Lake County (IL) Department of Planning, Building and Development a Technology Opportunity Program (TOPS) Grant to implement Project IMPACT. The project’s goals were “to improve access to and delivery of human services for low-income residents, strengthen community planning and resource allocation, and enhance understanding of data on homelessness that can be gathered and aggregated on local and national levels to accurately capture the scope of the problem and the effectiveness of efforts to ameliorate it.”

The Center for Social Policy (CSP) at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, University of Massachusetts …

Ddasaccident459, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The investigators found that the main cause of the accident was “wanton violation of technical and safety procedures proscribed in the SOPs of the organisation and in the National Standards of B&H”. For this reason the primary cause of the accident is listed as a “Management control inadequacy”. So many basic safety rules were being breached at a site where there was known to be a fragmentation mine threat that the conditions must have been known to senior management. The secondary cause is listed as a “Field control inadequacy” because the field managers allowed safety distances and PPE rules to …

Ddasaccident536, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Antipersonnel Mine model P4 mark 1 exploded during mine-clearance in minefield LK-257, Katkovalam. Explosion took place 1,5 meters in front of [Demining group] deminer while he was raking the uncleared lane with heavy rake. Deminer fell backwards to his bottom and lost his hearing and vision for few minutes. His visor (head protection) was hit by little stones and fell off. Fragmentation vest (body protection) took some punches too. After 15 minutes he recovered to mentally and physically normal state. He did not have any wounds, bruises nor pain anywhere in medic’s full body inspection. Nevertheless, he was evacuated against …

Ddasaccident417, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The BOI could not establish conclusively why the accident took place, as no eyewitnesses saw the incident at the time of the explosion. However, it was obvious that the deminer had his visor up at the time of the explosion. Damage and blast marks to the inside of the visor could only have accrued if the visor was up at the time of the explosion. The deminer insisted that the visor was down at the time of the explosion but could give no explanation for why the accident had taken place. It is the opinion of the BOI that the …

Ddasaccident442, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The lane followed a P4 AP blast mine strip where [the Victim] had found three mines the previous day. On the morning of the accident [the Victim] had worked one half hour shift from 07.30 hrs to 08.00hrs before having breakfast from 08.00 hrs to 08.30 hrs. [The Victim] then started his second half hour shift at 08.30hrs, with his half section BD3. The accident took place at 08.40hrs, ten minutes into [the Victim]’s second half hour shift. At the time of the accident [the Victim] was using a heavy rake on the first phase of the three phase raking …

Expanding Homeownership Opportunity: The Softsecond Loan Program, 1991-2003, Jim Campen

Gastón Institute Publications

The SoftSecond Loan Program emerged at the end of a tumultuous year of struggle over community reinvestment issues that began on January 11, 1989. The lead story in that day’s Boston Globe reported that a draft study by researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston had found that there was a pattern of “racial bias” in Boston’s mortgage lending, that the number of mortgage loans in the predominantly black neighborhoods of Roxbury and Mattapan would have been more than twice as great “if race was not a factor,” and that “this racial bias is both statistically and economically significant.” …

Mine Risk Education Project Of Unicef: A Formative Evaluation, Unicef

Global CWD Repository

Two decades of war in Sri Lanka have given rise to the problem of landmines and unexploded ordnances threatening the lives of civilians in the Northeast.

The United Nations and government of Sri Lanka initiated a mine action programme, which includes a Mine Risk Education Programme. Supported by UNICEF, it has been implemented since 1997 in the Jaffna District and Vanni region in close co-ordination with UNDP. Today, MRE has reached a professional standard, using tried and tested tools to promote mine-safe behaviour.

This formative evaluation study assesses the effect of MRE on the beneficiary communities. Field research was carried …

Hard Numbers, Hard Times: Homeless Individuals In Massachusetts Emergency Shelters, 1999-2003, Tatjana Meschede, Brian Sokol, Jennifer Raymond

Center for Social Policy Publications

Hard Numbers, Hard Times is the fruit of five years of homeless management information systems data collected in homeless emergency shelters serving individuals across Massachusetts. For the first time, comprehensive, reliable statewide data are provided on how many people accessed the system, where people became homeless, what they attributed their homelessness to, how long they stayed in shelter, and where they went when they left. These data are combined with information on demographics, income, special needs and insurance status along with analysis and interviews to provide multiple perspectives on the Massachusetts shelter system.

Ddasaccident413, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

I am the section leader of Team 07 – 2 Southern Group at 10.15 while we all were at rest area on rest suddenly heard an explosion and saw smoke coming from close to bund. At once I went to the site of the explosion of the spot and I found the water tanker was on uncleared area and with no damage or injury. So I instructed to driver reverse the vehicle using the same track. Driver followed me.

Ddasaccident580, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

[The Victim] left [Demining NGO] Camp to personally respond to the information provided by the two children regarding two No 4 anti-personnel landmines on the Umm Serdiba mountain. This was a known minefield and adjacent to a second known mountain also containing landmines in Umm Serdiba. [The Victim] attempted to neutralize two landmines instead of marking and reporting the mines in accordance with established procedures.

Ddasaccident412, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The deminer was working in his clearance lane using a heavy rake to excavate the ground. The ground was very hard and use of the light rake was limited. At approximately 08:55hrs an explosion occurred under the rake.”

Community Acceptance Of Affordable Housing, C. Theodore Koebel, Robert E. Lang, Karen A. Danielsen

Public Policy and Leadership Faculty Publications

Despite historically low interest rates, organizations across the nation have become increasingly concerned about the impacts of regulatory constraints and anti-growth sentiments on the availability and cost of housing. This concern is by no means limited to a few “high cost” areas like Boston and San Francisco. It can also be found in Iowa City, where new single-family houses were recently selling from $150,000 to $375,000 (prices readily considered affordable in many larger metropolitan areas) and even in rural areas where spill-over growth and “drive to qualify” solve the commuter’s affordability problem while creating unforeseen affordability problems for the rural …

Five Year National Strategic Mine Action Plan For Yemen, 2004 – 2009 Revised And Extended June 2004, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

During this revised five-year period Strategic Plan the Yemen Mine Action Programme will meet the objective of the Ottawa Treaty and thus become one of the first mine affected countries in the world to make it happen. From April 1 2009 the Government of Yemen commits itself to use its national human and financial resources in its effort to eradicate and negate the remaining mines and UXOs from the soil of Yemen.

This document addresses the Strategy for Mine Action in Yemen from mid 2004 to mid 2009. In line with this strategic plan a reviewed Project Document for Phase …

Five Year National Strategic Mine Action Plan For Yemen, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

During this revised five-year period Strategic Plan the Yemen Mine Action Programme will meet the objective of the Ottawa Treaty and thus become one of the first mine affected countries in the world to make it happen. From April 1, 2009 the Government of Yemen commits itself to use its national human and financial resources in its effort to eradicate and negate the remaining mines and UXOs from the soil of Yemen.

Ddasaccident422, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

The accident happened at approximately 1015 hours at the [Demining group] Training classroom in Kukes. A KB1 bomblet, presumed to be FFE or inert, and that was in use as a training aid, exploded while being passed hand to hand among the students in the class.

Multiple Roles Of A Rural Administrator, Roger A. Lohmann, Nancy Lohmann

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Basic administrative procedures are similar in rural and urban areas. Even so, rural human service administrators are often not prepared for the many roles they must assume in small and underfunded rural agencies. The roles may include personnel director, budget officer, accountant, fundraiser, supervisor, building and maintenance supervisor, volunteer coordinator, group developer, community organizer, public educator, policy analyst, and director of public relations and marketing.

Ddasaccident545, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On May 19, 2004 all deminers were called back to restart clearance operations on the minefield 603 in Darlaman after the first 10 minutes break. [The Victim] also went to his lane and started operations. Using the mine detector he found a signal and marked the area by a red marker. He was setting in kneeling position in an up hill and sloppy [sloping] portion of the field and while he had his personal protective suit and visor on started to prod the area using a bayonet and during the prodding he touched the mine and it went off.

Small Arms Reduction Programme (Sarp) For The Great Lakes Region, Undp

Global CWD Repository

The proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the Great Lakes Region (GLR) of Africa has exacerbated conflicts in Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Sudan, Angola, Congo-Brazzaville and elsewhere in the region. Small arms availability has also aggravated the degree of violence by increasing the lethality and duration of hostilities, and the resulting culture of violence has obstructed peace efforts and delayed the launching of economic and social recovery in post-war societies in the region. Until very recently, governments in the region have lacked the capacity to deal with illicit supplies and trafficking, and even …

United Nations Development Program: Small Arms Reduction Programme (Sarp) For The Great Lakes Region, Undp

Global CWD Repository

This assessment report shows that SARP has faced considerable political and logistical difficulties during its two years of operation. As a result, there is little doubt that the delivery rate has been low for a project of this size. There are a number of reasons for this that relate to the original programme design, the political situation, the role of UNDP COs, the involvement of other international actors, the management of the programme and the role of BCPR.

United Nations Development Programme: Small Arms Reduction Programme (Sarp) For The Great Lakes Region, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This assessment report shows that SARP has faced considerable political and logistical difficulties during its two years of operation. As a result, there is little doubt that the delivery rate has been low for a project of this size. There are a number of reasons for this that relate to the original programme design, the political situation, the role of UNDP COs, the involvement of other international actors, the management of the programme and the role of BCPR.

A Study Of Mechanical Application In Demining, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

The GICHD Study of Mechanical Application in Demining is published after two years of research. The study puts the spotlight onto the use of machines as part of worldwide efforts to clear land mines. It looks at how machines work, the physical interaction between the machine tool, the ground struck, and the effects on the mines and UXO. The main roles for machines - potential for clearance, area reduction, and ground preparation - are explained, giving a description of each methodology, and illustrating these with actual case studies from the field.

The study also deals with how machines can be …

A Study Of Mechanical Application In Demining, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

The GICHD Study of Mechanical Application in Demining is published after two years of research. The study puts the spotlight onto the use of machines as part of worldwide efforts to clear land mines. It looks at how machines work, the physical interaction between the machine tool, the ground struck, and the effects on the mines and UXO. The main roles for machines - potential for clearance, area reduction, and ground preparation - are explained, giving a description of each methodology, and illustrating these with actual case studies from the field.

The study also deals with how machines can be …

Emergency Preparedness: A Manual For Homeless Service Providers, Kelly Tobin, Phyllis Freeman

Center for Social Policy Publications

Public attention to "emergency planning" has increased dramatically since 9/11/2001. Out of concern that the population of homeless individuals and families may not have been considered adequately in planning thus far, the Center for Social Policy reviewed what has occurred, sought advice about what would be useful to add to existing material and resources, and proceeded to prepare this Manual. It seemed all too likely that under the already considerable pressure for cities and towns to prepare for threats caused by terrorism, including bioterrorism, that the special characteristics of homeless families and individuals, and of community organizations serving homeless people, …

Technical Assistance To Uxo Clearance Operations In Savannakhet Province, Lao Pdr, Nigel Orr

Global CWD Repository

The needs of the communities vary depending on their location. The communities close to the main access routes have few needs in relation to UXO action as they have access to most services already and many have already received UXO clearance support. The communities in the inaccessible areas need safe land to grow food, but in many cases access is required to permit UXO clearance and other development activities to take place. For these areas UXO clearance in support of access is most important with clearance for agriculture required once access is achieved. UXO clearance to reduce accidents are not …

Ddasaccident409, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

On the 6th of April 2004 at 1252 hours the WMF Wolf MPV, assisting in route clearance operations on the road from Chiede to Malungo wa Shikongo, set off an anti tank mine. The location of the accident was 34 kms south east of Chiede. The Wolf was supporting [Demining group]'s armoured grader while route-clearance was in progress towards Malungo wa Shikongo.

The Changing Nature Of Employment-Related Sexual Harassment: Evidence From The U.S. Federal Government, 1978 – 1994, Heather Antecol, Deborah Cobb-Clark

CMC Faculty Publications and Research

This paper examines the changing nature of attitudes toward and reports of sexual harassment using data for 1978–94 drawn from the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (USMSPB) of the U.S. federal government. The authors find that although unwanted sexual behavior reported by federal government employees changed only slightly in overall incidence over the period, its pattern changed noticeably. Unwanted sexual attention by supervisors, for example, declined in incidence; crude and offensive behavior by co-workers increased; and the likelihood that harassment would occur only once (rather than repeatedly) increased. Employees’ attitudes toward sexual harassment changed markedly, with a dramatically increased willingness …

Human Security In Cambodia: A Statistical Analysis Of Large-Sample Sub-National Vulnerability Data, Taylor Owen, Aldo Benini

Global CWD Repository

With the goal of measuring and analyzing Cambodia human insecurity, Dr. Aldo Benini and Taylor Owen have collected a large amount of data down to the local (1,600 communes) level. At their disposal is the largest existing geo-referenced database of Cambodian security and vulnerability data.They study four types of violence: landmine and UXO strikes (most of which are victim-actuated), as well as serious crime, land conflicts, and domestic violence (perpetrated by contemporary agents).

Serious crime lumps together murder, kidnapping, robberies, and theft, much of which obviously is violent. Using different types of regression models, socio-economic and war determinants are statistically …

Ddasaccident531, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

[The Victim], deminer, at the time of the accident his role was to act as vegetation remover. At approximately 10:20 hrs after completing vegetation removal drill, he called his peer to conduct detection drill, then he told his peer that he would go to the toilet. The toilet in the cleared minefield was constructed at the north of the cleared area, but he went outside the minefield boundary into the uncleared area instead of going to the toilet. Then he stepped on a mine just one step from the minefield boundary, buried in the walking track that villagers frequently use …

Ddasaccident458, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

[The Victim] was going away from the lane. At about 10 m distance from [Name removed], who approached the base line, he slipped with his left foot below the tape into a non-examined part of the minefield and activated a PMA-3. The working path was narrower there because of a larger rock. After the explosion, [the Victim] fell into the working path, but with his legs lying in the non-examined part. Deminer [Name removed] pulled him out into the cleared part. The tip of the left shoe was damaged. It was taken off.

Ddasaccident530, Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

Details of this accident have been withheld by the demining NGO that employed the Victim. A spreadsheet including the Victim’s name and very brief details of the accident was made available in 2007. Some detail can be inferred from the information made available. For example, the fact that six people were injured during excavation of a small AP blast mine implies that safety distances were being ignored and field discipline was low. The main Victim also suffered head injuries that indicate that his head protection and visor were not being worn.