Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

A Study On Characteristics Associated With Unmet Adl Needs Among People With Disabilities In Korea, Sun-Gill Jung

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Long-term care services are assistance provided to people with disabilities needing help with ADL (activities of daily living). This study aims to address two research questions regarding people with disabilities in Korea who have ADL needs: 1) who is served and not served by long-term care services from the government, and 2) what characteristics are associated with unmet ADL needs among those who are not served by long-term care services. To answer these questions, this study utilizes data from the supplementary survey of people with disabilities in the 2020 Korea Welfare Panel and conducts descriptive statistics and multiple regressions. The …

Solving The Healthcare Employee Shortage: The Effectiveness Of Incentive Programs In Enticing Young Health Professionals To Appalachian Kentucky Communities, Taylor Williams

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Kentucky’s Appalachian counties have long been recognized as medically underserved areas, with access to care being limited by a shortage of healthcare professionals in the region. This issue, specifically as it pertains to primary care physicians, has been the focus of many programs hoping to improve access to care in these communities for many years. Is the ongoing effort to recruit and retain primary care physicians in Appalachian Kentucky counties effective? Hypotheses The mean number of people per physician in Appalachian Kentucky counties reported in 2013 is equal to the mean number of people per physician in Appalachian Kentucky counties …

The Effect Of Evidence-Based Funding On Student Performance, Jade Gates

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Historically, education funding policies in the United States have been responsible for aiding the disproportionate allocation of resources to public school districts. Illinois school districts in particular have struggled with providing their students with an adequate education. The Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) model was implemented with the intent to distribute funds based on need and ability to reach an adequacy target. This research analyzes how student test scores have changed since the inception of the EBF policy in Illinois. This data is analyzed in an ordinary least squares and interrupted time series model to show the impact and significance of this …

An Analysis Of Test Scores In The Central And Eastern Time Zones, Rliey Reed

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

During daylight savings in Kentucky, elementary students in the Eastern Time Zone receive around an hour less of sunlight than students in the Central Time Zone when attending school in the morning. With recent discussion of making daylight savings permanent, it's important to discuss the effects that going to school in the dark has on students' test scores. Research has been done to study the effects that operating on less amounts of sunlight has on school aged children. This study seeks to do the same, by comparing test scores of 3rd grade students on the Central and Eastern Time Zones …

A Study On Motivators And Satisfaction In Arts And Culture Public Programs: Implications For Policy Implementation, Eunyoung Yi

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

This study examines individuals’ motivations related to their participation in arts and culture activity programs and their support for the active roles of the government in cultivating such programs in South Korea. In doing so, this study suggests policy implications that help policymakers and stakeholders develop effective arts and culture programs in the public sector.

This study claims that redesigning the program contents reflecting sociopsychological motivations, expanding the policy target to the general public, and embracing the concept of lifelong arts and culture education will ensure inclusive accessibility and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all citizens.

Guided by intrinsic and …

Examining Migration Flows Across Kentucky's Counties, James Brady Stein

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The state of Kentucky is home to many rural counties which experience high levels of outward migration due to their relatively unfavorable economic conditions. While migration trends nationally have begun to plateau, migration flows from county to county show a much more volatile story. This study will examine the relationship between economic opportunity and migration flow estimates in Kentucky’s counties through a multiple regression approach with the response variable being annual migration flow estimates, with multiple predictor variables showing the economic composition of the county. Variables used in this regression include annual unemployment rates, educational attainment levels, county poverty rates, …

Estill County "Twin Cities" Consolidation Study, Logan Hart

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

To provide essential services without imposing an unreasonable financial burden on their residents, local governments, particularly those with a declining population or tax base, are seeking ways to maximize their resources. Municipal consolidation is one of the solutions that many local governments have considered. This study aimed to determine if municipal consolidation would improve the efficiency and financial standing of the Estill County, Kentucky cities of Irvine and Ravenna. The study's findings suggest that consolidation could lead to cost benefits for both cities. However, due to the limited availability of data, further research is required to gain a complete understanding …

Improving Tax Compliance In Indonesia Through The 2022 Voluntary Disclosure Program, Farid Al Firdaus

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Developed or developing countries have conducted Voluntary Disclosure Programs (VDP) to increase tax revenues and taxpayers' compliance. Non-compliant taxpayers prefer this way to regular law enforcement to be more compliant. This study focuses on supporting Indonesia, the lowest tax-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio in Asia and the Pacific, in improving its taxpayers' long-term compliance through the 2022 VDP; this amnesty had fewer participants, shorter periods, and higher rates than the first one in 2016. Using descriptive analysis, it is concluded that the 2022 VDP could reveal taxpayers' wealth known and unknown by the tax authority, increase revenue as a fraction …

Examining Academic Performance And Education Stability Measures For Youth In Foster Care, Alex Asbury

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The state of Kentucky has seen an increase in its population of youth who are involved with child welfare and in the foster care system while also seeing less cases end in reunification with families. While youth process trauma related to the removal from their homes and the potential of experiencing multiple moves through their time with child welfare, it is important that educational stability remain intact to promote normalcy and improve educational outcomes for youth in foster care. Following the signing of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Kentucky education system has seen improvement in its processes …

Cares Act Unemployment Insurance Program Implementation In Kentucky: A Case Study, Alicia Landon

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

In March of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the United States. The deadly virus filled hospitals to capacity and caused approximately 375,000 deaths nationwide over the next nine months (Ahmad et al., 2021). In an effort to slow the spread of the Coronavirus, federal and state governments closed businesses and agencies within a matter of weeks. Almost as quickly as the threat to human health changed the lives of Americans, the secondary threat of economic disruption began to unfold. Nationwide unemployment rates increased from approximately 4% to 15% between February 2020 and April 2020 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, …

Association Of Diabetes Prevalence With Labor Force Participation Rates In Kentucky Counties, Ryan Montgomery

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Compared to other states in the USA, Kentucky has one of the highest rates of diagnosed diabetes and one of the lowest levels of labor force participation. This project employs a multivariable linear regression model to estimate the correlation between county-level diabetes prevalence and county-level labor force participation rates in Kentucky counties from 2015-2019, using publicly available data from the Centers for Disease Control’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). Labor force participation rates serve as the dependent variable and diabetes prevalence rates serve as the primary independent variable, alongside nine …

Did The Covid-19 Pandemic Cause A Learning Loss In Reading And Mathematics? Empirical Evidence Using 2022 Grade 8 Students In Kentucky., Tiyani Rodrigo

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

In 2020, most United States (U.S.) schools closed abruptly. Due to the pandemic, students and teachers were affected in multiple ways. Nearly three years post-pandemic, it is evident students lost in academic achievement. Lower academic performance may impact the future economy and labor force due to lower productivity. Therefore, understanding the causal impact COVID-19 had on academic achievement is vital to develop policy that will help mitigate the long-term impact. In this capstone, I will estimate the size and direction of the impact COVID-19 had on Mathematics and Reading skills for grade 8 students in Kentucky. Using a Difference-in-Differences (DiD) …

How The Increase In Remote Employees Due To Covid-19 Has Impacted Local Income Tax Revenues For U.S. Cities, Brian T. Pearson

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

This research paper will discuss COVID-19’s impact on remote work and its effect on local income taxes for cities across the United States. The paper specifically will be looking into how the increase in remote workers has affected revenue and policy changes for local income taxes since the pandemic. Before the pandemic, most US citizens with jobs had to be on-site, but COVID-19 seems to have changed how businesses are operating for the foreseeable future. A lot of businesses across the country have shifted to having more of their employees working fully remote or partially remote (hybrid) schedules. This has …

Budget Models And Methods Used In Higher Education, Brad West

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The Cambridge Dictionary defines a budget as “a plan to show how much money a person or organization will earn and how much they will need or be able to spend.” (Budget, 2023). The budget of an institution within higher education is how to allocate the planned amount of revenues received to support the planned expenditures across the organization for an upcoming period, usually a fiscal year or project duration. Various public higher education institutions have many different methods for allocating those planned revenues to support expenditures across their colleges, schools, and administrative units to support the university's mission. This …

Expanding The Samat In Kentucky Correction Institutions: Benefits And Funding, Blair Lozier

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The United States has seen an increasing rate of substance use disorder among individuals. Those convicted and incarcerated are more likely to have substance use disorder. With correctional institutions becoming overcrowded, policymakers struggle to find an answer to the number of individuals incarcerated with substance use disorder. The Cabinet of Health and Family Services and the Department of Corrections created Supportive Assistance with Medication for Addiction Treatment (SAMAT) in Kentucky. SAMAT is an addictive services program focused on preventing overdose and relapse and aiding recidivism for individuals with opioid and alcohol use disorder. The SAMAT has been deemed successful through …

Evaluating Pharmacy Student Opinions Of The Kentucky Professionals Recovery Network, Abby Kosharek

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Healthcare professionals have similar rates of substance use disorders as the general population. Healthcare professionals are in a unique position because their substance use disorder affects them and may affect their patients. Substance use disorders among healthcare professionals can result in lawsuits and loss of licensure. Kentucky Professionals Recovery Network (KYPRN) provides healthcare professionals with substance use disorders services and programs to help them recover from their disorder. Unfortunately, the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy no longer provides education on the Kentucky Professionals Recovery Network in its formal curriculum. Instead, students are expected to gain this knowledge via experiential …

Analysis Of Regulatory Options To Reduce Ethylene Oxide Emissions In Southern Louisiana, Claire Oyler

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Toxic chemicals are dangerous when exposed directly to humans but are often vital for the production of goods and services. Ethylene Oxide is a carcinogenic gas used as a commercial sterilizer and emitted during the manufacturing process of common household goods. The term fence-line communities describes the residents living adjacent to facilities emitting toxic chemicals into the air. Several predominately minority, low-income fence-line communities in Southern Louisiana are exposed to higher than average levels of Ethylene Oxide from nearby manufacturing facilities. This raises environmental justice and overall public health concerns in the area. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is charged …

Sunset Provisions In The Local Tax Code: Best Practices, Sara Deuster

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The primary objective of this research project is to identify the main uses of the sunset provision as it relates to the local tax code. This research project utilizes a case study approach to collect and analyze sunset tax legislation from five municipalities. Capital project funding is found to be the primary use of taxes with a sunset provision. Other uses associated with sunset taxation include transportation infrastructure, capital funding, bond financing, and public safety. Through the analysis process for this research project, five best practices were developed to guide municipalities who engage in sunset taxation with respect to their …

Medicaid Expansion: The Choice Afforded To States By The Affordable Care Act, Robert M. Hatfield

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The issue I studied is the decision states have been afforded to expand Medicaid with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). I was curious to determine the health and economic impact on states that have and have not chosen to expand Medicaid. Specifically, I targeted Kentucky (expansion state) and Tennessee (non-expansion state). Tennessee and Kentucky are similar populations, have similar political inclinations, and are both very rural states. At its core, Medicaid expansion is an opportunity to improve health for lower-income and disabled Americans. However, there are economic implications associated with Medicaid expansion as well. The goal of this research is …

Prevalence Of Alcohol-Interactive Medications And Conditions With Concurrent Alcohol Use In Older Adults, Jackson Hull

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Many prescription medications can either directly or indirectly interact with alcohol and many chronic conditions may be worsened by alcohol use. Medications, such as antihypertensives, anticoagulants, and gastrointestinal agents, can be dangerous when taken with alcohol and can lead to loss of consciousness, falls, serious bleeding and other issues. Chronic conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension and cirrhosis can directly be worsened with alcohol consumption. These potential complications are pertinent to all ages, but there is greater concern of these interactions in older adults, defined as adults over 65 years old. Using survey data from older adults in Lexington, …

The Impact Of Korean Government’S Industrial R&D Expenditure On Technological Competitiveness, Hyunok Kim

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

In Korea, the total amount of R&D executed by the Korean government in 2019 was $16 billion. The Compound Annual Growth Rate of Korean government R&D budget is 5.04% (2010~2019). This paper studies whether the Korean government's R&D expenditure effectively achieves its purpose. Assuming the purpose of government R&D expenditure is set as science and technology competitiveness based on related laws and the indicator is identified as the technology balance of payments (TBP), this study estimates the statistical correlation between government R&D expenditure and TBP. Since the characteristic of government R&D expenditure is different for each field, the correlation by …

Covid-19 And Advanced Course Enrollment: Kentucky High Schools, Jessica Thomas

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

In Kentucky governments, districts, and schools made decisions about school closures and mode of learning that would impact community health as well as student achievement. Within those schools, students themselves were also making decisions that could impact their futures academically. In spring 2020, students were choosing their courses for the following year. Vast uncertainty about what the 2020/2021 school year would look like had the potential to impact those decisions. Disruptions to spring 2020 classes could also impact whether a student felt they had learned the prerequisite skills needed to pursue advanced coursework. This study found that advanced course enrollment …

An Analysis Of Krs 123.487 And The Motor Vehicle Tax Rates Levied Among Special Districts In Kentucky, Beth Atkinson

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Kentucky Revised Statute 132.487 sets forth limitations on the motor vehicle tax rate, which can be levied by the state, counties, cities, and special taxing districts. According to the statute, the rate is formulated on a January 1, 1983 date without exception. However, a lack of oversight and understanding of KRS 132.487 has created problems among counties, cities, and special districts in Kentucky. In some cases, this has led to the adoption of tax rates which violate the statute and should be investigated and addressed by the legislature. This research suggests that non-compliance with KRS 132.487 is more prevalent among …

Effects Of Emergency Medical Service Funding Policies In Kentucky, Amber Moreland

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Emergency medical services is a complicated component in local Kentucky governments. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) operated and managed by local government have various funding mechanisms and each have different methods of reporting. This paper reviews the various ways EMS is funded in Kentucky along with the impact these different funding strategies have on quality and delivery of emergency medical services.

Merged Government: Is This An Option For Bowling Green And Warren County, Ky Governments?, Alice Williams

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

In recent history, the most common attempt at reorganization of government in a metropolitan area is the city-county consolidation model. With limited government resources, elected officials along with community members look to this model to make the best use of those resources. “Applied to local government, the term ‘‘consolidation’’ is generally understood to mean the structural merging of two or more governments into one. When a city and county consolidate, a new and different form of local government is created that has elements of both city and county government but is neither.” (Martin, 2011) There are both benefits and problems …

University Of Kentucky Sustainability Strategic Plan, Sophie Beavin

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Global climate change is impacting ecosystems, communities, and economies and will continue to do so into the future. To address these issues, sustainable practices and policies are needed on the local and global scale. At the University of Kentucky, sustainability implies that actions are ecologically sound, socially just, and economically viable. Harmonizing these three aspects is critical when developing and implementing sustainability goals on campus. The Office of Sustainability is responsible for coordinating and implementing sustainability policies, actions, and programs for the University of Kentucky. In 2017, they released the first Sustainability Strategic Plan that set goals through 2022. The …

Defunding The Police: True Police Reform Or Just Political Smoke And Mirrors? A Look At The City Of Camden, New Jersey And Its Approach To Police Reform, Anitra Austin

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The summer of 2020 brought police brutality to the forefront of society. The deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd at the hands of police officers ignited a firestorm of social justice movements. Black Lives Matter and other social justice organizations were calling for cities around the country to defund their police departments as a strategy for police reform. This strategy was largely unprecedented, and highly controversial. There was a lack of understanding of what defunding the police actually meant, as it seemed to mean different things to different people. The subtle suggestions of defunding the police quickly turned to …

Examining Ky Hb8 For 2022: What Can We Learn From Other States’ Experiences?, Patrick Welsh

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Currently, Kentucky levies an individual income tax on all income earned by Kentucky residents at a rate of 5%. A bill approved in 2022 by the Kentucky legislature, KY HB8 for 2022 will phase down the individual income tax rate from 5% to 0% and expand the sales tax to 39 additional classes of services. Incremental decreases in the individual income tax rate depend on meeting General Fund receipts thresholds established in the bill after an initial reduction of one percentage point. Kentucky will join the ranks of 9 other states that do not impose an individual income tax including …

Statewide Educational Achievement Goals: How Has Kentucky’S 60x30 Goal Affected Postsecondary Credential Completion?, Cameron Childress

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

During the past decade, several states have adopted statewide educational attainment goals. Kentucky’s 60x30 goal seeks to credential 60% of the adult population in the state by 2030, bringing Kentucky closer to the national average. Using a difference-in-differences empirical strategy I compare Kentucky to a control group of states from 2010-2019 in order to understand statewide gains in varying levels of postsecondary achievement, and in what subsamples of the population the largest gains have been made. The results indicate that Kentucky has been successful in increasing educational attainment compared to states who have not adopted an educational attainment goal, and …

Inter-State Variability Of Pharmacist Recovery Network Policies And Practice, Lindsey Porter

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Recovery Networks (PRNs) are state organizations, typically associated with a licensing Board of Pharmacy to aid in recovery and monitoring of pharmacists with substance use disorders with the intention of providing an avenue for pharmacy professionals with infractions to return to practice. However, there is significant variation in the structure, funding, and leadership of these organizations leading to high variability in how they serve that purpose and their efficacy in doing so in a rehabilitative fashion. The purpose of this project was to assess, in twenty-five strategically chosen US states, PRN structure, function, and perceptions of Directors regarding allowance of …