Public Administration Commons^™

Writing As A Nonprofit Leadership Tool, Samantha Weinberg

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

When writers use their skills towards a nonprofit’s mission, they can help enhance communities and change lives. There are roles in the nonprofit sector that are very writing centric, such as grant writers and communication specialists, that writers commonly hold. However, writing is also a necessary skill for those in management or leadership positions in nonprofit organizations. This capstone project explores the kinds of writing skills and deliverables that are critical to the responsibilities of nonprofit managers and how writing impacts the effectiveness of nonprofit managers and organizations.

Promoting Your Community On The Web: An Exploratory Analysis Of The Web Presence Of Cities In Georgia, William Hatcher

Georgia Journal of Public Policy

Today, promoting community assets through a quality web presence is a vital component of economic development practice. However, many local development agencies do not have functional websites and also lack quality social media sites. In this study, we examine how municipalities in the Atlanta Metro area use their websites to promote economic development. The study seeks to answer two research questions: How are municipalities promoting their community assets on the web? And for agencies with a web presence, how effective are they at promoting community assets? The analysis describes the content of the agencies’ websites and assesses the overall quality …

Mental Health And Voter Turnout: A Study Of Georgia Counties, April Johnson

Georgia Journal of Public Policy

Despite the tacit belief that health and well-being are a necessary element of politics, there is little understanding of how mental health relates to political participation. The present paper focuses specifically on patterns of mental illness and voter turnout within the state of Georgia. Using county-level data, I argue that a greater and more widespread prevalence of mental illness has a dampening effect on political engagement. Although empirical results from this study are mixed, its theoretical contribution clearly highlights the role of psychological and emotional factors in maintaining an energetic and politically connected society. Implications for mental health policy and …

E-Government As A Tool For Stability And Socio-Economic Development In Post-Conflict Libya., Abdulmajid H. Mohamed

Faculty Articles

Usually, great challenges lie ahead of any post-conflict government, especially in states that have historically been under dictatorship, like Libya. It has been six years since the violent regime change that took place in Libya in 2011, yet no signs of improvement is foreseen in public service delivery and constructive citizen participation in influencing national policy formation and evaluation. In fact, the situation of public services has been worsened due to the absence of political and executive power from a strong, united government. The resulting widespread of collective frustration and political uncertainty has become a catalyst for a more defective …

Effective Social Media Use By Law Enforcement Agencies: A Case Study Approach To Quantifying And Improving Efficacy And Developing Agency Best Practices, David T. Snively

Master of Public Administration Practicums

In the wake of protests against law enforcement for an array of reasons, law enforcement officers and agencies have a responsibility to recognize and utilize the available mediums of communication with which they may best develop a connection to the communities they serve. Furthermore, law enforcement agencies must be informed that established, traditional methods of news dissemination – such as press conferences and printed articles – are now both ineffective and under-utilized, replaced in large part by social media live-time reports. For that reason, law enforcement agency executives must address both the responsibility to provide appropriately timed updates to critical …

A Study In Diversity Management Of Local Governments In: Mecklenburg County, Nc; City Of Atlanta; Cobb County; Fulton County; Dekalb County And Gwinnett County, Joyce Yung

Master of Public Administration Practicums

This paper studies different diversity training programs and diversity policies employed in managing an increasingly diverse workforce of six jurisdictions that are comparable in size and in diversity. It asked what level of support do these public administrators receive from the leadership team in promoting diversity and inclusion and how do they evaluate and measure the diversity programs’ performance? What are the challenges of public administrators in establishing and cultivating an equitable and supportive diverse workforce that is reflective of the diverse public that they serve? This paper also examines how well the employee demographic representing the public of each …

Theoretical Evaluation Of The Community Collaboration On Pet Homelessness: The Case Of Cobb County Animal Control, Lydia Weathers

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects

This paper presents a theoretical evaluation of my internship experience at Cobb County Animal Control (CCAC). CCAC is located in Marietta, Georgia.

A Case Study Of Corruption And Public Accountability In Nigeria, Chinelo Okekeocha

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects

In 2011, Nigeria was ranked 143th out of 182 countries surveyed by the Transparency International in its corruption perception index indicating the level of corruption in the country as compared to other countries. Although this came as an improvement from the previous years, it did not result from an improved system of governance, rather it was due to an increase in the number of countries that participated in the survey. Between 2010 and 2011, Nigeria’s rank actually decreased by 9 spots, showing an increase in corruption despite the efforts of the government to rid the nation of corruption. This survey …

Comparative Analysis Of Municipal Public Services In Romania And The United States: The Case Of Water And Wastewater Services, Andrew I. E. Ewoh, Lucica Matei

Faculty Articles

Some of the most important basic services provided by any level of government are the primary responsibility of municipalities, and urban managers devote more time and attention in making sure that these services are delivered. The availability of public services in any local jurisdiction usually depends on location, history, laws and regulations. Some local governments use alternative service delivery such as public-private partnerships, intergovernmental agreements, and contracting out or privatization. Using an exploratory case study approach, this paper provides a comparative analysis of water and wastewater services in Romania and the United States. Six cities were selected from both countries …

The Utilization Of Social Media: A Case Study Of The U.S. General Services Administration Experience, Maria Guida

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects

With 73 percent of people 18 and older actively using social media, it is becoming a mainstream method of communication for the American public (Lenhart et al. 2010, 18). If the government wants to effectively engage the public, it must leverage this opportunity. There is an apparent need for the government to keep up with the media shift by incorporating the use of social media into its traditional communication methods. Social networking sites have offered a way for the government and the public to engage each other in a two-way communication because they allow interaction among users. If the government …

Middle School Academic Performance: An Exploratory Analysis Of The Fulton County School District, Martina Madison

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact that race and economic status have on middle school academic performance in the Fulton County School District. Descriptive statistics were used to critically analyze how these demographic variables affect middle school academic performance. The mean Criterion Reference Competency Test (CRCT) scores in mathematics and reading were recorded for each of the 22 middle schools in Fulton County from 2006 to 2009 and compared according to race and economic level. The results were grouped together by grade, year, and test subject in order to find trends that occurred over the past …

Can Water Professionals Transform Pharmaceutical Disposal Practices Of Hospice Nurses?, Jennifer L. Mccoy, Kimberly P. Holland

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects

This project is an explanatory case study that illustrates the problems associated with pharmaceutical disposal in regard to water quality. The purpose of the study is to investigate the current pharmaceutical disposal practices of hospice nurses, the attitudes of hospice nurses regarding current pharmaceutical disposal practices, and explore ways to educate the hospice community about the concerns associated with flushing pharmaceuticals. The study consisted of reviewing secondary research, completing a survey, forming a focus group, implementing a pilot study, and developing an education plan and outreach materials.

The researchers partnered with two local nonprofit organizations, Georgia Association of Water Professionals …

A Case Study Of Collegiate Alcohol Education: How Can Kennesaw State University Improve?, Tyler Pede

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects

Alcohol consumption is often seen as a rite of passage for college students. Unfortunately, over 1,800 college students die and thousands more are injured each year as a result of inappropriate alcohol use. Alcohol abuse is also often linked to sexual assaults, fights, property damage, and numerous healthy issues. Students that abuse alcohol tend to struggle academically and have a higher likelihood of dropping out of college all together. Higher education administrators at universities and colleges across the country experience the negative effects of this behavior. To help combat and reduce these negative effects, it is critical that administrators develop …

Volunteerism And Charitable Giving Among The Millennial Generation: How To Attract And Retain Millennials, Eniko Eva Baranyi

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects

Nonprofit organizations play an important role in today’s society. These organizations provide support to many in need and fill voids left by the governmental services. For nonprofit organizations to work efficiently and effectively, these organizations need to be able to attract and retain volunteers and donors from all walks of life. A young generation, called the Millennials, is one group that can provide the needed support for these organizations. This group includes people born after 1980, with many of them currently in college. This upcoming generation will be great long term support for the nonprofit sector and it is important …

Housing And Human Services: Intergenerational Policy Considerations, Tony Carrizales, Andrew I.E. Ewoh

Faculty Articles

The Journal of Public Management and Social Policy begins its seventeenth volume by examining various issues that not only impact people today, but have policy implications for future generations. Intergenerational social policy is a critical discussion for academic and practitioners to continually have and we hope this particular issue of JPMSP furthers those discussions. Some underscoring themes found in this issue's articles include housing and human services. Overall, the issue brings together five general articles in the first issue of this seventeenth volume of JPMSP.

Deadly Silence: An Assessment Of Emergency Alert Systems For Lincoln County, Georgia, Gretchen B. Keneson,

Georgia Journal of Public Policy

Rural counties have a predisposition to sustaining catastrophic losses during natural emergencies. These counties tend to have poorer economic conditions that exacerbate attempts at hazard mitigation.  Emergency Alerts Systems (EAS) are the most efficient and effective ways to provide information of impending danger.  This study will compare and contrast different EAS to determine which would accommodate the needs of a community. The most successful way for most counties to alert citizens is through the use of a combination of redundant systems. For pastoral Lincoln County, Georgia the optimal systems are an alert siren and auto call capabilities.  Both of these …

Satisfaction With Local Conditions And The Intention To Move, Richard N. Engstrom, Nathan Dunkel

Faculty Articles

The recent economic downturn has presented many challenges to local communities and policy- makers. Foreclosed properties, job losses, and other challenges that local residents face can threaten the economic viability of local communities. Another consequence of the economic downturn is decreased government budgets, forcing policymakers to make decisions about how to allocate scarce resources effectively. When making decisions about local and regional policy, it would be useful to know how local characteristics contribute to the decisions residents make about whether to remain in a local community or to relocate. Exhibits 1 through 4 present maps created to investigate the relationship …

Editors' Introduction - 21st Century Public Management: Environmentalism And E-Government, Andrew I.E. Ewoh, Tony Carrizales

Faculty Articles

The Journal of Public Management and Social Policy, in completing its sixteenth volume, looks to continue bringing together a collection of articles and research that review polices and cases underscoring the area of public management and social policy throughout the United States and around the world. This issue’s contributors provide contemporary analyses of public management and social policies in areas ranging from the fiscal benefits of developing "green" buildings to the organizational life cycle of environmental justice groups. Topics covered in this issue also include the areas of e-government and public contracting. Overall, the issue brings together four general articles …

Education And Hispanics In Hypergrowth Areas: The Georgia Question In American Schooling, Robert A. Devillar, Binbin Jiang

Journal of Global Initiatives: Policy, Pedagogy, Perspective

No abstract provided.

Employment Of People With Disabilities In Georgia Local Governments: Identifying Barriers To Employment, Natasha Singh, Laura Creamer

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects

One in five Americans lives with a disability, yet this group has one of the highest unemployment rates. Over the years, many surveys have been conducted to understand the reasons for the high unemployment rate facing this group. Nearly all these studies have concentrated on the private sector, indentifying various barriers to employment including: lack of knowledge and awareness among employers, legal and safety concerns, financial issues, lack of recruitment strategies, limited social relationships among people with disabilities, potential attendance problems, and conflicting government programs. Among the myriad of obstacles facing people with disabilities, these are just some of the …

The Edge Connection, Favziya Nazarova

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects

I believe that the roles played by civil society or nongovernmental organizations are key components of the positive transformations that my country, Tajikistan in particular, and our Central Asian neighbors as a whole, can and are in one degree to another experiencing. Therefore it was a great opportunity to learn how the nonprofit organizations function in the United States and how they handle the challenges of economic recession and maintain financial sustainability.

This report is based on my internship at The Edge Connection, a nonprofit organization that delivers best practices in microenterprise and business development in Metro Atlanta Area. During …

Alternative Funding Mechanisms For Public Recreation: An Analysis Of The Montana State Parks Opt-Out Fee, Caleb Judy

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects

Financing remains one of the greatest challenges facing public parks and recreation managers in the United States. Managers are confronted with the challenge of providing more services for a growing population with dwindling public financial support (Fretwell and Frost, 2006). Adequate funding has been described as the most important factor in the delivery of recreation at the local level (Gladwell, Anderson, and Sellers, 2003). While public recreation funding originally came primarily from general tax revenues at the federal, state and local levels, shrinking appropriations over the last few decades have caused agency managers to experiment with alternative funding sources.

Much …

Anti-Video Girl: Empowering Parents And Adolescent Females To Defy The Misogynistic Images Of African American Women In Hip-Hop, Angelica Moss

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects

Traditional media depictions of African American women have at times been demeaning and derogatory. Slavery produced many of the negative images that continue to influence the contemporary portrayals of African American women. Today, a new plethora of racial stereotypes about African American women are bombarding this generation with equally disastrous implications. The relatively recent emergence of rap music and rap videos into the popular culture has transcended racial, geographic, and cultural barriers. The pervasive accessibility of hip-hop music and videos has enabled its misogynistic lyrics and images to be broadcast throughout the world. This hip-hop culture is dominated by African …

A Comparative Study Of Intergovernmental Relations Of Two Federal Districts: The Case Of The U.S. District Of Columbia And Brasília, Brazil, Crystal E. Romeo

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects

The intergovernmental relationship between the federal district and the national government has been given little significance in the subject of intergovernmental relations. This purpose of this paper is to compare the intergovernmental relationship between two federal districts in the United States and Brazil. The paper begins with a definition of federalism and its key characteristics along with an explanation of the fundamental changes in the system. This is followed by a discussion of the concepts of intergovernmental relations as defined by Deil S. Wright. The models of intergovernmental relations are used to explain the relationship between the federal districts and …

Public-Nonprofit Partnership: A Case Study Of Cobb County Government, Ellen G. Jones

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects

Existing research explains reasons why nonprofit organizations and local governments collaborate in both formal and informal partnerships to increase the volume or speed of service delivery, reduce overhead costs, and maximize the efficient use of taxpayer dollars. In this focus, the author examines two methods utilized by Cobb County government to supply funding to local nonprofit organizations. Based on interviews with department and program directors of partnering agencies, the study found that Cobb County delivers between $15 and $17 million annually to nonprofit agencies via two unique partnerships. Through a partnership with a nonprofit known as the Cobb Community Collaborative, …

The Promises And Pitfalls Of The Competitive Bidding Process, Jason Carruthers

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects

The specter of increased taxes casts a dark shadow upon the American landscape. At the same time public satisfaction with schools, public housing, crime, and infrastructure is on the down turn. The negative perception of public agencies as bureaucratic, inefficient, and wasteful is all the more pronounced when compared to the popular refrain lauding the virtues of the private sector. To stem the mounting inequities of public agencies law makers, think tanks, and members from every facet of society have suggested the expansion of private sector contracting into schools, public agency management, health and human services, police and fire, and …

Immediate Aftercare Program For Survivors And Families Of Homicide Victims: The Case Of Cobb County Government, Susan B. Stern

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects

Cobb County, Georgia is a rapidly growing, upscale, suburban county in the metro-Atlanta region. However, the County lacks the ability to provide a comprehensive array of services to family members of homicide victims and other non-natural death cases. While various counseling and service programs exist in the area, there is no singular focus on the delivery of services to homicide survivors, families, and friends. Other than the general information provided to surviving family members by the Medical Examiner’s Office at the time of death, there is little to no emphasis currently placed on services to or the needs of those …

Editors' Introduction - Public Service: Law Enforcement, Environmentalism And Health, Andrew I.E. Ewoh, Tony Carrizales

Faculty Articles

The Journal of Public Management and Social Policy, beginning its sixteenth volume, aims to continue bringing together a collection of articles and research that review polices and cases underscoring the area of social policy and management throughout the United States and around the world. The issue’s contributors provide contemporary analyses of public management and social policies in areas ranging from perceptions of diversity and law enforcement to health care policy and issues. The issue brings together four general articles, and a book review to begin the first issue in this sixteenth volume of JPMSP.

Ict Usage In Microfinance Institutions In Uganda, Joseph Kaumba Ssewanyana

The African Journal of Information Systems

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) are always often faced with high operating costs to provide financial services to the poor people and Small and Medium Enterprises. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has been found to promote the dual objective of microfinance - sustainability and outreach to the poor people. Using a quantitative survey and descriptive research approach, this paper has established the extent to which ICT has been used in the microfinance institutions in Uganda. Despite the barriers, ICT usage in MFIs has been on the rise; and different applications and technologies have been adopted by some MFIs to control costs, create …

E-Government For Development: A Case Study From Mozambique, Gertrudes Macueve

The African Journal of Information Systems

This paper draws upon Amartya Sen’s concept of "development as freedom" as an effective approach to analyze e-government for development initiatives. An interpretive analysis of three projects ongoing in Mozambique report that although some "freedoms" are currently reachable through these initiatives, a lot needs to be done to achieve "development as freedom." The use of this theoretical approach provides a valuable contribution to the research domain of ICTs for development. This article also draws practical recommendations to assist managers of e-government projects in Mozambique, as well as other developing countries.