Public Affairs Commons^™

Improving Public Education In Nebraska, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

In 1990, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Co=erce created a study group to examine public elementary and secondary education in Nebraska. The study group was composed of representatives of the business co=unity, educators, and members of the Unicameral. Five work sessions were held to listen to experts discuss the approaches being used by other states to improve education, to discuss the applicability of such approaches to our state, and to identify a set of activities that would assure that pupils throughout Nebraska would be able to compete successfully with other young people in this country and around the world.

Omaha Focus, 91-1, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

This issue of Omaha Focus features "The Omaha Housing Authority's Scattered Site Housing Program: Nearby Residents' Perceptions" by William T. Clute from UNO's Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

Visions For Greater Fremont Strategic Action Plan, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

The city of Fremont, Nebraska, has a proud history beginning with its founding in 1856. Wagon trails that once went through the town were soon transformed into railroads, contributing to the industrialization of the city before the turn of the century.

Today, Fremont is a city of 24,000 people. Although the population has remained relatively stable over the past 30 years, the economy has continued to grow. The City of Fremont, the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Fremont Chamber Industrial Foundation have been actively promoting growth and development during the last decade. Although the 1980s were dominated by …

Omaha Conditions Survey: 1990, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

This report summarizes responses for the North Omaha sample; findings from the metropolitan sample are presented in a separate report series. After a look at the demographic characteristics of the 200 adult respondents, the report examines the North Omaha area's quality of life, employment, and housing conditions. Next, ratings of the best and worst facets of life in the Omaha area are highlighted. The fourth section of the report provides details on North Omahans' satisfaction with a variety of services, facilities and programs. The final two sections focus in greater detail on two issues - labor force experiences and crime …

S.T.A.R.T. Economic Development Action Step Packet - Community Image And Marketing, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

Lack of a clear community image, or the presence of a negative or ambivalent image, may emerge during your S.T.A.R.T. Economic Development strategic planning sessions as a reason for economic difficulties. Image problems are often perceived as a major cause of declining sales, conflicts, residents shopping elsewhere, and young people leaving. Although a negative image may be only part of the reason for (or a product of) economic decline, it usually has some influence on the community economy. Image is manifest in feelings of pride or embarrassment about the community-its streets, houses, lawns, city buildings, and businesses. A lack of …

Metropolitan Technical Community College Survey Of Current Students, James Johnson

Publications

The survey of 1,957 students enrolled at Metropolitan Technical Community College done in the spring, 1980 provided a variety of information. The data on their characteristics were similar to earlier profiles of Metro Tech students. Most Metro students continued to be part time rather than full time and enrolled in a degree or certificate program rather than taking selected courses. Students were almost equally split between day and night courses. Only one-fifth were under 21 years of age. One-third earned under $9,000, but one-fourth earned over $20,000. Approximately 28% were not employed (slightly higher than earlier profiles) but almost half …

Nebraska Policy Choices: 1989 - Education, Miles T. Bryant, Christine M. Reed

Publications

The eight chapters in Nebraska Policy Choices: Education represent the work of University of Nebraska faculty from both the Lincoln and Omaha campuses, as well as the University of Nebraska Medical Center. These authors participated in a unique effort jointly sponsored by the University of Nebraska Central Administration, College of Education (University of Nebraska at Omaha), Teachers College (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), and Center for Public Affairs Research (University of Nebraska at Omaha). Unlike earlier volumes of Nebraska Policy Choices, the focus of this volume is on one critically important area: education policy.

S.T.A.R.T. Economic Development: An Overview, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

S.T.A.R.T. stands for Strategic Training And Resource Targeting - a self-help approach to local economic development. Today's rapidly changing economic climate requires new strategies and processes for managing local economic development. In fact, the successful communities of the future will be those that are able to rely on local initiative and resources to tailor their own economic development strategies. S.TA.R.T. provides you with the necessary tools to determine your community's strengths and weaknesses, and helps you develop a strategic plan to improve your local economy.

S.T.A.R.T. Economic Development Facilitator's Guide, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

This guide has been developed to provide facilitators of the S.T.A.R.T. Economic Development process with an easy-to-use checklist for their work with co=unities. The guide does not provide background information on facilitation techniques; you have been invited to be a facilitator because of your group process and training experiences. Instead, the material lays out the activities which take place during the S.T.A.R.T. Economic Development process, highlights your responsibilities, and gives you a view of where you want the resource team and steering committee to be at the end of each of your site visits.

S.T.A.R.T. Economic Development Local Leader's Guide, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

"Unlike a charismatic leader who gets people to follow his or her vision, a catalytic leader is able to facilitate the development of a critical mass of diverse policy actors, motivated by a goal or vision that is created collectively I among themselves."

Congratulations on deciding to use S.T.A.R.T. Economic Development to help your community plan for local economic development. You and other community residents and leaders have already viewed the video, "S.T.A.R.T. Economic Development: Assessing Readiness." You have also talked about the kit and your needs with the University of Nebraska at Omaha. You and other leaders in your …

S.T.A.R.T. Economic Development Action Step Packet - Municipal Management Options, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

The need for professional city staff to address issues such as the city's role in economic development, city budgeting, grant writing, comprehensive planning, zoning, capital improvement planning and maintenance may have emerged as a major issue during your S.T.AR.T. Economic Development strategic planning sessions.

Omaha Minority Conditions And Research Conference Report: Issues In Education, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

Planning for the 1989 Omaha Minority Conditions and Research Conference began during October 1988. In the early stages of the planning, a luncheon meeting of community members representing the three groups (Blacks, Native Americans, and Hispanics) for which the conference would be targeted was held. One purpose of this meeting was to further ascertain whether community members generally thought such a conference would be worthwhile. A second purpose was to identify persons who would be willing to serve on a steering committee which would have the task of planning and structuring the conference. A third purpose of the meeting was …

S.T.A.R.T. Economic Development Action Step Packet - Business Retention And Expansion, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

Research indicates that the creation and growth of local firms is usually the source of most new jobs in a community. Because of this, local business retention and expansion is an important key to keeping local economies healthy.

Corporate Farming And Corporate Farming Restrictions In Nebraska, Bruce Johnson, David J. Aiken

Publications

Corporate activity in production agriculture has been an object of public debate in the United States and in Nebraska for a long time. During the 1960s, foreign nationals began buying agricultural land, particularly in the Midwest. At about the same time, corporations such as Gates Rubber Company and Blackwatch Farms acquired large tracts of land. Many people saw this as a threat to the family farm and, subsequently, sought restrictions on corporate ownership of agricultural land.

Municipal Revenue Sources: Analysis Of Omaha's Options -- 1987 Update, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

This report updates a study conducted by the Center for Applied Urban Research in 1983. The first section of this report compares the revenue structure of Omaha with the revenue structure of other U.S. municipalities. The comparisons are based on data contained in the U.S. Bureau of the Census publications, City Government Finances in 1980-81 and 1984-85. The categories of comparison cities are all U.S. cities, cities with populations between 300,000 and 500,000, and ten cities that are comparable to Omaha in size and central/ core city percentage of total metropolitan area population.

Minority And Female Employment In The Omaha Msa Construction Industry: Status, Trends And Outlook, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

This profile of minority and female employment in the construction industry in the Omaha Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was developed to provide information to assist the Work Force Analysis Subcommittee of the Construction Industry Liaison Committee (CILC). The CILC represents a public-private effort to increase minority and female employment in the construction industry in the Omaha MSA. The profile briefly examines:

• Construction industry employment trends in the Omaha MSA,
• Minority and female employment in the construction industry, • Labor availability, and
• Future prospects for construction industry employment.

Nebraska Department Of Labor Es-202 Estimates Quality Study, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

The Employment and Wages (ES-202) Report is the only source of employment and total wages data available in complete industry detail, and forms the basis for several important federal, state, and local economic indicators. The quality of the data, therefore, is of major importance.

Symposium Proceedings 1987 Nebraska Legislative Issues Symposium, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

In December 13-15, 1987, the Nebraska Unicameral conducted a symposium for its members to address these and other questions. The 1987 Nebraska Legislative Issues Symposium was a first for Nebraska and was developed by the legislative Research Division and the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Center for Applied Urban Research under the direction of the Unicameral's Executive Board.

Omaha Metropolitan Statistical Area Input-Output Tables And Multipliers: A User's Manual -- A Guide For Identifying And Assessing The Effects Of Business Changes On The Omaha Economy, W. J. Corcoran

Publications

The impact of a new convention center or a new firm entering or leaving a region requires the use of multipliers to estimate the full economic effect. Multipliers account for the interactions from industries to industries and from industries to households and back, and are produced easily from input-output studies.

Economic Impact Of The Nebraska School For The Deaf, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

Researchers from the Center for Applied Urban Research examined the economic impact of the Nebraska School for the Deaf (NSD) on the Omaha area and the state. The impact of the NSD reaches far beyond its primary function of providing educational opportunities for deaf children in Nebraska, therefore, measuring its value is difficult.

Nebraska Policy Choices: 1988, Russell L. Smith

Publications

The six chapters in Nebraska Policy Choices: 1988 contain the work of eight faculty from the University of Nebraska's Omaha and Lincoln campuses. These faculty, like the twenty-five faculty who wrote chapters for the previous two annual volumes, are some of the leading experts in Nebraska in their respective areas of interest.

Arts Education In Nebraska: A Survey Of Schools And Arts Organizations, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

This report presents the results of a statewide mail survey of public school districts, nonpublic schools, and arts organizations. The surveys were conducted to determine the state of arts education in Nebraska's schools, the perceived need for improving arts education, and the actions needed to include arts courses in basic curricula. The data were collected between April 13 and June 3, 1987.

Omaha Public Schools: Opinion Survey Of A Parent And Taxpayer Group, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

As part of a broader marketing effort by the Omaha Public Schools (OPS), Omaha residents were surveyed by telephone during April 30-May 6, (parent) and May 19-27, 1987 (taxpayer). The survey was intended to identify respondents' perceptions about the Omaha public school system. This report presents the results of the survey. The information and analysis provided should prove useful to interested citizens, board members, and district personnel as they plan the future of Omaha's public schools.

Assessment Of Recreational Needs In The Papillion/La Vista/Ralston Area, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

In December 1986, a survey was conducted by the Center for Applied Urban Research (CAUR) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha to assist a community group in determining whether there is sufficient market demand for a new YMCA facility in the Papillion/La Vista/Ralston area of Southwest Omaha. Residents in the area were surveyed to assess their current level of fitness activity, the specific activities in which they participated, their use of existing YMCA facilities and programs, the need for an additional YMCA facility, and the potential support for a new facility. The results presented in this report represent the …

Nebraska Policy Choices: 1987, Russell L. Smith

Publications

Nebraska Policy Choices: 1987 represents the work of 14 faculty from the University of Nebraska's Omaha and Lincoln campuses. As last year, the authors are some of the leading experts in the state in their respective areas of interest. The depth of faculty capacity, coupled with the breadth and timeliness of the topics, combine to make Nebraska Policy Choices: 1987 an exciting publication.

Omaha Public High Schools' Graduates Attending Uno, Floyd T. Waterman

Publications

During the 1986-87 school year, the University of Nebraska at Omaha/Omaha Public Schools (UNO/OPS) Liaison Committee requested a study to determine how high school graduates from the Omaha Public Schools were progressing in their college careers at UNO. The author was asked to work with Paul Malcom of the Research Department of Omaha Public Schools to determine how the study might be conducted. Possible research questions were shared with the committee. The author met with Malcom to obtain lists of names of high school graduates.

Earlier, OPS conducted a survey of its high school graduates and developed a list of …

Health Services Survey Of Residents Of Lexington, Nebraska, Curtis R. Winkle

Publications

The results of a health services questionnaire administered to over 300 Lexington area residents in April/May 1986 are presented in this report. The sample constituted 6.7 percent of the 4,507 households in the study area.

Primary Health Care In Omaha, Nebraska: A Case Study Of Nine Primary Health Care Centers, Stella G. Limson

Publications

The provision of health care has always been a declared policy of many governments, and every nation in the modern world has a health care system through which its people can get health services. The characteristics of these systems vary greatly with the nation's economic level and political structure.

Preliminary Study Of The Homeless In Omaha-Douglas County, Jeff Luke

Publications

Homelessness is not a new phenomenon. The period between the Civil War and World War I, for example, witnessed a large increase in predominantly male transients who followed an active labor market and formed a highly visible subcommunity called skid row. Today's homeless population, however, includes more women, children, and minorities and fewer single men and drifters than previous populations. In addition to changes in the demographic composition of the homeless population, most experts agree that the problem of homelessness is increasing.

Management Training Needs Assessment United Methodist Community Centers, Sarah Kovoor, Anne Miller, Jeff Luke

Publications

This report outlines a management training plan for the United Methodist Community Centers, Inc. (UMCC). UMCC is a community service agency which focuses on bringing positive change for minorities and other disadvantaged people in the Omaha community. UMCC is one of Omaha's major community service agencies and has two locations, the Wesley House in north Omaha and the Woodson Center in south Omaha. A broad range of community programs are coordinated and managed from these two centers, including, for example: family enhancement programs, a woman's resource center, "sweat equity" housing development, senior meals programs, pre-school and after-school learning programs, and …