<p> Community policing is a philosophy that promotes mutual partnerships between the police and community members to address public safety issues (Traina, 2010). When community policing is successful, it can reduce crime by allowing the police and public to share ideas and programs (Somerville, 2009). Traditional law enforcement is largely a reactive process with its primary focus on emergency response rather than seeking solutions to prevent or reduce crime (Sun &amp; Triplett, 2008). The general problem has been the existence of police-citizen communication barriers that hinder the prevention, reduction, and solving of crimes. The specific problem is that police-citizen communications/relations have prevented the understanding, use, and effectiveness of community policing efforts (Schneider, Rowell, &amp; Bezdikian, 2003). As the Bureau of Justice Statistics (2003) stated, 37% of residents in 12 cities reported seeing police interacting with neighborhood members, and only 24% of respondents observed police implementing crime-prevention and community participation activities. The purpose of this nonexperimental, quantitative research study was to analyze the difference, if any, between police and citizens&rsquo; perceptions of community policing styles and effectiveness in Clark County, Nevada. The results of this study revealed a generalized need for improving the understanding, use, and efficiency of community policing programs.</p>

<p> Demographic trends indicate a significant increase in the number of adults over 65, especially those 85 and older (Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics, 2010). Community services may be reduced or eliminated due to fiscal constraints (NGA, 2010). Recruiting and retaining volunteers to act as legal guardians (VGs) for incapacitated older adults may be essential in meeting increased community service demand for guardians. </p><p> This mixed method study built upon prior research to include themes of qualitative semi-structured interviews and quantitative results from the Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI; Clary et al., 1998; Clary, Snyder, &amp; Stutkas, 1996) with VGs from a mid-Atlantic not-for-profit guardianship agency. Quantitative data suggest VG motivations score higher than the comparison sample on subscales measuring factors, such as Values (humanitarian, altruistic reasons), and lower than comparison sample on the Career, Enhancement, and Protective factor subscales. Qualitative data were collected using a semi-structured interview guide and analyzed using the Generic Inductive Qualitative Method (Hood, 2007). Interviews conducted with 12 volunteer guardians indicated themes related to why VGs chose this task, such as 'helping the unbefriended (Values factor),' 'giving back/paying forward,' and 'learning to help.' Themes illustrative of how the guardians performed this volunteer task included 'how they with conflict,' 'need for a good match (client to volunteer),' and 'asking for help.' </p><p> In addition, findings seem to indicate that volunteers with human service training employed a more directive case management style. Volunteers without human service training provided more collaborative, functionary guardian services. Qualitative interview data were also collected from six board and agency staff and indicated a difference in perception between administration and VGs related to the 'need for a good match,' as well as 'recruitment' methods. </p><p> Implications for practice include the need to provide more support and assistance to volunteers without human service training, understanding the need for guardian-client matches that would be more compatible with the guardian type, as well as a need for improved, specific recruiting methods. Implications for future research include the development of a model to recruit and train volunteer guardians that could be replicated by social service, faith-based, and other not-for-profit agencies.</p>

<p> The purpose of this quantitative, survey-based study was to investigate the relationship between anger and hatred in an effort to learn more about how to understand and curb the problem of workplace violence. In particular, perfectionism was examined as a possible mediator of the relationship between anger and hatred. The study was conducted on a sample of 1,192 people. The statistical techniques of correlation, partial correlation, linear regression, and principal components analysis (PCA) were used to examine the relationship between variables in the study. The following conclusions were reached: (a) The correlation between hatred and anger was significant (<i>p</i> &lt; .001) but weak (R = .298), and these values changed slightly (R=.221) when controlling for the influence of perfectionism; (b) PCA revealed hatred and anger to be highly distinct from each other; (c) PCA revealed that the sub-scales of anger and hatred were sensitive to differences in how anger and hatred are felt and expressed; (d) the relationship between anger and motivation was not significant (<i>p</i> = &lt; .001); (e) the relationship between hatred and motivation was not significant (<i>p</i> = &lt; .001); (f) anger and hatred were not multicollinear in their association with motivation; and (f) for younger subjects, anger was a weaker predictor of hatred, while for older subjects anger was a stronger predictor of hatred. Based on these findings, the main conclusion of the study is that existing theories that associate anger and hatred might require revision based on further analysis of the differences between anger and hatred</p>

<p> This study explored effectiveness in nonprofit collaborative networks (NPCNs) and the role shared values played in that effectiveness. Twelve participants representing nine different NPCNs were interviewed for this study. Study findings suggested that NPCN effectiveness stems from six sources: shared direction; strong leadership; strong relationships throughout the community; active, ethical participation on an individual and organizational level; efficient and inclusive work processes and dynamics; and producing valued outcomes. Values participants believed led to NPCN effectiveness included focus on mission; focus on relationships; collaborative approach; and work ethic, ethical behavior, and integrity. Shared values were reported as necessary for NPCN survival, productive action, and positive organizational climate. Suggestions for research are to evaluate techniques for promoting collaboration between funders and NPCNs, building awareness among NPCNs operating in the same space, and expanding the sample to extend the present study's findings and allow for analysis based on demographic groupings.</p>

<p><b>Background:</b> The school food environment is critical in demonstrating and encouraging a healthy dietary pattern among children. Incorporating vegetarian options into school lunch menus is an under-examined aspect of the school food environment, but has the potential to help achieve federal nutrition standards and introduce students to diverse foods. The purpose of this research was to explore the barriers and facilitators to serving meat alternates and vegetarian meals in the school lunch program. </p><p> <b>Methods:</b> Peer-reviewed literature, grey literature, and federal documents were reviewed to summarize the current state of research and federal guidelines on meat alternates and vegetarian meals in schools. Qualitative data collection to explore school personnel perspectives on serving vegetarian options took place between November 2011 and June 2012. At the district level, 19 semi-structured interviews were completed with food service personnel in school districts across the United States representing various geographical regions, district sizes, and student demographics. At the school level, 18 semi-structured interviews with school personnel, 5 observations, and review of 10 school lunch menus took place in the Baltimore City Public School district, chosen based on its emphasis on the availability of vegetarian meals through district-wide implementation of Meatless Monday. Interview participants, schools, and districts were selected based on convenience and purposive sampling. Interview transcriptions and observation notes were coded and reviewed for key themes using ATLAS.ti 6.2. </p><p> <b>Results:</b> Key barriers to serving vegetarian options were students' food preferences, greater food waste and drop in school lunch participation rates, negative public opinion, and negative parent and personnel attitudes. Key facilitators to serving vegetarian options were demand for vegetarian meals, community support and involvement in school nutrition, providing choice and variety of well-presented vegetarian options, and flexibility of school meal guidelines. </p><p> <b>Conclusions:</b> This research demonstrates how federal school meal guidelines have evolved to provide increased flexibility in providing vegetarian options; however, achieving acceptance among some students, school personnel, and families is a challenge. Multi-level strategies involving schools, families, communities, and policy makers are needed to create and sustain a school environment that is supportive of offering vegetarian options. Future research should explore student and family perspectives. </p>

<p> The reduction in crime rates that occurred in large cities across the United States (US) over the course of the past two decades has been the subject of much speculation and research. However, there have been no definitive empirical studies that conclusively determine the causes for this phenomenon. The goal of this study is to identify the impact of certain factors to the reduction of crime in large US cities that occurred over the past two decades by examining data over a thirty-year period (1980-2009). The identification of contributing factors may allow government officials, both on a local and national level, to focus their efforts on the implementation of policies that, based on empirical study, are likely to reduce crime. </p><p> This study focuses on <i>Observable Crime</i>, which is operationalized as robberies and larcenies reported in the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) Part II Offenses that were <i>likely to be visible to the police</i>. Those crimes likely to be visible police are determined to be all robberies that were not committed in residences and larcenies that were committed in public areas excluding stores. Law enforcement strategies that were examined in this study include Quality of Life (QOL) Enforcement and Police Presence, which is operationalized as arrests for drug offenses as reported in UCR Part II Arrests and Police Officers per 100,000 residents as reported in the UCR, respectively. The findings of this research supports the hypothesis that Quality of Life Enforcement significant in reducing crime in the twelve largest US cities from 1980-2009.</p>

<p> This study defines and explores the concept of community learning as a driver of economic and social change. Community learning refers to the creation of new knowledge and skills as a result of people interacting with each other to affect change within a locality. Jointly-created knowledge and skills build the efficacy of individuals as well as the capacity of a group to further its purpose. The question that shaped this study was: How do communities educate themselves for change? A theoretical framework is developed based on social constructivist learning theory, organizational and collaborative learning, and community development. This study applies Morse's (2006a) six postulates of community learning to the creation of Chattanooga Venture, a non-profit organization in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1984. Three primary sources&mdash;personal interviews, organizational documents, and newspaper accounts&mdash;ground the study in the lived experience. By applying Morse's postulates to the origin of Chattanooga Venture, the study examines both the process and structure of community learning and has implications for both theory and practice. The significance of this study is to determine if a theoretical understanding of community learning can be applied to creating stronger and better communities, increasing the knowledge-base both individually and collectively, and generating social and economic productivity.</p>

<p> <i>Skins</i> is a project that evaluated the impact of art participation on choices regarding food and gardening in a rural Arizona community. The study was structured by an emergent methodological design, making use of survey, interview, and observation in an effort to capture the full richness of participant experience. The purpose of the project was to meet community wide health goals and measure if and how the arts can create conversation that will result in positive social change. Participants were invited to join open public groups and were also generated from existing groups and organizations in the town of Ajo, AZ. As an artist and former teacher, I chose to implement this project in Ajo partly because of its unique geography, history, and culture, and mainly because of my committed role in the community. In addition to proving that the arts can indeed lead to social change, I also implemented the <i>Skins</i> project as a way to practice my community based arts facilitation and leadership skills and put theory to practice. The results of this project support current theories and trends in the community development field including efforts such as building social capital and utilizing asset based strategies. The project exemplified arts education at work in the community and made a strong case for the positive outcomes of involving youth in the arts process. Planning and activities exhibited the value of one of the Community Based Arts field's main tenants of allowing process to dictate product. Statistics and quantitative data showed that by participating in arts activities on the topic of food and gardening, Ajo community members found a desire to change their eating and nutrition habits and manifested this desire in numerous ways. By impacting personal decision making and provoking a shift in thought patterns and in behavior this project contributed to wider community change. This study allowed for many directions for further research and serves as a contribution to the evolving Community Based Arts field.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to understand earned income tax credit (EITC) policy influences on the development of economic mobility for individuals receiving EITC. Policymakers have declared that improving the economic mobility of low-wage workers a major objective of the EITC. This study addressed identifying factors that contribute to economic mobility, and testing the punctuated equilibrium theory to determine whether exogenous forces influence EITC policymakers' decisions. </p><p> Utilizing the survey data of 2,252 EITC respondents from the Legal Aid Society of Orange County, California, the study found that saving, education, race, and being banked were factors contributing to economic mobility. Age was not a factor contributing to economic mobility. Results from testing the punctuated equilibrium theory indicated that at the .05 level there was not a significant association between exogenous forces and EITC policymaking decisions. </p>

<p> This quantitative study was an exploration of police officers&rsquo; in Puerto Rico level of trust, perception of leadership style, and perceived leadership effectiveness in two different contexts, normal contexts and life-threatening contexts. Data were collected through a web-based system, SurveyMonkey&reg;, where police officers from Puerto Rico completed an online survey. The survey instrument included the Leadership Style Survey by Dr. Peter Northouse, the Global Trust Scale by Dr. Jason Colquitt, and the Perception of Leadership Effectiveness Scale published in Psych Articles. The sample included 128 sworn, active duty police officers from Puerto Rico. The findings of this study revealed that demographics such as age, sex, and years on the force were not related to trust in the supervisor by the police officers. The study findings further revealed that police supervisors in Puerto Rico demonstrated an authoritarian leadership style in both normal contexts and life-threatening contexts. Multiple regression analysis showed that high levels of authoritarian leadership styles are related to high levels of trust. Although the study findings revealed that, overall, leaders&rsquo; skills were rated on the subscale as moderately bad, authoritarian leaders were also perceived as effective leaders in both normal contexts and life threatening contexts.</p>