PS Student Presentations and Publicationshttps://hdl.handle.net/10428/7772024-03-28T14:52:42Z2024-03-28T14:52:42ZMacon Reentry Coalition: Working Together to Change LivesSwicord, Leigh R.https://hdl.handle.net/10428/4372012-06-11T14:30:32Z2009-01-01T00:00:00ZMacon Reentry Coalition: Working Together to Change Lives
Swicord, Leigh R.
The economic downturn has exacerbated social problems as more persons are unemployed, homeless, and in need of assistance. If not aided, these persons may be more likely to resort to drug usage and other inappropriate activity thereby posing problems within the community and contributing to the increase in vagrancy and crime. Criminal offenders released from incarceration transitioning into society, referred to as "offender reentry", have an exceptionally difficult time given the lack of job skills and education necessary to secure employment. Further, these persons oftentimes lack meaningful social and community ties and become a "burden" on social programs within the community. These social problems are exacerbated by the sheer volume of persons being released from imprisonment following the trend towards mass-incarceration in the 1980s and 1990s. In fact, the prison population has increased at a rate of fifteen percent (15%) while the U. S. Resident population experienced an increase of approximately six and one half percent (6.5%). (West and Sabol 2007) Of those persons incarcerated in local jails, approximately half are confined as a consequence of their failure under community supervision. (Beck 2006) Thus, offender reentry has become an increasingly pressing problem for communities in which offenders return from prison every day homeless, in need of treatment, and lacking meaningful community associations.
2009-01-01T00:00:00ZExamining Child Abuse and the Deloris M. Perry Children's Advocacy Center in Lowndes County/Valdosta, GeorgiaMathews, Jessica A.https://hdl.handle.net/10428/4362012-06-11T14:28:40Z2009-01-01T00:00:00ZExamining Child Abuse and the Deloris M. Perry Children's Advocacy Center in Lowndes County/Valdosta, Georgia
Mathews, Jessica A.
This paper will examine the social problem of Child Abuse in Lowndes County/Valdosta Georgia and the creation and impacts of the Deloris M. Parrish Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) by examining their cooperative and supportive relationships with community partners and law enforcement agencies. The following questions served as the principal guides for the development of this project: What is the historical background of the identification of Child Abuse in Valdosta/Lowndes County? What are the identified environments that incidents of Child Abuse occur? Why were Child Advocacy Services needed? When was the CAC established? What are its purpose(s)/mission? What has been its legacy, i.e., how effective or not has its programs and partnership efforts been? Who/what community partners, including city and county governments, are actively engaging in delivery of services to the identified children and their families? How are resources identified and acquired, including operational funding? Resources utilized for this project include library research tools, the Children's Advocacy Center's Website (caclowndes.org) and responses to personal interviews with Brenda Hodges, Director of the CAC; Jennifer Lockhart, Office Manager of the CAC and Joyce Evans, CAC Board Member and Commissioner, District 1 of Lowndes County.
2009-01-01T00:00:00ZLocal Shortfalls in Emergency Planning and Preparedness: A Social ProblemRyans, Benjaminhttps://hdl.handle.net/10428/4352012-06-11T14:17:05Z2009-01-01T00:00:00ZLocal Shortfalls in Emergency Planning and Preparedness: A Social Problem
Ryans, Benjamin
A social problem can be defined in many different ways and take on many forms. When members of a community identify something undesirable this becomes the basis of a social problem. Every community is concerned about the health and safety of its citizens. Local governments have always provided services to ensure the well being of the citizens which it serves. Fire departments, police, and emergency medical personnel are the first line of defense that helps ensure the health and safety of citizens during emergencies. The lack of these vital services would create an enormous social problem of the utmost concern. Most communities do an excellent job in preparing for potential emergencies such as hurricanes, tornados, and wild fires. However, emergencies involving hazardous materials are frequently overlooked. To overlook this type of potential emergency creates a social problem by not fully insuring the safety of citizens. Most local governments do not realize the health and safety issues they have due to the presence of hazardous materials. They also do not realize that the federal government mandates that every local community plan and prepare for hazardous material emergencies. When local communities do plan for this type of emergency they discover that hazardous materials are present and in most cases they are not adequately prepared to deal with them. Planning for hazardous material emergencies is an important step in reducing a dangerous and potential life threatening social problem.
2009-01-01T00:00:00Z