Course Textbook
Bowman, A. O’M., & Kearney, R. C. (2014). State and local government. (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth.
Linden, R. M. (2010). Leading across boundaries: Creating collaborative agencies in a networked world. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Final Project Overview
The final project for this course should outline and critically assess a shared service between a local or state government and a not-for-profit organization. Your project should be between 10 and 12 pages, not including the title and reference pages. You are also responsible for creating a PowerPoint Presentation that highlights the final project.
Below is an outline of when assignments are due for the final project:
• Unit III- Project Topic
• Unit V- Rough Draft (PowerPoint Presentation not submitted)
• Unit VII- Final Project
Unit III Project Topic
Select a nonprofit organization with which you are familiar or that you have an interest in researching. In particular, select an organization that is delivering a shared service with a state/local government. What is that service? Briefly describe the partnership or shared service. There are a number of examples of nonprofit organizations included in Unit I. If possible select one operating in your community. Also, note how the increased use of technology (particularly social media) has (and could) assist in providing shared services.
Your project should focus on one of the following areas:
• State and Local Government: A new public, quasi-public service, or nonprofit, or nongovernmental organization initiative (e.g., public health; rapid transit, or public infrastructure, or transportation projects; family, drug, or other criminal justice initiatives; community development, urban planning, municipal public safety projects, or urban beautification projects, etc.). These are projects that should include interlocal, regional, state, or nationwide initiatives that impact the economic, cultural, social, political, or legal administration for the public good.
• Emergency Preparedness and Response: A jurisdictional or community (e.g., for a school district, a local government entity, a state government plan, or a collaborative arrangement with the federal government) emergency management plan.
• Homeland Security: A community plan for local (public jurisdiction or corporate entity) response to a Federal Homeland Security initiative of your choosing.
Include an overview of your selected organization and a draft table of contents for your paper to your instructor. Your instructor will approve your selection or provide guidance on your selection.
Your assignment should meet the following requirements:
• Be a minimum of 300 words.
• Be typed, double-spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA format.
Unit V Assignment
Rough Draft
You are able to submit a rough draft of your final project in Unit V. The rough draft will allow you to receive feedback from your professor and implement changes before submitting your final project in Unit VII and receiving a final grade.
Your rough draft should consist of the following components:
• Title page
• Executive Summary
• Introduction
o Provide an explanation of your project. What does the reader have in store for them?
• Content
o Introduce the shared service, as well as the nonprofit organization and local government.
a. Define the nonprofit organizations roles and responsibilities in relation to the local government environment.
o Communications strategy
a. Design an effective communications strategy that conveys the nonprofit mission to specific internal and external audiences.
o Discuss local government (municipal, county, city) relationships that are complementary, supplementary or adversarial to the nonprofits objectives and purpose.
a. How would you manage these issues? How would you foster good relationships?
o Discuss ways to effectively use technology systems, e-learning, e-training, to strengthen relationships with your chosen local or state government.
o Identify the challenges of advocating for grants-in-aid, fee-for-service and eligibility service models, and the effect on relationship building with the local or state government.
a. How would you manage these challenges?
o Examine the financial tax policies, social, economic regulation, and political constraints affecting the nonprofit and propose a strategy for successful implementation of the service mission.
o Identify the issues of contracting, and collaborating with the local or state government and how you would resolve the issues.
• Reflection
o Reflect on the project and what you have learned. How can you apply what you have learned to your career? What will you take away from this course project?
• Reference page that follows APA format.
Note: The PowerPoint presentation component is not submitted in Unit V.
Unit VII Final Project
You will submit your course project in Unit VII. Your project should outline and critically assess a shared service between a local or state government and a not-for-profit organization. Your project should be between 8 and 10 pages, not including the running head title page, and reference page.
Final Project Format:
• Title page
• Executive Summary
• Introduction
o Provide an explanation of your project. What does the reader have in store for them?
• Content
o Introduce the shared service, as well as the nonprofit organization and local government.
a. Define the nonprofit organizations roles and responsibilities in relation to the local government environment.
o Communications strategy
a. Design an effective communications strategy that conveys the nonprofit mission to specific internal and external audiences.
o Discuss local government (municipal, county, city) relationships that are complementary, supplementary or adversarial to the nonprofits objectives and purpose.
a. How would you manage these issues? How would you foster good relationships?
o Discuss ways to effectively use technology systems, e-learning, e-training, to strengthen relationships with your chosen local or state government.
o Identify the challenges of advocating for grants-in-aid, fee-for-service and eligibility service models, and the effect on relationship building with the local or state government.
a. How would you manage these challenges?
o Examine the financial tax policies, social, economic regulation, and political constraints affecting the nonprofit and propose a strategy for successful implementation of the service mission.
o Identify the issues of contracting, and collaborating with the local or state government and how you would resolve the issues.
• Reflection
o Reflect on the project and what you have learned. How can you apply what you have learned to your career? What will you take away from this course project?
• Reference page that follows APA format.
An additional component of the course project is the PowerPoint Presentation. Develop and arrange a maximum ten (10) slide PowerPoint presentation under a separate cover that highlights the project.
• Include between 5 or 6 abbreviated bullets for each slide – approximately 24-point font.
• Title slide: content includes title of assignment, student name, course title and date.
• When creating the presentation, craft it in a “business professional” manner with appropriate text proportions, consistent and professional font, and appropriate images to caveat your information. While some features of PowerPoint may be “cool” or better at catching attention, it may not be suitable for presenting professional information and driving home your point.
• Your presentation should be written in APA style writing with appropriate citations. Include a references slide at the end of your presentation for your resources.
• The title page and reference page are not included in the total slide count.
