NCJ Number
61322
Editor(s)
E CHELIMSKY
Date Published
1979
Length
200 pages
Annotation
AN EDITED TRANSCRIPT IS PRESENTED OF PROCEEDINGS OF A SYMPOSIUM THAT EXAMINED THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
Abstract
THE SYMPOSIUM HELD ON JUNE 5-7, 1978, WAS ATTENDED BY ABOUT 200 PEOPLE WHO REPRESENTED THE U.S. CONGRESS, 27 FEDERAL AGENCIES, 10 STATES, AND 18 CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, ALONG WITH RESEARCHERS FROM A VARIETY OF ORGANIZATIONS AND UNIVERSITIES. THE SYMPOSIUM'S MAJOR PURPOSES WERE (1) TO EXPLORE THE VIEWS OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND RESEARCH NETWORK AS TO THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF CURRENT PROCESSES BY WHICH FEDERAL SEED MONEY AND DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS ARE IMPLEMENTED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, (2) TO BEGIN TO CHARACTERIZE THE POLICY ISSUES INVOLVED IN THOSE PROCESSES, AND (3) TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THOSE PROCESSES, THE PROGRAMS RESULTING FROM THEM, AND THEIR INSTITUTIONALIZATION. FIRST, THE PARTICIPANTS CONSIDERED SOME GENERAL CONGRESSIONAL, FEDERAL AGENCY, STATE, LOCAL, AND RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES ON FEDERAL SEED MONEY AND DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS. NEXT, THEY EXAMINED SOME SPECIFIC CASES INVOLVING PROGRAM EXPERIENCES IN EDUCATION, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND HIGHWAY SAFETY. PARTICIPANTS EXPRESSED CONCERN WITH POLICY AND PROGRAM INTERACTIONS, THE PROCESS BY WHICH PROGRAMS DEVELOP IN AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT, AND THE CONTEXT AND CONDITIONS FOR PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS. FOUR WORKING PANELS CONSIDERED HOW TO: (1) IMPROVE THE FEDERAL PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, (2) FACILITATE THE DIFFUSION OF INNOVATIONS, (3) OBTAIN A BETTER KNOWLEDGE YIELD FROM PROGRAM RESEARCH, AND (4) INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF INSTITUTIONALIZING FEDERAL PROGRAMS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. THE APPENDIX LISTS THE PARTICIPANTS. A SUMMARY ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS DEVELOPED AT THE SYMPOSIUM IS CONTAINED IN A SECOND VOLUME. (RCB)