Summer Jobs Connect: Building Sustainable Banking and Savings Programs in Summer Youth Employment

Across the country, municipal Summer Youth Employment Programs (SYEPs) provide hundreds of thousands of young people, often from low-income communities, with short-term work experience and a regular paycheck. Building off this existing, widespread infrastructure and connection to young people, the Citi Foundation and the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) saw an opportunity to connect young workers to bank accounts and targeted financial education, turning this large-scale youth employment program into a linchpin for building long-term positive financial behaviors. More broadly, Summer Jobs Connect (SJC) demonstrates how banking access efforts can be embedded in municipal infrastructure, a core goal of the CFE Fund's national Bank On initiative

Reducing Intimate Partner Violence through Leveraging Cultural Values

In this brief the results of the "Strengthening What Works: Preventing Intimate Partner Violence in Immigrant and Refugee Communities" (SWW) initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will be provided. Implications of the results will be suggested as well as recommendations for policy

Mediating towards digital inclusion: the monitors of internet access places

Local dynamics play a key role in individual and collective empowerment for digital literacy and citizenship. This paper presents the results and reflections from a broader investigation into the public Internet access places in Portugal in the inland municipalities of the country's coast, undertaken by ObLID Network. Specifically, we intend to reflect on the actual mission of these places and reveal the actual profile, activities and training needs of their monitors and coordinators. In the first stage of the empirical study, several documents available on the Internet Spaces Network are analyzed. In the second stage, a questionnaire was applied to monitors and coordinators of the Internet access places, in seventeen Portuguese municipalities. The research results warn of the need to redefine and clarify the social and educational value of Internet spaces, indicating that the dominant activities of monitors in the Internet access places do not induce the foster of literacy and digital inclusion of the most vulnerable groups. In this context, actions are proposed that can contribute to improving the mission of Internet places, as well as the training quality of their monitors and coordinators. Internet Access Spaces, made available by municipalities, should be used to promote digital literacy programs, for individuals and groups.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Exploring the connection between relational capital and female entrepreneurs

.Among intangible assets of contemporary companies, relational capital (RC) is a relevant strategic asset as well as a dimension of intellectual capital. In this scenario, micro-enterprises are key drivers of economic growth, and woman entrepreneurs are key developers of these businesses. So, the purpose of this study is to carry out a literature review analyzing how RC contributes to the startup phase of women-owned micro-enterprises. Another purpose is to understand whether and to what extent the studies conducted so far have addressed some issues such as “How and why women entrepreneurs use relational capital? What are the main benefits they get using relational capital? What are the main obstacles they face?” A literature search on Scopus was conducted, using a set of selected keywords. Scopus was used since it has quality publications. Selected papers were analyzed and classified, in an attempt to identify the main topics and results obtained from the research and analysis carried out so far. The contribution of the present research is to make the international literature focus on the connection between gender studies and RC. Particularly, the literature review emphasizes the topic proposed as emerging issue, which gives us the opportunity to identify new trends and future directions of research. This paper aims to advance knowledge and practice in the area of gender and management, using RC based on empirical research, theoretical developments, practice and current issues. The main evidences are related to a better understanding of the debate on gender and relational capital, considering that female entrepreneurship is central to the development and welfare of economies. Deep knowledge on how women entrepreneurs manage business relation can contribute to improving the effectiveness policies that promote the participation of female entrepreneurs in the economy

Trust-based quality culture conceptual model for higher education institutions

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) play a crucial role in societies as they enhance the sustainable development of nations. In a context of increasing competition and financial difficulties in higher education institutions, the loyalty of students, faculty and administration staff as well as institutional reputation are key factors for survival and success. They are built upon trust and high quality of services rendered by HEIs. The intentional development of trust serves the purpose of enhancing the quality culture in higher education. The concept of quality culture has become a natural successor of quality management and quality assurance in universities presenting a new perspective for viewing quality at HEIs - as a combination of structural and managerial with cultural and psychological components. This paper provides an elaboration of a novel Trust-Based Quality Culture Conceptual Model for Higher Education Institutions which presents the perceived interconnections between trust and quality culture at HEIs. It can form a source for an inquiry process at HEIs, thus contributing to better contextual diagnosis of the stage where HEI is in the process of building the quality culture based on trust. The findings of this study are important in better understanding the quality culture development in HEIs that is based on trust, loyalty and reputation. It may have an impact on the decision-making processes concerning HEIs’ management. The proposed model contributes to the need for greater clarity, ordering and systematization of the role of trust in the processes of quality culture development

Healthcare Organization Change Management Strategies to Guide Information Technology With for Information Technology Change Initiatives

As technology and organizations continue to increase in complexity, a willingness to implement change management strategies for Internet technology (IT) change initiatives is necessary in a healthcare setting. This multiple case study explored change management strategies that 3 hospital administrators at 3 different hospitals in the southeast region of the United States used to guide organizational IT change activities to avoid waste and increase profits. The conceptual framework for this study was Lewin\u27s organizational change model and Kanter\u27s theory of structural empowerment. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of hospital documentation from the 3 hospitals. The data analysis process was completed by transcribing the interview recordings and coding the data using a codebook and data-management software. Themes that emerged from data analysis included strategies to increase digitization in all areas, improve communication with IT personnel, provide ongoing training, and encourage the gradual adoption of technology. The implications of this study for positive social change include the potential to provide hospital managers with successful strategies related to the use of IT in hospitals to facilitate improved patient care and community well-being

Agricultural extension - generic challenges and the ingredients for solutions

Is agricultural extension in developing countries up to the task of providing the information, ideas, and organization needed to meet food needs? What role should governments play in implementing or facilitating extension services? Roughly 80 percent of the world's extension is publicly funded and delivered by civil servants, providing a range of services to the farming population, commercial producers, and disadvantaged target groups. Budgetary constraints and concerns about performance create pressure to show the payoff on investment in extension and to explore alternatives to publicly providing it. The authors analyze the challenges facing policymakers who must decide what role governments should play in implementing or facilitating extension services. Focusing on developing country experience, they identify generic challenges that make it difficult to organize extension: a) The magnitude of the task. b) Dependence on wider policy and other agency functions. c) Problems in identifying the cause and effect needed to enable accountability and to get political support and funding. d) Liability for public service functions beyond the transfer of agricultural knowledge and information. e) Fiscal sustainability. f) Inadequate interaction with knowledge generators. The authors show how various extension approaches were developed in attempts to overcome the challenges of extension: 1) Improving extension management. 2) Decentralizing. 3) Focusing on single commodities. 4) Providing free-for-service public extension services. 5) Establishing institutional pluralism. 6) Empowering people by using participatory approaches. 7) Using appropriate media. Each of the approaches has weaknesses and strengths, and in their analysis the authors identify the ingredients that show promise. Rural people know when something is relevant and effective. The aspects of agricultural extension services that tend to be inherently low cost and build reciprocal, mutually trusting relationships are those most likely to produce commitment, accountability, political support, fiscal sustainability, and the kinds of effective interaction that generate knowledge.ICT Policy and Strategies,Decentralization,Enterprise Development&Reform,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Agricultural Research,Environmental Economics&Policies,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,ICT Policy and Strategies,Agricultural Research

The Effectiveness of the Revolving Capital to Improve the Development of Cooperative and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMS) in Kediri

The purpose of this research to analyze the provision of revolving capital can increase the development of micro small and medium enterprises (MSMS) and test hypotheses whether the provision of revolving capital has leverage a positive influence and significant to the development of MSMS. The  method of  this research is survey. The population of  this researh are all of MSMS that get revolving capital, and the number  of MSMS are 25. Whereas the number of the sample are 15. The reason MSMS is showing growing significantly. The sampling technique  is random sampling. To analyze revolving capital funds is used a descriptive analysis as the average and the percentage.To analyze the growth of MSMS is used a formula of the increase of productivity, the formula of the increase in business volume, the formula of the rise of added value and the percent of the increase of the employment infiltrating. To test hypotheses is used a formula linier regretion. The Instrument and the data collection technique  in this research are orientation to the interview, documentation and questioner. The result of  hipotesis test  is the linier model may be accepted or simultaneously (together) all of the free variables (rolling capital) can give the influence to the dependent variables (MSMS expansion) but this influence is not significant.The result showed that the business development of MSMS 1) from a sample of 15 totals and 86.67% undergoing development, 6.66%a temporary to stop business and the owner moves other  professionals, 6.66%has a business stopping. It means the moving modal is effective to increase the development of Cooperation and MSME 2) there is a positive influence between a rolling capital and the development of MSMS .It means the higher revolving capital will be followed by the increase in the development of MSMS but the influence of revolving capital to the development of MSMS is not significant. The conclution of this research is, 1 ) the business development of MSMS, from a sample of a totals of 15 and 86,67 % undergoing the development, 6,66 % a temporary to stop business and the owner moves other  professionals, 6,66 %  has a business stopping. It means the moving modal is effective to increase the development of Cooperation and MSMEs. 2 ) there is a positive influence between a rolling capital and the development of MSMS .It means the higher revolving capital will be followed by the increase in the development of MSMS but the influence of revolving capital to the development of MSMS is not significant. 3) There are some causes why the moving modal has an effective impact but not significant because the strengthening of the modal is one of empowering to the Cooperation and MSMEs besides empowering in other forms, such as:a. Education and training; b. The management guiding and the developing of technology; c. The product marketing; d. Facilitating the cooperation between Cooperation and MSMEs with other enterprises. e. Protecting and giving the appropriate law for the business developing made by Cooperation and MSMEs; f. Facilitating the Right of Intellectual Wealth; and g. facilitating the organization activity of Cooperation and MSMEs. 4) It is needed the analysis of the empowering need to Cooperation and MSMEs. The purpose is to identify the empowering need needed by Cooperation and MSMEs in order to the empowering having made is on target, so it doesn’t waste the source. Keywords: cooperatives, development, MSMS, rolling capital. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-18-08 Publication date:September 30th 201

Information sharing in e-government initiatives: Freedom of Information and Data Protection issues concerning local government

In e-government initiatives, the sharing of information is crucial for empowering citizens and boosting joined-up services. The lack of clear guidance on how to share government data can potentially harm Freedom of Information and or Data Protection rights. This article addresses this issue by drawing from the main concerns governments have when dealing with Freedom of Information and Data Protection issues. As illustration, we comment on the findings of a case study we have conducted in a Local Authority in the United Kingdom (UK). Our findings show that local government managers might be struggling to adequately implement Freedom of Information and Data Protection aspects. Cultural aspects are subtly present in this context, as managers’ values and beliefs regarding public access to information might be biased toward either information disclosure or information withholding

Local and territorial determinants in the realization of public–private–partnerships: an empirical analysis for Italian provinces

ABSTRACT Relational networks and intangible factors are crucial elements for the competitiveness of a territory. Public–Private–Partnerships (PPPs), in particular, allow for the provision of goods and services that favour the exploitation of complementarities between public and private resources. They aim at promoting an increase in the overall efficiency of investment projects through a complex mechanism that distributes risk and revenues among stakeholders. This paper examines the local and territorial determinants of PPPs through an econometric analysis based upon Italian municipal data, grouped at the provincial level. Using a tobit model, we analyse the relationship between the realization of successful PPP initiatives and different sets of factors, including less analysed local and territorial determinants. We stress the role of the local management of infrastructure assets, the administrative efficiency of local authorities and the diffusion of previous local development initiatives. Local management and territorial context factors explain most of the occurrence of successful PPP initiatives in the pre-crisis period while usual determinants (infrastructure endowment and financial distress) display a weaker effect