Work in Progress: A Pathway to Open Urban Governance through Citizen Engagement

How does your organization demonstrate public service and/ or urban governance?

During my internship here at Maricopa county, one of the first projects I contributed to was the Customer Engagement project. The county does offer services to its residents in a sense they provide that public service of offering the services that are funded by taxpayer dollars. Those taxpayers have a say in some decisions being that people vote for the people that would best represent their interests and needs. County leaders noticed that the people of Maricopa County didn't have much of a say in decisions outside of the voting process. I am thrilled to be a part of the process to open Maricopa County up to a more open and urban form of governance with the people having a presence and weight of decisions being made. Below is some of the initial planning I did regarding social media and how an open form of government can be made accessible online.

After researching different types of engagement and governance strategies, we found that one of the common denominators in many counties and cities that struggled to connect with their citizen participation in government, was that there was a common mistrust and anger in government. The solution to this among the counties and cities that we looked at as examples was to keep the people informed.

Mistrust/ Anger in Government

Solutions:

Information:

Informing the citizens is the first step to catalyze public participation. Information will assist the public in understanding the problem(s), alternatives, opportunities and solutions. Our promise to the public will be to rapidly communicate official information to public as part of department's core mission or responsibilities to the county. By making a promise to the public, this will promote the organizational TIRA model that outlines Transparency, Inclusiveness, Responsiveness, and Accountability within public organizations.

Our Social Media/Online policies state that information should support and address departments mission, or as directed by the County Manager. With information provided to the public we then seek to build a community of knowledge and understanding of county happenings.

Information for citizens can be made available through fact sheets, accessible websites, and open house events. For example, county’s like Leon County have improved the way their county engages and involves citizens with government. Leon County established a Citizen Engagement Series that promotes citizen involvement to guide policy and shape the community.  Part of this engagement series features a participatory based budget game called Let’s Balance, an immersive hands-on budgeting exercise that offers citizens a firsthand view of the county budgeting process. Leon County’s engagement series seeks to convey the relevance of government and enhance transparency by providing citizens with knowledge.  

Mary Ellen Sheppard's Approach to People

Last week I had the pleasure to sit down with Assistant County Manager, Mary Ellen Sheppard. The purpose of my interview with her was to find out her approaches to leadership to later juxtapose her leadership style to that of another county leader. The time spent with her was phenomenal and I left our meeting feeling inspired and empowered. One of the parts of the interview that I wanted to showcase was her approach on people and how valuing people can change an organization tremendously.

This was a part of my write up following the interview:

Mary Ellen strives to be a part of a department that everyone can be proud of. Mary Ellen identifies that leadership and talent are spread throughout every level of an organization, and that we must capitalize on seeing individuals as valuable contributors to the organization. She approaches people and values them for what they offer her (what makes them unique) and for what they offer to the county. Mary Ellen understands that people are valuable, and she truly believes that if we see each individual based on their skills and abilities, we can then build upon those skills and abilities for personal growth and improvement. She is passionate about seeing others reach their full potential, dreams, and goals.  She adds the most beneficial and memorable parts of her career were when the people that worked with her, cared about her enough to tell her of the value that she brings to the organization while also focusing on her short comings or areas of deficiency.

Mary Ellen embodies a “let’s get real” attitude that benefits every individual and the organization as a whole. She recognizes that to be real with other people, you have to be ‘real’ with yourself when doing self-reflection.  Mary Ellen shared that she engages in a period of reflection to review her actions and decisions that she has made. She examines how she did, or how she could have performed better.  She questions how she could have improved someone’s experience.  She expressed that you must have confidence in your actions; reflection is an area that you can always benefit and improve from. She explains that she does not do well with excuses, status quo, or complacency. She sets expectations for people with an intention for them to grow and benefit from. With these expectations, it somewhat prevents these traits and behaviors that she is not too fond of.

Revenue Forecasting Presentation

One of my learning objectives: Student will research revenue forecasting methods and present findings to OMB Analysts.

The clock continues to count down to the day I give my presentation on Revenue Forecasting. My presentation will include GFOA approved quantitative methods and decision tools used when forecasting revenue. Something really special about this presentation is that I get to present these methods, but I also get to see how these practices are carried out during a simultaneous hand on training conducted by Senior Budget and Management Analyst, Zachary Wolfe. My presentation will entail the topics of Time Series with Fluctuation, Time Series with Differentiation, Regression, Econometrics, and Decision Budgeting Tools. I have made sure to work closely with Zach for him to offer content guidance and feedback. I also want to ensure that this is a learning experience as a present to analysts that have a various years of forecasting experience.

Definitely adopting this information into my personal life!

This presentation consists of how to choose a technique, the common characteristics of time series revenue forecasting, and revenue forecasting without fluctuation. I highlight the correct formulas to use when finding the best fit line, while displaying the statistical assumptions and advantages and disadvantages of certain methods of forecasting. During the formulation of this project I have noticed that I am working on my time management skills. Who knew that time management skills could be improved and perfected during such a hectic school and intern schedule? I have utilized and adapted skills some of the skills used by my coworkers, and have found that I can accomplish more by staying organized and by prioritizing tasks

Tranforming Juveniles Through Successful Transition

    On Monday October 20th, I had the opportunity to attend a meeting where the Maricopa County Education Service Agency presented on the progress of their 5 year pilot program that aims to make a major impact on juvenile recidivism rates. The meeting was introduced by Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Don Covey. Dr. Covey expressed that the agency has utilized a collective impact model to ensure that there was not a redundancy in services offered throughout the county.  He explained that agencies do not lose their identity; instead there is an enhancement to the system when various agencies collaborate.

     Chief Deputy Superintendent Christine Morris showed how MCESA is shifting from justice as punishment, to an involved system of reform and transformation. Maricopa County realized that the cyclical punishment of youth without foundations to return home to following incarceration aided to the constant reentry of past juvenile offenders into the juvenile and adult jail system.  McESA believes that education can be used as a tool to reduce crime. Statistics show that of 10,634 past juvenile offenders with unknown schooling status, 25% of those youth are of the recidivism population. McESA works as a coordinate of probation responses. They assist with Case Management of kids who were not going to school, who were pushed out of school, or not welcome to attend their former school. The fact that students must find a new school acts as an initial barrier to education, and McESA’s goal is to make this transition easier.

Mrs. Morris defined High Risk youth as youth that cycle through the system, and constantly re-enter it. This project has established Interagency Board of Directors to help monitor the project and see to it that the focus on medium to high risk youth is not lost and the collective vision is carried out.

Here are some of the goals of the Pilot Program:

1. Increase support for youth to reduce delinquency and future incarceration rates.
2. Engage school systems to create conditions for achieving student educational success
3. To reduce recidivism and reentry of juveniles in justice system

 

Stages of Transformation

The Potential Relapse Period for a youth classified as a chronic offender occurs within two major parts of the Stages of Transformation. During 30 days from their Exit from Secure Care and during the aftercare stage that is split into 3 levels (Performing, Transformation, and Sustaining) currently 260 of the 496 cases they have received are active in the stages of transformation. The social cost of recidivism rates approximates to 17.5 Billion dollars. The economy is missing out on those students who become adults that result in citizens not contributing to the community.