Security, Public Health, Engineering Skills Top Federal Government's
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INSIDE: AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION VOL. 28 NO. 3 MARCH 2005 PA TIMES SPECIAL SECTION STATE AND LOCAL ROLES IN HOMELAND SECURITY PA TIMES National Threat–Local Response: Building Local Disaster Capacity 28 Years • 1977-2005 A Powerful Voice for Public Service . with Mutual Aid Agreements 3 Local government has an obligation to aggressively pursue collaborative Security, Public Health, Engineering Skills relationships and state governments have a duty to create an environ- ment where such relationships can flourish, if the public is to be protected to the greatest extent Top Federal Government’s “Wanted” List possible. –Thomas Poulin Resources for Acquiring the Skills Needed for New State and Local Washington, DC–The federal government is • Public Health (physicians, nurses, pharma- guide to date for job seekers interested in Roles in Homeland Security 4 hiring, and if your background is in security cists, medical technicians)–25,756 new federal service; listing the professional fields or law enforcement, you’re at the top of hires expected in the next two years and the number of positions likely to be filled What do you do if you are assigned at 24 major agencies representing 95 percent new responsibilities in the area of Uncle Sam’s wish list. • Engineering/Sciences (physicists, of the federal government. homeland security and you lack the These are the findings of a new study chemists, biologists, botanists, veterinari- background needed to carry out your ans)–23,806 new hires expected “The federal government is in triple new responsibilities? –Paula Gordon released by the Partnership for Public Service and the National Academy of Public jeopardy,” said Max Stier, president and Emergency Preparedness Brings • Program Management/Administrative Administration and made possible by a CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. Volunteers to Serve 5 Jobs (public affairs specialists, human “It’s struggling to respond to the talent grant from The New York Times Job Market. resources specialists, Congressional affairs demands of the 21st century, baby boomers One of the positive outcomes of the Security is the field in which the federal officers)–17,353 new are retiring in record numbers and the tragic events of September 11, 2001, government will be making the biggest hiring hires expected pipeline of available talent to replace them is the array of activities under Citizen has run dry. Our study sets a course for Corps, which receive federal funds push in the next two years, according to the • Accounting/Budget/Business (IRS from the Department of Homeland study. In that time frame, the government revenue agents and tax examiners, change by giving government leaders a better Security. States administer these expects to fill 37,515 security and enforce- contract managers)–12,985 new understanding of the environment in which the public sector will have to compete in the funds and close to one million new ment-related positions, from criminal investi- hires expected war for talent.” volunteers have answered the gators to police officers to airport screeners. president’s call to volunteer 4,000 The new report, “Where the Jobs Are: The “This report doesn’t only serve job seekers; hours of their time to their community Next on the government’s “most wanted” list Continuing Growth of Federal Job through Citizen Corps activities. are jobs in: Opportunities,” is the most comprehensive See FEDERAL JOBS, pg. 2 –William C. Basl, Karin Frinell- Hanrahan Broward County Sheriff’s Office: Case Study of a Local First Responder to Homeland States Show Mixed Security 6 Tsunami Relief Continues Equally important as the findings enunciated in the Mc Kinsey Report Results in Handling is an additional finding: the necessity for coordination and cooperation within the federal, state of Challenges and local governmental bodies. –Terry J. Lewis Insights on Strategic Mgmt. 8 Annual Grading of the States Finds Insights on HR Issues 9 They Vary Widely in Approach to PAR Commentary 9 Long-term Financial Planning Frederickson Perspective 10 Ethics Moment 11 Washington, DC–State governments have shown mixed Where Things Stand 12 success in weathering the worst financial storm since World War II in which plunging revenues have coincided with surging costs. Some states have been successful in figuring ASPA TIMES out how to deal with the crisis while others have struggled. This conclusion is based on research released in the NPSA Award Winners 15 Government Performance Project’s (GPP) “Grading the President’s Column 16 States 2005,” an analysis of how well each state is managed. The new GPP report provides state-by- ASPA in Brief 18 state information, analysis and tools to compare each International Commentary 20 state. All 50 states received grades in the GPP’s report, which can be found on http://results.gpponline.org. The New Members 22 project is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts. Chapter News23 The report grades the states in four categories–money, Career Center 24 people, infrastructure, and information–on a scale of A U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Rebecca J. Moat through F. It is designed to show leaders how to identify Recruiter 27 Indian Ocean (Feb. 23, 2005) - An Indonesian woman comforts her daughter their state’s strengths and weaknesses and how to Calendar of Events 28 as Registered Nurse Renee Cloutier, of the non-governmental organization compare their performance with other states. "Project Hope", disconnects an IV from her arm aboard the Military Sealift Because management and outcomes are linked, the Command hospital ship USNS Mercy. Mercy is serving as an enabling platform management of state government is especially important to assist humanitarian operations ashore in ways that host nations and interna- in tight fiscal times. And since the states are taking a tional relief organization find useful. Mercy is currently off the waters of larger role in executing domestic policy, neglecting sound For more information on how to be PA TIMES Indonesia in support of Operation Unified Assistance, the humanitarian relief management practices may affect the delivery of vital published in , please contact services to citizens, the report said. Christine Jewett McCrehin at effort to aid the victims of the tsunami that struck Southeast Asia. 202-585-4313, or [email protected]. See GRADING STATES, pg. 2 PAGE 2 MARCH 2005 PA TIMES Report Lists Jobs Federal Government Needs to Fill Would you like to From FEDERAL JOBS, pg. 1 failure to look at the whole picture when recruitment plans that can help them assessing talent needs and only doing utilize existing hiring and pay flexibilities submit an article hiring on an ad hoc basis,” said C. to attract talent; publishing an annual it will also prove useful to the federal Morgan Kinghorn, president of the summary of projected federal hiring needs to PA TIMES? agencies doing the hiring,” said Andy National Academy of Public rather than relying on “just-in-time” job Wright, group director of The New York Administration. “This government-wide announcements; and, with Congress’ help, Times Job Market. “It reveals how the assessment is a critically needed resource providing funds to federal agencies and public sector will be forced to compete to help federal managers identify ways to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Contact: with the private sector for many of the woo the highly skilled, knowledge the federal government’s central human same highly skilled workers in the years workers they need and to let job seekers resources agency, to develop state-of-the- Christine McCrehin to come. Those workers with expertise in with these skills know that there are art recruitment materials to improve the the biological sciences, physical sciences, outstanding opportunities for them in image of federal government service. [email protected] engineering and nursing will find public service.” themselves in particularly high demand.” Recommendations outlined by the To download a copy of the report visit the (703) 209-0560 Academy at www.napawash.or or the “One reason that government has Partnership and the Academy include struggled to attract new talent has been its requiring federal agencies to develop Partnership at www.ourpublicservice.org. Report Highlights Differences in Financial Management of States From GRADING STATES, pg. 1 analysis of public documents, and structural budget gap because it cut taxes in some parts of the country that seeks to interviews with legislators and executive in reaction to an unsustainable spike in belittle the value of the work done by officials, independent citizen groups and revenue during the 1990s. state employees, the report said. According to GPP Director Susan academics. The assessment criteria were Researchers found that to boost morale, Tompkins, the quality of management updated from previous surveys to reflect Massachusetts might have been able to it’s possible to express appreciation of performance by state governments is often the results of good management, not avoid the problem if it had a formal long- employees even if there’s no money for critical to the success of a state’s programs simply a dedication to process. term planning mechanism that would and policies. “The last few years have seen recognize when revenues are not liable to bonuses. In Michigan, select groups of the biggest financial crisis for state govern- In managing their money, most states recur, the report said. employees who deserve recognition are ments in 50 years,” said Tompkins. “The have tried to balance the books by cutting invited to cabinet meetings where way a state has reacted to this crisis funding to government in ways that risk The most serious challenge states face in members stand in their honor. The GPP’s managerially has had a big impact on long term damage. The report went on to managing people is the approaching assessment of infrastructure management citizens and will for years to come.” say that many have tried hard to avoid retirement of many employees, an event also yielded mixed results.