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 In Profile this month are the Center for the Improvement of Public Management and the Center for Public-Private Sector Cooperation, operating units of the Graduate School of Public Affairs (GSPA), University of Colorado at Denver. The mission of the Centers is to enhance the capacity of diverse communities and public and nonprofit organizations to solve problems and meet the challenges of relentless social change through (1) planning and problem-solving assistance, (2) leadership-development training; (3) technical assistance; and (4) applied research and program evaluation.
GSPA offers a variety of degree programs, including master degrees in Public Administration and Criminal Justice, and a doctorate in Public Policy, among others. For more information on the Graduate School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado, visit the website http://carbon.cudenver.edu/public/gspa.
The Centers at GSPA offer a range of unique programs and services to governments, nonprofits, educational institutions, foundations, and other clients, as summarized below.
Planning and problem solving. The Centers are often called upon to serve as a neutral, objective third party to develop and conduct short- and long-term planning efforts through facilitation, strategic planning, community problem solving, and conflict resolution. Examples of projects conducted in these areas include a Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative performed for The Colorado Trust (a Denver-based public health philanthropy), and the Colorado Fish Recovery Program, performed for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Leadership-development training. The Centers engage in this category of endeavor principally through two programs-the Rocky Mountain Program (RMP), a nine-day seminar designed for elected and appointed public executives in federal, state and local government to enhance leadership skills and encourage innovative approaches to governance; and the Denver Community Leadership Forum (DCLF), which brings together diverse groups of people to prepare them to collaboratively address the complex problems our society faces today. Additionally, the Centers work individually with organizations, universities and jurisdictions to custom-design specific leadership programs for public officials, as well alumni programs for past participants who wish to continue growing, learning and exploring areas of interest. Other special training programs address innovation and change in government, facilitation skills and practices, acquiring and exercising power, and the spiritual aspects of leadership.
Training and technical assistance. Frequently, organizations need more individualized assistance. Whether clients need a team-building workshop, event planning, or program-evaluation training, the Centers are equipped to consult with them and develop a plan of action. The Centers have assisted organizations in consensus building and cooperation, team building, conflict management, approaches to personnel management, diversity training, research methods training, and conference and event planning. One example in this last category is a conference on brownfield redevelopment arranged for Denver and Commerce City (Colorado) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Applied research and program evaluation. The Centers' highly qualified research team uses a broad range of research methods to help policy makers and organizations involved in community problem-solving efforts better understand issues, analyze solutions and determine the effectiveness of programs. Specific research designs, including problem definition and policy analysis, opinion research, program evaluation, and final reports, are tailored to each project. Examples of projects performed in these areas include Persistent Poverty Assessment and Neighborhood Indicators, completed for The Piton Foundation (a Denver-based philanthropy), and Blueprint for Clean Air, conducted for Denver's Regional Air Quality Council.
An ongoing activity of the Centers is its annual Mind of Colorado public opinion research project, which for over a decade has tracked statewide issues and informed policymakers on emerging trends. Lisa Carlson is Director of The Centers at GSPA. For more information, a complete list of past projects and clients, and staff directory, visit the website http://carbon.cudenver.edu/public/centers.
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