How Local Governments Are Providing For Our Safety

Results of a survey of U.S. local government service delivery approaches relating to crime prevention and patrol, police and fire communications, fire prevention and suppression, emergency medical services, ambulance service, traffic control and parking enforcement, vehicle towing and storage, prisons and jails, building and grounds maintenance, and building security.

Increasing numbers of people no longer view the safety of their neighborhoods as the sole responsibility of the police. Citizens in areas plagued by crime & violence are uniting to work with local government. Together, they have the knowledge & resources to identify & remove the sources of crime, drug use, & juvenile delinquency in their communities. This report will help create strong local leadership from local officials by chronicling how local public officials have used community safety partnerships to build healthier communities. A framework for using these local partnerships to reduce crime exists based on the experiences of officials in North America, Europe, Africa, & Australasia. Tables.

Recent outbreaks of illnesses traced to contaminated sprouts and lettuce illustrate the holes that exist in the system for monitoring problems and preventing foodborne diseases. Although it is not solely responsible for ensuring the safety of the nation's food supply, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees monitoring and intervention for 80 percent of the food supply. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's abilities to discover potential threats to food safety and prevent outbreaks of foodborne illness are hampered by impediments to efficient use of its limited resources and a piecemeal approach to gathering and using information on risks. Enhancing Food Safety: The Role of the Food and Drug Administration, a new book from the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council, responds to a congressional request for recommendations on how to close gaps in FDA's food safety systems. Enhancing Food Safety begins with a brief review of the Food Protection Plan (FPP), FDA's food safety philosophy developed in 2007. The lack of sufficient detail and specific strategies in the FPP renders it ineffectual. The book stresses the need for FPP to evolve and be supported by the type of strategic planning described in these pages. It also explores the development and implementation of a stronger, more effective food safety system built on a risk-based approach to food safety management. Conclusions and recommendations include adopting a risk-based decision-making approach to food safety; creating a data surveillance and research infrastructure; integrating federal, state, and local government food safety programs; enhancing efficiency of inspections; and more. Although food safety is the responsibility of everyone, from producers to consumers, the FDA and other regulatory agencies have an essential role. In many instances, the FDA must carry out this responsibility against a backdrop of multiple stakeholder interests, inadequate resources, and competing priorities. Of interest to the food production industry, consumer advocacy groups, health care professionals, and others, Enhancing Food Safety provides the FDA and Congress with a course of action that will enable the agency to become more efficient and effective in carrying out its food safety mission in a rapidly changing world.

This book is a collection of contributions from public safety professionals involved in all phases of emergency management--mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. It outlines the federal, state, and local roles in the important work of homeland security, with a special emphasis on the local level, where emergency response involves not only highly visible police officers and firefighters, but also those responsible for dispatch, public works, public information, utilities, health, and uncounted support activities. The book shows what local governments can do to mitigate disasters through such practices as: assessing local risks; updating building codes to ensure that safety features are incorporated in new construction; and, emphasizing the intelligence gathering activities of police. It explains how to increase preparedness by: assessing and enhancing the capabilities of police, fire, and other departments; training employees; strengthening communication networks and information sharing among agencies; and, establishing emergency operations centers and an incident command system. In the response phase, it shows how training and preparation can pay off and how technological advances can be employed. Finally, perspectives on the recovery phase include first-hand accounts of the human side¿managing stress for public safety employees and dealing with fatalities through counseling and other means. The volume also lists sources of assistance from federal and state agencies at each stage.

City and county governments provide a wide array of highly technical urban services. Gaining a rudimentary understanding of them can be a daunting challenge for students as well as new and inexperienced public servants. "Handbook of Urban Services" is designed to help meet this challenge.In language that will make the fundamentals clear to non-specialists, this practical handbook provides concise overviews of 17 core local government services in four functional areas: public Safety and Health Services - Police, fire, emergency management, emergency medical, animal control, and public health; Public Works and Planning Services - Planning and inspections, water treatment and distribution, wastewater and stormwater management, street maintenance and construction, solid waste collection and disposal, and forestry; Leisure Services - Parks and recreation, and libraries; and, Support Services - Public equipment, public buildings, and public facilities. Each chapter begins with a brief history of the service, followed by a discussion of effective management practices and policies. Chapter-ending bibliographies refer the reader to sources with more in-depth treatment.

The prevalence of childhood obesity is so high in the United States that it may reduce the life expectancy of today's generation of children. While parents and other adult caregivers play a fundamental role in teaching children about healthy behaviors, even the most positive efforts can be undermined by local environments that are poorly suited to supporting healthy behaviors. For example, many communities lack ready sources of healthy food choices, such as supermarkets and grocery stores. Or they may not provide safe places for children to walk or play. In such communities, even the most motivated child or adolescent may find it difficult to act in healthy ways. Local governments-with jurisdiction over many aspects of land use, food marketing, community planning, transportation, health and nutrition programs, and other community issues-are ideally positioned to promote behaviors that will help children and adolescents reach and maintain healthy weights. Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity presents a number of recommendations that touch on the vital role of government actions on all levels-federal, state, and local-in childhood obesity prevention. The book offers healthy eating and physical activity strategies for local governments to consider, making it an excellent resource for mayors, managers, commissioners, council members, county board members, and administrators.