Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Patricia Ripoll

Abstract

Public managers must reconcile fiscal constraints within a confined decision-making environment. This study was conducted to examine the extent to which policy tools, such as the Title IV-E waiver demonstration, facilitate cost control and increased decision-making flexibility. The central question guiding the study was whether policy tools enable public managers to effectively meet policy goals within inelastic fiscal and regulatory environments. Choice theories provided a theoretical framework to examine the multidimensional aspects of decision making and policy prioritization. An exploratory case study approach was employed to compare the change in fiscal capacity and flexibility of California counties participating in the Title IV-E waiver program with comparable counties not participating in the program. The data used for this study came from county, state, and other public agency resources specific to the scope of Title IV-E funded services; data were organized and analyzed using Atlas.ti is a qualitative software program. The findings of this study indicated that the potential to control costs and gain managerial discretion afforded by the waiver were diminished by other policy prioritization decisions. This study contributes to raising awareness of the complexity of fiscal management within county structures and facilitates increased scholarly interest in the study of county-specific issues. This study contributes to positive social change by raising awareness of the complexity of fiscal management of social service programs within county structures. The study facilitates increased scholarly interest in the study of county-specific issues.

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