I am having a hard time finding descriptions for federal, state, or local programs in social structure theory, social process theory and social conflict theory.

You may have to search and research, but once you learn some good sources and methods, you should have success. In addition to searching on the Internet, you also need to make best friends with the reference librarian(s) in your local or college library. Libraries these days subscribe to enormous research databases, and they are often more useful than Internet searches. Ask your librarian if you have access to EBSCOHost -- it has several databases within it, including at least three for health sciences, one for military and government, one huge one for academic research, and several others.

For Internet searching:
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/
At this webpage, you can go immediately to the search sites (first three columns across the top) -- or even better you can scroll down until you see the section called HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET. Those are the links to start with. You'll not only learn how to come up with good search terms, but also how to evaluate the webpages you get as results. Some will be good and others will be garbage. You need to know how to tell the difference.

My favorite way to search is to go to Google's advanced search page http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en and put my search words or phrases into the first or second search box (either "all the words" or "exact phrase"). Another is to start out at http://scholar.google.com. However, there many other strategies for searching you can use, and the HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET section will help you best.

Learning to use Google or other search engines can save you time and help you learn to find information efficiently. Here are some websites that can teach you how:

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.html

http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/searchtips.html

http://www.pandia.com/goalgetter/index.html

http://websearch.about.com/mbody.htm?once=true&COB=home&PM=112_100_T

... and one to help you judge whether a particular website's information is worth your time:

http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/evaluate.html

Happy searching.

To find descriptions of federal, state, or local programs in social structure theory, social process theory, and social conflict theory, you can follow these steps:

1. Start by conducting an internet search using relevant keywords. For example, you can search for "federal programs in social structure theory" or "state programs in social process theory." This initial search will help you gather general information about the topic.

2. Look for academic publications and research papers that discuss or analyze social structure theory, social process theory, and social conflict theory. Websites such as Google Scholar, JSTOR, or academic databases like ProQuest can be helpful in finding scholarly articles.

3. Examine government websites at the federal, state, and local levels. Many government agencies and departments create programs based on these theories, and they often provide information about their initiatives on their websites. Look for specific departments or agencies related to social issues (e.g., Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice) and browse their programs, grants, or initiatives sections.

4. Access academic journals or books that specialize in criminology, sociology, or social sciences. These resources frequently discuss different theories and their application in policy and practice. You can search for specific articles or books that focus on social theories and the corresponding programs implemented at various levels of government.

5. Consider reaching out to experts in the field, such as professors, researchers, or professionals working in relevant government agencies or non-profit organizations. They may have specific knowledge and can provide you with additional resources or insights.

Remember that these theories are broad frameworks, and programs might not be explicitly labeled as such. Instead, you may need to identify programs that align with the objectives and principles of each theory. It's also important to critically evaluate the credibility and relevance of the sources you encounter during your search.