Computerization of Human Service Agencies

No abstract available for this article.     

Coordinated Service Delivery and Children's Well-Being

ABSTRACT

Interagency collaborations are uniquely suited to meeting the increased needs of communities in today's environment of reduced federal funding and devolution of services to the state and local levels (Gore, 1993). In Texas, interagency collaborations take place through Community Resource Coordination Groups (CRCGs), which were created by the Texas Legislature to coordinate local service delivery for children and their families who often “fall through the cracks” due to having multiple needs. This article presents an evaluation of CRCG operations, with a focus on identified best practices, related obstacles, and suggestions for improvement. The researchers visited CRCG sites, and conducted semi-structured face-to-face interviews, as well as a mail survey, with CRCG staff. Overall, CRCGs appear to effectively enhance the delivery of coordinated services in an effort to meet the multiple needs of the children and families that they serve. Recommendations for policy and practice are discussed, such as spearheading community action structures (Poole, 1997) that may help CRCGs more effectively meet the needs of their respective local communities.     

Observing the Delivery of a Domiciliary Support Service

This paper describes a study of the work of domiciliary support services which have been developed under the All-Wales Strategy for services to people with learning difficulties. The study employed direct observation methodology to describe the pattern of activities of domiciliary support workers and their clients. Twenty-eight sessions were observed, with the work of the domiciliary support worker with each client being observed twice. The pattern of work observed broadly fell into four categories: physical care in the family home, sitting-in, support for skill development and support in community activities. The results revealed that while support workers worked with skill and sensitivity in the family home they require further guidance and support if they are to assist successfully in skill development and community integration activities.     

Refugee and Immigrant Social Service Delivery:

Much concern has been expressed regarding the potential burden on the states to provide health, education, social and mental health services to refugees, immigrants, and newly legalized aliens. Management of social services for refugees and immigrants is an area which has not received much attention in the social work literature. Within the framework of two components of the current immigration policy, this article will examine funding, staffing, service delivery, and information system needs as critical management issues in the resettlement of refugees and in the delivery of social services to eligible legalized aliens in the United States.     

Older Adults and Emerging Digital Service Delivery: A Mixed Methods Study on Information and Communications Technology Use,Skills, and Attitudes

Based on data from a survey (n = 3291) and 14 qualitative interviews among Danish older adults, this study investigated the use of, and attitudes toward, information communications technology (ICT) and the digital delivery of public services. While age, gender, and socioeconomic status were associated with use of ICT, these determinants lost their explanatory power when we controlled for attitudes and experiences. We identified three segments that differed in their use of ICT and attitudes toward digital service delivery. As nonuse of ICT often results from the lack of willingness to use it rather than from material or cognitive deficiencies, policy measures for bridging the digital divide should focus on skills and confidence rather than on access or ability.     

Aged Care Service Delivery in Japan

Summary

The implementation of Japan's Long-Term Care Insurance Scheme in early 2000 presaged many changes in service delivery and much debate among service providers, different levels of government, academic analysts, and major media interests. The first part of this paper gives an account of the major changes in the organization of service delivery that have increased opportunities for private sector providers, including large corporations, and restructured contractual relationships between municipalities and providers in all sectors. New arrangements for client assessment, classification, care management, and extended service types are then outlined. An assessment is then made of the likelihood that the expected outcomes of the scheme will be realized, with the concerns of welfare professionals that the public welfare system is under threat juxtaposed with bureaucratic goals of liberalizing the provision of long-term care.     

Influences on the Size and Scope of Networks for Social Service Delivery

Local social service agencies throughout the world have begunencouraging or requiring social service providers to form community-basednetworks for the delivery of publicly funded social services.Little is known, however, about the nature of the resultingnetworks. In this article we develop a model of organizational,programmatic, and community influences on the size and scopeof interorganizational networks for social service delivery.We then apply this theoretical framework to an empirical studyof service delivery networks in the Family Preservation Programin Los Angeles County. Our findings suggest that the availabilityof potential partners in the community, the scope of requiredservices, and the ethnic homogeneity of the client populationare key determinants of network size. We develop the implicationsof the results for theories of partnership formation and formore effective management of network formation processes.     

Conceptualization and Assessment of Homonegativity

ABSTRACT

The goals of this research include highlighting problematic issues of conceptualization and measurement with respect to research examining homonegativity. Using a sample of nearly 650 university students, we test hypotheses of M. A. Morrison and Morrison (2002) Morrison, T. G., Kenny, P. and Harrington, A. 2005. Modern prejudice toward gay men and lesbian women: Assessing the viability of a measure of modern homonegative attitudes within an Irish context. Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs, 131(3): 219–250. [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] who claim that old-fashioned and modern homonegativity are statistically distinct domains and that university students endorse a higher degree of modern than old-fashioned homonegativity. In addition, we examine relationships between reported negative and positive behaviors involving lesbians and gay men and degrees of modern and old-fashioned homonegativity. Factor analyses did not support the distinctiveness of the two homonegativity domains, and only 16% of the sample endorsed a higher degree of modern compared with old-fashioned homonegativity. Findings are discussed with respect to their implications for future research.     

Enhancing Equity in Service Delivery to Minority Populations

No abstract available for this article.     

The Authenticity of Self: Conceptualization,Personal Experience,and Practice

Scholars across the social sciences often use the concept of authenticity to refer to such different things as sincerity, truthfulness, originality, and the feeling and practice of being true to one's self or others. Whereas the concept of authenticity refers to all of these things, a careful employment of this concept requires a clear understanding of it. By reviewing theory and empirical research on authenticity, we aim at a more precise conceptualization of authenticity. We argue that authenticity is about being true to one's self. When one is true to one's self, one experiences authenticity. This conceptualization views authenticity as a self‐reflective and emotional experience. In order to understand authenticity, a researcher must then take into consideration at least two things: people's emotional experiences of being true or untrue to one's self and people's ideas about what their true self is.     

Extending the Conceptualization of Listening Fidelity

An exploration of variables potentially related to Listening Fidelity (LF) was conducted through two separate studies. Study 1 indicated that when the potential fidelity of the stimulus message was varied as a function of the number of words and time length, the message with lowest potential fidelity produced significantly lower LF than either the moderate or high potential LF message versions. The moderate potential fidelity message produced the more normal score distribution although not significantly different LF scores than the high potential message. Differences in LF were not indicated as a function of participant sex, gender, or listening style. Study 2 found that LF and two of the three internal scoring components of LF were significantly correlated with four of five dimensions of the Watson Barker Listening Test. Continued emphasis on developing alternative cognitions and exploring listener confidence, cognitive complexity, and the specific function and relationship of LF with listening outcomes were recommended.     

Service Delivery Issues in Early Termination of Latino Clients

Abstract

This paper explores the nature and meaning of the early termination experience from outpatient counseling among Latinos. A theoretically grounded perspective is forwarded to explain the nuances of minority group interface with human services (Green, 1995), and the early termination phenomenon among this population. The authors offer an explanatory model, referred to as the repelled client, which undergirds their central argument concerning the need to reexamine important aspects of cross-cultural counseling practice.     

Conceptualization for planning and evaluation

Conceptualization is a central task in planning and evaluation. There is a need to develop conceptualization methods which can help multiple constituency groups collaborate on the development of conceptual frameworks which can guide the planning and evaluation effort. A general model for conceptualization methods is presented along with considerations for implementation. This model is illustrated in two planning and evaluation studies which involved a broad range of constituent groups within the organizations in the development of "concept maps" which could guide subsequent work. Some general implications of conceptualization methods for planning and evaluation are discussed.     

The Conceptualization and Measurement of Listening

Although far more emphasis has been placed on sending messages than upon receiving them, some researchers have focused on listening and on receiving. In this paper, the authors adopt the position that although listening, as a theoretical concept, may in some meaningful sense be real and measurable through a variety of instruments, inadequate attention has been given to the development of a consensus regarding its conceptualization. In support of this position we first review inconsistencies in current definitions of listening and then discuss problems in measurement. On the basis of our review, we conclude that considerable ambiguity exists concerning conceptualization of the listening construct, and that further investigation of measurement issues involved in the theory of the receiving component of listening should be undertaken.     

Service Delivery and Civic Engagement: Disability Organizations in Northern Ireland

In the United Kingdom, the New Labour administration that came to power in 1997 has promoted two models of partnership between the state and the voluntary sector. The civic engagement model is based on the renewed interest among governments in the potential of voluntary organizations to contribute to the civic engagement of citizens. In the service delivery model, voluntary organizations are recruited to the task of delivering core social services. Drawing on data from disability-related voluntary organizations in Northern Ireland, this paper illustrates the impact of the service delivery partnership model on the development of voluntary action in the welfare field, and the relative paucity of resources allocated to participatory voluntary action and civic engagement. The consequent impact on the development of partnerships between the state and the voluntary sector is discussed.     

高职高专图书馆文献传递服务述略

介绍了高职高专图书馆文献传递服务的现状,指出开展文献传递服务的必要性,分析影响其文献传递服务的主要因素,并对开展此项服务有待解决的问题提出了相应措施。     

Restricted Revenues and Nonprofit Service Delivery: The Roles of Financial Discretion

VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations - The proposition that restricted revenues inhibit nonprofit service delivery by reducing their financial discretion has...     

A Theory of Mental Health and Optimal Service Delivery for Homeless Children

Homeless children are a vulnerable group with high risk for developing mental health disorders. The pathways to disorders among homeless children have not been fully elucidated, with significant logistical and measurement issues challenging accurate and thorough assessment of need. The environments of homeless children are uniquely chaotic, marked by frequent moves, family structure changes, household and neighborhood disorder, parenting distress, and lack of continuous services. Despite high rates of service use, mental health outcomes remain poor. This paper reviews the literature on homeless children’s mental health, as well as prior theoretical explorations. Finally, the paper proposes a theoretical model that explains elevated rates of mental health problems among homeless children as consequences of harmful stress reactions triggered by chronic household instability along with repeated service disruptions. This model draws upon existing conceptual frameworks of child development, family poverty, health services utilization, and the biology of stress to clarify the role of environmental chaos in the development of child emotional and behavioral problems. Potential strategies to mitigate the risk for mental health disorders among homeless children and future research directions are discussed.