| Abstract: | The equitable distribution of maintenance, or care, services derives principally from the decision-making activities of the line workers in a service program. When program rules and guidelines are relatively general and awards are specific, workers develop functions which relate client need to program benefit. However, among counties and offices within a county, these functions may differ, resulting in inequitable service awards to clients. An empirical study of the In-home Supportive Services program in California reveals office distributive functions and determines the consistency with which workers follow them. Through factor analysis and linear regression, the distributive rules are made explicit so that workers can determine how they may be unintentionally treating clients unfairly. |
