Spiritual needs often emerge in the context of receiving health or behavioral health services. Yet, despite the prevalence and salience of spiritual needs in service provision, clients often report their spiritual needs are inadequately addressed. In light of research suggesting that most social workers have received minimal training in…

Federal, state, and local policymakers and funders have increasingly organized human service delivery functions around the selection and implementation of empirically supported interventions (ESIs), under the expectation that service delivery through such intervention frameworks results in improvements in cost-effectiveness and system performance.…

Psychiatric advance directives (PADs) are legal documents that allow individuals to express their wishes for future psychiatric care and to authorize a legally appointed proxy to make decisions on their behalf during incapacitating crises. PADs are viewed as an alternative to the coercive interventions that sometimes accompany mental health crises…

Surveyed participants (n=213) in human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) educational programs to determine whether education could help reduce fear and increase comfort in work with HIV/AIDS clients. Found positive increase in self-assessed attitude scores within groups. Multiple group comparisons indicated…

Notes that service utilization is result of complex and dynamic interaction between social services consumers and providers. Sees effective strategies for change in service utilization based on understanding of characteristics of consumers and their environment. Contends that social work administrators can change utilization by manipulating…

Presents, in light-hearted way, a few rules of evaluation practice wisdom that, if followed, would result in more rigorous and useful evaluations of human services programs. Although none of the ideas is totally original, it is suggested that as a group they provide handy checklist for practitioners who are developing or assessing evaluation…

Describes the concepts and histories of ombudsmen and of case management. Discusses the advocacy role in social work which includes the dimensions of role specificity, client orientation, problem-solving mode, and resources and constraints. Concludes ombudsmen and case managers augment the advocacy function in the human service system. (ABL)

Examines current trends in data collection and information use in human services organizations. Describes issues for managers who are planning information systems, including practitioner resistance to automation. Proposes that conceptual integration of agendas for human services automation, practice evaluation, and service effectiveness enables…

Comprehensive multicultural organizational development (MCOD) is increasingly necessary in human services agencies. This article presents results from an exploratory study that identified challenges and solutions to MCOD, against the backdrop of daily realities of agency life. The author conducted interviews with 20 consultants and 20…

This article examines trends in both computer technology and human services that are encouraging the increasing convergence of these two fields. It discusses more advanced uses of computers in mental health centers and public assistance agencies, and presents implications for human service professionals and for education. (Author)

Discusses the feasibility of automation for the human services. Considers the automated business office, administrative applications and the automation of direct services. (RC)

Examines pattern of changes in human service occupations, particularly those in which women predominate. Contends occupational trends of middle- and upper-class women may have far-reaching consequences for organized social service professions. Concludes that giving up the idea that women have primary responsibility for care and nurturance in…

Conducted case study of philanthropic giving among 29 companies in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Found that most corporations used informal rather than formal process for making funding decisions, with many firms relying on tradition, social contacts, and intuition to guide allocations. Findings suggest ways that social services administrators can…

Notes that primary role that case management plays in coordination of services is determined by level of service integration and by level of resources in service delivery system. Describes conditions under which case management serves as mechanism for rationing services, marketing function, brokering function, or development role. Discusses…

Reviews paralysis of U.S. social policy. Notes that, although federal government has implemented new social programs, programs either are provided on condition of willingness to work or are modest in scope. Linking paralysis with literature on government ineffectuality, traces origins of ineffectuality of political/economic policies of past 20…