The Suffolk County (New York) Department of Social Services sponsored a performance study to gain insight into the department's operations. Management science techniques were used to portray operations of the Client Benefit (CBA) and Community Service (CSA) Divisions. The CBA administers public assistance programs, and the CSA provides social…

The initial client assessment procedures used by case managers in the Wisconsin Works (W-2) program in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, were examined. Data were collected through the following activities: (1) observations of 100 financial and employment planner (FEP)-applicant intake interviews; (2) an examination of administrative data to learn how…

A program of education, training, and support provided to foster parents in a California county through a nonprofit agency is evaluated. The evaluators' experience indicates that: (1) evaluations are gaining in popularity; (2) role shifts by evaluators are sometimes difficult to perceive; (3) program staff are unlikely to use evaluative feedback…