Contends that the primary focus of social welfare management should be to optimize effective services to clients. Addresses several dimensions of effectiveness-oriented management practice as well as some of the common problems encountered by administrators who seek to make client outcomes the primary criterion of agency success. (Author)

Compared 15 selected management-sponsored in-house and eight contracted-out employee assistance programs in the New York area. Examined advantages and disadvantages of in-house and contractual programs from the viewpoints of top management, employees, and the employee assistance program itself. Concluded that which program model was best depended…

Proposes that a major constraint of research in child welfare has been the inability to coordinate reforms among various components of foster care reform. Reveals research advances in child welfare that demonstrate effective social work practice and indicate directions for comprehensive foster care reform. (Author)

Suggests that many aspects of quality assurance in health care can be applied to social service agencies. Reviews what has been learned about quality assurance in health care and suggests guidelines for its implementation in social services. (Author/JAC)

Presents a nonbureaucratic model of mental health service delivery: the Family Life Center in Columbia, Maryland. Describes services through three programs: a counseling service, community services, and an information and referral service. Professional volunteers work with clients referred by counseling coordinators. Discusses implications for…