Using a logic model can be very helpful in developing social projects that can achieve desired goals for social work planners. In this article, the author emphasizes the importance of using logical programs to help social workers achieve positive changes and desired outcomes. The article illustrates how social planners can translate the logical…

This article presents the findings of a large scale study that tested a comprehensive model of predictors of three manifestations of sustainability: continuation, institutionalization, and duration. Based on the literature the predictors were arrayed in four groups: variables pertaining to the project, the auspice organization, the community, and…

Argues that rational, functionalist models of educational planning that conceptualize decision-making as an algorithmic process are relevant to a limited number of educational problems. Suggests that educational questions pertaining to goals, needs, equity, and quality must be solved with soft systems thinking and its interpretivist and relativist…

Describes a model of professional intervention for community workers. The various roles of the community worker are also examined. These include the role of researcher, social policy analyst, enabler, social planner, program developer, organizer, rehabilitator, coordinator, educator, and mediator. Differences between community work theory and…

Discusses the need for organizing concepts with which planners can formulate goals or policies to deal with social problems. The literature on social systems is reviewed and five models are identified. Illustrations of planning problems to which each model would apply are provided, together with a discussion of the model's relative advantages and…

Discusses the importance of the interactive dimension for the training of planners and the practice of planning. Presents a framework by which social work planners can begin to use interactional skills. (JAC)

National policy makers have put forth different life cycle planning proposals for the more satisfying integration of education, work and leisure over the life course. This speech describes a decision making scheme, the Time Paradigm, for researched-based choice among various proposals. The scheme is defined in terms of a typology of time-related…

A conceptual model for teaching and practicing social policy is presented, that distinguishes between social policy practice at macro- and micro-levels in order to sort out functional tasks, skills, and the consequent knowledge base. Suggestions are made regarding organizing social policy practice content in both the class and the field.…

A typology of time-related concepts is put forth as a step toward the building of comprehensive theory in aging. The concepts derive from statistics (age, cohort, period effects), the theoretical writings of Sorokin (life course role sequences, durations and rates), the writings of Riley (on the synchronization of life course socialization and…

Locality development, social planning, and social action are three types of social change models examined in terms of how they might better serve the elderly as a political force. Political education and political action for and by the elderly are recommended as appropriate areas for social welfare agency involvement. (LH)

These 15 conference papers discuss exemplary practices and key issues faced by local human services managers and elected officials. The issues include understanding the local government role in managing human services, coordinating human service delivery, non-service approaches to governing human services, public-private sector cooperation, and…

This report explores a range of alternative futures covering the next 25 years (1975-2000). These concentrate on the United States, but place this nation's future experience in a world context. It is believed that by exploring the uncertainty of the near future and placing boundaries on it, environmental policy planners will be provided with an…

The principal problem of this work is to discover, perhaps construct, a pedagogical process for thinking about the future that makes use of the methods of forecasting, but makes use of them to create new attitudes and understandings on the part of institutional planners. The underlying concern is to develop a way for planners to address the future…

Any effort to change a complex social system should begin by constructing models and simulations of the problem and its social context. These will increase the likelihood of long-term success, decrease the chance of unexpected negative side effects, and help conserve scarce national resources. Models may be of three types: (1) prose models--which…