Guidelines are suggested whereby mental health agency administrators can promote organizational growth and avoid dangers during an agency crisis. Emphasis is placed on the administrator's comprehension of leadership styles and task organization. Typical staff reactions to agency crises are described. (Author/DB)

Explores, through an action research project, the possible contributions--in theory, diagnosis, and intervention--of structural family therapy to organizational change. Reports that successful transfer of family therapy techniques to organizations is contingent on understanding four differences between organizations and families. (Author/IRT)

Describes the progress of a therapy group for four sexually abused children aged 8-12 years. Details the program evaluation procedure and insights gained from the experience. (RJC)

All too often, school administrators are not prepared to handle unexpected foster children enrollments. Because of communication breakdowns, important information is not passed along, and children can be left in educational limbo. A well-stated policy and a simple information checklist could rectify this situation. Includes 18 references. (MLH)

Contemporary proposals to revive orphanges raise two questions: Is returning to orphanage care feasible? and; Would children benefit? The historical record of the 19th and early 20th centuries suggests that creating a new system of orphanges would be expensive and highly unfeasible. Past criticisms based on the perceived harm caused by…

Offers detailed guidelines that could be used as standard operating procedures for the merger of voluntary social service agencies. Discusses a survey of 32 agencies that merged during the years 1973 to 1986. Issues related to the roles of organization, staff, and service delivery in such mergers receive particular attention. (Author/BB)

Although the concept of person-centered services has gained much popularity, there are significant discrepancies in the extent to which service agencies are actually implementing it. Eight organizations, each of which was successfully providing person centered services to at least some individuals, were examined. Some agencies were implementing…

This resource lists key staff and contact information for federal, state, territorial, county, and major municipal public human service agencies in the United States and Canada. The directory is organized into five sections: (1) state agencies; (2) federal agencies; (3) Canadian agencies; (4) international social services agencies; and (5)…

This document consists of 11 information sheets on conducting literacy audits for social agencies in Calgary, Alberta (Canada). The literacy audit is a systematic in-house assessment of the accessibility of an agency for low literate adults. The packet begins with five information sheets that provide questions and answers under the following…

The Community Services Branch of the Family Services Section of the North Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) surveyed all 100 DSS county directors to determine if directors saw HIV/AIDS as a problem now and/or as a potential problem in 5 years. Forty-one percent of the directors indicated an immediate need for difficult-to-provide…

This report provides results of a review of the methodology used by the Office of Human Development Services (HDS) to measure Head Start performance and to control high risk Head Start agencies. The review was performed at HDS headquarters and regional locations nationwide. The review was based on a sample of 200 Head Start agencies and focused on…

Findings of a study on child abuse reporting practices are presented in this paper. A survey of 1,196 professionals (social workers, psychologists, and doctors) and 267 elementary and secondary principals yielded response rates of 59 and 69 percent, respectively. Findings indicate that although school district policy and resource limitations…

Critiques the National Association of Social Workers policy statement on manpower and contends that it is essentially useless to the social work educator seeking greater specificity regarding the competencies to be developed at each level of the educational continuum. (Editor/PG)

In this paper, the questions of whether or not the transmission of common civic values and commitments to society should be a major goal of U.S. schools is considered. The effects of classroom, school, and society on civic values and attitudes are addressed in terms of: (1) the curriculum and classroom instruction; (2) school structures and…

A study examined United Way's role in solving illiteracy. Concerns of four major constituencies were identified. University representatives saw illiteracy as threatening the social well-being of those affected and seriously damaging the principle of equal opportunity. Business persons felt that illiteracy threatened the nation's competitive edge…