The crisis of accountability

Abstract

Edward Newman, Ph.D., is Vice-president for Policy Studies, Linton, Mields, and Coston, Washington, D.C., and was formerly Commis sioner, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Social and Rehabilitation Service, U.S. De partment of Health, Education, and Welfare. Jerry Turem, Ph.D., is Project Director of the Social Services Research Program, The Urban Institute, Washington, D.C. Accountability is an elusive concept. As addressed in this article, its terms of refer ence are personal social services in the broad spectrum of human services, concen trating in the main on social services avail able in either the public or private sector under the Social Security Act. The prob lems of social services that are publicly de livered or publicly supported are not neces sarily different from those of services funded through other sources. However, in the case of services having governmental assistance, the problems of accountability —problems that are related to political action, ideology, policy-making, program effectiveness, and professional responsibil ity—are today more striking and visible. They are therefore more symptomatic of the current crisis of accountability. This article will focus on issues that go beneath the surface of political polemics, administrative style, or intergovernmental issues to the raison d'etre of the social