The Government-Nonprofit Organization Partnership Patterns in Taipei City: Caring Mentally Disabled Elderly

Abstract

In present Taiwan systems and policies, both government and non-government institutes are able to provide differently career counseling and vocational skill trainings for the mentally disabled between age 15 to 50. However, there is an apparent lack of care service for older mentally disabled group above age 50. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the solutions specifically targeted at such group in Taipei city, as well as to alleviate the careers' burdens. In order to build leadership for modernization and shared governance, the city agencies has to shared its resources with NPO/NGO and Enterprises and makes strong partnership among them. Existing in forms of institutions, the shelters and service agencies for mentally disabled in Taipei are unable to cover mature aged and older groups, nor meets the needs of care. Thus it forms a gap in the overall welfare and care system. To bridge the gap, the author aims to find out the trends through studies of current system and available information. This paper will explore this issue from social and theoretical views with a comprehensive measurement, as well as constructing a gradual partnership patterns for better development through actual examinations. Different levels of influences among organizations partnership will also be analyzed in terms of its strength and weakness, aiming to form basis for future welfare system construction. The characteristic of this ”partnership”: Not only to decide for oneself but rely on one, and not only to cooperate but compete. In conclusion, we shall be able to reach the maximization of national resources with the adjustment of the following policies: 1 .Short term: Connection of the welfare systems and the complementary assistance among them, establishment of trust and accountability mechanism, smooth access of the structural holes, reinforcement of communication channels, coordination of the trust mechanism, correspondence of the organizational attributes and balance of the disunion integration. 2. Mid term: Strengthening the social responsibilities of businesses, integration of relevant laws and concern for cross-field policy issues. 3. Long term: Drafting relevant policies and establishment of sound social welfare systems. Furthermore, this paper also targets to provide clear and feasible developmental direction to enhance the wholesomeness for Taiwan’s social welfare system.