Social Service Administrators Research Articles

“The little I receive is not enough’’: A qualitative study of food insecurity in the South Bronx

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to explore the lived experiences of food insecurity amongst Bronx residents. Applying a community-based participatory research approach, we conducted a qualitative study, entailing 38 interviews with food pantry recipients, 4 key informant interviews with social service administrators, and two focus groups with 12 food pantry staff and social service providers in New York City (NYC). Applying a precarity framework, we identified three themes: (1) unaffordability of living expenses in NYC; (2) financial hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic; and (3) institutional and technological barriers to food access. We identified the following subthemes under theme one: rising food costs and high cost of living. Under theme two, we identified four subthemes: (a) large household size driving poverty for Bronx families; (b) vulnerabilities to food insecurity among older adults; (c) budgeting for reduced incomes during the COVID-19 pandemic; and (d) managing unstable employment. Under the third theme, we identified three subthemes: (a) lack of access to healthy, culturally appropriate foods; (b) need for wider service availability; (c) and not having smartphones for telehealth. Study findings demonstrate how precarity impacts the lived experiences of food insecurity and financial hardship for residents of the South Bronx during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Using Networks to Engage Community Health Workers in Participatory Action Research in High-Poverty Rural Communities

Previous research shows that health and social service networks can improve service and system coordination and increase capacity to respond to critical social determinants and health needs. This article describes strategies, methods and tools used to engage community health workers (CHWs) in the development and implementation of initiatives associated with the COVID-19 Response Network, a collaborative between academicians, regional clinical and social service administrators, practitioners, and regional community and faith-based organizations. Network initiatives included community-based participatory action (CBPT) research approaches to respond to social determinants and health needs in rural Missouri during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mixed methods were used to ascertain the impact of these approaches, including surveys and key informant interviews with Network members. Survey responses showed the network to be a venue where decision-making was democratic, CHW voices were valued, and network members trusted each other. Analysis revealed two themes: How the Network improved CHWs’ capacity to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic (“Getting a seat at the table”) and how trust is built through relational exchange processes (“They need to believe in you”). The results clarify practical approaches to participatory action research for bringing together and maximizing the contributions of a combination of CHWs, clinicians, and administrators in clinical and social services stakeholders in the community in leadership positions to improve health outcomes. Implications for academic researchers and academic institutions are discussed.

Experiences of Hispanic Families with Social Services in the Racially Segregated Southeast: Views from Administrators and Workers in North Carolina.

North Carolina—as a state in the racially segregated Southeast—offers a unique context to understand access to social services for Hispanic families and children. Theories of administrative burden posit that Hispanic families likely face high learning, compliance, and psychological costs. Hispanic families face challenges that compound these costs: limited English language and literacy proficiency, complex household composition, and citizenship status of family members and other household members. With new survey results and qualitative data on social service administrators and front-line workers, we examine how these costs may affect access to programs for Hispanic families who reside in a state with a history of racial divisions that have shaped local policy implementation. Some workers noted transportation barriers and complex application processes as limiting access. While we expected to find that Hispanic families may be disadvantaged by decentralized service delivery in a manner that is similar to the experiences of African American families, workers instead note significant resources that help facilitate Hispanic families’ access to programs. Workers view national anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric, rather than state and local policy rules or resource constraints, as limiting their capacity to serve Hispanic families.

Evaluasi Program Kelompok Usaha Bersama (KUBE) di Kecamatan Batu Kota Batu

The implementation of the Joint Business Group (KUBE) program in the Batu City Batu District began in 2015 and is still ongoing today. Until now, there are around 21 active KUBE groups in this sub-district and 21 inactive KUBE groups (the most in Kota Batu). This research then aims to evaluate the KUBE program in the sub-district of Batu, Batu City. This research uses a qualitative model with a descriptive type. Data collection techniques through observation, interviews, and documentation. The subjects were interviewed by the Batu City Social Service, KUBE assistants, and KUBE administrators in Batu District. The results of this study indicate that the KUBE program has not been running according to what is targeted by the Batu City Social Service. The effectiveness criteria are still not fulfilled because KUBE members are not actively producing. Likewise, with the efficiency criteria, KUBE members are still confused in managing funds, and the products that are sold sometimes do not run out. The criteria for the adequacy of the results obtained are not sufficient for daily needs. The criteria for equitable distribution of benefits have been felt, but not for the results. The responsiveness criterion is still lack of mentoring and monitoring and evaluation from the mentor. The criteria for the accuracy of the aid distribution process are good and precise, but not many KUBE has carried out independent graduations.Keywords: batu city, joint business group (KUBE), policy evaluation, welfare

A Pilot Cognitive Behavior Therapy Group Intervention to Address Coping with Discrimination Among HIV-Positive Latino Immigrant Sexual Minority Men

Discrimination is thought to be a key driver of health disparities that affect people with multiple intersecting devalued identities, such as HIV-positive Latino sexual minority men (SMM). Ineffective coping with the stress of discrimination (e.g., rumination, substance use) may lead to worse long-term mental and physical health. Within the context of a community partnership, we developed a nine-session, community-based, cognitive behavior therapy group intervention to address coping with discrimination among HIV-positive Latino immigrant SMM. In Study 1, we assessed anticipated intervention acceptability via semi-structured interviews with 28 HIV-positive Latino SMM and ten social service providers and administrators; we used interview data to develop the manualized intervention. In Study 2, we assessed acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary effects in a pre-post, non-randomized intervention evaluation with two intervention groups of HIV-positive Latino SMM (n = 30, average age = 48.5, SD = 10.3). In semi-structured interviews, key stakeholders were enthusiastic about the proposed intervention. In the non-randomized evaluation, feasibility was evidenced by moderate levels of intervention attendance (five sessions on average); reasons for missed sessions (e.g., illness, scheduling conflict with work) were unrelated to the intervention. Linear regressions showed preliminary effects for decreased negative emotional coping responses to discrimination pre-to-post intervention (i.e., feeling less anger, sadness, powerlessness, helplessness, and shame on two subscales; b (SE) = -0.23 (0.10), p = .03; b (SE) = -0.25 (0.11), p = .03). Our intervention holds promise for reducing disparities by empowering Latino SMM to leverage innate resilience resources to improve their health in the face of discrimination.

Informing the development of a pilot intervention to improve migrants’ healthcare assess in Brno, Czech Republic

Abstract Background Third-country nationals have the least access to healthcare in the Czech Republic yet representing the largest group of migrants. This study aimed to inform the development of a pilot intervention to improve migrants’ healthcare access in Brno, Czech Republic, within the existing health policy framework. Methods A Metaplan© qualitative technique was applied to ensure the community participation, through separate sessions with social integration professionals and third countries nationals. Each group first identified issues in migrants’ healthcare, then suggested solutions to address these issues and prioritized these solutions. Results The professionals’ group included five representatives of social integration service providers and administrators. The majority of migrants were female, with higher education, ages 35-55 years, arrived in two years mainly from Ukraine, and not employed. The social integration professionals were more knowledgeable of healthcare policy and migrants’ rights and suggested a wider scope of solutions. The migrants underscored the role of reliable information as a critical tool in utilizing healthcare services. Both groups prioritized an open access to the information as a direct benefit to the users. Other suggestions included multilingual mobile applications, visual aids and translation services, bilingual doctors and universal access to public health insurance. The feasibility of these solutions varied and so their value as intervention models. Conclusions The future interventions should focus on health literacy in the migrant community. This would include the dissemination of multilingual information on health emergency, children vaccinations, health insurance and healthcare system, among other topics, and interactive trainings for migrants and social counselors, to improve self-efficacy in both groups.

Human Service Administrator Perceptions of Online MSW Degree Programs

ABSTRACTOnline programs have proliferated rapidly in higher education, and this reality holds true for social work education as well. Employing a mixed methods design, this study looked at employer perceptions of online degrees compared to traditional degrees. Data was collected through an online survey that included Likert type and open-ended questions assessing employer attitudes and hiring practices regarding individuals who possess online MSW degrees. Results suggest that a majority of social service administrators believe traditional MSW degrees are preferable to those attained online, especially with respect to clinical training. These findings have significant implications for online MSW programs and graduates with online degrees.

From a Bird's Eye View? A Comparative Analysis of Governance and Network Integration Among Human Service Organizations

ABSTRACT It is widely recognized by social workers and human service administrators that interorganizational networks are an important aspect of the everyday reality of human service organizations. A well-integrated network is defined as a network in which all organizations are connected and the resource exchange among all network actors is guaranteed. To analyze the integration of service networks, this study conducts a social network analysis of four networks among service organizations governed by a shared-participant type of governance. The results indicate that in networks in which the governance is more developed and mature, the structure shows a high level of integration. The analysis and results show that governance leads to an integration of the efforts of diverse service organizations, ultimately increasing the responsiveness of the entire network toward the complex problems of the target group. Future recommendations include discussing further qualitative and quantitative research efforts and the role of shared-participant governance.

Nonprofit Leadership Development in the Post-Socialist Context: The Case of Croatia

While nonprofit social services are developing rapidly in post-socialist countries, little is known of their leadership. This research examines models of leadership as perceived by social service administrators in Croatia. Technical management with limited stakeholder involvement is recognized as most prevalent, though inadequate in many respects. More relational styles are considered desirable, but not feasible at present, while advocacy-oriented and purely Western approaches are more strongly rejected. We analyze these findings in the context of social legacies, dependency on state funding, Western aid paradigms, and fiscal crises commonly found in post-socialist countries. We assess implications for future development of, and research on, nonprofit leadership in these settings.

The Use of In-Basket Exercises for the Recruitment of Advanced Social Service Workers

A turnover study in California found that 79.5% of the social workers that carried child caseloads left their agency within the first five years of employment. As one means of addressing this problem, Cooperative Personnel Services (CPS) developed an in-basket examination. The long-term goal of this exploratory project is to attract qualified and motivated workers, discourage less qualified workers, and reduce the excessive costs of training new workers who precipitously terminate their employment. Employed social service workers and administrators were used as subject matter experts to take piloted examinations and professional raters were used to evaluate these examinations. Despite some encouraging results, the small sample size and lack of randomness as a generalizability issue limits the findings.

Privatization and Performance-Based Contracting in Child Welfare: Recent Trends and Implications for Social Service Administrators

Although social service privatization and performance contracting have increased over recent decades, there is a dearth of information concerning how public and private social service administrators manage performance contracts and develop collaborative relationships that promote desired client outcomes. The Quality Improvement Center on the Privatization of Child Welfare Services (QICPCW) was funded by the federal Children's Bureau to promote knowledge development regarding public/private contracting in child welfare. This article reports on results from interviews with a national sample of public agency administrators by the QICPCW regarding the scope and mechanisms of contracting in the child welfare sector. Results identify key administrative and agency practices that public and private agency administrators used to develop public/private collaborations and sustain effective cross-sector partnerships. Implications for social service administrative practice and research are identified.

Online Synchronous Technologies for Employee- and Client-Related Activities in Rural Communities

The use of online synchronous technology (web conferencing, text chat, and video chat) by social-service agencies for employee-related activities (recruitment, training, meetings, continuing education, and supervision), and client-related activities (visitation, case management, and education/training classes) has received minimal attention in the professional literature. This article describes these technologies, their examination in the literature, and potential barriers to their use in social-service agencies. The article also reports on a survey of social-service agency administrators in an upper Great Plains state who were asked about their use of online synchronous technology for employee- and client-related activities. Results indicate minimal use of the technologies for these purposes.

Protestant Christian Volunteers in Community Social Service Programs: What Motivates, Challenges, and Sustains Their Service

This article presents findings from a research project exploring the motivations of 25 volunteers from Protestant Christian congregations involved in community service programs. These volunteers are motivated primarily as their way of responding to God and to the needs of others. As they serve, beneficial relationships with others and other personal benefits become motivations for their continuing service. Their motivations help them sustain their service in the face of the challenges created by volunteering. This article concludes with implications for social service administrators who seek to recruit, train, and sustain the involvement of these volunteers and their congregations, including understanding and connecting with volunteers' religious world views.

Cost effectiveness and outcomes of a nurse practitioner–paramedic–family physician model of care: the Long and Brier Islands study

AimThis longitudinal study was designed to address four research questions and the hypothesis; that adults living in a rural community receiving primary health care and emergency services from a team that included an on-site nurse practitioner (NP) and paramedics and an off-site family physician would, over time, demonstrate evidence of improved psychosocial adjustment and less expenditure of health care resources.BackgroundIn Canada, there is a growing awareness and commitment to addressing the challenges of providing primary health care services in rural areas. A literature review supported the role of NPs in primary health care and a potential role for paramedics. No studies were found that evaluated the combination of NPs, paramedics and physicians as providers of primary health care.MethodsStructured questionnaires, individual and group interviews with patients, health and social service care providers and administrators and community members were used to describe and evaluate the impact of the model of care over the three years of the study.FindingsThe innovative model of care resulted in decreased cost, increased access, a high level of acceptance and satisfaction and effective collaboration among care providers. Organizational structures to support the innovative model of primary health care were identified.

Understanding the antecedents of the acceptance of donation after cardiac death by healthcare professionals*

A 3-yr study funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was conducted to identify potential barriers to and opportunities for increasing the number hospitals with donation after cardiac death (DCD) protocols, the support of DCD by individuals involved in the donation request process, and the number DCD donors recovered. This study reports the qualitative findings. Methods used included an advisory committee and an extensive array of key informant interviews and focus groups. Hospitals and telephone contact. Discussions with nurses, physicians, social service staff, clergy, administrators, and organ procurement organization staff. A total of 216 people participated. Collection and analysis of information regarding perceptions of DCD, potential barriers and opportunities, and strategies for gaining support. Key barriers included a lack of knowledge about DCD, psychological barriers for DCD vs. brain death, concerns about whether death has been reached, saving vs. killing patients, trust in the organ procurement organization, moving from saving patients to being a donation advocate, and concerns with the DCD process. Opportunities included education initiatives, well-trained requesters, a cultural shift, a consistent DCD protocol separating care from recovery, process monitoring, and a strong sense of teamwork. Our findings provide a better understanding of healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding DCD. Understanding these issues is critical to the implementation of strategic plans for DCD programs. One of the biggest barriers to overcome is a lack of knowledge of DCD, which leads to misperceptions, which in turn contribute to negative attitudes and/or discomfort by healthcare professionals. Communication efforts that are able to educate healthcare professionals and eliminate misperceptions will increase support for DCD. Key to future success requires confident and well-trained DCD requesters.

Unmet Needs for Services for Older Adults With Mental Illness: Comparison of Views of Different Stakeholder Groups

The authors assessed the need for mental health services among older adults in San Diego County, California, by determining what needs were not being addressed by existing services, what services were necessary to address these needs, and how much consensus there was among different stakeholders with respect to the problems and solutions related to service delivery. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 23 health care and social service providers and administrators, 16 services consumers and other older adults (55 years of age and older), and 19 caregivers/family members and patient/client advocates. This was followed by four focus groups comprised of 18 providers and administrators, six focus groups comprised of 50 consumers and other older adults, and five focus groups comprised of 39 caregivers (family members and advocates). The unmet needs fell into three categories: mental health services, physical health services, and social services. Two interrelated themes were identified by participants: 1) the need for age-appropriate and culturally appropriate services to overcome barriers to mental health services access, use, and quality; and 2) the interrelations between unmet needs that address prevention as well as treatment of mental illness, including socialization and social support, transportation, housing, and physical health care. Differences in stakeholder assessment of unmet needs were associated with respective roles in delivery and use of mental health services. Age-appropriate and culturally appropriate solutions that address both prevention and treatment may represent the best strategies for addressing the challenges of mental illness and are most likely to be endorsed by all three groups of stakeholders.

Management in Local Governments

Local governments (counties and cities) are important providers of almost every type of service imaginable. Many social workers interact with local governments on a daily basis and therefore, understanding how local governments operate is critical. This article provides an overview of local government management issues including the changing skill-set managers must possess, the different decision-making and governing structures, service delivery, human and financial issues, the role of local government and future challenges. Implications for social service administrators are advanced.

Evaluating Program Outcomes as Event Histories

ABSTRACT Social service programs operate in an outcome-driven climate of program service delivery where external funding and regulating bodies demand outcome reporting. Administrative tools are needed to assist with decision-making that aims to improve program services and outcomes. In this article, we present Event History Analysis (EHA) as a statistical tool that can be used to investigate whether particular factors such as client or service characteristics lead to better outcomes in a family preservation program. The authors present a conceptual overview of EHA and discuss its utility as a diagnostic tool for program planning. Additionally, a demonstration of EHA is presented using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The authors also illustrate how EHA can be used to explore program data beyond periodic counts of client outcome success and failure, and make meaningful time-sensitive changes to service delivery. Using three client characteristics that contribute to the risk of abuse: learning disability, family income, and family size, the article discusses the program and practice implications of these variables in working in a family preservation program. The article aims to provide a basic understanding of EHA for social service managers or administrators, since it is quickly becoming a common analytical method in social work research. Equipped with a conceptual understanding of EHA, administrators can direct their program evaluators to conduct EHA on program data.

Job Stress Among Academic Health Center and Community Hospital Social Workers

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the perception of job stress and job satisfaction among 187 social workers employed in academic health centers (AHC's) and general community hospitals. Results show that social workers in Academic Health Centers reported more overall job stress, higher intensity and more frequent job pressures than community hospital social workers on the Job Stress Survey. The higher the levels of job stress, especially the intensity of job pressures, the lower job satisfaction scores were for both groups. Respondents with less job tenure felt a lack of organizational support. Hospital and social service administrators are urged to explore health promotion strategies for a positive work environment. Further empirical work is needed to compare the sources of job stress of social workers in various fields of practice.

Using time-series analysis to evaluate the impact of policy initiatives in child welfare

This paper discusses how a unique outcome evaluation approach was applied in the field of child welfare. This time-series approach was used to analyze the impact of Senate Bill 2669 (SB2669), commonly known as the Presely Bill, on child maltreatment reports. California's Presely Bill requires California's counties to identify and intervene in cases involving perinatal substance use or exposure. It also requires that cases not be reported as suspected abuse or neglect solely because of a positive toxicology screen. The paper describes the factors that influenced the researchers’ decisions concerning the method of evaluation and the selection of outcome and exogenous measures. Recommendations are made that can be useful to stakeholders, including policy makers and social service administrators that would facilitate the implementation of evaluations of this sort. Some of the recommendations include designing social policy objectives which are justified on the basis of social science findings and developing useful and credible databases which provide uniform and detailed information about children's experiences in the child welfare system.