DQ-W1Q2
Among the various factors impacting the Health and Human Services (HHS) programs, increased costs, such as personnel, equipment, and facilities, may be leading considerations in a program manager’s plans and priorities. After becoming more familiar with the concept of privatization, identify the advantages of engaging in privatization and what is required to actually carry this out.
- The following questions may help direct your reading:
- Who initiates privatization of a HHS service / program?
- What are the typical program information requirements?
- Who can approve a privatization effort?
W1Q2
Health Care Reform has, for a long time, been a hot topic. Costs of Medicare, loss of jobs, increased costs of doing business, are all part of the problem/need. Research various kinds of controversies and issues in the field of human services, with a focus on the clash of values in social policies. In a 300 word analysis, focus on the trade- offs between cutting programs or providing health care services.
W2Q1
Help, human services, and care are provided in many formats. However, to be considered under the umbrella of health and human services, the help must be provided by some type of formal organization. The Federal Government, the major provider of social welfare benefits, allocates 90% of the Federal budget for social programs. There are over 300 programs situated in eight public health agencies and three human service agencies. In order to grasp the significance of the above information you are asked to locate information that identifies the amount of budget allocated to the HHS budget for the fiscal years 2011, 2012, and 2013. After examining the budgets, and noting the changes, what conclusions do you draw? Also discuss the inferences you draw in terms of providing needed HHS care.
W2Q2
Within the boundaries of the health and human services, there are thousands of employees providing a great variety of services. The process of dealing with humans in need is not simplistic. One practitioner, Dr. Jean Watson, has become a leader in Caring Theory. After reading the article, A pragmatic view of Jean Watson’s caring theory, you are asked to do the following:
- Summarize the general aspects of Dr. Watson’s Caring Theory.
- Formulate a set of values that should be the foundation of a caring Perspective in the health and human services.
- Comparing your set of values with two classmates’ work and commenting about these comparisons is also part of this assignment.
W3Q1
There has been a shift of emphasis of the consumers of health and human services from professionals and care providers to increasingly include the client system. The stakeholders have increased through participation coupled with the increased volume of information which allows greater exposure to care alternatives. This means the client system has greater access to health and service records. Information, instead of flowing from the top down, is increasingly multi-directional. There are many implications of this change and the parallel modes of technology. Client-to-client communication has dramatically changed. After completing reading/research, you are asked to identify one positive and one negative outcome related to the changes addressed above. Include two examples from real life in your discussion post.
W3Q2
Inability to improve information systems will result in inappropriate and limited use of the critical information important to health and human services professionals. Identify at least three of the needed improvements and discuss the needs specifically in terms of how the improvement directly impacts the HHS client base.
W4Q1
What makes a theory useful is the ability of the practitioner to use the elements of the theory (called premises or postulates) in practice and research. These applications can empower the human service worker by providing added information, insight, and perspective regardless of the career level. Theory-into-practice is a forerunner of best practices, where the evaluation of program and practice results leads to efficiencies and effectiveness. After reading Chapter 4 in the text, paying special attention to Hansell’s motivation theory, analyze this theory in terms of its application to client problems/needs. Consider the following:
- Can the “seven attachments” be used as a checklist to understanding (discovering) a client’s wellbeing or problems?
- What are the inferred implications for a human service worker’s interactions with the client system?
- How does Hansell’s theory support the idea to “search for practical solutions”?
W4Q2
Many of the theories addressed in health and human services work are based on the medical model of “deficit health,” that is, focusing on what is wrong with the client. In contrast, a newcomer to the field of psychology focuses on the strengths and wellbeing, of the client. This is called positive psychology, developed by Dr. M. Seligman. After viewing Martin Seligman: The new era of positive psychology, synthesize the key tenets of Dr. Seligman’s theory and identify its potential to impact human services practices. What are some challenges to applying or integrating Dr. Seligman’s Theory to human services practices?
W5Q1
you are confronted with the issues related to differing socio-cultural values that affect program alternatives, spending alternatives, and providing community services. Start this discussion by providing a definition of socio-cultural values. Then, provide a 300 word appraisal of at least two ways a service provider’s values could impact the relationships with the client system.
W5Q2
you cannot help but appreciate the span of needs and then wonder, “How do we make budget allocation decisions?” and, “What happens to the individuals unable to acquire appropriate help”? In many ways, individuals needing one kind of service can, if the need is not addressed, have a negative domino effect on the person. For example, the homeless person becomes sick, eventually receiving free emergency medical attention. These “forcing functions” are a common phenomenon in HHS. Burger (2011) states, “Meanwhile, human service agencies, for the most part, try to help people adjust to the existing social and economic situation. Agencies, in effect, seek to maintain the status quo. Regardless of the basic motives behind social policy, it seems clear that unless and until more successful or satisfying programs are devised to provide for basic needs of people who are unable to provide for themselves, much suffering, turmoil, and conflict will result”. Thus, on the one hand we have different groups needing help, but we have agencies limited to maintaining the status quo. This is a very real dilemma.
Reflect on the different ideas implied in the above sentences and take a stand as to what can or should we, as a country, do to make rational and acceptable changes that address this dilemma. In a minimum of 300 words, discuss what you recommend as “acceptable changes”.
