Chapter 1

1. Chapter 1 The Environmental Context Affecting Human Services

2. Agencies • Single and Multi-Service Agencies • Governmental Agencies • Private, Non-profit Agencies • For-profit Agencies • Voluntary and Self-Help Organizations

3. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS INFLUENCING SOCIAL AGENCIES • Resources • Public Opinion and the Media • Political Climate • Concerns of the Community • Professional Associations and Unions • Educational and Theoretical Perspectives • Religious and Moral Values • Special Circumstances • Technological Advances • Response of Other Agencies • The Environment of the Host Organization • Effects of the Environment on Clients

4. A TWO WAY STREET: INFLUENCING THE ENVIRONMENT • RATIONING SOCIAL SERVICES • Queuing • Service inaccessibility • Triage • Creaming • Equal parceling • Protecting society • Preferred recipients • Market rationing • Serving the neediest • Setting boundaries

5. USING RESOURCES IN THE ENVIRONMENT • Involving Volunteers • Information and Referral Service

6. DEALING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES • 1) To what extent should we make our services accessible? • 2) How can we balance conflicting demands from our environ­ment? • 3) How can we prepare for the continuous changes that are bound to occur in our environment?

7. SUMMARY • The environmental context within which all agencies must operate will greatly influence the formation and functioning of human services. A variety of forces impinge upon organizations that can affect directly or indirectly how staff respond. At the same time agencies can take steps to influence environmental forces.

8. QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION • 1) What are some of the most important environmental factors affecting your agency? • 2) With which organization does your agency relate? • 3) What kinds of rationing does your agency use? • 4) What are some ways your agency influences its environment?