This study has two major implications for human service professionals. First, it identifies some of the essential ingredients that enable human service agencies to be effective. Second, it provides a basis for further research possibilities among the human service professions

McClain, Shirla

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VCU Scholars Compass

Critique This study bas two major implicat ions for human service professionals . First , it ident i fies some of the essent ial ingredients that enabl e  human service agencies t o  be e ffect ive . Second , it provides a basis for further research pos sibili ties among the human service profess ions . One of the essenti al i ngredients that effective human service professions must have i s  data-based i n­formation.  As shown i n  this study , gathering and util­izing base line data al low planning t o  occur from the vantage point of what is known rather than what is in­ferred . Thus , a data base provides focus and direction for planning , moves beyond informal assessments or progress reports , and can effect pos it ive change . A second essential ingredient is col laborat ion i n  identifying gaps in services . Such a col l aborat ive process permits representat ives of agencies involved to examine the scope and sequence of their serv ices . As the study indicates , problems such as dupl icat i on of services , limited access ibil i t y , and the absence of essential services do e xist . E xami ni ng the scope of services collectively , or from a col lect ive data base , results in a more precise assessment for determi ni ng which services can be extended , eliminated , dovetail ed , or compacted . In terms of sequence for delivery of services , again , col lective data enables e f ficient planning for offering services that are prerequisite to others , that can be delivered s imultaneously , that should be extensions of others , or that can reinforce others . A third essent ial ingredient provided for human service professionals is a profile of personnel , espe­cially a profile that indicates the individual att i tudes toward job commitment . Commitment to one ' s  professional role and responsibilit ies is crucial to one ' s  effect ive job performance . Dawkins ' study has yielded data which demonstrate commitment to the profession and to the community . Areas for further research that appear to be beneficial to human service professionals include more extensive analysis of the demographic characterist ics of the service providers and additional perceptions of providers and residents . Percept ions related to service providers could focus on self perceptions . Specific research questions might include : 1 .  What are service providers ' perceptions related to bel ief in self and one ' s  ability to make a difference? 39 2 . Wh a t  a r e  serv i�e p:ovid ers ' percept i ons r e l a t e d  t o  b e l 1 ef 1 n  their co-worke rs c o a l i t i on s , and the col lect i ve ab i l i ty t o  make a d i f ference? 3 .  What charac t e r i s t ics do serv ice prov ide� demon s t r a t e  t hat i nd i cate their effect ive­n e s s  w i t h  c l i e n t s ?  How do t hese character­i s t i c s  r e l a t e  t o  characterist ics noted in d a t a o n  t h e  s e l f - percept ions of service prov i d e rs ?  4 .  Wha t  e v i d e n c e  i s  there to ind icate that s e rv i c e  p rov i ders are ab l e  to empathize wi t h  c l i e n t s ?  I s  there a relat ionship b e tween t h a t  e v i dence an d the character­i s t i cs n o t ed i n  the data on sel f-per­c ep t i o n s  of serv i c e  provi ders ? 5 . Wh a t  i s  t h e  r e l at i o nsh ip ( or is there a r e l a t i onsh i p ) be tween expressed and per­c e i ve d  j ob c omm i tment and effect ive j ob p e rforman c e ?  Da t a  o n  r e s i d en t s ' or c l i en t s ' perceptions of s e l f  m i g h t  a l so be g a t h e r e d . Such perceptions could t h e n  be c omp a red w i t h  s er v i ce prov iders ' percep t i ons o f  res i d e n t s .  S im i l ar l y , s e rv i c e  provi ders ' perceptio� of s e l f  c ou l d  be c ompared w i t h  c l i en t s ' percep t ions of s e rv i c e p rov i de r s . On e f i n a l  a r e a  f o r  further rese arch mi ght be to exp l or e  how c o a l i t i o n s  e f f e c t  mod i f i cat ions in programs . Re searche r s  m i g h t  s e ek : 1 )  t o  d e t ermine the types of changes t h a t  c an be a c t u a l i ze d ; 2 )  to i dent ify the componen t s  o f  t h e  processes t h a t  e f fect change ; 3 )  to i d en t i f y t h e  f a c t o r s  t h a t  c on t r i bu t e  to ef fect i ng chang e s . There a r e  u n d ou b t e d l y  many o t her areas for f u r t h e r  researc h . Howe ve r ,  Dawk i n s ' study is one whicl make� a con t r i bu t i on to t h e  knowl edge base of human serv 1 c e prof es s i o n a l s  who s eek t o  be come increas ingly e f fe c t i v e  in t h e i r  c hosen f i e l ds . Sh i r l a  McCl ain Ken t  S t at e  Un ivers ity 4 0  

Critique [of ADDRESSING GAPS IN THE DELIVERY OF COMMUNITY SERVICES: THE CASE OF ONE INNER-CITY COMMUNITY]

https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1156&amp;context=ees

Critique [of ADDRESSING GAPS IN THE DELIVERY OF COMMUNITY SERVICES: THE CASE OF ONE INNER-CITY COMMUNITY]

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