Social Assessment of Family Resource Centers - Essay Example

Running Head: Social Assessment of Family Resource Centers Social Assessment of Family Resource Centers Name Course Date For many within the political spectrum, the question of aiding those who are seen as being less fortunate, continues to fall within the parameters of public interest and as such, requires a plan in place that enables such an effort to continue. Throughout history, as many have alluded to, those who have immigrated to the United States have done so in pursuit of the American dream. As they step across the border, possessing a desire for a better way of life for not only themselves but also, for their loved ones. While many may see the prosperity during the course of their lives, there would remain those who fail to see such prosperity in their own circumstances and as a result, would need assistance from outside sources. One such source would be institutions known as Family Resource Centers. From a historical standpoint, in terms of political legislation, under the 'History' section of the page for the Family Resource Centers, the following can be observed: The Colorado General Assembly established family resource centers in 1993 as a pilot public-private initiative. The centers' mission was to provide comprehensive community-based supports for vulnerable families and children, with a focus on prevention. ("Family Resource", p.1). According to a link for Family Resource Centers through the state of Colorado, their mission would remain to be seen as, "Working as a catalyst within high-risk urban and rural communities, family resource centers utilize a comprehensive and proven community-based approach to improving health, social, educational and economic outcomes for entire families, not just individuals," ("Family Resource", p.1). Socially speaking, these agencies would be in place, for the overall purpose, of aiding families with basic needs that are otherwise not being met. By providing the necessary education, so that these respective families may be able to overcome their current circumstances and be able to achieve a better standard of living. In terms of a policy assessment, the act of engaging those most affected by the problem, in the quest of improving their own life, would appear to be the most beneficial of the suggested options. Essentially, "Greater than the sum of its parts, FRCA provides a safety net of quality services to vulnerable families and children across Colorado," ("Family Resource", p.1). The policy of this institution at its core would be the providing of aid and encouragement, for the betterment of all susceptible families within the Colorado area. In times of both state, as well as federal economic woes, it can become quite easy for some, to approach different programs in terms of assessing their benefits and determining if they should be spared the cut from the budget rolls, or in fact, are not viable enough and ultimately, should be cut from expenditures made. To make the argument for this program, a letter was composed by Bill Michaels, who would serve as the State Executive Director of the Family Resource Center Association, Inc. As part of his central argument, Mr. Michaels asserts, "Despite seemingly insurmountable odds, Colorado's family resource centers are committed to ensuring that families across the state have access to resources in their communities that will enable them to persevere and prosper," (Michaels, p.1). For those who are in charge of allocating the funds for various programs, the assertion made by Bill Michaels, would be done so for the sake of maintaining the relevance and ultimate need remaining for the program that he would be in charge of. The issue of funding would further be addressed by Mr. Michaels in his letter, in this manner: The work of Colorado's family resource centers is made possible by contributions from individuals and organizations. Their generosity allows the centers to continue their efforts on behalf of Colorado's families. Major funders have included the Daniels Fund, Rose Community Foundation, the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation, the Denver Foundation, the Just Media Fund, the Anschutz Family Foundation, and the Tiger Woods Foundation. (Michaels, p.2). With the appearance of outside funding being present that would rely mainly upon the patronage of outside organizations, while not appearing to rely on in any great degree the local and federal government, would serve the purpose of showing that this organization, as it is able to operate, would be something to keep running as is. While the state of this program within Colorado would appear to be on solid ground, there would be concerns in other areas, such as Washington, as to the way in which their funds are allocated for handling the issues stemming from the provided care for those who are less fortunate. In an article published through The Seattle Times, there would be political action taken, in the form of legislation put forward, in the hopes of conquering the present issues surrounding the aid provided for those of a more underprivileged status. While there would be those in Colorado, who would feel as if there system would be working, there would in turn be those in Washington state, who would feel the exact opposite, as it came to their own system of handling the same problem area. According to writers Maureen O'Hagan and Jennifer Sullivan, in their article 'Bill would revamp child-welfare system with private contractors', the authors describe the bill as this, "Senate Bill 5943 would radically transform the state's child-welfare system by requiring the state to hire private contractors to work with children and troubled families after verified complaints of abuse or neglect and the first dependency court hearing," (O'Hagan, et.al., 2009, para. 3). After further assessment, the general public would be able to discern that, through the addition of private workers to work with the children and their families that are a part of this program, then there would have been grave issues with the system as it was being run, before the creation and proposed implementation of this piece of legislation. With the program in place in Colorado, the suggestion offered for the citizens of Washington state, would be an exact opposite of that. Or in more political standards, would be a policy alternative, suggested by those who seek to remedy present issues within the already in place system. The bill in Washington state, would be backed by Senator Jim Hargrove, a Democrat legislator from the state. The workers within this plan, suggested by Senator Hargrove, would be held to a specific level of performance expectation and if they did not meet the set guideline, then they would be removed through the absence of a contract being given. The issue of private contractors, would actually be something that would have been seen at a federal level as well, not just at the local level, such as Washington state. Close to three quarters of the work done by the Department of Health and Human Services, is in fact done by those workers that would be classified as being private employees. Other statewide examples, would include Milwaukee, as well as Kansas, to name a few. While there are positives for most options suggested, there are also those instances, where negatives may just as easily occur and often times do. As Kansas would see a positive outcome, according to the representative of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, a different picture would be seen in terms of Milwaukee. In that case, "In Milwaukee, the private contracting system came under fire last year when a 13-month-old boy was killed and his sister was tortured after being placed with their 24-year-old aunt," (O'Hagan, et.al., 2009, para. 27). Further consideration is given to an example out of the state of Washington that would appear to have a similar outcome as the instance in Milwaukee, with the child in this case would not appear to die. Either way, both cases would serve to shed light on a larger issue and ultimately, increase the concern as to whether or not, with these given examples, the hiring of private contractors, would in fact be in the best interest of the group that they are supposed to support. According to Jeanine Livingston, working with the state employees union, the problem ultimately becomes the need to find the best way to approach the issue and to forgo choices that may seem financially sound but ultimately, are not the real answer. As she states, ""But we all need to work together to find a real solution, not jump to another model just because it's new and different," (O'Hagan, et.al., 2009, para. 38). In keeping with the model of the system offered in the state of Colorado, another such example, would be the program in place for the citizens of Wisconsin. In this case, the assistance would be offered through something called the Children's Trust Fund. In terms of general numbers, "Nineteen family resource centers receive grants from the Children's Trust Fund to help them meet local needs for parent education and support," (Children's Trust, p.1). A beneficial aspect of this program, according to the website for the Children's Trust Fund, would be the diversity that would be found within each resource center offered through the program. Falling within the idea that, while many families are in need of help, not every family falls within the same spectrum of need for assistance and in light of that, each situation should ideally be treated on an individual basis. As part of the Wisconsin plan to handle the issue, a system would be put into place that would consist of three sections, or as the website refers to them, phases, found under the section entitled 'Overview of the State Call to Action'. After these phases, comes the outlining of three goals that would help aid the fight to combat the issue. With the apparent support of not only the Governor, Jim Doyle but also would include the apparent bi-partisan support of both political parties in the state and the state agencies, whose job it would be, to assist the families and children in question. These goals, as they are listed, are the following: 1. Raise awareness of the human and economic costs of child abuse and neglect. 2. Propose short- and long-term child abuse and neglect prevention strategies. 3. Strengthen public will, resources, and community capacity to prevent child abuse and neglect. (Children's Trust, p.1). In terms of the successful measurement of an implemented policy, the core criteria to be considered, would be the level at which all stakeholders are served, both on a short-term, as well as a more long-term basis. With the evidence shown thus far, the options taken in both the state of Colorado, as well as Wisconsin, would appear to have greater benefits present, than the option suggested in the article regarding the state of Washington, along with others that have elected for a different approach having to do with the usage of private contractors. A third state to consider that would fall within the same category of both Washington & Wisconsin, would be New York. Through the pamphlet provided from the New York State Family Resource Center Network, the benefits from the organization include the ability for families of similar circumstance, to interact with one another. Encouraging stronger involvement on the part of both the parents, as well as their respective children. In terms of defining their role, "FRC programs emphasize building strengths and abilities in order to maximize the capacity of families to raise healthy children and contribute to their communities," (New York, p.2). Criteria in place that ensures the achievement of individuals to be productive in terms of their respective families and how they interact with the outside communities around them. For the state of Missouri, "Family Resource Center (FRC) provides supportive care to approximately 10,000 children and parents in the St. Louis area each year," ("Home", p.1). With the state of Missouri, they too would seek the ability for continued assistance to those impacted by the issues that are best served through the presence of Family Resource Centers. As they put it, "Every child deserves a home where they feel safe and loved. For some it is only a dream," ("Home", p.1). While there still continues to be issues involving the state of affairs for families in this problem, the creation of Family Resource Centers, continues to be, based upon cases mentioned, a positive step toward the aid and hopeful alleviation of this problem all together. In Nevada, specifically the city of Reno, the goal of their center would be, "To strengthen families by building a network of support and increasing access to needed resources," (Washoe County, p.1). A continued effort on the part of many cities and their particular states, to offer policy options that seek to go at the issue in such a manner that works to help those who truly need it. Going outside of the United States, another sign of a Family Resource Center, would come in the city of Quebec, located in Canada. In the section for their vision statement, they state, "Our vision is to guide all children; their parents and professionals to reach their maximum potential in order to reach their own personal goals," ("About us", p.1). The theme for all Family Resource Centers, national and international, would be the advancement of all and not just a few. For the state of Montana and the Anaconda Family Resource Center located there, "The mission of Anaconda Family Resource Center is to assure all families receive the basic skills, education, support, and encouragement necessary for the development of healthy families," ("About the", p.1). While the alternative policy of hiring private contractors would have been suggested in a previous case, the clear evidence provided, would show that the Family Resource Centers are better able to serve their clients, through the avenues available to them presently, without the inclusion of private contractors that may otherwise not help the problem but rather, may hinder it even further. References "About the Organization". (2009). Anaconda Family Resource Center. Retrieved from http://www.anacondafrc.org/about.html "About us". (2009). Retrieved from http://familyresourcecenter.qc.ca/aboutus.html Children's Trust Fund. (n.d.). 20 grant supported centers: Family resource centers meet the needs of their communities". Retrieved from http://wctf.state. wi.us/home/FRC.htm "Family Resource Centers". (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cofamilycenters.org/ "Home". (2010). Family Resource Center- Preventing and Treating Child Abuse. Retrieved from http://frcmo.org/ Michaels, Bill. (n.d.). "Colorado's Family Resource Centers They Do Make a Difference". Family Resource Center Association Inc. Retrieved from http://www. cofamilycenters.org/press/Colorado letter2.pdf New York State Family Resource Center Network. (2008). Retrieved from http://www. ocfs.state.ny.us/main/publications/Pub5070.pdf O'Hagan, Maureen, & Sullivan, Jennifer. (2009). "Bill would revamp child-welfare system with private contractors". The Seattle Times. Retrieved from http://seattletimes. nwsource.com/html/politics/2008838416_childwelfare11m.html Washoe County School District Family Resource Centers. (n.d.). Section- Mission. Retrieved from http://www.familyresourcecenterreno.com/ Read More