Aid to Families with Dependent Children - Research Paper Example

? of number, & section> submitted> History of the Creation of Administration for Children and Families (ACF) The department of Health and Human Services created the administration for Children and Families in 1991. ACF is created as the principal operating division for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This new administration combines the functions of both employees and Family Support Administration (FSA). In 1993 the AFC began working with State Public Assistance Agencies (SPPAs). The main purpose of this combining was to achieve Information sharing projects and objectives. Because of this ACF became able to provide the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) compensation and pension payment records and information about public benefit. Between the period of 1993 and 1997 ACF provide 29 public assistance agencies with VA compensation and benefit information. In September 1997 ACF also provide VA information to 16 states on duplicate interstate public assistance payments (AFDC/TNF, food stamps, medical aid and federal and public assistance aid programs). During the period from 2001 to 2007, the former secretary Wade Horn considers the religious affairs and traditional values. So he encouraged marriages for poor women to reduce poverty. Mission Statement of Administration for Children and Families (AFC) The Administration for Children and Families (AFC) is working under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). AFC is working to promote well being of families, children, individuals and communities. And to achieve these purposes AFC designs many programs. Objective of AFC Program Families are empowered so that they can achieve their own economic independence and productivity. Families are supported in a way so that it results in good quality of life and development of children. Partnership is made with front-line service provider, states, localities and tribal communities. This helps in finding solutions and implementing these solutions. Services are planned and reforms are made so that these can be easily provided to needed people. AFC is committed to work with vulnerable populations. These populations include people with disabilities, refugees and migrants. The purpose of AFC is to identify their needs, strengths and abilities. Summaries of the Operations of Administration for Children and Families Administration for Children and Families make the policies for families and children and also responsible to implement them. It has many programs which include Administration for Native Americans, Administration for children, youth and families, Administration on Developmental Disabilities, Assets for independence, Child care bureau, Child Support enforcement, Children’s bureau, Compassion Capital fund, Division of Tribal services, Empowerment zones and Enterprise Communities Program, Family and youth services bureau, Healthy Marriage initiative, Low Income Home Energy Assistance, Office of Community Services, Office of Family Assistance(TNF/AFDC/Jobs), Office of Head Start(OHS), Office of Legislative Affairs and budget, Office of Planning Research and Evaluation, Office of Public Affairs (OPA), Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and Office of Regional Operations and Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) ACF utilize Federal funds for short term financial assistance. It also provides funds for education, training and employment for long term stability. The administration designs and finances a large number of programs for children and families, Native Americans, people with developmental disabilities, refugees and legalized aliens. The administration administers these programs at state or city levels. It also coordinates its activities with other Governmental agencies. The Hierarchy of Administration for Children and Families There is Assistant Secretary at the top position. He supervises all operations of ACF and its related departments. Below Assistant Secretary there are Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and External Affairs. Assistant Secretary and principal Deputy Assistant Secretary overseas the operations of Office of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration, Office of Planning Research and Evaluation, Office of Public Affairs, Office of Family Assistance, Office of Child Support Enforcement, Office of Refugee Resettlement and Office of Legislative Affairs and Budget. Financial Summaries of ACF The division of Budget prepares all major budget of ACF. This division is responsible for all financial needs of AFC. Like expenditures on programs TANF, Foster care, Adoption Assistance and Child care Development fund, Child Support enforcement, Head Start and LIHEAP. The division of budget works with the staff and forecast the need and expenditure of ACF programs. AFC distributed more than 50 billion dollars in fiscal year 2009 through grants and different social programs for the children and families. Grants are provided to ACF by HHS administration. The grant is given to Administration for Children and Families is a Student Grant Reviewer Pilot program, Discretionary Grant, Head Start Replacement Grants and Mandatory Funds (Thomas C, Weiss 2009). The purpose of Student Grant Reviewer Program is to give the undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to review and give suggestions regarding to the program. As well as students are considered to be members and they are paid for their review and reports (Thomas C, Weiss 2009). Discretionary Grants are made for the projects which are associated with legislation. Standing Discretionary Funding Announcement gives people the information about the deadlines of different programs. Critical Analysis of AFC The annual budget of AFC is 7 billion dollars. With this huge amount of budget the purpose behind is to promote research on children welfare and provide financial assistance to the needy families. (James Bell 2009). In attaining the goal of providing social benefits to the areas concerned, there are many issues or challenges confronting AFC. These are right evaluation of size of target population, getting client approval for research, identifying the appropriate data collection techniques and tools and assessment of child welfare data from state and local information management system. These are the hindrances which come in the proper functioning of social organization like ACF. Interaction of AFC with Criminal Justice System Criminal justice is the system in which practices are made to reduce crimes and for this purpose institutions are responsible for the control of social crimes. Penalties are made and different ways are used for rehabilitation. In United States the policy for Criminal Policy was made by the President’s Commission for law enforcement and Administration for Justice in 1967. This Commission suggested a systematic approach to criminal Justice with suggestions of improvement in the coordination in the Law Enforcement Agencies and Courts (Walker, Samuel 1992). The criminal Justice system consists of three main parts. Legislative (create laws) Adjudication (Courts) and Corrections (jail, Prisons and probation). In criminal justice system these agencies work in collaboration under the rule of Law. And their purpose is to maintain Rule of Law within the society. The social Welfare Organizations have played a great role in the Criminal Justice system of United States. Social workers are working for the people in prison since the beginning of the profession of social welfare in 1904 (Roberts and Springer 2007). Social work is an important part of the criminal justice system. Because of its much influence on the justice system it is now called in United State as Criminal Justice Social Work, Correctional Social Work or Forensic Social Work. Criminal Justice Social workers work as front line staff in the process of criminal Justice. The social welfare organizations are playing a great role in formulation of policies and procedures related to Justice. The role of Administration for Children and families cannot be forgotten in the Criminal Justice System. With regard to disable persons, children and intellectual disabled persons ACF is participating much efforts. In its report to the president of America in 1991, the report provides many evidences and logical reasons to support people who are mentally retarded and have charges. The report provides many statistics like the people who are mentally retarded and in jails are all males. They are mild mentally retarded. The report suggests that the people with mentally retarded ness should not be confused with mentally ill. The report claimed that the people who are mentally retarded are committing serious crimes is misleading. The report also said that these people are misguided or used by others to commit crimes. Suggestions for the ACF to achieve Social Goals Administration for Children and Families is a social organization which provides assistance to the families with dependent children and work for the welfare of the society. For this purpose the organization is running many programs. As well as the ACF receives heavy grants to achieve its goals towards social welfare. The establishment of this organization is a good step taken by the U.S Government to the path of social well being. There is space for growth and development with respect to its structure, workforce and operations. A continuous advancement is necessary to bring improvement in its services and operations. Short term and long term planning should be made and so that achieve goals in such a way. The foremost action which must be taken by ACF is the appointment of an executive officer position in the Office of Assistance Secretary. The Office of Regional Operations should be disestablished. Office of Regional Support should be establish and maintained. Mid term goals can be made and there are suggestions given by many scholars. These include clarification of policy of the program and roles of public affairs. Some employees should also unite in the office of Public Affairs (Swicord Paul, Jason D. Pasquale., etal 2011). Long term goals should be made reorganization of the structure of regional office structure. There should be also addition of programs in Regional office. Every social organization should follow some ethical principles as follows: Service: the main objective of Social Welfare organization is to address social problems and provide every possible help to the people in need. Social Justice: social organization should challenge social injustice. Their main goal is to eliminate every kind of social injustice like unemployment, poverty and discrimination. The dignity and worth of the person: ACF should respect dignity and worth of the persons. They should not discriminate people on the basis of races, culture and ethnic diversity. The importance of human relationship: Social organization should do effort for building and strengthening of relationship between people. Integrity: ACF should follow all the principles and codes of ethics that must be followed by any organization. ACF should practice in a trustworthy manner and aware of mission, values and ethical standards. Competence: ACF should develop and grow in its area of competency and employ means of expertise. Conclusion The Administration for Children and Families was created April 15, 1991 under authority of section 6 under Reorganization plan. Its parent organization is HHS the organization of health and human services. The organization ACF is responsible for providing advices or instructions to its parent organization HHS. ACF gives suggestions on the issues like children, youth, families, developmental disabilities, Native American Assistance, Refugee resettlement and legalized aliens. It provides services like adoption and foster care, child abuse and neglects, Native American tribal, head start, Human Trafficking etc. Services are actually provided by state, county and tribal governments but ACF provide help by provision of information, funds and policy direction. By studying deeply the programs, history and mission statement of ACF, it is easily concluded that Administration for children and Families is a prestigious organization or Social Welfare Agency. It is formulating policies, programs and procedures for the well being of American citizens especially children. It provides huge grants to the Families with dependent children. It is also affecting in the judiciary process which is mainly related to disabled people and people with intellectual disabilities or mentally retarded. So, there is a good scope for the growth and advancement for Administration for Children and Families. It can enhance its activities with the assistance of students and in this way preparing a good work force for the public sector in future. References Public Assistance Reporting Information System, An Office Of the Administration for Children and Families, Web 29 February 2012. Thomas C, Weiss. HHS Administration for Children and Families-Grants Available, July 31, 2009. Web 29 February 2012. James Bell Associates, Evaluation Brief. Critical Issues in Evaluating Child Welfare Programs, September 2009. Walker, Samuel (1992). Origins of the Contemporary Criminal Justice Paradigm: The American Bar Foundation Survey. 1953-1969. Justice Quarterly 9 (1) Roberts, A. Springer, D. Social work in juvenile and Criminal Justice Settings. 3rd ed. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas. 2007 Print. Paul Swifcord, Jason DePasquale, Debra A. Krupa, Kim-Chi Nguyen, Meghan Rasmussen, Michael P.Robbinson. Administration for Children and Families Organizational Assessment: Interim Report. (2011) Read More