An Agenda for Social Welfare - Essay Example

An agenda for social welfare An agenda for social welfare: domestic violence A Policy agenda can be referred to as an issue that policy makers view as important, or a problem that most people in and out of government pay much serious attention to. They need both momentum and visibility to be transformed into action. In this context, a policy agenda has to be developed in order to cater for the welfare of women who suffer from domestic violence, since this issue is the most widespread in Canada, but least prosecuted. Some of the most important issues to be considered are transition housing funding and counseling programs funding to promote decisive actions, provide essential services, and protect women against violence. Policy agenda on transition housing funding Transition housing is a residency program, which includes support services provided following a crisis or homelessness. It is designed as a bridge to permanent and self-sufficiency housing. Occupants usually remain in duration of six months to two years, but are required to set goals to put more effort towards a stable economy. However, boundaries differentiating the steps in transitional housing are sometimes unclear. For example, emergency shelter is given on a short-term condition that is, not more than three months, aimed at assisting residents who search housing and contacting referrals to other services. Permanent housing allows for an indefinite stay but does not require participation in social services even when availed to the residents. Due to these restrictions, residents may choose regular relocation as opposed to remaining in an indefinite place. A research show that several territories and provinces have been impacted either directly or indirectly by provincial and federal legislative policies. Transition houses increases in minimum wage levels and service provision. However, this kind of legislation presents financial challenges. Transition houses comply with federal wage increase without fund increase. Policy making on a municipal and provincial level is also a concern in transition housing. Such governmental ideologies like policies in fire codes and necessity for building upgrades financially impact transition houses, yet most of them are in a fived budget. Diversified funding is an important component for long-term sustenance for transitional housing programs. In addition to attaining stability by accessing a variety of sources, these programs require different funding sources in order to support various types of costs, inclusive of capital, operation, and program necessities and services. Capital costs associate with the building and renovation of program facilities and housing units. Some of the operating costs are those needed in operation and maintaining of daily programs such as repairs, utilities, and insurance. Program services costs refer to expenditure related to providing a range of practical and supportive services to participants such as household or clothing items, informational equipment for support groups, and food for special events. Following an understanding that transitional housing requires so many costs to cater for the well being of the women victims of domestic violence in Canada, a program should be developed to put forward enough funds to facilitate this program. The budget of the government of Canada should be increased in a way. Alternatively, a separate budget for every type of cost should be developed, and an appropriate funding source for each cost be identified accordingly. Capital costs should be covered by grants, loans, donations, and fund-raising campaigns to help acquire, rehabilitate, or develop housing for victims of domestic violence. The operating budget caters for expenses of building such as mortgage or rent, insurance, taxes, utilities, and property management. The government of Canada should demonstrate to lender institutions that the operating budget is logical and that it has sources of continuing financial support, often not less than five years. The operating budget should be designed to deal with on-going costs, including personnel, household and office personnel supplies, and direct services for participants of the program. The type of operational structure that a program works on should impact the need for a specific type of funding. For instance, if a program leases program space or housing units, it should focus on program services or on raising operating finances. However, programs which choose to buy the space where they operate must raise resources funds to disburse for building acquisition and renovation. It is noted that most funders impose definite limits on those people in receipt of services from funded programs. A transitional housing agenda intending to help many needy women in the British Columbia government regardless of the woman’s income should be creative about securing funds for women who can not meet income eligibility needs. To address such an issue, programs are supposed to have multiple funding sources with a careful focus on designating certain funding for specific activities or women. Programs are to be familiar with every funder’s reporting obligations inclusive of the length of time for reporting, which may sometimes exceed the real funding cycle. Transitional housing programs are required to seek outside funding sources like government financing and grants. It is reasonable for a program to charge a program rent or fee to partially cover the charges of particular expenses and services. Changes in the ;legislation and policy agenda that would ensure the violence against women sector in Canada are suggested reliable and consistent funding, which considers rural and urban residents demand and which is tied to inflation. Currently, energy, time,. And resources are being used in searching for alternative funding means, in the public sector and from private foundations and donors. The Canadian government should make the procedure of applying public funds less cumbersome and more transparent, while still offering adequate information for funders, to lessen the administrative load on organizations. It is advisable for the government to provide ideologies that avoid lengthy applications and extensive follow- up deliverables and reports that are time consuming. This only places an additional challenge to the already overtaxed transition and sheltering system. There is a necessity for inter territorial or provincial co-operation, more effective consultation processes between the VIW sector and the public and a clear need for a nationwide vision on Violence Against Women that is transparent, strong, and coordinated. It will be much greater if transition housing will have their own funding network in order to connect in various territories. In Canada, there is a need for a quick action plan for women; they should develop a bar of conduct for provincial and territorial governments that recognize the VAW and oppression of women as a human right and as a political issue so that things start filtering from this turning point. Policy agenda on issues surrounding counseling programs funding Canada has no specific authority in control of policy development, service delivery, program planning, and funding for counseling programs. Decentralized, complex, and involvement of many players in this field, the government system is structured to reflect the legislative and constitutional divisions of responsibilities between territorial/provincial, federal, and municipal governments in areas of counseling or training a workforce on areas concerning women issues. Counseling can play a very important role in educating women and the public about their rights and what women need to do if they bare violated. The government of Canada should set up counseling programs and fund them by printing notes and other documents necessary for the counseling procedures. Counseling programs should be designed in such a way that, volunteers are trained women rights brigades who address cases of violence in Canadian communities. With the UN trust funds, Canada can help eliminate violence of women by conducting psychosocial training for peer counseling on violence. The government should provide technical and funding support to civil society programs that seek to stop violence. It should also target specific sources of funds to help woman organizations and other experienced workers in violence control to participate actively in national consultations and public forums. Funds are supposed to be provided for evaluation and research on counseling pro\gram strategies to reduce violence against women. The government needs to establish an on-going funding for rural financial counseling program. This commitment will permit continued service by counselors in the remote areas. Contracts involving counseling programs should be renewed regularly to allow un-interrupted offering of financial counseling services for a long period and also provide management of the programs to plan with certainty for a better future for women. It should also indirectly support funding through provision of women financial assistance, tax measures that enable affordable counseling programs, and assistance for innovation and research. Provinces ought to transfer federal responsibilities and funding through the human resource development projects. Non-governmental organizations are also a good resource for funding and therefore the government should allow them to control funding in counseling programs. Trade unions can also come in to help fund counseling programs by developing and delivering cost- effective and innovative initiatives such as entry-level services which help in the recruitment of a workforce in the Violence against Women sector, training services that concern the common training for women leaders, and offer expertise and experience in training development. Views of future prospects for social welfare Funding challenges are operational and result from changes in legislation which have financial impacts, directly or indirectly on counseling programs and transition housing. Some examples of these changes include changes in landlord-tenant legislation, minimum wage, and social benefits. The proposed reforms can be linked to alternative views of future prospects for social welfare. From the look of what is happening in the current Canadian government, some reforms are already taking place. Collaborative, coordinated, and transparent leadership is needed to drive effective funding and policy in Canada. An example is the latest formation of the network of Canadian women’s transition and shelter houses. The status of women in Canada partnership fund supports some project tasks and significant advances in collaborative, and coordinated leadership is already being achieved. The Canadian Network is in progress to facilitate knowledge exchange, share funding chances, reduce effort duplication, and share common policy issues to all territories and provinces. For instance, incase a certain province has best guidelines, practices, or policy concerning an issue, the information is modified and exchanged, rather than reproduced by a different province. Hopeful, innovative, and model applications are being evaluated and tested across regions to promote quality services to women. Updates on templates or funding of successful financing applications have been centralized for simpler access and more actions are underway. There is hope that with sustainable funding, coordinated associations such as the Canadian network could lead in role playing in finding collaborated and coordinated solutions to the violence against women sector’s funding and policy challenges. Eventually, these concepts free up time for personal shelter and transitional houses and provincial organizations to major in what they do best, that is, servicing the needs of children and women affected by violence in Canada. Reference Wylie, L. (2010). Perceptions of Cuba: Canadian and American policies in comparative perspective. G - Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Series. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Read More