MID TERM 4710
1. Given our local economy, high unemployment, crime and budget concerns address how the "culture of poverty" has become an established cycle in Detroit. Pick one suburb where this does not exist and provide a contrast between the two cities. What makes them different?
Detroit has fallen victim to a cycle of poverty. This is due to the unique culture and traits of the area such as familial structure, interpersonal relations, value systems and patterns of spending as discussed by Karger & Stoesz (2010). Detroit is a city once booming in the auto industry but due to the fall of the auto industry a once prosperous area is now in poverty stricken. This is because Detroit was once a top producer in an economy based on wage labor and production for profit. There is now a high rate of unemployment, an increase in crime and low funding. Now due to our economy those that are able to find a job are often underemployed or not educated enough to gain employment. Along with the factors that led to poverty and crime in Detroit, we are unable to get out of this cycle due to the stigma associated with Detroit. Those in power are not necessarily taken into consideration when new policy is being proposed so many policies that have been enacted have not been successful due to the lack of complete understanding of the target population.
Compared to a suburb such as Troy, which has a lower unemployment, low crime rates and limited budget concerns; Detroit is at the complete end of the spectrum. This is due to the affluence in Troy and the steady workforce in that area. Troy never went through a complete collapse of an industry as Detroit did. There is much more money in the middle to upper class city of Troy therefore there is employment opportunities to keep even the small lower class percentage employed.
2. Explain why poor and minority populations are typically not well represented by Super PAC’s or lobbyists. Do you feel the PAC concept considers the oppressed and those in poverty? Given the actions of recent legislative decisions (2010) restricting Super PACS-who stands to benefit?
PAC’s and lobbyists are often influenced by wealthy corporations and organizations to advocate, support and fund legislation. Poor and minority populations are not well represented in these cases because often the needs of the poor and minorities are not taken into consideration during the policy making process. PAC’s are allowed to raise and contribute millions of dollars to support candidates or agendas but often these agendas and candidates do not have the best interest of marginal groups in mind. Overall the funding provided by lobbyists and PAC’s are often aid one particular party or candidate exclusively. Often the wealthy are the ones in power to make decisions and they and their agendas do not include the improvement of life of the impoverished due to social stratification. I do not necessarily think that PAC concept takes into consideration the oppressed and those in poverty. PAC’s often work towards a cause or for a candidate by raising funds. Often times these agendas and candidates do not take into consideration the effects of the proposal on those in poverty. The basis of PAC’s is to provide funding for wealthy politicians who are most often advocating for change that would ultimately hurt those in poverty. The human service interest has little influence compared to more affluent interests (Karger & Stoesz, 2010). The current legislation restricting Super PACs will benefit those who have not been represented. The focus of PAC’s will be on smaller interest groups therefore these groups will benefit from the sponsorship and support of PAC’s.
3. Discuss the four structural interests within the U.S social welfare system. Define each one and describe what makes each different. Which of the four do you feel best meets the needs of the social welfare system and clients-or it is a combination of providers?
Traditional providers are part of the voluntary non-profit social welfare system. They support local agencies as a means of assistance and treatment in communities. Traditional providers strive to support community values and advocate for change that improve the unique community they are working with. Traditional providers are the means of social welfare that I feel best meets the needs of the social welfare system. I think that traditional providers focus on the client in the environment and function with the values and morals of the community in mind. Traditional providers have a sense of freedom in altering their programs to align with the community as explained by Karger & Stoesz (2010). Welfare bureaucrats are associated with governmental sources of assistance and strive for the availability of social welfare services through large public social programs. They believe that governmental intervention is beneficial to those in need by providing low to no cost services. Clinical entrepreneurs are involved in private practice within the social welfare system. They work for themselves rather than being employed by a larger entity (Karger & Stoesz, 2010). Clinical entrepreneurs are working for themselves therefore set their own fees and are not regulated as tightly as not for profit organizations. Private practice provides a broader range of services for a fee, so I think that private practice can be beneficial to those in which money is not an issue. Human service executives are employed by human service corporations and advocate for service through large for profit corporations.
4. Identify the two advantages and disadvantages of the privatization of welfare services.
The private sector will serve as a more cost effective way to provide services due to increased technology and will provide services equally at a fixed cost as well as be easily accessible. This will allow more money available to supplement existing services and training as well as put an end to governmental control of welfare services. Cons associated with privatization would be the competition with keeping the market holders happy. This will result in putting the needs of the disenfranchised second by capping services and putting limits on what can be provided in order to stay within their budget. Often focusing their provisions on preferential selection, and only providing services for those in which it benefits the provider. Also the goal of privatized agencies is to cut costs; therefore they cut staff in order to cut those costs, leaving many agencies understaffed and unable to provide adequate services. Ultimately, there are many concerns associated with privatization of welfare; including the fact that due to an increase in clinical entrepreneurs there is a decrease in human service professionals to work with people with more serious issues that may not have the means to pay for service. There is concern that with privatization the focus will shift from the public’s welfare to self-interest.
5. What should an effective policy description include prior to moving to the legislative phase? Outline the necessary steps for developing an effective policy.
The four stages of the policy process are formulation, legislation, implementation and evaluation. During the formation process research is done by legislators to support legislation that they want to enact. Before proposed legislation can move to the legislative level the description of the policy must include; expertise evaluations of the proposed policy and its effect on society, think tanks are often involved in gathering evidence based research on all aspects of the policy and funding must be available for the proposed legislation. Technomethodological and sociopolitical planning as described by Karger & Stoesz (2010) are instruments to ensure that the future of the proposed policy is positive as well as how the policy will affect all groups involved. Ultimately an effective policy description should include “the degree of change in policy represented by a decision, the rationality of the decision and the extent to which the disadvantaged benefit” (Karger & Stoesz, 2010). Once the legislators have a solid proposal to be reviewed they begin the legislation stage where their committees look over the proposed legislation in the Congressional Review. During this stage, legislators and committees seek the support and funding of lobbyists and PAC’s in support of this specific proposed policy. Implementation of the policy occurs when the legislation has been approved and enacted by the house and senate committee and the policy has adequate personnel and funding in order to function. The evaluation stage is when the policy is evaluated on its functionality by governmental research bureaus and private firms to decide whether or not the policy is serving the purpose that was proposed initially.
Bibliography Karger, H. J., & Stoesz, D. (2010). American social welfare policy: A pluralistic approach. Allyn & Bacon.
Detroit has fallen victim to a cycle of poverty. This is due to the unique culture and traits of the area such as familial structure, interpersonal relations, value systems and patterns of spending as discussed by Karger & Stoesz (2010). Detroit is a city once booming in the auto industry but due to the fall of the auto industry a once prosperous area is now in poverty stricken. This is because Detroit was once a top producer in an economy based on wage labor and production for profit. There is now a high rate of unemployment, an increase in crime and low funding. Now due to our economy those that are able to find a job are often underemployed or not educated enough to gain employment. Along with the factors that led to poverty and crime in Detroit, we are unable to get out of this cycle due to the stigma associated with Detroit. Those in power are not necessarily taken into consideration when new policy is being proposed so many policies that have been enacted have not been successful due to the lack of complete understanding of the target population.
Compared to a suburb such as Troy, which has a lower unemployment, low crime rates and limited budget concerns; Detroit is at the complete end of the spectrum. This is due to the affluence in Troy and the steady workforce in that area. Troy never went through a complete collapse of an industry as Detroit did. There is much more money in the middle to upper class city of Troy therefore there is employment opportunities to keep even the small lower class percentage employed.
2. Explain why poor and minority populations are typically not well represented by Super PAC’s or lobbyists. Do you feel the PAC concept considers the oppressed and those in poverty? Given the actions of recent legislative decisions (2010) restricting Super PACS-who stands to benefit?
PAC’s and lobbyists are often influenced by wealthy corporations and organizations to advocate, support and fund legislation. Poor and minority populations are not well represented in these cases because often the needs of the poor and minorities are not taken into consideration during the policy making process. PAC’s are allowed to raise and contribute millions of dollars to support candidates or agendas but often these agendas and candidates do not have the best interest of marginal groups in mind. Overall the funding provided by lobbyists and PAC’s are often aid one particular party or candidate exclusively. Often the wealthy are the ones in power to make decisions and they and their agendas do not include the improvement of life of the impoverished due to social stratification. I do not necessarily think that PAC concept takes into consideration the oppressed and those in poverty. PAC’s often work towards a cause or for a candidate by raising funds. Often times these agendas and candidates do not take into consideration the effects of the proposal on those in poverty. The basis of PAC’s is to provide funding for wealthy politicians who are most often advocating for change that would ultimately hurt those in poverty. The human service interest has little influence compared to more affluent interests (Karger & Stoesz, 2010). The current legislation restricting Super PACs will benefit those who have not been represented. The focus of PAC’s will be on smaller interest groups therefore these groups will benefit from the sponsorship and support of PAC’s.
3. Discuss the four structural interests within the U.S social welfare system. Define each one and describe what makes each different. Which of the four do you feel best meets the needs of the social welfare system and clients-or it is a combination of providers?
Traditional providers are part of the voluntary non-profit social welfare system. They support local agencies as a means of assistance and treatment in communities. Traditional providers strive to support community values and advocate for change that improve the unique community they are working with. Traditional providers are the means of social welfare that I feel best meets the needs of the social welfare system. I think that traditional providers focus on the client in the environment and function with the values and morals of the community in mind. Traditional providers have a sense of freedom in altering their programs to align with the community as explained by Karger & Stoesz (2010). Welfare bureaucrats are associated with governmental sources of assistance and strive for the availability of social welfare services through large public social programs. They believe that governmental intervention is beneficial to those in need by providing low to no cost services. Clinical entrepreneurs are involved in private practice within the social welfare system. They work for themselves rather than being employed by a larger entity (Karger & Stoesz, 2010). Clinical entrepreneurs are working for themselves therefore set their own fees and are not regulated as tightly as not for profit organizations. Private practice provides a broader range of services for a fee, so I think that private practice can be beneficial to those in which money is not an issue. Human service executives are employed by human service corporations and advocate for service through large for profit corporations.
4. Identify the two advantages and disadvantages of the privatization of welfare services.
The private sector will serve as a more cost effective way to provide services due to increased technology and will provide services equally at a fixed cost as well as be easily accessible. This will allow more money available to supplement existing services and training as well as put an end to governmental control of welfare services. Cons associated with privatization would be the competition with keeping the market holders happy. This will result in putting the needs of the disenfranchised second by capping services and putting limits on what can be provided in order to stay within their budget. Often focusing their provisions on preferential selection, and only providing services for those in which it benefits the provider. Also the goal of privatized agencies is to cut costs; therefore they cut staff in order to cut those costs, leaving many agencies understaffed and unable to provide adequate services. Ultimately, there are many concerns associated with privatization of welfare; including the fact that due to an increase in clinical entrepreneurs there is a decrease in human service professionals to work with people with more serious issues that may not have the means to pay for service. There is concern that with privatization the focus will shift from the public’s welfare to self-interest.
5. What should an effective policy description include prior to moving to the legislative phase? Outline the necessary steps for developing an effective policy.
The four stages of the policy process are formulation, legislation, implementation and evaluation. During the formation process research is done by legislators to support legislation that they want to enact. Before proposed legislation can move to the legislative level the description of the policy must include; expertise evaluations of the proposed policy and its effect on society, think tanks are often involved in gathering evidence based research on all aspects of the policy and funding must be available for the proposed legislation. Technomethodological and sociopolitical planning as described by Karger & Stoesz (2010) are instruments to ensure that the future of the proposed policy is positive as well as how the policy will affect all groups involved. Ultimately an effective policy description should include “the degree of change in policy represented by a decision, the rationality of the decision and the extent to which the disadvantaged benefit” (Karger & Stoesz, 2010). Once the legislators have a solid proposal to be reviewed they begin the legislation stage where their committees look over the proposed legislation in the Congressional Review. During this stage, legislators and committees seek the support and funding of lobbyists and PAC’s in support of this specific proposed policy. Implementation of the policy occurs when the legislation has been approved and enacted by the house and senate committee and the policy has adequate personnel and funding in order to function. The evaluation stage is when the policy is evaluated on its functionality by governmental research bureaus and private firms to decide whether or not the policy is serving the purpose that was proposed initially.
Bibliography Karger, H. J., & Stoesz, D. (2010). American social welfare policy: A pluralistic approach. Allyn & Bacon.