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networks.doc.docxFormal and Informal Networks
Human services is about collaboration and cooperation. For human services to be successful, many different systems and agencies need to work together to ensure that clients' needs are met. The working relationships that are formed as a result can be considered networks, and are classified as either formal or informal. On a formal level, administrators of a shelter may work hand-in-hand with a job placement center to help clients find employment. This formal network involves connections with government agencies, schools, businesses, and other human services agencies. An informal network, by contrast, is maintained not by official policy but by personal and preexisting relationships that professionals and agencies have built over time. For instance, a case manager may use his or her influence to help a client get an extra bus ticket to attend church on Wednesdays. By working together effectively, these formal and informal human services networks can form a cohesive unit that benefits both clients and human services professionals.
To prepare for this assignment:
· Review Chapter 8 in your course text, An Introduction to Human Services, paying particular attention to the ways in which human services professionals work within formal and informal networks and how these networks work together within and among agencies.
· Review the article, "Building a Coalition of Non-Profit Agencies to Collaborate with a County Health and Human Services Agency: The Napa County Behavioral Health Committee of the Napa Coalition of Non-Profits." Think about the formal and informal networks the Napa County agencies are using collaboratively to provide comprehensive human services to county residents.
· Read the case study of Helping Hands, provided in the Learning Resources for this week. Identify the formal and informal networks within this agency and among the other agencies and systems that CASA would work with. Also think about how these two types of networks would work together in the human services delivery system.
The assignment: (2–3 pages)
· Based on the case study provided, briefly describe the formal and informal networks within the CASA agency and among other agencies and systems that CASA would engage with.
· Then explain how these two types of networks, formal and informal, work together in human services delivery. Be specific and provide examples to illustrate.
This is the case below
Case Study
Week 5
CASA
CASA is a non-profit homeless shelter whose mission is to serve families with children. It provides more than 100 beds, allocated so that families are housed together in single units. The agency employs four case managers and one case management supervisor.
Case management focuses on assuring that residents have access to community medical care, including general medicine, psychiatric services, dental, and vision services. In addition, case managers coordinate access to community services, such as transportation to vocational training and workplace sites, places of worship, and 12-step meetings (for those in recovery). Finally, case managers assure that children’s educational needs are met through access to school and after-school programs. These services, of course, are provided by organizations and agencies external to CASA.
CASA employs three mental health workers and one clinical supervisor. Mental health services provide individual, family, and group counseling to address residents’ problems in living and general mental wellness concerns.
In addition, the agency employs an office manager, who coordinates food services (provided by an outside vendor), housecleaning and grounds maintenance (also provided by vendors), safety and security, and general day-to-day operations. Coordination with other area homeless shelters is a vital part of office management, as there are times when there are more people seeking assistance than CASA can serve. The office manager has a staff of two part-time office administrators who assist with CASA’s operations after-hours.
Finally, CASA relies on a network of volunteers who provide mentoring services for residents in interpersonal skill development, self-sufficiency in providing for a family, and job interviewing skills. Volunteers also assist with recreational outings that CASA sponsors. The agency partners with area clothes and toy drives for the provisioning of residents’ needs.
Formal and Informal Networks
Human services is about collaboration
and cooperation. For human services to be successful,
many different systems and agencies need to work together to ensure that clients' needs are met.
The working relationships that are formed as a result can be considered
networks
, and are
classified as
either formal or informal. On a formal level, administrators of a shelter may work
hand
-
in
-
hand with a job placement center to help clients find employment. This formal network
involves connections with government agencies, schools, businesses, and other h
uman services
agencies. An informal network, by contrast, is maintained not by official policy but by personal
and preexisting relationships that professionals and agencies have built over time. For instance, a
case manager may use his or her influence to
help a client get an extra bus ticket to attend church
on Wednesdays. By working together effectively, these formal and informal human services
networks can form a cohesive unit that benefits both clients and human services professionals.
To prepare for th
is assignment
:
·
Review Chapter 8 in your course text,
An Introduction to Human Services
, paying
particular attention to the ways in which human services professionals work within
formal and informal networks and how these
networks work together within and among
agencies.
·
Review the article, "Building a Coalition of Non
-
Profit Agencies to Collaborate with a
County Health and Human Services Agency: The Napa County Behavioral Health
Committee of the Napa Coalition of Non
-
Pro
fits." Think about the formal and informal
networks the Napa County agencies are using collaboratively to provide comprehensive
human services to county residents.
·
Read the case study of Helping Hands, provided in the Learning Resources for this week.
Id
entify the formal and informal networks within this agency and among the other
agencies and systems that CASA would work with. Also think about how these two types
of networks would work together in the human services delivery system.
The assignment
:
(2
–
3
pages)
·
Based on the case study provided, briefly describe the formal and informal networks
within the CASA agency and among other agencies and systems that CASA would
engage with.
·
Then explain how these two types of networks, formal and informal, work to
gether in
human services delivery. Be specific and provide examples to illustrate.
T
his
is the case below
Formal and Informal Networks
Human services is about collaboration and cooperation. For human services to be successful,
many different systems and agencies need to work together to ensure that clients' needs are met.
The working relationships that are formed as a result can be considered networks, and are
classified as either formal or informal. On a formal level, administrators of a shelter may work
hand-in-hand with a job placement center to help clients find employment. This formal network
involves connections with government agencies, schools, businesses, and other human services
agencies. An informal network, by contrast, is maintained not by official policy but by personal
and preexisting relationships that professionals and agencies have built over time. For instance, a
case manager may use his or her influence to help a client get an extra bus ticket to attend church
on Wednesdays. By working together effectively, these formal and informal human services
networks can form a cohesive unit that benefits both clients and human services professionals.
To prepare for this assignment:
Review Chapter 8 in your course text, An Introduction to Human Services, paying
particular attention to the ways in which human services professionals work within
formal and informal networks and how these networks work together within and among
agencies.
Review the article, "Building a Coalition of Non-Profit Agencies to Collaborate with a
County Health and Human Services Agency: The Napa County Behavioral Health
Committee of the Napa Coalition of Non-Profits." Think about the formal and informal
networks the Napa County agencies are using collaboratively to provide comprehensive
human services to county residents.
Read the case study of Helping Hands, provided in the Learning Resources for this week.
Identify the formal and informal networks within this agency and among the other
agencies and systems that CASA would work with. Also think about how these two types
of networks would work together in the human services delivery system.
The assignment: (2–3 pages)
Based on the case study provided, briefly describe the formal and informal networks
within the CASA agency and among other agencies and systems that CASA would
engage with.
Then explain how these two types of networks, formal and informal, work together in
human services delivery. Be specific and provide examples to illustrate.
This is the case below
