NCJ Number
55757
Date Published
1977
Length
308 pages
Annotation
TECHNIQUES EMPLOYED IN HUMAN SERVICE PLANNING AND EVALUATION ACTIVITIES IN ILLINOIS, KENTUCKY, MISSOURI, MASSACHUSETTS, NORTH CAROLINA, RHODE ISLAND, VIRGINIA, AND WASHINGTON ARE REPORTED IN CASE STUDY FORM.
Abstract
THE FIRST VOLUME OF THE REPORT OF HUMAN SERVICE PLANNING AND EVALUATION, BOUND SEPARATELY, CONSIDERED DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS PROCEDURES, STRATEGIC FEATURES OF PLANNING (PRODUCTS AND GOALS OF PLANNING AND SCOPE AND FUNCTIONS OF PLANNING), TACTICAL FEATURES OF PLANNING (APPROACHES TO PLANNING AT STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS), AND ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES OF PLANNING AND SUCCESSFUL PLANNING. THE CASE STUDIES DESCRIBE THE STRUCTURE FOR PLANNING AND THE CONDUCT OF PLANNING IN THE EIGHT STATES. ILLINOIS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRANSITION EFFECTS, INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES, ATTENTION TO CRITICAL MANAGEMENT DEFICIENCIES, AND COMBINED FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE PLANNING INITIATIVES. KENTUCKY IS ONE OF SEVERAL STATES WHERE THERE ARE FAIRLY WIDESPREAD PERCEPTIONS ABOUT WHAT OUGHT TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO MAKE HUMAN SERVICES MORE RATIONAL, MANAGEABLE, AND EFFECTIVE. THE STATE HAS ADDRESSED CERTAIN PROBLEMS THAT INVOLVE INTERAGENCY COMMUNICATION, MANAGERIAL INVOLVEMENT, CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, INSTIGATION OF CROSSAGENCY PLANNING, AND PREPARATION OF COMMON HUMAN SERVICE DEFINITIONS. IN MISSOURI, THERE IS EVIDENCE OF A SEPARATION BETWEEN STRATEGIES AND TACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS. MASSACHUSETTS EXHIBITS A COMPLEX OF PLANNING ACTIVITIES WHERE PERFORMANCE REGARDING PLANNING EXERCISES TAKES PLACE ROUTINELY. NORTH CAROLINA'S EXPERIENCE SHOWS THAT AN INTERLOCKED COORDINATIVE APPROACH TO HUMAN SERVICE PLANNING MAY NOT BE DESIRABLE IN ALL SITUATIONS. DESPITE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, RHODE ISLAND IS COMMITTED TO ARTICULATE NEEDS, ACCESS PRORITIES, ESTABLISH MEASURABLE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES, AND EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PERFORMANCE. WASHINGTON TYPIFIES MANY STATES WHERE AN ORGANIZED UMBRELLA HUMAN RESOURCE AGENCY IS BEGINNING TO ADDRESS ORGANIZATIONAL COORDINATION AND SERVICE INTEGRATION. AN OVERVIEW AND DETAILED SUMMARY OF THE CASE STUDIES IS PRESENTED THAT CONSIDERS THE SCOPE OF PLANNING, TYPES OF PLANNING, GOALS AND OUTPUTS OF PLANNING, AND PLANNING PROCEDURES. IN VIRGINIA, THERE ARE SHARP CONTRASTS IN PLANNING CONCEPTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. A STATE-LEVEL HUMAN RESOURCE UMBRELLA SECRETARIAT IS EMPLOYED, WITH A SMALL STAFF DEVOTED TO PLANNING POLICES AND OVERSEEING OPERATIONS. (DEP)