NCJ Number
58138
Date Published
1977
Length
282 pages
Annotation
NEW YORK CITY'S SYSTEM OF FOSTER CARE FOR CHILDREN, IN WHICH SERVICES ARE PROVIDED PRIMARILY BY PRIVATE AGENCIES UNDER CONTRACT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, IS ANALYZED.
Abstract
THE STRUCTURE, OPERATIONS, AND BEHAVIOR OF NINE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES THAT ARE PART OF NEW YORK CITY'S FOSTER CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM ARE DESCRIBED IN DETAIL. AN OVERVIEW OF THE GOVERNING STRUCTURE OF THE SYSTEM COVERS KEY ASPECTS OF REGULATION, REFERRAL, PLANNING, AND INTERAGENCY NEGOTIATIONS; THE FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF PUBLIC AGENCIES AND OF ASSOCIATIONS OF PRIVATE AGENCIES; AND THE INTERFACE OF FOSTER CARE WITH OTHER SECTORS OF THE PUBLIC ECONOMY. THE ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH FOSTER CARE IS PROVIDED IN NEW YORK CITY (GOVERNMENT FINANCING PROGRAMS, OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE FOR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, COSTS OF FOSTER CARE SERVICES) ARE ANALYZED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE PATTERNS OF 47 AGENCIES DURING FISCAL 1973. THE RESPONSE OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO CHILDREN OF VARIOUS DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS (AGE, SEX, RELIGION, RACE) IS ASSESSED BY EXAMINING CASELOAD DATA FOR 1963 TO 1973 AND (IN GREATER DETAIL) FOR 1973. THE IMPACT OF AGENCIES' SECTARIAN AND ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATIONS, SIZE, AND PROGRAMMATIC CAPABILITIES ON THEIR PROVISION OF FOSTER-CARE SERVICES IS EVALUATED. CONCLUSIONS ARE DRAWN ABOUT THE NATURE OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AS VEHICLES FOR THE PURSUIT OF GOALS, AS BUREACRATIC ORGANIZATIONS, AND AS REACTORS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURE; ABOUT THE STRATEGIES THESE AGENCIES CAN USE TO MAINTAIN THEIR INTEGRITY AND TO ENSURE THEIR SURVIVAL; AND ABOUT NECESSARY CHANGES IN GOVERNMENTAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN THE USE OF PRIVATE-SECTOR SERVICES. OFFICIALS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR ARE URGED TO OVERCOME INSULARITY AND CONSERVATISM IN ADDRESSING SYSTEMWIDE NEEDS. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE ADVISED TO BALANCE THE NEED TO FUND, GUIDE, AND ASSURE THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF PRIVATE AGENCIES WITH THE NEED NOT TO DESTROY THE AGENCIES' INTEGRITY THROUGH EXCESSIVE INTERFERENCE. A MEANS OF ACHIEVING THIS BALANCE -- AN ARMS-LENGTH APPROACH INVOLVING OUTPUT PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS, PLANNING, DECENTRALIZED SECTORAL MANAGEMENT THROUGH FEDERATIONS, AND FLEXIBLE BARGAINING -- IS SUGGESTED. SUPPORTING DATA AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. A LIST OF REPORTS AND NOTIFICATIONS THAT VOLUNTARY AGENCIES MUST SUBMIT AND CHAPTER FOOTNOTES ARE APPENDED. (LKM)