Connecting Macro Level Problems to Target Populations
Part 1
Lack of proper support for foster families remains as one of the greatest challenges for children within the foster care system; thus, highlighting the need for having to establish a clear framework through which to justify overall need for advanced social support for the existing foster families.
Part 2
Demographic Variables
Based on the service area of my agency, the three demographic variables that ought to be considered are age, gender, family size, family type, education, and income levels. Each of these variables presents a key avenue through which to consider the target population, which children within the foster care system (Fowler, Toro, & Miles, 2009). Additionally, this would also work towards creating an advanced avenue through which to quantify the issues occurring as part of the foster care system that need to be handled effectively.
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Target Population Demographics
| Table Title | ID# | Category |
| Sex by age | B01001 | Gender and Age |
| Own children under 18 years by family type and age | B09002 | Age |
| Family type by presence and age of own children under 18 years | B11003 | Family type and age |
| Family type by presence and age of related children under 18 years | B11004 | Family type and age |
| Households by presence of people under 18 years by household type | B11005 | Family size and age |
| Sex by school enrollment by educational attainment by employment status for the population 16 to 19 years | B14005 | Education and age |
| Allocation of age | B99012 | Age |
| Age by language spoken at home by ability to speak English for the population 5 years and over | B16004 | Age |
| Poverty status in the past 12 months by household type by age of householder | B17017 | Income levels |
Organizations within the Community
| Name of Organization | Address | City | Zip | Classification |
| Keystone Human Services | 211 Granite Run Drive | Lancaster County, Pennsylvania | 17601 | Foster Care Agency |
| Cobys Family Service | 1417 Oregon Rd | Lancaster County, Pennsylvania | 17540 | Foster Care Agency |
| Community Service Group Inc. | 2330 Vartan Way Street 2 | Lancaster County, Pennsylvania | 17110 | Foster Care Agency |
| Family Care For Child-Youth | 1001 James Drive | Lancaster County, Pennsylvania | 19553 | Foster Care Agency |
| Children’ Home of York | 924 W Market Street | Lancaster County, Pennsylvania | 17401 | Foster Care Agency |
| Safeguards Foster Care | 220 N 5 th Street | Lancaster County, Pennsylvania | 19601 | Foster Care Agency |
Analysis
Foster care is one of the key areas of consideration in the Department of Health and Human Services, as it seeks to ensure that the government is able to account for children that are within the social system (Simms, Dubowitz, & Szilagyi, 2010).The need for having to develop a system that would most likely build on efficiency is driven by the fact that this would aid in creating a framework through which to maximize on protection of the children placed within the system. In the case of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, what remains clear is the fact that the number of agencies that seek to deal with foster care is higher when compared to other counties within the state. The main factor contributing to this situation is that the number of children placed within the system in the country is notably high in comparison to some of the surrounding counties in Pennsylvania (Dowdell & Cavanaugh, 2009). That serves as a clear indication of the need for having to come up with a structured approach through which to examine the geographical distribution of the agencies within the county.
The first key aspect to note from an analysis of the geographical distribution of the agencies, as have been mentioned above is that they are well distributed within the different locations in the county. That means that it becomes much easier for vulnerable children to receive the best quality of care in their bid to entering the foster care system. The spreading out of the agencies can be considered as a strategic move by the Lancaster County Department of Health and Human Services to reach as many children are possible. The main aspect of focus is that the department has been able to take note of the fact vulnerabilities among the children are fast becoming a key issue of concern. Ultimately, this creates the need for having to set up an effective structure through which to ensure that the children are accorded the best possible care.
The second key aspect of analysis when evaluating the agencies operating within Lancaster, PA in relation to the target population is availability of resources. Reilly (2003) argues that lack of resources in foster care creates a situation where it becomes harder for the agencies involved to support their services effectively. For the agencies within Lancaster, it is important to take note of the fact most of these agencies are run as private or non-governmental agencies. Consequently, this means that they do not rely on funding from the federal or state governments. Instead, the often rely on funding from other sources including donations from individuals and corporate entities. That creates some form of limitation for the agencies, as it becomes hard for them to maintain efficiency in their bid to build or defining their performance.
From the data that is available regarding the functioning of the agencies, one of the key aspects to note is that most of the agencies find themselves stretched to the maximum in their bid to providing the best quality of services to the children in the system. Bruskas (2008) points to the need for having to come up with an avenue through which to integrate these agencies into the functionality of the government-funded agencies to build on efficiency. That would mean that the government-funded agencies may need to focus much of their attention towards working with the private entities. The ultimate result is that this would pave the way for a much easier shift towards ensuring that the private agencies would be able to deliver on the best possible services as part of their engagement.
It is equally important to take note of the fact that the advancement of the relationship between the government-funded and private entities would work towards creating a structured approach through which to deliver set out performance standards. For example, the private agencies would be able to understand what is expected of them in their bid to defining how they handle different foster care cases. The government-funded agencies have a key role to play in ensuring that they create what can be considered as an effective avenue through which to define the standard practices adopted as part of the foster care system. The ultimate result is that this would work as a key avenue through which to shift much of the attention towards the children in the system in a bid to ensuring that they receive the best possible quality of lives.
Assignment C: Gaps in Service and Asset Assessment
Part 1: Continuum of Care for Homeless Populations in Tabor Community Services
Tabor Community Services capitalizes on the provision of housing services with the aim of meeting the needs of the homeless population within the region. The continuum of the needs and problem being addressed in this case may include action and various strategies to end homelessness and a return to homelessness within the society (Sarvis, 2017). The components of the continuum of needs identified by Tabor Community Service include Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, and Permanent Housing. The additionally components of the continuum of needs include the supportive services and the permanent supportive services.
CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR HOMELESS POPULATIONS
Part 2: Gaps in Service for the Homeless Populations
The gaps identified in this case entail various issues faced by the homeless population within the region. The gaps play a significant role in portraying that nature of problems that are required to be addressed in order to end the issue concerning homelessness within the region. The following presents the gaps identified by the community service in in Lancaster indicating the need to address the issue of homelessness in the region.
Identifying an individual’s or a family’s actual housing needs
Identifying the actual housing needs required by an individual in order to end the issue of homeless in the region is a major aspect that creates a major hindrance when dealing with the issue in the given society (Lee, 2018).
Lack of decent housing alternatives to the streets
Considering that majority of the individuals facing homelessness live within the streets, the issue of finding an alternative and decent housing options creates a major hindrance, thereby resulting in a situation where the homeless population prefer to remain within the streets.
Lack of effective transitional housing options
The lack of effective options relating to transitional housing allowing people to develop necessary skills to engage in permanent housing strategies create a major setback when dealing with the issue of ending homelessness within the region (Wright, 2017).
Lack of proper permanent housing strategies
The homeless populations tend to face a major challenge concerning inadequate measures relating to the issues of dealing with permanent housing thus resulting in a situation of a return to homelessness (Sparks, 2017). The implementation of permanent housing strategies to deal with homeless provides an effective platform to overcome the issue thus creating a permanent solution to the problem. In that case, it is necessary to engage in the development housing strategies that identify the housing needs of the target individuals in order to capitalize on identifying the actual strategies that may provide an effective solution.
Part 3: Assets of Tabor Community Services
|
Homeless Population |
Tabor Community Services |
Community |
| Young and the Middle-aged persons in the society who are considered to be physically able | Have adequate access to the homeless population within the society | Neighborhood-based |
| Have strong working ethics | Have Staff that is committed to assisting the homeless population | Presents the Readiness to coordinate with the population and the relevant agencies to overcome the issue |
| Presents their individual interest and commitment towards enhancing the success of the organization assisting with the issues | Have a strong base of volunteers and sponsors that engage in measures to support the homeless population in order to create a permanent solution to the issue | The community consist of donors that offers a strong support to ensure that the agency is in a position to assist the target population in a bid to create a solution to the need |
| Have a positive concern towards dealing with their housing need | Have a dedicated staff and volunteers that engage in efforts to develop strategies to find housing solutions to the homeless population | The community provides a platform that offers supportive housing to the target population, which is an aspect towards providing a permanent solution to the issue |
Part 4: Local Need Assessment
The local need identified within the region entails lack of emergency housing, which is an issue that creates a major setback when dealing with the homeless population within the region. The need to offer emergency housing to the homeless population is significant as it helps towards overcoming the issue effectively, with the aim of creating a permanent solution to the issue. Tabor Community Services identified the need, which affects majority of the people facing homelessness and capitalize on engaging the relevant stakeholders in order to overcome the issue and ensure that the target population is in a position to get appropriate housing based on their individual and family needs. In order to overcome the need, it is necessary for the government and nongovernmental organizations to assist in the development of emergency housing plans in order to assist the community agency in gaining access to resources that help in obtaining the emergency housing.
References
Bruskas, D. (2008). Children in foster care: A vulnerable population at risk. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing , 21 (2), 70-77.
Dowdell, E. B., & Cavanaugh, D. J. (2009). Caregivers of victimized children: Differences between biological parents and foster caregivers. Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services , 47 (6), 28-36.
Fowler, P. J., Toro, P. A., & Miles, B. W. (2009). Pathways to and from homelessness and associated psychosocial outcomes among adolescents leaving the foster care system. American Journal of Public Health , 99 (8), 1453-1458.
Lee, W. (2018). Downtown management and homelessness: the versatile roles of business improvement districts. Journal of Place Management and Development , 11 (4), 411-427.
Reilly, T. (2003). Transition from care: status and outcomes of youth who age out of foster care. Child welfare , 82 (6).
Sarvis, W. (2017). The Homelessness Muddle Revisited. The Urban Lawyer , 49 (2), 317.
Simms, M. D., Dubowitz, H., & Szilagyi, M. A. (2010). Health care needs of children in the foster care system. Pediatrics , 106 (Supplement 3), 909-918.
Sparks, T. (2017). Neutralizing Homelessness, 2015: Tent cities and ten year plans. Urban Geography , 38 (3), 348-356.
Wright, J. (2017). Address unknown: The homeless in America . Routledge.
