HomeMy WebLinkAboutHSAC Forum Recommendations 1990-1995HSAC Forum
Recommendations
1990 -1995
1990 HSAC Forum Recommendations
The focal points of the 1990 HSAC Coordinator Workshop were trends, issues, and
problems that will influence human services in Orange County in the next decade. These trends,
issues, and problems will require a comprehensive and systematic approach to human services.
The Forum Report suggested that the County initiate a strategic planning process for human
services and identified many factors which would be impacting needs in the upcoming decades.
The following are the specific recommendations:
1. Charge the HSAC to pursue discussion about a mechanism for planning and coordination of
human services.
2. Support the development of a strategic plan for coordinating human services in the County.
3. Hire a Human Services Planning Consultant on contract to assist in the development of the
Strategic Plan.
4. Continue County efforts to eliminate poverty.
5. Promote a holistic, client focused approach to identifying and dealing with client needs.
6. Improve the services necessary for effective county, -wide communication: county -wide
transportation, centralized information and referral and a county -wide phone system.
7. Continue the development of a coordinated process for requesting funds from the County,
Towns and United Way.
1991 HSAC Forum Recommendations
Developing an operational vision of human services to provide guidance for human
services delivery and on -going human services planning was the purpose of the 1991 HSAC
Human Services Policy Forum. Forum participants spent the day in groups developing consensus
group statements in response to the following questions:
What is your vision for human services in Orange County?
What needs to take place to achieve these visions?
What do we need to stop doing now to achieve these visions?
The vision of Orange County Human Services which evolved from the Forum can be
summarized as follows:
A coordinated, efficient and collective network of public and private resources
which provide a continuum of ameliorative and preventive services for individual,
family and community problems of human development and daily living. This
network of services should both represent and validate the community values of
caring, respect, diversity, economic opportunity, optimal health, safety and the
enhancement of self - worth. Services should be accessible and offered with
minimum cost to users, and supported by a citizenry that is informed and educated
to the issues of human services.
Strategies/First Steps To Achieve The Vision
The strategies or first steps for achieving the proposed vision of human services in
Orange County as developed by the Fall, 1991 HSAC Forum are summarized as follows:
1. Develop an ownership of the vision with the various boards and the public at
large.
2. Strategically review current programs and services against those values expressed
in the vision.
3. Continue efforts to establish interprogram coordination and linkage mechanisms
(i.e. master client index).
4. Review programs for their accessibility to users, including transportation.
5. Develop more effective mechanisms for providing user and community input in
the development and operation of human services.
6. Continue efforts to create a "partnership" between County, the townships, State,
industry, private sector, the community at large, and the University.
7. Improve community education about programs and services.
1992 HSAC Forum Recommendations
The Vision Statement for the Orange County Human Services network evolved
from the work conducted during the 1991 Human Services Forum. In 1992, the purpose
of the forum was to design strategies to encourage the development of forum attributes
described in the Vision: The network should be coordinated, should be accessible to the
public, should obtain user and community input for guidance, and should provide
community education about human services issues.
Forum participants were divided into four groups and were given three questions
to guide the discussion about these topics:
What are the current strengths and weaknesses of our human services network
in your assigned topic area?
What characteristics would define a good system?
What would be workable strategies for achieving the system previously
described?
Although the work groups were charged with developing strategies to achieve four
different goals, their suggestions were often inter - related. Recorded comments indicated
forum participants frequently mentioned three topics:
• the need to obtain more client input;
• the need to educate, learn from, and employ the resources of people and
organizations outside the traditional human services network; and
• the need to establish a central human services information and referral system.
1993 HSAC Forum Recommendations
The theme for the fourth annual HSAC Forum was "Strategies for Involving our
Community In Human Services: Moving Beyond Client Satisfaction" and directly addressed the
need for client and community input raised at the 1992 Forum and all past forums.
The forum participants divided into strategy groups to discuss the following four
questions:
1. Who is the "community" that human services agencies serve?
2. What information do we need in order to plan, deliver and evaluate human services?
3. What tools and techniques can be used to gain this information?
4. If you were implementing tools and techniques to gain information in the next year, what kind
of assistance would you need?
The results from all groups had many common themes.. The compiled answers to the
forum questions are listed below:
1. Who is the "community" that human services agencies serve?
Everyone is the community served by human services. We are all direct or indirect recipients
of services and will all move in and out of the system throughout our lives. Those in need
who are unaware of service availability such as the poor, disenfranchised and those with needs
are particularly vulnerable. Much needs to be done to eliminate the stereotypes which exists
between the advantaged and disadvantaged.
2. What is the information needed to provide human services?
Resource availability including those within and between agencies is needed. Overlapping
services and "turfdoms" need clarification and resolution in order to enhance efficiencies and
provide quality services which meet client defined needs. Outcomes need to be defined in
terms of what is valued, what is desired, and what will be funded.
3. What tools and techniques can be used to gather information needed for effective service
delivery?
1) Client based input at the individual level
2) Active listening
3) Focus groups
4) Identify key grass -roots leaders
5) Recipients of services need to be utilized to provide ongoing feedback
6) Networking among agencies with like issues and services
7) Data sharing
8) Client plan coordination
9) System sharing
10) Increased automation
1993 HSAC Recommendations Continued
11) Consolidation of information
12) Master client index
13) Efficient data collection and retrieval
14) Outcome - oriented studies
15) Long -term effectiveness studies
16) Studies developed and collected by neutral sources
17) Remove access barriers by providing "one -stop shopping"
18) Maximization of user - friendly parts of the system such as schools
4. What kinds of assistance would be needed in utilizing tools?
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1) Leadership training for agency staff and key community leaders to include board
members, and clients to enhance non - defensive listening skills and promote staff
empowerment.
2) Technical assistance to develop a linkable, coordinated database with common data
elements to facilitate data and system sharing. This database would be used to:
a. make internal and external decisions
b. provide data for outcome - oriented, long term effectiveness studies which would
ideally, be developed and conducted by neutral sources.
3) Mutually negotiated confidentiality agreements between private and public agencies.
4) Commitments to improve services as evidenced by funding choices which includes
the courage to make the hard "de- funding" decisions, enhanced use of public facilities
such as the schools, and increased provisions of multiple services at one location
(one -stop shopping).
5) Facilitation of meetings between members of different agencies with similar concerns.
1994 HSAC Forum Recommendations
"Collaborations to Build a Safer Community" was the topic of the fifth annual HSAC
Forum. The forum concluded with the message: We can make our county a safer place to live
by making our neighborhood safe ". Participants at the forum prioritized the major issues
affecting our communities and identified methods to address and prevent the concerns.
A. Substance Abuse -focus on prevention
1. Expand the role of community watch. Create "drug- free" zones and increase community
awareness to make substance abuse a higher community priority.
2. Create a multi - disciplinary task force addressing substance abuse problems in the
community.
3. Use outreach teams, peer counseling and teaching in communities as well as businesses to
educate citizens by offering fun and educational workshops.
B. Isolation, Distancing from others, Weapons
1. Foster community empowerment through efforts like Drug Patrol, Community Policing, and
Community education.
2. Involve all social institutions and area citizens in planning and setting goals for projects to
address this issue.
3. Initiate service delivery collaboration, use Case Management so that clients can access
many services through one main worker.
C. Breakdown of family - lack of parental support/skills.
1. 1 Assess current successful programs for expansion.
2. Analyze current resources, services and service recipients. Restructure services for client -
centered delivery (case management). Identify a pilot neighborhood for reorganized service
delivery.
3. Help neighborhoods develop a sense of community.
1994 HSAC Recommendations Continued Page 2
D. Lack of economic opportunity /under employment, frustration
1. Orient youth toward work; and increase opportunities for them.
2. Lower the cost of living to offset the effects of poverty.
3. Increase self - esteem through mentoring programs.
E. Lack of resources for prevention of crimes of violence
1. Establish a community statement of nonviolence and increase programs that teach
nonviolent alternative ways of resolving conflict and accepting diversity.
2. Create more recreational facilities /resources for youth. Provide transportation to facilities
and activities. Emphasize the need for youth programs.
3. Create jobs for youth and adults.
F. Glorification of Violence
1. Educate families (parents) regarding violence and how to lessen the effects of media
violence.
2. Engage media, if possible, to develop public service announcements, less violent
commercials, and to clarify the seriousness of violence. Reserve the use of boycotts, etc.
except when necessary.
3. Develop activities supervised by adults (afterschool care, etc.) that are low cost and
accessible so kids have alternatives.
G. "Not Me - I am not a victim, I am not a perpetrator ", and the ':faceless victim"
1. Encourage mediation, conflict resolution and human relations training from an early age.
2. Conduct a public awareness campaign: Encourage the media to model conflict resolution
and non - violent ways of life. Encourage collaboration of agencies and churches as
resources. Churches should be involved in the development of a nonviolent community
statement.`
3. Make the public aware of the extent and affects of poverty and underemployment on the
community.
4. Collaborate and expand the "smart start" approach to the provision of-services to human
service delivery for the whole community.
1995 HSAC Forum Recommendations
The 1995 HSAC Forum focused on "Human Services in Transition: New Opportunities"
Discussion groups were asked to list and prioritize opportunities for human services agencies in
the time of change and uncertainty. The following information highlights the ideas generated by
forum participants, as well as reflections of the HSAC members.
The main concept of viewing human services workers as service brokers and
consultants versus service providers was a consistent theme. In order to effectively
make this shift, many participants expressed a desire to see the client as more of a
partner in determining the needed services, as well as, identifying the method for
obtaining such services. This shift will require planning by each agency and training for
employees.
Responsible Parties: Agencies
Peer support and peer mentoring mechanisms for clients was strongly endorsed. In
order to incorporate some of these changes, human services agencies will have to
examine their current mode of operations, and take a new approach to helping those who
need services. Staff will require training if they are to assume new roles effectively.
Responsible Parties: Agencies
An important message from many participants was that the work done at the forum
should be continued throughout the year. The HSAC recommends the creation of a
mechanism for continued communications among area agencies. This may be
achieved through providing additional opportunities for human services personnel to
work together; the dissemination of a newsletter; or some other means.
Responsible Parties: HSAC, County Government
The types of change that were expressed by the participants will have to take place at the
individual agency level. Each agency will be requested to reexamine its mission and the
use of its personnel.
Responsible Parties: Agencies
Training resources must be identified for program evaluation; producing outcome
measures; shifting from service providers to service brokers; defining priorities in a time
of increased demands for assistance; and developing peer support and peer mentoring
programs for clients, etc.
Responsible Parties: Agencies, University, County Government
1995 HSAC Recommendations Continued
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Agencies should join together at common locations such as schools, libraries, or
community sites to provide comprehensive assistance to consumers. This group of
collaborators could move to different locations across the county to be most accessible.
The County could support initiatives such as these with financial incentives.
Responsible Parties: Agencies, County Government
The development of collaborative efforts among the university, the hospital, and area
agencies is needed to combat community issues. If we can take the initiative and decide
how we are going to make some of these changes in Orange County, then we can
ultimately develop our own unique service system designed for the needs of our citizens.
Responsible Parties: Healthy Carolinians Task Force
Two groups focused on the necessity to keep the best interests of our clients, or service
consumers, in the forefront during this time of flux. We need to define the "safety net,"
or minimum standard of life that we are willing to provide, and determine how these
basic services will be funded and provided. While a goal of all of our services is to foster
independence, we must also help those who become independent to maintain that status.
For example, we need to continue services like Medicaid, for people as they obtain
employment, and to assist with day care, transportation and other services that can help
people keep their jobs. Peer support can be implemented to help consumers develop their
own support systems which will foster self - support.
Responsible Parties: Agencies, County Government, HSAC