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Social Security System Challenges

According to some, the Social Security system is currently plagued by a variety of challenges. Provide a brief description of one of these major challenges and suggest some potential solutions based on your reading and your own research. (Some of these challenges are discussed in your text, but you are not limited to only these examples.)

• Discuss the implications these challenges have on your ability to develop budgets for an organization.
• Evaluate the role fundraising plays in filling gaps in services.
• Be sure to support your solutions and cite your references.

Discussion

Healthcare Crisis

Defend whether you believe there is a healthcare crisis in the United Sates.  Analyze how the US health care system performs. Consider the fact that as technology advances, so does the cost of health care. Evaluate the implications for this in terms of service delivery for human services providers.  Based on this evaluation discuss what you believe are the challenges leaders will face in the managing of human resources in human services organizations.  Be sure to support your position with academic references. (This issue has many political implications; please try to avoid party rhetoric and political arguments). Explain your answer.

Discussion

The stigmas of mental illness and substance abuse

The stigmas associated with mental illness and substance abuse have created a barrier which prevents many people from receiving services.

• How have recent national legislation or policy efforts helped or hurt the battle against these stigmas?
• What can be done in the future from a national policy perspective to reduce these stigmas?
• As a human services provider what could you do to ensure people needing services for mental illness and substance abuse had access to these services?
• What unique needs do you believe these clients would have that you would consider as you plan services for them?

Discussion

The Criminal Justice and Implications for Human Services

Choose one of the following questions to discuss. You should not discuss both questions, but should respond to peers for both.

Legalizing marijuana is a controversial topic in human services, criminal justice, political arenas, and health arenas. From a human service policy perspective, analyze what you believe would be the positive and/or negative consequences of legalizing marijuana. Discuss the implications for human services providers. If you agree or disagree with the stance of your peers, then explain specifically why and provide substantial evidence in your peer responses.

OR

Sexually violent predators are among the most feared and the most ridiculed individuals in our society. Some states have enacted legislation to allow civil commitment of sexually violent predators once they have been released from prison. Discuss the pros and cons of this legislation. Include in your discussion the implications for human services providers.

Discussion

Consequences of Mandated Reporting of Child Abuse

All human services professionals are included under mandated reporting statutes. Discuss both the positive consequences and the negative or unintended consequences of mandated reporting of child abuse. Analyze the implication of mandated reporting in delivering services to clients identifying challenges you would face in planning and providing services for clients. Ensure you include the challenges you would face during the interviewing phase of service provision.

Required Text

• Digital Resource Herzberg, J. T. (2015). Foundations in human services practice: A generalist perspective on individual, agency, and community. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson.  ISBN: 9780205858255; eISBN: 9780205982233
• Digital Resource Karger, H. J. & Stoesz , D. (2018). American social welfare policy: A pluralist approach (8th ed). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson.   ISBN: 9780134628127; eISBN: 9780134543468

Recommended References

• Alleyne, J. E., Joshi, K. G., & Gehle, M. E. (2016). Expert witness testimony in civil commitment hearings for sexually dangerous individuals. Journal Of The American Academy Of Psychiatry And The Law, 44(2), 265-267.
• Almog-Bar, M., & Schmid, H. (2014). Advocacy Activities of Nonprofit Human Service Organizations: A Critical Review. Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 43(1), 11-35. doi:10.1177/0899764013483212
• American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
• Bliss, D. L. (2015). Using the social work advocacy practice model to find our voices in service of advocacy. Human Services Organizations, Management, Leadership & Governance, 39(1), 57. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/1655844386 (Links to an external site.)
• Bucci, S., Butcher, I., Hartley, S., Neil, S. T., Mulligan, J., & Haddock, G. (2015). Barriers and facilitators to recruitment in mental health services: Care coordinators’ expectations and experience of referring to a psychosis research trial. Psychology And Psychotherapy: Theory, Research And Practice, 88(3), 335-350. doi:10.1111/papt.12042
• Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Homepage. Retrieved from http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ (Links to an external site.)
• ChildHelp. (n.d.). Child Abuse Statistics & Facts. Retrieved from https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse-statistics/ (Links to an external site.)
• de Vet, R., van Luijtelaar, M. A., Brilleslijper-Kater, S. N., Vanderplasschen, W., Beijersbergen, M. D., & Wolf, J. M. (2013). Effectiveness of case management for homeless persons: A systematic review. American Journal Of Public Health, 103(10), e13-e26. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2013.301491
• Falk, G., (2017, November 29). The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: A Legislative History (Links to an external site.). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved from https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R44668.pdf
• Friedman, M. B. (2015). The complexity of American Mental Health Policy: Implications for systems improvement. American Journal of Medical Research, 2(2), 170-181.
• Graham, L. (2015). Legalizing marijuana in the shadows of international law: The Uruguay, Colorado, and Washington models. Wisconsin International Law Journal, 33(1), 140-166.
• Health risks to the world’s young [Video file]. (2011). Retrieved April 15, 2017, from http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=105281&xtid=47483 (Links to an external site.)
• Healthcare Triage. (2014, February 17). The healthcare system of the United States [Video File]. Retrieved fromhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN-MkRcOJjY (Links to an external site.)
• Henderson, K. L. (2013). Mandated reporting of child abuse: Considerations and guidelines for mental health counselors. Journal Of Mental Health Counseling, 35(4), 296-309.
• HumanServicesCouncil. (2011, December 15). What is lobbying? [Video File]. Retrieved fromhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncmmmso3FLw (Links to an external site.)
• Hwang, S. W., & Burns, T. (2014). Health interventions for people who are homeless. The Lancet, 384(9953), 1541-7. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61133-8
• Lieb, R. & Matson, S. (1998). Sexual predator commitment laws in the United States: 1998 update. Retrieved from http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/sexcomm_98.pdf (Links to an external site.).
• Light, A. (2016). Human resources as a strategic partner for health and human services. Policy & Practice (19426828), 74(3), 20.
• Lu, J. (2015). Organizational or social benefits? The progressiveness of policy advocacy in nonprofit human service organizations. Human Services Organizations, Management, Leadership & Governance, 39(5), 509.
• McCann, K., & Kowalski, C. L. (2015). An analysis of human and community service organization directors’ self-efficacy levels associated with their financial management, advocacy, and marketing skills. Journal Of Nonprofit Education & Leadership, 5(2), 89-100.
• Mental Health America. (n.d.). Homepage. Retrieved from http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectID=C3162C54-1372-4D20-C8E62AB28BB3FF5B (Links to an external site.)
• Rowse, P. (2016). Legalizing marijuana: Promises and pitfalls. School Library Journal, 03628930, Vol. 62, Issue 8.
• Ruggiano, N., DeVance Taliaferro, J., Dillon, F. R., Granger, T., & Scher, J. (2014). Networking for policy advocacy: Identifying predictors of advocacy success among human service organizations. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance, 38(1), 89-102. doi:10.1080/03643107.2013.828005
• Wrighten, S. A., Al-Barwani, M. B., Moran, R. R., McKee, G. R., & Dwyer, R. G. (2015). Sexually violent predators and civil commitment: is selection evidence based? Journal Of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 26(5), 652-666.