Social Service Block Grant (SSBG) Demonstration Project: Organizing educational and social action networks at the local level.
Item
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Title
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Social Service Block Grant (SSBG) Demonstration Project: Organizing educational and social action networks at the local level.
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Identifier
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AAI9732894
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identifier
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9732894
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Creator
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Bielawski, Barbara Ann.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Irwin Epstein
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Date
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1997
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Social Work | Political Science, Public Administration
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Abstract
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In the early 1980's major changes in federal and state social welfare policies spurred the National Association of Social Workers' (NASW) social action efforts on behalf of poor, disadvantaged, and disabled persons. One such effort--the Social Service Block Grant (SSBG) Demonstration Project--was conducted in an eastern state from January 1983 through June 1985. It was one of several states where block grant planning and allocation responsibilities were being partially or fully transferred to counties. This devolution of responsibilities to the states and localities created important new arenas for the profession's social action activities.;This dissertation describes and evaluates the SSBG Project. A State Chapter of NASW acted as a catalyst to enlist other organizations (schools of social work and county government human service advisory councils) in an effort to help social workers understand and influence the evolving implementation of SSBG state- and county-level policies and procedures.;The "differential evaluation" model of social program evaluation was utilized to assess the project is process and outcome at each of its four developmental stages--program initiation, program contact, program implementation, and program stabilization. A case study research strategy was used in conjunction with the program evaluation model. The study employed an embedded single-case research design.;Findings indicate that the county networks were more successful in developing procedures for learning about the state and county SSBG planning and allocation processes and for disseminating that information to NASW members and their allies than they were in organizing collective social action efforts. Possible reasons for this difference in effectiveness are addressed.;The study's findings are related to other empirical studies that address social workers' individual and/or collective involvement in political and social action on behalf of the poor. The author notes that the basic changes in social welfare policy initiated by the Reagan administration continue to have an impact on the availability of social services in the 1990s. Social work organizations need to continue to explore ways in which their members can become effective advocates for the poor.;In addition, the efficacy of the "differential evaluation" model of social program evaluation for program managers as well as for researchers is assessed.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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D.S.W.
