Many people have an interest in social programs and can influence they way they are ran and services which are provided. Some of these people can include the program administrators, the director, staff, those providing the funding, the community, and clients. The most influential of all would be the funders.
The administrators have an idea of what they would like to do to help and what services they want to provide. They are the ones in charge of overseeing the program. The administrators decide who the target population will be and may have requirements and restrictions on who can participate in the program. They can also decide to add, change, or remove services they provide depending on need and outcome feedback. Administrators do not generally have direct contact with the clients and what they know of them is what they read in reports.
Directors work with the staff and have limited, if any, contact with the clients. Most of their information comes from staff and reports. Those directors who do have contact with clients receive some information or form opinions based on these encounters. Since they are closer to the program they can influence administrators with their own ideas of ways to improve programs, give their opinions of how well services are provided, and if they see a need for added services.
[...] The staff can report information to the director which could show places where the program works well and where changes should be made. Since they work directly with the clients they are more in touch with the needs the clients have. Staff members can make suggestions on how to change or improve services to better accomplish the goals. They can also suggest other services which may need to be added. Those providing the funds can have a big impact on a program. They may decide that the money they provide must be spent in certain ways. [...]
[...] The most influential of all would be the funders. The administrators have an idea of what they would like to do to help and what services they want to provide. They are the ones in charge of overseeing the program. The administrators decide who the target population will be and may have requirements and restrictions on who can participate in the program. They can also decide to add, change, or remove services they provide depending on need and outcome feedback. [...]
[...] Another way the clients influence the program is how well they participate. The success or failure of a program can depend on if the clients are completing goals and taking responsibility to follow rules and achieve their goals. There may be other influences not mentioned above, but these are important influences on social programs. Each of these report to someone else higher and it is then discussed and decided what is best for the program. Everyone works together ideally to achieve the goals of the program. [...]
[...] The community also may have some influence on the program as well. Sometimes it depends on the type of program on how much influence comes from the community. If the program is to provide shelter for the homeless, they community may have a lot of concerns. They may want to know where these people will be housed, what types of people will be living there, and how well staffed the shelter will be. The community may be concerned about an increase of crime in the neighborhood where the shelter will be and not want certain areas of the city to be used to house these individuals. [...]
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