Social Policy and Social Programs

Social Policy and Social Programs

By

Axia College/University of Phoenix

HHS 245

July 27, 2008

Social Policy and Social Programs

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the goals and objectives in regards to the chosen organization Indiana Family and Social Service Agency. The FSSA provides programs in regards to health and human services to families, children, elderly, mentally ill and disabled Hoosiers requiring administration, intervention, education and assistance with healthcare, hospitalization, food-stamps and housing.

Goals and Objectives

Indiana FSSA demonstrates examples of a primary goal by stating the FSSA “was established by the General Assembly in 1991 to consolidate and better integrate the delivery of human services by State government.” Through demonstrations of legislation, the agency demonstrates latent goals and objectives, as defined per Chambers and Wedel, (Social Policy and Social Programs: A Method for the Practical Public Policy Analyst, pg 68) as latent goals and objectives are implied rather than stated.

Upon further investigation into the agency, the goals for each individual department are demonstrated through limited documentation and obscure presentations rather than clearly stated on the website. (www.in.gov/fssa/da/index.htm) There is no clearly defined section for Mission statement or goals, but simply forms and functioning education links. The individual departments listed program manuals which operate as guidelines and objectives in regards to the function of the individual department. In many cases the goals are latent rather than manifest, as to be manifest the consequences would need to be expected and explicit rather than implied and inferred. (Social Policy and Social Programs: A Method for the Practical Public Policy Analyst, pg 68) Only the state plan reports in regard to the department of aging are clear objectives stated in linear fashion.

Evaluating a Specific Program

In...