Organization Analysis: American Public Human Services Associations
Organization Analysis: American Public Human Services Associations
Lives of people in any country reflect strengths of the nation. After World War I and during The Great Depression, American economy faced various challenges in terms of rising unemployment, credit crunch, poor purchasing power and high interest rates. Lives of Americans were suffering as the wealth was restricted only to limited number of people. Poor life of people generated a need for the rise of human service organizations. American Public Human Services Associations (APHSA), a nonprofit organization was established in year 1930 by government officials for distribution of relief to American citizens. APHSA supported government in developing adequate laws and provisions for children, elderly people, disabled, unemployed, and for public health.
APHSA emphasizes on bringing excellence in human services as well as public health by facilitating federal, states, and local government agencies. APHSA informs policy makers about the possible changes in existing policies and new policies that should be implemented. APHSA continuously works with partners to bring innovative, effective and integrated solutions in policies and practices. APHSA is the main human service organization that associate senior executives of states, districts, territories, key program managers, and human services directors. APHSA has ten affiliate organizations that operate different divisions of the APHSA in different states and generally report to state commissioner.
Organizational Vision:
The vision of APHSA is “Better, healthier lives for children, adults, families and communities” (APHSA, 2016).
Environment in which APHSA Operates:
The environment of human services get impacted by various factors such as government stability, federal and state policies, economic strengths of the nation, and social environment. Good and effective government policies substantially benefit the people. Stable and excellent economic conditions help people in earning wealth. A healthy living environment, availability of good education and health services, and good family income reflect quality of lives of people. Environment of human services is always driven to improve the lives of people (Dasgupta, 2001). APHSA operates in the similar environment of great responsibilities and with a commitment to serve excellent services.
Accountability plays a major role in human services; similarly APHSA is accountable for the public investment made in their programs. APHSA is responsible for the financial and human resources deployed in the programs and outcome of the programs. Since, its inception APHSA is observing a continuous improvement in human services. The organization has seen an adverse environment after WWI and The Great Depression, when lives of people were vulnerable. The organization also witnessed an era of transformation when various policies were executed to improve human lives. In 1935, President Roosevelt executed Social Security Act, which further amended in year 1950 to broaden the scope of the act. In current contemporary environment human services are getting affected by new technologies, legislative, administrative environment and target population (Chui and Wilson, 2006, p.4). However, in various environments, APHSA always tried to deliver long-term and sustainable results.
Organizational Structure:
Organizational structure defines the way the work get executed in the organization and how orders & information flow into the organizational system. Austin (2002) defines five major forms of human services organizations: simple, machine bureaucracy, professional bureaucracy, divisionalized form, and adhocracy (Austin, 2002, p.90). APHSA utilizes divisionalized form because it works on multiple human services in different geographical locations. A formal organizational structure of APHSA is as follow:
References
Austin, D. M. (2002). Human Services Management: Organizational Leadership in Social Work Practice. New York: Columbia University Press.
Chui, W.H., and Wilson, J. (2006). Social Work and Human Services Best Practice. USA: Federation Press.
Dasgupta, P. (2001). Human well-being and the natural environment. OUP Catalogue.
Mission & Vision. (2016). Retrieved from Aphsa: http://www.aphsa.org/content/APHSA/en/the-association/MISSION_VISION.html
