Background
The case study is in regards to Allegheny County of Pennsylvania. The study relates to human services that were offered in the county from 1968-1995. “In this time frame, the commissioner who served the area was Thomas Foerster” . The county was one of the biggest counties in Pennsylvania and consisted of more than a million people who lived in the area. The services that people used and relied on had changed in regards to how many services was offered, and how long the programs were allowed to be used. The case study will reflect how the Commission Thomas Foerster had been an influence on the county and the people that live in that demographical location. He had assisted in the expansion of services for the individuals who lived in that county from 1968-1995. The changes he pushed for, was very resourceful and offered many positive changes in care for the people of the communities under his Commission terms. The uniqueness of the county is that it had no Home Rule which did not let the county make any significant changes. All the changes and regulations were set forth by what the movement and legislature allowed. The Commissioner held a position that only allowed him to oversee the finances and maintenance of the county’s property and management. The case study details the issues and needs of the human services that were put into action in the county during the time frame of Thomas Foerster’s time as Commissioner.
Key Issues
Rational model process and the rule model process. These issues were discussed and looked into for improvements.
The practical policy initiatives were put into action to help with the county. The people of the county were considered for a plan of action. The plan was to assist children, adults, and veterans with disabilities. Programs were needed to assist these individuals.
Employment for women was needed. Women were going without food because of lack of employment to buy the necessities of food preparation. “The women were making food and selling to the WPA employees in order to have money to feed their families” .
Women were given jobs by the WPA but not all people were as fortunate. Other individuals would go house to house begging for work so they could provide food for themselves and their families.
Children of low-income families were putting cardboard in the soles of their shoes because they could not afford to buy new shoes. The kids still played sports and did not let the shoes interfere with their goals. The communities needed to come together to help the children succeed and have shoes who could not afford them.
Role Model System was brought to light in the county. The model focused on more jobs for the residence, which would decrease the unemployment rate in the county.
Role Model System would assist with improving educational services for everyone in the county, and to ensure children were given the opportunity to succeed in school.
Air quality was an issue in Allegheny County. The county had wanted to improve the air the people were breathing. The county had a smoke ordinance put into action to cut down on the smoke pollution being exposed to the air that folks were breathing.
The water of the streams and rivers were contaminated by pollution and waste. The efforts to clean up the waters was put into motion. The cleanup focused on eliminating the sewage and industrial chemicals being dumped into the waterways of the county.
Services for higher education and job training was needed to be put into action. This would help people with disabilities have a chance at training and more educational services. These services would give everyone in the county an increase chance in pursuing jobs.
Services and programs are needed for older aged individuals, babies, and kids. These people should not be left out because they are not able to speak out for themselves. They should have programs that help and assist their needs.
All the services needed to improve citizen’s abilities should be started from within the system and expanded to other areas for enhanced opportunities for the people who live in the county.
Analysis
The first issues were needed for change in the economic standpoint of the county. The problem the county had was that it was unable to improve much of these needs. The reason it was unable to move forward with expanded human services was due to the Home Rule. The Home Rule did not allow for citizens or locals to decide on changes. The amount of resources that was given to the county came from the legislation and the government. They decided what the county received and what programs were offered. The citizens had no control over what was needed for them or in their communities.
The second issue was caused by no plans to assist the children and adults with disabilities. Any programs that were in the state was unable to reach the people of Allegheny County who needed assistance. It was imperative for services to be rendered for citizens of the county who would have a positive outcome with the assistance offered to them.
The third issue related to women and jobs in the communities. Women had little chance of working to earn money for food. The change would offer more employment opportunities and food assistance for families in the county. The change would cut down on unemployment, and reduce families going hungry from lack of food.
The fourth issue related to children and their communities. Programs that would assist low- income families to ensure kids were able to have clothes and shoes for school. Volunteers were helpful in afterschool activities for children.
The fifth issue focused on Role Model System. “This system gave kids an opportunity for educational services, and more programs for kids who needed them” . The system wanted to ensure that every child in the county would have an education without the prejudice of poverty or location.
The sixth issue related to the water supply and air supply in the county. The water needed to be cleaned up from toxic pollutants being deliberately emptied into the lakes, streams, creeks, and other water sources. This was contaminating the water that people used and lived near. Cleaning up the water would help reduce illness from contamination and maintain the life of animals who relied on the water to survive.
The air supply was contaminated by smoke and other pollutants being released into the atmosphere. The ordinance that was put into action to reduce the smoke into the air was important for the health of the county. This ordinance would improve the air quality in the county and cut down on pollutants being released into the air.
The seventh issue relates to job training services, and higher education programs for people with disabilities. These services would increase the knowledge and life skills people with disabilities needed. Job training and education would improve the economic status of the county and give everyone a chance for a better future.
The eighth issue involved kids, infants, and older people of the community. Programs are given to help them succeed and have a voice to communicate their needs. The programs for kids would help keep them safe in their homes, offer food for them, and services that would educate and encourage development. The programs for the elderly would ensure they were treated properly and have proper services to keep them healthy, safe, and functional.
The ninth issue relates to the beginning process of these services. Building them from within the local communities and expand the services to local, state, and federal levels. These programs would not only be able to offer positive help for the county of Allegheny but for the entire state as well. Everyone should be able to have access to these types of programs and services to build communities and growth in the citizens who live in each location.
The lessons learned from this case study has to do with change. It took one person who had the willpower and ambition to do something for the people of the county. People are fortunate to have someone who cares enough to make positive changes for others. Another lesson that was configured into the study was that people need to help people. More than one person can decide to change but it is easier when the communities come together to activate that change.
This study had wonderful outcomes relating to the advancement of the services that were offered. Finances for the services needed to come from somewhere and those finances would be taken into consideration regarding taxes. The outcome of these services outweighs the cost of finances that are needed to implement them. People are able to not go hungry, have jobs, education, community support, proper health care, and disability services. The helpfulness that is given to the community is worth every penny that is needed to run these services.
There will always be barriers in any given situation. The Commissioner had pushed through the tough problems that related to getting these programs into action for the county. IF more leaders had the same compassion for people and their needs then this world would have more positive outcomes regarding the communities that survive inside this country. It takes compassionate people to initiate change, and it takes those same kinds of people to see the change through until the end.
Reference
Clemons, R., & McBeth, M. (2009). Public Policy Praxis: Theory and Pragmatism: A Case
Study Approach (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Publishers.
