Characteristics and Environments of a Human Service Organization

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Characteristics and Environments of a Human Service Organization

Violence toward animals and children are some of the most horrific crimes one can commit. Animals and children are defenseless when it comes to protecting themselves against a person who abuses. The American Humane Association is one of the Nation’s leading advocates for children and animals. This organization is the only national organization advocating for both animals and children. Lewis, Packard, and Lewis (2007), state “Management in human service settings is a highly challenging task, primarily because the factors that differentiate nonprofit organizations from profitmaking firms are the same ones that tend to make management difficult” (Lewis, Packard, & Lewis, (2007a), p. 22). The American Humane Association demonstrates effective planning that meet the organizations vision and mission. The multicultural organization includes key stakeholders, the community, and staff in all aspects of building a strong environment with credible characteristics. Vision and Mission A vision and mission statement for an organization should articulate in essence where the organization believes its purpose and place is in the world. Since 1887, The American Humane Association has provided leadership in “developing policies, legislation, curricula and training programs - and taking actions - to protect children and animals from cruelty, abuse, neglect and exploitation” (Charity Navigator, Mission, (n.d)). The vision of The American Humane Association has held strong to be “the only national nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the welfare of both children and animals” (American Humane Association, History, (2011)). The American Human Associations mission is to create a more humane world that is full of compassion by ending the crimes and abuse toward animal and children. American Humane Association influences millions of people every day through research, development, training and services that reach a wide network of organizations, agencies, and businesses (American Humane Association, 2011). Governed and Staffed The American Humane Association’s President and Chief Executive Officer is Robin R. Ganzert, Ph.D. The organization has four officers and five senior staff members. The organization operates by an independent board that consists of fourteen board members. The executive and leadership team is “composed of key stakeholders in the implementation of safety and risk assessments and decision making, representing consumers, parents, youths, caregivers, workers, supervisors, administrators and community partners” (American Humane Association, Leadership, Faculty, Consultants & Staff, (2011) para 3). American Humane Association practices a system called The Breakthrough Series Collaborative methodology. According to The American Humane Association (2011), the methodology has five key elements: 1. Teams composed of staff and consumers at a variety of levels from each participating jurisdiction 2. A “change package” to guide the work of the participating jurisdictions 3. Faculty who mentor and support the process 4. The model for improvement, to lend structure to and accelerate the pace at which changes are tested and made 5. A shared learning environment to ensure that successes and lessons learned are spread quickly The goal of the methodology is to govern the organization by creating subtle change, which will grow and spread to transform the entire company (American Humane Association, Methodology (2011) para 1). Key Stakeholders and the Influence of the Stakeholders The American Humane Association’s program reaches several networks of organizations, agencies, corporations, educational institutions, animal shelters and professionals across the United States and increasingly around the world (American Humane Association, Financial Information, 2011). The American Humane Association has several key stakeholders who have influenced the organization. There are twenty-one teams representing state, county and tribal organizations across the country, more than twenty programs for animal and children, eighteen celebrity supporters, twenty-three corporate partners, and numerous sponsors who faithfully contribute funds to the organization. The President and Chief Executive Ofiicer states, “Our goal is to create healthier, more humane and compassionate communities where our children and our animals – the voiceless and the vulnerable – can thrive (Ganzert, (n.d.)). “The key actors in the human service organization’s environment -those who have the most influence on the organization – are now commonly referred to as stakeholders” (Lewis, Packard, & Lewis (2007b) p. 24). The American Humane Association considers everyone who is involved with the organization to be significant, but the animals and children are the main focus and have great influence concerning decision making. Community Collaborations An advanced form of collaboration involves “formal merging of funds and staff, sometimes into new organizational entities” (Lewis Packard, & Lewis, (2007c) p. 30). The American Humane Association is a community centered organization; they offer several community-based program collaborations. The Front Porch Project is a “national, research-supported, community-based initiative built upon the belief that all people who are concerned about the safety and well-being of children in their communities need to be encouraged and taught to make a difference” (American Humane Association, The Front Porch Project (2011)). This program educates the community about child abuse, neglect, and provides strategies on how to intervene when a child is in trouble. The organization does not leave out community collaborations when pets are concerned. The American Humane Association strives to make a difference in communities by educating and offering programs for people with pets. When devastation occurs, people do not think about animals as much as they do about the safety of humans. The American Humane Association reaches out to communities when natural disasters occur, the organization is considered to be The Red Cross to animals. This organization has a great influence on filmmakers in Hollywood, advocates are actively involved during filming to ensure all guidelines are met and animals are in safe working conditions (The American Humane Association, Animal Welfare (2011)). American Humane Association Valuing Diversity To achieve organizational excellence, practitioners and management must be culturally competent. A multicultural organization is committed to represent diversity through every level of the organization (Lewis, Packard, & Lewis, (2007d), p. 18). The American Humane Association represents diversity and values diverseness in the community. The organization works with a diverse group of situational, socioeconomic, racial, and generational backgrounds in various programs. Some examples of services provided to multicultural communities are done through diverse traditional settings, such as nursing homes, group homes, hospitals, mental health centers, schools, transitional homes, and extends to state psychiatric centers, homeless shelters, juvenile correctional facilities, and HIV clinics (American Humane Association Animal-Assisted Therapy, About Us, (2011). The American Humane Associations commitment to quality service, diversity, excellence, and client satisfaction strengthens and extends to the community. Environmental Trends The acronym PEST (Political, Economic, Social, and Technology) is used to describe environmental factors. A wise human service professional, manager, and case worker will think globally but act locally by taking into consideration the political, economic, social, and technological trends (Lewis, Packard, & Lewis, (2007e), p. 26). The American Humane Association goes beyond current trends to ensure the functions of the organization are up-to-date. Politically, The American “Humane Association’s Office of Public Policy & Government Affairs states, “advocates for policy and legislation that will benefit children and animals and keep them safe from abuse and neglect (American Humane Association, Advocacy, (2011), para 1). Economic and social trends have affected the organization; increases of neglect and abuse have been reported and statistic show that the maltreatment cases are because of economic stress caused by unemployment (American Humane Association, Fatalities (2011)). The American Humane Association is current with technological trends and takes advantage of free networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and many more. The organization’s webpage is full of internal and external links that make it easy for one to navigate and receive answers to questions. Conclusion The American Humane Association collaborates with the community on a national and local level to educate and prevent the abuse, neglect of children, and animals. The organizations efforts would be void if they did not have a strong character. For well over one-hundred years, this organization has followed its mission and continues to develop their vision with the ever changing economic trends. It is challenging to sum up the humane associations accomplishments in the nonprofit business world, but this organization continues to grow and help the community despite the current economy.

References
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Lewis, J.A., Packard, T., & Lewis, M.D. (2007c). Management of human service programs (4th ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, BSHS462—Building Community in Organizations course website.
Lewis, J.A., Packard, T., & Lewis, M.D. (2007d). Management of human service programs (4th ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, BSHS462—Building Community in Organizations course website.
Lewis, J.A., Packard, T., & Lewis, M.D. (2007e). Management of human service programs (4th ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, BSHS462—Building Community in Organizations course website.
Methodology. (2011). American humane association | Home. Retrieved November 16, 2011, from http://www.americanhumane.org/children/programs/safety-risk-assessments/methodology.html
The Front Porch Project- Neighbors helping to prevent child abuse. (2011). American humane association | Home. Retrieved November 16, 2011, from http://www.americanhumane.org/children/programs/child-abuse-neglect-prevention/the-front-porch-project/