A social policy that could affect my future position as a human services worker is the welfare policies. Changes to the welfare system could affect a worker in this area in two ways. If benefits were cut, it could have a huge effect on the lives of many, and if someone was working on a one to one basis with people who were on benefits this could affect the relationship that the two parties have. Another effect of a change to welfare policies would be that there would be less people needed to work in the sector, and job losses may be required. A private organization suggests that outsourcing of social services takes place, broadly, in two forms. Under one method, government agencies contract with private providers to deliver single components of a larger program and or job training and placement for TANF recipients, for example. Alternatively, agencies may look to private contractors to deliver a comprehensive set of program services in a specific location a full-service operation for child support enforcement, for instance, or a complete TANF program, including intake and assessment, eligibility determination, and case management. In some cases public organizations have a better chance of getting assistance and help from the public than private organizations. Eligibility and requirements can be different between the two. As well as the eligibility period or amount of time the assistance can or will be given could vary.
In 1996, Kansas drew national attention by adopting a managed-care system for its child welfare program statewide. Under this system, private-sector organizations were paid a set fee for each child referred, intended to cover the cost of all foster care, family preservation, or adoption services provided. However, the state's Department of Social and Rehabilitative Services recently terminated the managed care approach after discovering that it created significant financial difficulties for contractors. Private providers continue to play an important role in the state's child welfare system but are compensated with a per-child, per-month payment (http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/privatization02/chapter2.htm).