Free Essay

The Role of Government in Policy-Making

In:

Submitted By sherman1977
Words 856
Pages 4
Human service organizations are governed by a legislative and judiciary system. The judiciary system decides what policy is legal and illegal, and can require the executive or legislative branch to fix it, in some cases the judiciary can impose a remedy. The legislature system shapes public policy by passing laws, and approving budgets. The Maryland Department of Human Resources is the state's social services provider. The Maryland Department of Human Resources consists of the following programs: Foster Care/Adoption, Child Protective Services, Food Assistance, Energy Assistance, Child Support, Medical Assistance, Health Assistance, and Purchase of Care. (The Maryland Department of Human Resources, 2010) Each Program under the Maryland Department of Human Resources has policies, procedures, rules, and regulations to follow that has been developed through legislation, state and federal guidelines, house of representative and senate bills, and other legal mandates that set the programs’ functions. There are two Maryland laws (Health General Article 4-306, and the Family Law Article 5-711) pertaining to the disclosure of medical records, including mental health records to local departments of social services. (Health General Article, 4-306 went in effect July 1, 1991. The Family Law Article 5-711 went in effect July 1, 1987).
Health General Article 4-306. (The Maryland Department of Human Resources, 2010) Mandates that health care providers disclose information from medical records, concerning any person (child or adult) who is being assessed as part of a protective services investigation or to whom services are being provided. Information is to be shared upon request to a local department of social services representative providing protective services. This law governs all medical records including mental health records. (The Maryland Department of Human Resources, 2010) This includes making available copies of medical records that the health care provider assesses to be relevant to the child protective services investigation or provisions of services. This provision also allows for the sharing of information without authorization from the person on whom information is being disclosed.
Family Law Article 5-711. (The Maryland Department of Human Resources, 2010) This law mandates that medical care providers make copies available of a child’s medical record upon request by social services personnel conducting investigations or providing services to a child as a result of a child abuse or neglect report. (The Maryland Department of Human Resources, 2010) The Maryland Department of Human Resources day-to-day operations are managed by the Secretary of the State of Maryland. The Secretary of the State of Maryland is appointed by the governor. The governor briefs the Secretary on how he or she plans to run their administration and the Secretary adhere to those guidelines in adherence to the law. The Secretary becomes the voice of the administration and trickles down the information to the administrators and mangers. Every program administrator has to follow COMAR, The Code of Maryland Regulations, is the official compilation of all administrative regulations issued by agencies of the state of Maryland. (The Maryland Department of Human Resources, 2010) COMAR publishes the current Administrative regulations of state agencies and numerous independent regulatory bodies. Executive orders of the Governor that are considered generally permanent in nature. Documents required to be published by the General Assembly. Other documents permitted to be published by the General Assembly's Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review. (The Maryland Department of Human Resources, 2010) The Maryland Court System is in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Human Services; most programs under the Maryland Department of Human Resources have to attend court hearing and work with judges in order to effectively do their job. The law shapes policies and procedure with employees and clients. The law protects employees from discrimination and other under fair practices. The law protects clients’ rights from discrimination and other unfair practices. (The Maryland Department of Human Resources, 2010) The Maryland Department of Human Resources has to work with agencies and programs throughout the United States in some cases, so they must uphold Maryland law as well as respect the laws, guidelines, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of other states’ programs. The laws from state to state may vary on what is consider legal or illegal behavior or practice but through collaborative efforts different state organizations manage to work together to ensure the services to their clients. All human service organizations have to adhere to legislature and judiciary decision and policies. The judiciary system defines the law, decides what policy is legal and illegal, and assesses the punishment, remedy, or solutions for violation of the law. The legislative system defines the agenda of the organization as defined by law. The policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the organization. Who can benefit from the services of the organization and the guidelines to qualify for services. Without the legislative and judiciary system the human service organization will not have the proper organizational system to follow to be incompliance with the law.
References:
The Maryland Department of Human Resources. About US. Retrieved July 23, 2010. http://www.dhr.maryland.gov/AboutUs.php The Maryland Department of Human Resources. Organizational Leaders and Vision, Mission and Values . Retrieved July 23, 2010. http://w

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

The Role of Government in Policy-Making

...The Role of Government in Policy-Making Holly Regan HSM/240 January 26, 2014 Terra Harris The Role of Government in Policy-Making There are three branches of government established by the U.S. Constitution which are: the legislative branch, executive branch, and the judicial branch. The purpose for these three branches of government is to establish the individual and combined powers of each branch, while reserving the rights of each individual state in the union, (Buzzle, 2014. The outline for The Constitution clearly and concisely defined the importance of jury trials, accountability of the government and the protection of every citizen’s rights and civil liberties of the United States of America. It is the business of the legislative branch, the Congress and Senate, to propose and enact laws. It is the business of the executive branch to see that the laws are put into effect through various governmental departments and it is the business of the judiciary (the court system) to preside and rule over who is right or wrong according to the criminal, civil law and often administrative law. Before a social policy or program can come before the judiciary branch of government, someone must believe that a law has been broken. One of the most important parts of policy making are legislative tasks and these tasks are necessary for paving the way for getting a bill passed into law. First task: for an interest group is to clearly define its issue, have complete unanimity...

Words: 795 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

The Role of Government in Policy-Making

...The Role of Government in Policy-Making Holly Regan HSM/240 January 26, 2014 Terra Harris The Role of Government in Policy-Making There are three branches of government established by the U.S. Constitution which are: the legislative branch, executive branch, and the judicial branch. The purpose for these three branches of government is to establish the individual and combined powers of each branch, while reserving the rights of each individual state in the union, (Buzzle, 2014. The outline for The Constitution clearly and concisely defined the importance of jury trials, accountability of the government and the protection of every citizen’s rights and civil liberties of the United States of America. It is the business of the legislative branch, the Congress and Senate, to propose and enact laws. It is the business of the executive branch to see that the laws are put into effect through various governmental departments and it is the business of the judiciary (the court system) to preside and rule over who is right or wrong according to the criminal, civil law and often administrative law. Before a social policy or program can come before the judiciary branch of government, someone must believe that a law has been broken. One of the most important parts of policy making are legislative tasks and these tasks are necessary for paving the way for getting a bill passed into law. First task: for an interest group is to clearly define its issue, have complete unanimity...

Words: 795 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Political Science Process Essay

...summer, my knowledge and views of the American government and politics were very limited. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I have always been a little ignorant when it came to knowledge about the government or political issues, but have always wished that I knew more, especially with the economic problems we are facing today. I never really did form many political opinions, one way or the other. I vote every election, but never really understand the bigger picture at hand. Such as, all the issues that a candidate stands for or the impact of proposals on the government. When people around me have conversations about American politics, I am embarrassed that I either do not understand what they are saying, or cannot add to the conversation because I don’t know what to say. I guess you could say that I have always been a little cynical when it came to politics. Part of this reason is because I have always felt that the political game played in American politics was just a bunch of people talking baloney, making empty promises, trash talking their opponents, and trying to persuade people to think their way. And whoever does this the best wins, end of story. I’ve always known that there was more to American politics that this, but never really tried to find out more. So, when I signed up for this class, I wanted to shed my ignorance and learn more about my government and how it operated. I am proud to say that my knowledge of our government has been expanded to the point where I am fully...

Words: 2201 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Aed 200 Week 3 Dq 1 and Dq 2

...Exams use this form ( http://hwguiders.com/contact-us/ ) Feel Free to Search your Class through Our Product Categories or From Our Search Bar (http://hwguiders.com/ ) Discussion Question 1 Post your response to the following: After reading this week‟s reserve reading, explain what school choice options are available. Do you feel having school choice options is a benefit to parents and students? How does having school choice options affect the funding of public schools? Explain your reasoning. 4. Discussion Question 2 Post your response to the following: Most public schools are supported financially by district, state, and federal government agencies. Identify the roles district, state, and federal government agencies have in your local schools. Which agency do you feel has the most significant influence in making policy and curriculum decisions at the local level? Why? AED 200 Week 3 DQ 1 and DQ 2 Get Tutorial by Clicking on the link below or Copy Paste Link in Your Browser https://hwguiders.com/downloads/aed-200-week-3-dq-1-dq-2/ For More Courses and Exams use this form ( http://hwguiders.com/contact-us/ ) Feel Free to Search your Class through Our Product Categories or From Our Search Bar (http://hwguiders.com/ ) Discussion Question 1 Post your response to the following: After reading this week‟s reserve reading, explain what school choice options are available. Do you feel having school choice options is a benefit to parents and students...

Words: 3010 - Pages: 13

Free Essay

Pm and Cabinet

...08 Fall How governments are formed There are no codified rules in the UK to state how government is formed, in theory it is in the hands of the monarch – up until the 19thCentury this was largely a reality. However the monarch no longer plays any active role in this process. The party that wins a majority of seats in the House of Commons after a general election, its leader will be invited by the monarch to form a government. 2010 Coalition * Conservatives were longest party in HoC but failed to win overall majority * Labour negotiated a coalition with LibDems and later the LibDems negotiated with both main parties for a coalition * Labour and LibDem did not make an overall majority * Gordon Brown later resigned and advised the Queen to ask Cameron to form a government either as a minority or in coalition with LibDems. * Cameron accepted and formed coalition with LibDem ‘The Government’ 25 members are members of the HoL and 90 are MPs. MPs that are from the party that is in government ate not members of government! They are known as backbenchers and the members of government are known as frontbenchers. All members of government are appointed by the PM. The cabinet (22-23 members) meet regularly. Ministerial selection The PM must weigh up the qualities of individuals against the political consequences of appointing them. Qualities that ideal ministers should possess: * Must be politically reliable * Must have potential ...

Words: 3396 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

“Outline the Responsibilities of the Different Level of Government in the Uk.”

...Unit 1 P1 “Outline the responsibilities of the different level of government in the UK.” House of Commons – It is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The HoC is part of the legislative process of British Politics. It consists of 650 elected members of Parliament, who represent a board spectrum of political parties. Each MP represents a constituency, which is a localised geographical area. There are two ways in which people get elected, it can happen either during a general election or by-election. A big range of political views and interests are represented in the House of Commons, which enables the ‘House’ to ensure that legislation and decisions are well debated by a variety of different people, which political views differ. HoC has a lot of different roles, MP’s are responsible of debating and passing all laws (legislation), controlling finances, protecting the individuals, examining European proposals, and scrutinises the work of the government, policies and administration. Those roles may have extremely wide impact on the country and public services. House of Lords – It is the upper house, the Second chamber, and is also commonly referred to as “the Lords”. The House of Lords can have a variable amount of members. Currently, there are about 790 members who are eligible to take part in the work of the HoL. Members come from many walks of life and bring experience and knowledge from a wide range of occupations. Majority of them are life peers, which...

Words: 2575 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Responsibilities of the Different Levels of Government

...Levels of Government Introduction There are different levels of government that meet different aims, either to improve the country/small areas or provide the country/small areas with essential ‘goods’. What are the roles for government departments? The main role of government departments and their agencies is to carry out government policies and to advise ministers. They receive their funding from money that is given to them by parliament. They are staffed by impartial civil servants. They also work alongside local authorities; non department public bodies and other government organisations i.e. Regional, central, etc. Also government departments are headed by ministers or secretaries of state. With all departments they report to the PM and then the, PM reports to parliament and HM Queen. The level of government as follows, starts with the ‘Central Government’. This is a person who oversees the country and makes any changes, if necessary. Next is the ‘Regional Government’, which is a form of government which groups together small administrative units into a region and governs them. Lastly we have the ‘Local Government’; this is when the government gives ’local councils’ more power to decide how to spend public money in their areas, so they can meet local people's needs. We also have the ‘Parliaments and Devolved Parliaments’. However this is not a level of government as it’s a place to ‘parlay’ (talk). Moreover the central government’s decisions are talked within the:...

Words: 3648 - Pages: 15

Premium Essay

Impacts of Globalisation on Policy Making

...oduction B. − − − Are governments prepared to operate effectively in an international policy environment? How can the impacts of globalisation on democratic processes be managed to protect core values such as accountability, responsiveness, and transparency? What future do governments envisage for "global governance"? From Autonomy to Influence -- preparing for a global policy role THE IMPACTS OF GLOBALISATION ON POLICY-MAKING 1. Globalisation has changed the context in which governments operate. Even traditionally domestic issues are increasingly influenced by international actors and international events that are beyond national governments' ability to control, either individually or collectively. This has evoked a good deal of hand-wringing and fears that national policy autonomy -- or even national sovereignty -- is being undermined. These fears, while important, may be short-sighted. While globalisation poses many challenges for national governments, it also holds many opportunities. International co-operation offers new opportunities to improve overall policy effectiveness and to address common policy dilemmas. But are national governments adequately equipped to manage the problems and reap the benefits of globalisation? 2. The following discussion examines the impacts of globalisation on policy making1. It raises questions related to three main themes: 3...

Words: 2010 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Historical Policy Comparison

...Historical Policy Comparison Jermaine Hunt, Jason McFadden, Kendra Williams, Michael Dasher CJA/464 December 10, 2013 Ken Jones Historical Policy Comparison Criminal justice policy over the past 50 has evolved. The key issues of criminal justice policies were gangs, drugs, juvenile, root causes of crime, and gun control. Currently, the key issues are terrorism, illegal immigration, and global organized crime. Traditionally, criminal justice policies were issued by state and local governments. However, the federal government plays an important role in implementation of criminal justice policy. The federal government provides grants to local and state governments to support these criminal justice policies. Criminal justice agencies at the local and state level have to enforce these policies made by federal and state officials. Nevertheless, the local and state governments still bear much of the responsibility. States operate law enforcement agencies, correctional systems, criminal courts system, whereas cities operate the local police departments. Within the past 50 years, criminal justice policies have affected the criminal justice system. The “war on drug” policy has poured billions of dollars into the criminal justice system, although drug-related violence and drugs remain a problem. The criminal justice policies have gone from drugs polices to sentencing policies and currently to globalization policies. Currently, the criminal justice policies go beyond the United States...

Words: 3069 - Pages: 13

Free Essay

Functionalism

...How effectively do the UK's main political parties fuffil their key roles and functions? Introduction: In the UK we currently have a two party system the Labour party and the Conservative party, each party has main roles that they need to perform in order to provide an active government system. These key roles come in five different forms known as the following; * participation, this is where the parties allow members within the party as well as citizens to participate in the political process at all levels. * the political recruitment process, parties play a vital role in giving the future leaders their apprenticeship. The candidate selection processes cast aside the unsuitable. e * the policy formulation process,this is where parties hold debates and formulate policy before presenting the policies on a manifesto. * providing a stable government, without parties it is agrued that the House of Commons would simply be a gathering of over 600 individuals. Therefore, this essay will evaluate how effectively the UK's main political parties fulfill their core roles and functions. Participation Parties first role is through participation, encouraging not only citizens but members within their party. The quality of participation afforded to members is shaped largely by the extent to which political parties themselves are internally democratic. The Labour party in paticular has displayed many signs of internal party democracy, this was demonstrated through...

Words: 664 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Policy Making in the Real World

...POLICY MAKING IN THE REAL WORLD Evidence and Analysis Michael Hallsworth, with Simon Parker and Jill Rutter 1 Contents About this report Executive summary 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Introduction: The Institute’s Better Policy Making theme Why look at policy making? The drive to professionalise policy making The gap between theory and practice Process Qualities Structures Politics Improving policy making 3 4 15 16 22 30 38 46 64 80 100 103 104 10. Annex A: Methodology for survey of policy characteristics 11. Annex B: The Policy Skills Framework Contents 2 About this report This report is one of three that the Institute for Government is releasing as part of its research into policy making in government. It provides both an in-depth look at attempts to reform policy making over the last fourteen years and draws on both interviews with senior civil servants and ministers, in the last government, to look at the experience of policy making. It also draws on our analysis of government’s own evaluations of policy, our ‘Policy Reunions’ looking at the factors behind policy success and the extensive academic literature on policy making. As such, it forms the evidential and analytic base for our recommendations report, Making Policy Better. This report is largely the work of the Institute for Government’s Senior Researcher Michael Hallsworth. In its early stages, the research was led by former Institute Fellow, Simon Parker, and in the later stages was overseen...

Words: 49085 - Pages: 197

Premium Essay

Is Thatcherism Best Described as a Revolt Against the Post-War Consensus

...Described as a Revolt Against the Post-war Consensus? There is great disagreement over the value of the achievements of the Conservative governments under Mrs Thatcher, but whether it is seen as successful or a failure, most acknowledge that the advent of ‘Thatcherism’ was a major turning point in the recent political, social and economic history of Britain. The 1979 general election was in many ways the most significant since the end of the war, as it signalled the comprehensive end of what became known as the Post-war Consensus, changing fundamentally the way in which the country was governed. To understand whether Thatcherism was a reaction against this consensus we have to first understand what the consensus was - and why it ended. The consensus emerged in the difficult but optimistic years following the war. It came at least partly from a desire to create the "New Jerusalem", creating social and economic progress from victory. It was in a sense a reaction against the ‘consensus’ that went before, that of a generally non-interventionist government, which was discredited by the memory of the 1930s. The consensus, inaugurated by the policies of the 1945-51 Labour government, marked a great increase in the role of government in peacetime economy and society, something which remained generally unchallenged for decades by successive governments. This does not mean that there was no disagreement between parties and nothing was at stake at elections, as there were many instances...

Words: 2236 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Policy and Development

...DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC POLICY guidance on the application of community development approaches to different aspects of anti-poverty and social inclusion work €10 Siobhán Lynam Bridgewater Centre, Conyngham Road, Islandbridge, Dublin 8 Tel: 01 670 6746 Fax: 01 670 6760 Email: info@combatpoverty.ie Website: www.combatpoverty.ie COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC POLICY Siobhán Lynam Community Development and Public Policy 1 © 2006 ISBN: 1-905485-11-5 While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this book is accurate, no legal responsibility is accepted by the author or Combat Poverty for any errors or omissions. The views expressed in this publication are the author’s own and not necessarily those of Combat Poverty Agency. 2 Community Development and Public Policy CONTENTS Acknowledgements Preface 4 5 Introduction Background to the publication Structure of the publication 6 6 Section 1: Defining public policy 1.1 What is public policy? 1.2 How is policy made? 1.3 The public policy cycle 1.4 Example of a community organisation’s impact on policy 7 7 8 13 16 Section 2: A community-development approach to policy making 2.1 Giving voice to excluded groups 2.2 Characteristics of a community-development approach 2.3 Value of adopting a community-development approach 18 18 19 21 Section 3: Influencing public policy making 3.1 Develop a policy agenda 3.2 Make it an integral...

Words: 13791 - Pages: 56

Premium Essay

Government

...Governments tend to play the key role in the development of its economy. I think they can serve as the controller or the protector of their economy. India and Japan have been two successful countries that have redefined their economic stand point. Both countries have accomplished this goal with similar fashion. The government’s role has its similarities and differences in both countries and I will attempt to compare them. India and Japan have had land reforms that have gone through changes with success. At one point India had some land reforms that failed but government pushed for new strategy in the 1960’s. The Green Revolution permitted government to provide seeds and gave farmers access to subsidized fertilizer. Irrigation was the key element for success and only large farmers in the region were assured to receive it. According to Kesselemen, as a result of this strategy India became a self provider in food (Kesselmen 2010) After WW II, Japan redistributed its farmland to poor tenant farmers which reduced from thirty percent of farmers to five percent. According to Kesselmen, this reform expanded Japan’s domestic consumer markets and its middle class citizens (Kesselmen 2010). Regardless of the decline in farmers, Japan became a self provider in food like India. Agriculture is important for every independent country and I think both countries made smart decisions dealing with land reforms. In their own way the outcome was a success for both of their economies. By the...

Words: 589 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

The Woman in Black

...Unit 1 Government Policies and the Public Services [pic] Assessment Book (Credits 10) | |Eddie Maylor | |Student Name | | |Start of Unit Date |24 September 2012 | |Completion of Unit Date | | | |Unit Tutor: James McQueen | |Group / Course |Diploma in public services | Learning Outcomes • Know the different levels of government I the UK • Understand the democratic election process for each level of government in the UK • Understand the impact of UK government policies on the public services • Be able to demonstrate how government policies are developed Unit Criteria Passed |Pass |1 |2 |3 | | | | ...

Words: 4856 - Pages: 20