NCJ Number
69071
Date Published
1976
Length
42 pages
Annotation
BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS CAUSED BY A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN CASES, THE MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION OF THE BRIDGEPORT, CONN., WELFARE DEPARTMENT WERE EXAMINED AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS MADE.
Abstract
THIS RESEARCH PROJECT WAS CONDUCTED BY AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF HUMAN SERVICES, ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS, AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION SPECIALISTS FROM LOCAL UNIVERSITIES. INITIALLY, THE PROJECT SOUGHT TO IMPROVE OFFICE PROCEDURES AND PAPER FLOW, BUT AS RESEARCH PROGRESSED ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS EMERGED. USING INTERVIEWS AND WRITTEN QUESTIONNAIRES, THE PROJECT STAFF FIRST COLLECTED AND ANALYZED DATA ABOUT POLICIES, STRUCTURE, STAFFING, RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER AGENCIES, COMMUNICATIONS, WORKFLOW, CLERICAL FUNCTIONING, AND RECORDKEEPING. THEN INFORMATION ON POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN OTHER CONNECTICUT WELFARE DEPARTMENTS WAS STUDIED. FINALLY, SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS WERE PROPOSED WITH FEEDBACK FROM A PANEL OF CITY OFFICIALS FROM OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES, FINANCIAL, AND LEGAL AGENCIES. THE STUDY FOUND THAT THE WELFARE DEPARTMENT LACKED ANY CLEAR MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND THAT STATE WELFARE POLICIES WERE NOT READILY AVAILABLE IN A USABLE FORM. PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS WERE SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ON PAPERWORK, WHILE SUPERVISORS WERE NOT GIVEN GENUINE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES. CLIENT INTAKE PROCEDURES WERE DISORGANIZED, AND NO EFFORTS WERE MADE TO SPECIALIZE CASEWORKERS ACCORDING TO VARIOUS TYPES OF AID AVAILABLE. THE OFFICE WAS NOISY AND OVERCROWDED WITH CLIENTS' RIGHTS TO CONFIDENTIALITY BEING FREQUENTLY BREACHED. THESE PROBLEMS, COUPLED WITH RECORDKEEPING AND ACCOUNTING DEFICIENCIES, LED THE PROJECT TO CONCLUDE THAT THE POSSIBILITY FOR FRAUD WAS VERY HIGH. FOLLOWING A SUMMARY SECTION, THE REPORT IDENTIFIES SPECIFIC PROBLEMS AND PRESENTS CORRECTIVE RECOMMENDATIONS, DEVELOPMENT SUCH AS POLICY OF MANUALS, REVISED INTAKE PROCEDURES, A NEW IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR CLIENTS, AN INVESTIGATIVE UNIT TO DETECT FRAUD, AS WELL AS OPENING FIELD OFFICES. DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PROJECT'S ANALYSIS OF JOB FUNCTIONS AND OFFICE OPERATIONS ARE PROVIDED. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN THE QUESTIONNAIRE USED IN THE PERSONNEL SURVEY AND NEWSPAPER ARTICLES ON ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD IN THE WELFARE DEPARTMENT.