utexas.eduhttp://webct.cc.utexas.edu:8900/SCRIPT/SW393S4/scripts/student/serve_page?967568768+Syllabus/sw393s4.html+OFF+Syllabus/sw393s4.htmlTHE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK COMPARATIVE SERVICE DELIVERY STRATEGIES Course Description Course Objectives Required Text and Readings Course Requirements Teaching Methods Course ScheduleClass Policies Course Webpage Course number: SW393S4 Professor: Cal Streeter Unique number: 61255 Office: SWB 2.240 Semester: Fall 2000 Office hours: Tuesday, 2:30 to 3:30, or by appointment Days: Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Phone: 471-0543 Place: SWB 1.214 E-mail: [email protected] Class Web Page: http://webct.cc.utexas.edu:8900/public/SW393S4/ Course Description Human service professionals work in diverse practice settings. While practice in each setting has distinctive characteristics, there are a number of organizational and inter-organizational factors that are common to professional practice in all fields. These include policy and program design elements, operational elements, and the nature of operational connections among organizations. This course centers on the comparative analysis of the design of service delivery systems in various fields of practice using the political-economy and institutional frames of reference. It also examines the range of technology used in human service organizations, procedures involved in designing and analyzing alternative service delivery systems, and the effects of differences in legal contexts, governance and administrative structure on the functional connections among governmental, nonprofit and for-profit human service organizations. Return to table of contents Course Objectives By the end of the course the student will be able to: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Analyze human service delivery systems using several key dimensions, including legal contexts, program rationales, governance and administrative structures, service population, program linkages, implementation structures, and characteristics of general and task environments; Evaluate human service delivery systems as multi-organizational systems with specific reference to such issues as inter-organizational cooperation, collaboration, coordination, and service integration; Assess the range of technology used in human service organizations, the criteria used in the selection of technologies including ethical issues, and the implications of alternative technologies for organizational structure and administrative processes; Diagram and map a service delivery system, including core and peripheral service providers and elements in the task environment such as funding sources, legitimating or sanctioning groups, and advocacy groups; Evaluate human service delivery systems with reference to special issues affecting women, people of color, and lesbians and gays in service delivery networks as both professionals working the system and consumers of services; Formulate and critique alternative strategies for initiating change in multi-organizational service delivery systems. Return to table of contents http://webct.cc.utexas.edu:8900/SCRIPT/SW393S4/...Syllabus/sw393s4.html+OFF+Syllabus/sw393s4.html (1 of 6) [9/5/2000 10:50:54 AM]Teaching Methods Course content is covered through reading, listening, thinking, and discussing theories and analytical frameworks for understanding and contrasting human service delivery systems and by actively participating in a class project. The first half of each class session will be devoted to a discussion of assigned readings. Students are expected to ask questions, share experiences, and actively participate in class discussions. During the second half of each class session time will be devoted to a small group assessment project focused on the service delivery system in Austin. Later in the semester, guest lecturers who work in multi-organization systems will share their experiences with the class. Return to table of contents Required Text and Readings Schorr, Lisbeth B. (1997). Common Purpose: Strengthening Families and Neighborhoods to Rebuild America. New York: Anchor Books. A reading packet is available from Abel's Printing at 715 West 23rd. To obtain a copy of the reading packet you will need a course packet coupon that will be distributed on the first day of class. You will need to ask for it by its course packet number which is 7. Additional readings may be assigned as the semester progresses. In this case, copies will be placed on reserve in the LRC. Return to table of contents Course Requirements Course requirements will consist of class attendance and participation and a group project. Regular class attendance is expected and students should come to class prepared to actively participate in the class discussions. There will be no exam in this class. Course requirements, due dates, and their contribution to the final grade are summarized below. The grade for the group project contains three parts. The written report is worth 50% of your final grade and the in-class presentation is worth 20% of your final grade. This portion of the grade is a group grade. That is, everyone in the group will receive the same grade. The final 10% of your final grade will be an individual grade based on your performance in the group throughout the semester. The group project is described below in detail. A detailed outline for the group project is available on the class webpage. Course requirements, due dates, and their contribution to the final grade are summarized below. Percent Due date of Final Grade Group Project Group grade for written report Group grade for presentation Individual portion of grade Total Project Grade 50% 20% 10% 80% December 8 Class attendance and participation 20% In an effort to be consistent with the grading system used by the University of Texas, grades for this course will be assigned using the following 10 point scale. 90 -100 = A = Excellent (far exceeds expectations) 80 - 89 = B = Above average (exceeds expectations) 70 - 79 = C = Average (meets expectations) 60 - 69 = D = Below average (below expectations) 59 and below = F = Fail (far below expectations) Each of the course requirements is described in detail below. However, sometimes students have questions about the assignments. If this is the case, please feel free to ask for clarification at any time during the course. I suggest that you use the class bulliten board for questions that might be of interest to other