Differentiating Public and Private Organizations

CheckPoint: Differentiating Public and Private Organizations
Ch. 1 (pp. 12, 14, and 15) in the text briefly discusses the differences between public and
private organizations in the health and human services industry and their effect on
communities. For example, the trend of privatization is a controversial issue for many
communities. Those who oppose privatization include government employees and public
employees who have joined unions to lobby for better benefits. This is one example of how
health and human services workers attempt to influence government regulations and social
policies. However, many private companies are counteracting the unions by hiring nonunion
workers at lower salaries than those of union workers.
Ch. 7 explores lobbying and social policies in more depth, but you may also refer to the
following Web sites for further research on social policies to complete this CheckPoint: the
National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Web site, Policy Statements section at
http://www.naswdc.org/resources/abstracts/default.asp ; and the United States Department of
Health and Human Services, ASPE Office section at
http://aspe.hhs.gov/_/office_specific/index.cfm or
http://aspe.hhs.gov/_/topic/subtopic.cfm?subtopic=Privatization
• Resources: Ch. 1 (pp. 12, 14, and 15) and Ch. 7 in Human Services in Contemporary
America (6th ed.);
http://www.mrsc.org/Subjects/Governance/legislative/policymaking.aspx ;
http://www.naswdc.org/resources/abstracts/default.asp ;
http://aspe.hhs.gov/_/office_specific/index.cfm ; and
http://aspe.hhs.gov/_/topic/subtopic.cfm?subtopic=Privatization
• Due Date: Day 4 [Individual] forum
• Follow the steps below to complete this CheckPoint (provide your response in
approximately 200 to 300 words):
o Describe a social policy that may affect your future position as a human services
worker.
Compare and contrast how a public versus a private organization might address
this policy differently. Include an explanation of how the delivery system of a
public organization would be different than that of a private organization. For
example, what would be some differences between a state-funded child
placement agency and a private adoption agency in the way they deliver their
adoption services?
o Consider how you could influence this policy to meet your clients’ needs. If you
work for a government organization, you may not be able to lobby, but what other
ways could you advocate for your client population?