Handbook of Human Services Management

"The Handbook of Human Services Management" is a substantially revised and updated version of the first edition ("The Handbook of Social Welfare Management"), published in 2000. Intended for students, teachers and scholars, this book's central theme is how to manage human service organizations in ways that lead to the provision of high quality, effective services to consumers, a pressing political and ethical imperative in this field. Now re-organized around 6 topical areas commonly addressed in management and planning courses, this edition brings to bear the latest information on practice innovations, theoretical perspectives and empirical research to suggest the key elements of an effectiveness driven approach to management in the human services. The introductory section provides an extensive analysis of the distinctive challenges of managing in a human services context.This is followed by sections that address, respectively, managing for performance through positive work cultures, leadership, and information; developing and empowering diverse staff to deliver high quality, culturally relevant services; building agency governance, planning and financial infrastructures that support effective services; and, engaging key constituencies in the environment to shape policies and inter-agency collaborations to enhance consumer services.
The final section looks at future challenges for managers and the role of education in preparing practitioners for careers in this field. This edition consists of 24 chapters, including 10 chapters that are entirely new and 14 that have been extensively revised and updated, authored by distinguished practitioners and scholars in human services management.