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SOC-386 Topic 6: Macro Level Social Work: Child Protective Services and Bureaucracy Outline WorksheetDirections: This worksheet provides an outline for Part II of your essay that is due in Topic 8. You will use the answers that you put in the boxes next to the prompt to complete your final paper. Your responses for the worksheet should total between 500 to 750 words. The answer you provide in Part I should be developed enough so that your instructor can give you valuable feedback. Please include three to five scholarly references at the end of this worksheet.Macro Level Social Work: Child Protective Services and Bureaucracy Outline Social work practice at the macro level involves advocating for social change and social action, eliminating economic disparities, social injustice, and exploitation.Explore the website of the Child Protective Service (CPS) agency for your state. Find articles on CPS from your state that discuss organizational issues or dysfunctions regarding the agency at a macro level. This assignment examines the functions and dysfunctions of organizational structure. Use the table in the worksheet to address the following:Area to AddressResponseDescribe three to four examples from your local or state articles on CPS to support concepts from each of the organizational theories. 1. In Wichita, Kansas, workers for DCF average 55 cases per worker, while the recommended caseload for investigating abuse and neglect is about 15. This ties in with depersonalization from Weber’s theory because if it goes too far, the depersonalization could result in losing a caring attitude toward clients, especially when they have a large caseload (Bauer, Shorman, & Thomas, 2018).2. Some workers who take and screen hotline calls were not given the training that they needed. This is failing to meet Weber’s standardization of role performance because the workers are not able to perform the role in the same, competent way if they are not given proper training (Bauer & Woodall, 2018).3. CPS in Kansas has begun rapid permanency reviews, where case managers and supervisors work together and participate in reviews, so they can improve. This fits with Taylor’s theory because it is focused on rationally designing the work environment so workers would adopt new work procedures (Shorman, 2018). Explore two websites of agencies that CPS collaborates with and discuss the services that those agencies provide that support the state’s CPS organization.1. KVC Kansas is a private organization that partners with Kansas DCF to provide prevention, foster care, case management, family reunification, adoption, and aftercare services, and more (KVC Kansas, n.d.).2. Saint Francis Ministries is another private organization that partners with Kansas DCF and provides adoption, foster care, independent living, residential programs, and migration services, among others (Saint Francis Ministries, n.d.). Explore two websites and discuss how the different organizations address diversity.1. Kansas DCF has ethical guidelines that include information on diversity. Cultural diversity must impact all areas of practice and professionals must respect each family’s worth and appreciate the diversity that they bring, as well as be competent when working with people from different backgrounds (Core competencies, n.d.). 2. Saint Francis Migration Ministries helps refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, and Myanmar resettle in Wichita. Because these clients come from diverse backgrounds, they must be culturally competent in working with them, and provide basic needs, as well a employment skills, education, English language learning, and cultural and community orientation (Saint Francis Ministries, n.d.).How would you address ethics and diversity in your chosen role? How would you support the organizations diversity policies or initiatives?I would comply with the NASW Code of Ethics, as well as any other codes of ethics in place in that particular organization. I would ensure that employees had the proper education and initial training. Then, I would offer supplemental diversity training that is recurring, so employees can always stay up-to-date and refreshed on how to treat all client with respect and care. To support policies and initiatives, I would advertise them to the employees and require them to attend meetings or classes on the subject.What are the functions of CPS as a bureaucracy? Use Weber’s theory.The functions of Kansas DCF as a bureaucracy include following authority because employees must comply with laws and rules. It also includes a hierarchical authority structure because workers must report to supervisors. There is also a division of labor because different people have different tasks to perform to make the whole system function. Additionally, standardization of role performance occurs because workers have to follow certain procedures and ethical guidelines (Dale & Smith, 2013).What are the dysfunctions of CPS as a bureaucracy? Use Weber’s theory.Most of the functions can also turn into dysfunctions. For example, having to go through a lot of paperwork and “red tape” may slow down procedures and cause frustration. Additionally, some supervisors may not be qualified. Furthermore, overwork can cause the divisions of labor to crumble. Also, without proper training standardization of roles cannot function properly (Dale & Smith, 2013).How would you apply systems theory to CPS?Social systems theory takes the organization’s relationship to its social environment into account, so DCF would consider the community they are serving, their funding, and other resources they have or need. This theory also understands that the needs of the system and the needs of people are not always in agreement. For example, DCF workers cannot become burnt out from overwork, and there is a need in the system to have a worker assigned to all the cases (Dale & Smith, 2013).What suggestions do you have for improving large bureaucratic agencies such as CPS?Kansas DCF has many issues. For example, the agency did not meet standards related to placing children in permanent homes within a year and minimizing re-entry into foster care, as well as failing to keep children in the same school at least 25 percent of the time. To alleviate these issues, among others, some recommendations include increasing funding to recruit and keep staff, allow young adults to re-enter the child welfare system after leaving, without any hindrances. Additionally, the organization needs one case management system that will allow easier data sharing. (Shorman, 2018). ReferencesBauer, L., Shorman, J., & Thomas, J. L. (2018). “We are making these children homeless”: Kansas is harming foster kids, lawsuit says. Retrieved from , L., & Woodall, H. (2018). Kansas DCF workers in KC area face caseloads up to four times the norm, review shows. Retrieved from competencies for early care and education professionals in Kansas and Missouri. (n.d.). Retrieved from , O., & Smith, R. (2013). Human behavior and the social environment: Social systems theory. Boston, MA: Pearson.KVC Kansas. (n.d.). About KVC Kansas. Retrieved from Francis Ministries. (n.d.). Our services. Retrieved from , J. (2018). Kansas DCF failed to meet 16 standards for child safety, well-being over past year. Retrieved from ................
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