Sunday, 16 January 2005 - 8:45 AM

This presentation is part of: Organization of Social Services

Allocating Resources for Social Services: The Role of Local Governments in Developing Social Capital

Purpose: This study explores how six local governments have approached the funding of social services in ways that builds their community’s social capital, develops collaborative leadership, and bridges neighborhoods, community organizations, and social institutions.

Methods: Using a comparative case study design (Agranoff & Radin, 1991), this study focuses on six local governments chosen to represent a broad range of models for social service funding that are also geographically diverse. The six communities are Cincinnati, Ohio; Lane County, Oregon; Pasadena, California; Scottsdale, Arizona; Seattle, Washington; and Tallahassee and Leon County, Florida. Data were collected through semi-structured telephone interviews and subsequent correspondence with local government officials and their partners. The interviews focused on the allocation and management of discretionary funds given to outside human service providers. Interview data was triangulated through a review of documents including human service policies, funding guidelines, grant applications, application score cards, newsletters, and reports. The qualitative data coding and analysis was aided with the use of Nud*ist (N-6).

Results: Results indicate that while there is considerable variation in the amount of funds allocated for social services within these six local governments, each local government is doing more than simply providing financial support for social services. The local governments’ efforts move beyond a limited role as a funder and help contribute to their community’s social capital. These additional efforts are focused on developing collaborative leadership, encouraging a community driven process, using the local government’s funding to leverage additional funds, and increasing citizen participation in the process. The six local governments also revealed challenges they faced in these efforts and the strategies they used to overcome these challenges.

Implications for Policy & Practice: The results of this study provide insight on how six local communities have approached the funding of social services in ways that contributes to their community’s social capital. This understanding is critical as many local governments reexamine their role in funding social services. As communities are increasingly confronted with a weak economy, large state and city budget deficits, and the pressure to reduce expenditures local governments are challenged to find ways to maintain and increase funding for social services.

References Agranoff, R. & Radin, B. A. (1991). The comparative case study approach in public administration. In J. L. Perry (Ed.), Research in Public Administration: Vol. 1. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

See more of Organization of Social Services
See more of Oral and Poster

See more of Celebrating a Decade of SSWR (January 13 - 16, 2005)