Featuring new and updated information on computer technologies, including networking and using the Internet as a necessary tool for professionals, Human Services Technology: Understanding, Designing, and Implementing Computer and Internet Applications in the Social Services will help individual human service professionals and agencies understand, design, implement, and manage computer and Internet applications. Combining several relevant fields, this informative guide provides you with the knowledge to effectively collect, store, manipulate, and communicate information to better serve clients and successfully manage human service agencies. Human Services Technology explains basic technological terms and gives you the history of technology uses before you explore other areas of Information Technology (IT). This essential guide will also improve your ability to find and understand recent research and information on important topics. Human Services Technology will expand your technical know-how and help you better serve clients by offering you proven methods and explanations, such as: describing terms--such as hardware, networking, and telecommunications--with easy-to-understand analogies and examples using IT applications to support social policies, improve service coordination among agencies, efficiently manage agencies in order to save time, support workers’decision making with information, and assist clients solving the problems that internal and external issues cause when determining IT needs, such as working with federal reporting requirements understanding and dealing with the 10 most critical IT issues for management Containing dozens of graphs, tables, and figures, this knowledgeable book will help you with any IT problem you encounter. Symbols by certain subjects in the book indicate that you can find more information and references on that issue through links on the book?s accompanying Web site. Human Services Technology will enable you to thoroughly understand and use IT to help you offer improved services to clients and manage agencies with increased efficiency and effectiveness.

This volume provides a unique and notable contribution to the investigation and exemplification of computer literacy in human services education. A significant contribution to the development of the contemporary human services curriculum, this helpful guide introduces the computer literate curriculum, explores the nature of computer literacy and its ramifications for teaching in the human services, and discusses the computer's effect on scholarly thinking. Computer Literacy in Human Services Education is divided into two major sections, the first dealing with teaching about computers and the second addressing the use of computers in teaching. In the first section, the authors introduce the topic of computer literacy in human services education and look at some general issues which have broad implications for the educator. They also explore program-wide curriculum development and the development of individual courses. In the second section, the authors discuss computers as devices which can facilitate both learning and thinking in human services, and suggest that some theories explaining human behavior may also apply to human/computer interaction. Other topics covered in the section are the use of computers in teaching about human services, including Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI), simulations, and interactive video. The volume concludes with an examination of the ways computers can affect the thinking of scholars in teaching and in model and theory building in the human services.

For those administrators with the responsibility of choosing a computer system Applying Computers in Social Service and Mental Health Agenices suggests practical considerations about the purchase and implementation of a computer system. Dr. Slavin argues that social service and mental health agencies can use a computer system to enhance the quality and quantity of service provided to their clients. Pertinent issues are discussed, such as the costs and benefits of competing hardware and software, the contributions of the small computer, and the development of systematic information systems that connect local and statewide data. The book is a reliable resource that will aid wise decision making.

THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE AND TOOLKIT FOR CREATING MEANINGFUL AND SUCCESSFUL NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIPS The impossible becomes possible when a partnership is formed, notably in the changing landscape of today's nonprofit environment. With contributions from expert practitioners in the nonprofit arena, this is the first comprehensive guide and toolkit for creating meaningful, long-term, and successful nonprofit partnerships. National nonprofit leaders disseminate their expertise regarding the creation of noteworthy nonprofit partnerships, mergers, and alliances. They describe challenges overcome and lessons learned. Detailed case studies address strategic partnerships at all levels, from successful community grassroots collaborations to full-blown mergers. The tools and methods described in the book will help readers to think strategically about consolidations and partnerships, to recognize challenges and opportunities inherent in different types of partnerships, and to successfully implement them. The book guides nonprofit leaders in the creation of such primary partnership models as collaboration, administrative consolidation, joint programming, and corporate merger/acquisition, and how to select the model best suited to their organization. Authors describe how nonprofits can adapt to change more easily, use concrete data in decision making, best position themselves for partnership, and innovate in ways that have meaningful impact on reducing poverty. The book also discusses how to mitigate risk and debunks merger and partnership myths. Case studies illustrate a step-by-step approach to creating partnerships with a focus on best practices. A particularly welcome feature is the clarification of complicated legal documents, as well as a partnership checklist, sample due diligence information, and sample legal documents. This book is a valuable resource for current and future leaders in social service administration, the human services, public and community health, public administration, organization management, and health care administration and management. KEY FEATURES: Introduces the first comprehensive guide and toolkit for creating successful nonprofit partnerships Written by respected national nonprofit leaders Includes proven tools and best practices for creating different types of nonprofit partnerships, mergers, and alliances and choosing the best fit Presents detailed case studies illustrating challenges overcome and lessons learned Breaks down legal documents so they are easily understandable and includes a toolkit of key partnership agreements and documents

Drawing on their experience as teachers and social workers, the authors introduce students to the complex skills necessary for effective management in human service administration. In this textbook, they present actual problems through concise case studies with study-guide questions for discussion. The illustrative case studies cover a broad range of situations and dilemmas that a human services student can expect to encounter as an administrator ñ from sexual harassment to ethical concerns. By focusing on human service agencies, the authors fill a gap in social work literature for administration, planning, and management students.