First published in 1998, this volume represents the outcome of a seminar as part of the continuing efforts of the Convocation of the University of Dar es Salam to maintain a dialogue with the Government of Tanzania on its socio-economic problems. Its aim was to underscore heightened public concern on the continued deterioration of social services in Tanzania following the onset of the economic crisis, to examine the effect of structural adjustment policies and measures on health, education, water, food, security, housing and social welfare services and to make specific recommendations on how to improve the delivery and sustainability of social services. This volume reproduces, as far as is practicable, the full proceedings of that important forum, whose issues remain relevant today. Recent reforms in the country, including privatization, graded user fees and decentralized management of social services by local communities have been substantially influenced by what the seminar recommended. While a section of society has welcomed these reforms as the only realistic way to achieve sustainability, reduce donor dependence, and prevent further deterioration of social services, there are still voices which object to the measures. Key questions raised in the book concern citizens’ rights to social services, the regulatory role of government, democratic participation and partnerships between government, NGOs and private providers of social services. It will serve as a reference point for a fresh review of the social services crisis in the 1990’s and the basis for devising more appropriate and sustainable strategies for the 21st Century.

The book presents the thinking of the Tanzanian intellectual community on the declining state of social services, lessons from past experience and recovery strategies under harsh economic conditions.

There is no precedent to the current economic crisis which looks set to redefine social policy debate throughout the globe. But its effects are not uniform across nations. Bringing together a range of expert contributions, the key lesson to emerge from this book is that 'the crisis' is better understood as a variety of crises, each mediated by national context. Consequently, there is an array of potential trajectories for welfare systems, from those where social policy is regarded as incompatible with the post-crisis economy to those where it is considered essential to future economic growth and security.

Chronic homelessness is a highly complex social problem of national importance. The problem has elicited a variety of societal and public policy responses over the years, concomitant with fluctuations in the economy and changes in the demographics of and attitudes toward poor and disenfranchised citizens. In recent decades, federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the philanthropic community have worked hard to develop and implement programs to solve the challenges of homelessness, and progress has been made. However, much more remains to be done. Importantly, the results of various efforts, and especially the efforts to reduce homelessness among veterans in recent years, have shown that the problem of homelessness can be successfully addressed. Although a number of programs have been developed to meet the needs of persons experiencing homelessness, this report focuses on one particular type of intervention: permanent supportive housing (PSH). Permanent Supportive Housing focuses on the impact of PSH on health care outcomes and its cost-effectiveness. The report also addresses policy and program barriers that affect the ability to bring the PSH and other housing models to scale to address housing and health care needs.

This book revives the discussion on public social services and their redesign, with a focus on services relating to care and the social inclusion of vulnerable groups, providing rich information on the changes that occurred in the organisation and supply of public social services over the last thirty years in different European places and service fields. Despite the persisting variety in social service models, three shared trends emerge: public sector disengagement, ‘vertical re-scaling’ of authority and ‘horizontal re-mix’ in the supply system. The consequences of such changes are evaluated from different perspectives – governance, social and territorial cohesion, labour market, gender – and are eventually deemed ‘disruptive’ in both economic and social terms. The policy implications of the restructuring are also explored. This title will be Open Access on Elgaronline.com.

The Debate Over Child Care: 1969-1990 offers a new perspective on the pervading problem of providing child care services in the United States. The author traces the contemporary debate over the sponsorship of child care services and compares this to the past debate over the sponsorship of kindergartens during the Progressive Era. Klein compares the function of child care across societal sectors, and points out that turf fighting and imbedded ideological differences have prohibited the development of a proactive social policy for providing needed child care services. She analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of five different sponsors: the public schools, the church, private enterprise, non-profit organizations, and corporations. Past and present federal legislation is discussed in relation to the divisive issue of sponsorship.

First published in 1992. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.