Human Service Organizations: A Summary And Analysis

Human service organizations facilitate and empower those in society who require assistance in meeting their basic human needs both emotionally, mentally, physically, and socially, or do they? Many individuals who are in need for these treatments continue to face unfortunate circumstances due to a number of failed services. Hasenfeld states how clients are treated is an organizational affirmation of morality (2010). It is emphasized that the relationship between workers and clients is crucial for proficient assessment of needs. However, for Mary Ann Moore and many other individuals relying on welfare for a plate of food, morality falls short next to monetary welfare concerns (Deparle, 1994).
Hasenfeld describes the metaphor of people as “raw

material” where those being guided by a human service organization are merely viewed as under the jurisdiction to alter their personal attributes (2010). Consequently, poor single mothers, like Mary Ann More, who obtain welfare and receive cash assistance, are expected by welfare workers to enter a transformation phase from welfare to wage earners (Hasenfeld, 2010). Although this transformation may come forth as triumphal, it continues to be a useless lifestyle for these women causing them more harm than good. Research shows that just as these women are unable to live on welfare, they could not live on their wages either, especially after taking care of necessary expenses such as child care, transportation, and clothing (Deparle, 1994). Arguments come to show that welfare was not created as a single system like Medicare or Social Security but instead as an independent program addressing a specific need; ending in a bureaucratic system that is difficult to utilize. Under the circumstances we have individuals attempting to transition to wage workers and unable to hold job positions due to less than minimum wages and lack of respect in the workplace; As mentioned by Mary Ann “It’s a big self-esteem thing for me to be working, the struggle is still the same” (Deparle, 1994). It is thought that replacing welfare with work would bring forth a sense of dignity to the poor but unless government gives a helping hand to support jobs the “transition” continues to be far from each (Deparle, 1994).