Divorce and the Politics of the American Social Welfare Regime, 1969-2001 asks how rising divorce rates shaped the laws governing the American social welfare regime between 1969, when California passed the nation’s first no-fault divorce law, and 2001. Scholars have shown that in the early 20th century the American social welfare regime developed to distribute economic resources, such as Social Security, to women through their husbands. Between 1967 and 1979, however, the United States’ divorce rate doubled. This dissertation investigates how this sudden challenge to the breadwinner-homemaker family structure affected the gendered welfare regime. Divorce and the Politics of the American Social Welfare Regime examines how women organized to gain access to lost economic resources after divorce and how policymakers responded to their demands. It reveals important and forgotten components of the histories of welfare state development, the feminist movement of the 1970s, and marriage law. It argues that, ironically, rising divorce rates led to a series of federal laws that actually strengthened the social welfare system’s use of marriage to determine eligiblity for benefits. These new laws specifically rewarded intact marriages by providing more robust benefits to women in longer marriages. In a political world increasingly concerned with the impermenance of marriage, Congress created a legal system that signaled that marriage was about length of commitment above all else.

M.A. (Social Work) / In South Africa no scientific research has been carried out on the functions of national councils for disabled persons from a management orientated point of view. This dissertation deals with the functions of the five national councils for disabled persons, namely the councils for the blind, the deaf, the mentally handicapped, the physically handicapped and persons suffering from epilepsy. More specifically, the objectives of the research which preceded the writing of the dissertation were the following: to explore the functions of the five national councils for disabled persons. to construe the functions of the five national councils for disabled persons as management functions. to use Zetterberg's conceptual framework for scientific theorizing in an analysis of the functions. to determine how the status, objectives and functions of the aforementioned national councils may be made more purposeful. A literature study was undertaken to determine to what extent organisational and management theories are relevant to the national councils.

Dt. Hochsch. für Verwaltungswiss, Diss, 2006--Speyer.

No abstract available / Social Work / M.Diac. (Social Work)

The research study focuses on transformation management in a welfare organisation and is aimed at developing a framework for a prospective model for management of a transformation process in a welfare organisation. The research was directed by two components, the nature, and the management of transformation, and was initiated with a literature study on these two concepts. The research study is limited to the Gauteng area, and only child and family welfare organisations which were already active participants of a transformation process were targeted. Data collection process was initiated by means of a structured interview schedule, completed by managers/senior social workers/ Board chairpersons (the target group). Results of the study indicate that a majority of the twenty targeted organisations had undergone an unstructured transformation process. A structured, well formulated, and planned transformation management process was required as a guideline, with a view to developing a prospective model for the management of a transformation process in a welfare organisation. Results and conclusions drawn from this study can be generalised in the broader spectrum of welfare organisations for the management of a transformation process. Further research is needed to develop the required model. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Social Work)

The research aimed to pro-activeiy embark in an internal transformation process, in order to improve efficiency of the Social Work Department of Gauteng Medical Command of the South African Military Health Service. Participatory action research as a qualitative research design was- used. The intervention identification process was implemented as a problem-solving technique to direct the process of transformation-change. The research was conducted by a research group often social workers from the South African National Defence Force. The results of the research were the implementation of interventions on identified systems, namely the service delivery system and the performance management system of the Social Work Department of Gauteng Medical Command. The use of particpatorv action research as a process to address problems in an organisation was confirmed. The contribution of the participatory action process to process outcomes, such as empowerment and learning, was also indicated in the findings. / Social Work / MA(SS) (Mental Health)

Text in Afrikaans / The purpose of the study is to examine the extent and demands volunteers have in a managerial function. Volunteers are responsible for the management of the branches of the ACVV, functioning in a specific environment. The variables of these environments have a definite influence on the functioning of a branch and place specific demands on the members. The group of respondents consisted of chairpersons of branches of the ACVV in the West Coast region. The findings of the empirical studies are that all levels of the environment bring pressure to bear upon volunteers. The demands placed upon them have a bearing on the managerial tasks and have a negative effect on the willingness of volunteers to serve as board members. It is imperative that training and development of volunteers, in welfare organizations, must be ongoing in order to empower and give them confidence for these managerial tasks. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Social Work)

This dissertation analyses public health service delivery at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam National Hospital (S.S.R.N.H.) in Mauritius. Particular emphasis is laid on the historical development of public health service delivery at S.S.R.N.H. Public health service delivery has been approached from the view points of its nature and scope. The core components of the research survey have been on some major obstacles and flaws in effective public health service delivery at S.S.R.N.H. The measuring instrument used for the research survey was a self­ administered questionnaire. The main findings were discussed especially absenteeism, personnel turnover, stress, burnout, morale, sexual harassment, lethargy and disobedience, nepotism, shirking responsibility, alcohol and drug abuse, active political interference, bribery and corruption, dishonesty and retaliation and neglect of duty. Attention was also devoted on the current national health policy for improving public health service delivery at S.S.R.N.H., inter-alia, the National Policy for Public Heath Act 17 of 2000 and the White Paper on Health Sector Development and Reform of December 2003. The public health environment is constantly altering. Therefore, it is essential to adjust to the changing health environment. This dissertation has addressed the future challenges in the micro health environment and macro health environment of S.S.R.N.H. Ultimately, a holistic instead of a parochial approach to addressing shortcomings identified in public health service delivery at S.S.R.N.H. has been advocated in this dissertation. / Public Administration / M.Admin. (Public Admin)

The growth and expansion of the Haven Night Shelter Welfare Organisation has been accompanied by a pattern of emotional and negative dismissals and resignations of senior managerial personnel. The research project explores how the management capacity of the managers could be enhanced through training, development and maintenance functions of human resource management. The literature study focused on reviewing outcomes-based education, training and development methodology. The empirical study involved examining the biographical information of the research participants. It also sought to explore the organisational culture by identifying managerial competencies of skills, interpersonal relationships, management style, attitudes and beliefs. Investigating the knowledge base of participants, included exploring human resource management practices, training and development legislation and labour relations. The conclusions and recommendations are based on the findings of the survey as completed by the participants. The guidelines for a training programme include outcomes-based learning principles to raise morale, skill and knowledge. / Social work / M. Diac. (Social Work)

The research study focuses on transformation management in a welfare organisation and is aimed at developing a framework for a prospective model for management of a transformation process in a welfare organisation. The research was directed by two components, the nature, and the management of transformation, and was initiated with a literature study on these two concepts. The research study is limited to the Gauteng area, and only child and family welfare organisations which were already active participants of a transformation process were targeted. Data collection process was initiated by means of a structured interview schedule, completed by managers/senior social workers/ Board chairpersons (the target group) . Results of the study indicate that a majority of the twenty targeted organisations had undergone an unstructured transformation process. A structured, well formulated, and planned transformation management process was required as a guideline, with a view to developing a prospective model for the management of a transformation process in a welfare organisation. Results and conclusions drawn from this study can be generalised in the broader spectrum of welfare organisations for the management of a transformation process. Further research is needed to develop the required model. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Social Work)