Welfare Reflective Paper Essay Example

of Human Services is responsible for overseeing and managing human services throughout the entire state. This department operates multiple assistance programs, referred to as Social welfare programs, which provide aid to individuals across Georgia. With a workforce of over 8 thousand employees, they oversee and administer more than sixty programs in all 159 counties within the state.

Objective

The Department of Human Resources in Georgia is dedicated to fostering, protecting, and engaging children. To achieve this objective, the state offers Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a program created to assist families with dependent children. The primary aim of TANF is to help families in need by enabling them to care for their children within their own households, preferably with relatives. It also strives to end the cycle of reliance on government benefits by providing job training opportunities. Furthermore, eligible participants can receive medical aid through this program.

The TANF program in Georgia provides cash assistance to individuals based on their income, needs, resources, or family size. After two years of receiving this benefit, families must seek employment through subsidized or unsubsidized opportunities such as community service, twelve-month job preparation training, or on-the-job training. Parents with children under six who are unable to find daycare can receive TANF benefits. The primary objective of the TANF program is education and it offers support for individuals in finding employment. Funding for these programs comes from federal government grants that help provide essential resources including food, shelter, clothing, and childcare for struggling families (DFCS, 2003).

Georgia's WIC is the fifth largest Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children in the nation. Its aim is to prevent and intervene early in

cases of malnutrition in Georgia. The program is managed at both federal and state levels. The federal administration is carried out by the Food and Nutrition Service of Georgia, which provides funding to state agencies for implementation. At the state level, various departments including the Department of Community Health, Georgia Department of Public Health, Maternal and Child Health Program, Office of Nutrition and WIC work together to administer the program" (Wic.gov, n.d.).

The WIC program, which has been providing nutrition education and supplemental foods to low-income families for over three decades, served around 303,000 participants in Georgia alone in 2010. This contributed approximately $3.3 billion to the state's economy (WIC.ga).

According to gov, n. d., WIC services in Georgia are offered through 18 health districts and two contract agencies. These services can be accessed at over 220 locations, including 172 health departments, 28 community health centers, 13 hospitals, 5 military bases, and 2 Division of Family and Children Services. Out of these sites, 99 provide WIC and other services during a WIC visit, 98 provide other services by referral within the same location, and 26 provide other services by referral to another location.

Most locations have extended hours. There are 1,600 authorized vendors participating in the WIC food delivery system monthly, totaling over one million vouchers each month. In Georgia, infant formula manufacturers competitively bid for the sole-source WIC contract every three years. Non-breastfeeding infants enrolled in WIC may receive either a milk-based or soy-based iron-fortified infant formula from the contracted manufacturer. Infants with special dietary needs can receive an appropriate alternative formula as per Georgia's WIC policies and federal regulations. An infant with special dietary needs requires

a medical prescription to receive an exempt, non-contracted formula. Georgia has been successful in achieving their mission goals with the Department of Family and Children Services.

It is believed that one thing that can help reduce this number is to test all recipients who are receiving these types of benefits. This testing can improve the agency's effectiveness towards its goals.

They should be given a specific time limit in order to receive these benefits and should be monitored more closely to ensure proper use of funds. Various measures could be implemented to help people transition off of welfare, but some individuals choose to exploit the program. Across the nation, including Georgia, the government had concerns that Americans were misusing the welfare system by avoiding job searches and having more children to increase aid. In 1996, President Clinton passed a reform law that transferred welfare control to the states (Powell, S., n.d.). The agency implemented drug testing to aid impoverished children and assist addicted adults in rebuilding their lives. Additionally, it aimed to ensure that welfare benefits are used for their intended purpose rather than supporting drug use and related criminal activity (Haines, E.).

The Department of Human Services in Georgia proposed in 2012 to protect programs that aim to achieve their objectives. These programs intend to decrease criminal activity in Georgia's welfare sector and have a positive influence on the criminal justice system (Haines, E., 2012). Over time, the Department of Family and Children Services has faced changes in responsibilities due to economic and social challenges within the State. There has been a continuous increase in demands for resources and facilities, which aligns with Georgia's growth and

cultural diversity. The Georgia Department of Family and Children Services takes pride in being part of a country where communities work towards meeting their citizens' needs. They offer services to individuals irrespective of race, color, creed, political or religious beliefs (DHS).

ga. gov, 2010). Training of Employees The GDFS ensures that their employees receive proper education and training. They receive training focused on improving their skills, attitudes, and knowledge to effectively run the organization (Oackson, M. 2012). Social worker Mark Jackson emphasizes that the department prioritizes the training their employees receive. The departments have implemented programs to keep employees informed about the primary needs of their respective fields.

The department acknowledges the ongoing transformations in both the state and communities of Oackson, M., 2012). Social workers in Georgia face numerous daily obstacles that impact children and families (Oackson, M., 2012). Programs are implemented to educate social workers on communication, boundaries, and positive client influence. Mark Jackson asserts that this effort brings the department closer to fulfilling their mission. Social service organizations are grappling with delivering services due to insufficient funds.

Moreover, the inadequate utilization of funds leads to substantial wastage, which highlights concerns about the credibility and functionality of these organizations. It is essential to closely monitor fund usage and grant public access to audit reports in order to address mismanagement of funds. Furthermore, social organizations should enhance their resourcefulness in handling potential funding shortages during economic downturns. They should prioritize achieving better outcomes with minimal expenses and ensure transparency in their organizational operations for all individuals involved in these social activities (Dolgoff & Steinfield, 2013).