Paper Example on Social Welfare

There are three major historical events that have had a major impact on the services delivered by Special Health Resources for Texas are as follows; First and foremost is the settling of corn farmers near the Presidio in the area where Rio Conchos and Rio Grande join around 1500 BCE. This is believed to be the oldest farmland in Texas that is continuously cultivated. Since 800-1500 BCE, hunters and farmers had to build and occupy dwellings made of stones that were located southeast of Perryton on Panhandles northern edge(Alvarez, 2014).Currently, the area is referred to as the Buried City and has great significance on the type of services provided by Special Health Resources for Texas. This is because by 1400 CE, Texas was made up of many small tribes through which the Caddo Confederacy established a civilization in east Texas that is agriculture-based. Presently, The Caddo nation as a tribe is federally recognized and has its capital in Binger, Oklahoma, and a city where Special Health Resources for Texas has extended its social work and thrived (Kaplan et al, 2003).

Structure of Services and Institutions

Another event is the entry of the Spanish missionaries who were the first European Settlers in Texas and founders of San Antonio in 1718. Isolation from other Spanish colonies as well as natives who were hostile kept Texas sparsely populated. This very population is currently served by the agency under scrutiny, without which most of the social works would not be possible. The third historical event is the Revolutionary was as well as the War of Mexican Independence which occurred when the Mexican government that was newly established started to allow settlers coming from USA to claim pieces of land there (Lane, 2014).There were negotiation held by Texas with the U.S of joining the union in 1845 which further made it possible and paved way for other agencies to be formed later on such as Special Health Resources for Texas. Within this agency, the historical function of social workers has been to act as a community response to the AIDS pandemic back in the late 80s. Initially, it provided social support to individuals who were HIV positive as well as their families. However, immediately the agency had to assume a leading role in the provision of medical care, case management, emergency assistance as well as other services that are supportive to individuals who are HIV positive across 23 counties lying to the northeast of Texas. The original name which was AIDS Inc., therefore changed to Special Health Resources for Texas, Inc. with an aim of reflecting its services and mission that were now broadened (Lane, 2014).

Over the last two decades, SHRT has largely expanded into a health care system that is comprehensive in East Texas, and has been able to provide whole familys affordable care. It has clinics in Tyler, Longview, Texarkana, Paris and a mobile unit that serves more rural areas. SHRT is now capable of providing all families health care in all East Texas counties which are 23. It currently offers patients a wide and full range of services, up to and including both pediatric and adult primary care. SHRT has active grants which are namely; Community-Based Early Intervention and SPNS Models of Care (Kaplan et al, 2003).

Policy Analysis

This information only contains activities as well as budget information that are reported to the council by other programs of the state as well as agencies apart from SHRT. There is need of compilation of state, federal and local funds expenditure on prevention of HIV as well as care services that are reported to the Council. Special Health Resources for Texas currently avails healthcare that is affordable and comprehensive for the whole family at the four Texas locations. The agencys main services include pediatric and adult primary care, pediatric dental and adult care, health services for women, vaccinations and immunization, screening of HIV/AIDS and STD as well as treatment. It also provides mental health services as well as treatment of substance abuse. The function of organizations such as NASW/TEXAS or NASW in the influencing of social welfare policy is through seeking of submissions for presentations/workshops that is relevant to emerging as well as critical social work topics namely practice, education and research. It also helps in introducing resource information on HIV/AIDS and hepatitis (Alvarez, 2014).In pursuit of the House Bill 1370 of the 80th Texas Legislative Session, the interagency Council on HIV as well as Hepatitis has to compile an inventory of all state, federal as well as local money spent in Texas on infections to do with HIV/AIDS as well as hepatitis prevention and services to do with health care. Such entails services that are provided through as well as covered under Medicare and Medicaid. Coming up with an account of resources that is comprehensive gives a presentation of many issue in the achievement of a complete as well as accurate account of funds that are directed towards efforts to deal with hepatitis and HIV/AIDS. Despite the fact that the council tries all mean possible to give report on the most recent information, the tables for budget are just a snapshot of resources that are reported(Lane,2014).

Effects of Policy

The funding grants for SHRT are namely Ryan White, HRSA, SAMSHA, Bell County Public Health District, Texas Department of State Health Services and Galveston County Health District. SHRTs policy analysis framework through value-critical approach is as follows; any acts or measures put in place by the agency need to be of a greater value to the community and, more so, to victims of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Social workers have also been held accountable of influencing social policy through getting involved on the community level. In the case of SHRT, the strategic measures used in dealing with HIV/AIDS victims by the social workers highly determine the extent to which the community at grassroots respond towards achievement of the agencys objectives. As per the Generalist Practice for Social work value and ethics, it is the duty of every social worker tied to the agency to practice the highest level of value and work ethics to ensure achievement of the set objectives. SHRT also works in accordance with the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009.This facilitates acquiring of grants for the organization with the aim of dealing with the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which have evolved into a chronic disease that can be generally managed with treatment that is appropriate as well as health care of high quality. SHRT executes its action in the following levels, Federal; Ensures that grants obtained are used eligibly for the transitional grant areas as well as metropolitan Areas State; The state and territories also benefit from the same and; local; grants obtained are directly used to help the target community directly through other organizations. (Lane, 2014).

References

Alvarez, E. C. (2014). Texas Almanac 2014-2015. College Station: Texas State Historical Assn Press.

Kaplan, E. et al., (2003). Social welfare, help or hindrance? Detroit: Gale Group.

Lane, M. (2014). Social welfare: Fighting poverty and homelessness. Detroit: Gale Cengage Learning.