Farm Crisis and Human Service Coordinating Councils

This study examines the key priorities and activities of 44 local voluntary, self-governing groups termed "Human Service Coordinating Councils" (HSCC). The councils were established during the1980s farm crisis to address the critical need for a variety of human services-particularly retraining, personal and vocational counseling, financial, and other resource help. Key functions assigned to councils are outlined in an interagency agreement signed by University of Missouri Extension and state human service administrators. These key functions include information exchange, needs analysis, information and referral services, joint program development, as well as services and resource procurement coordination.

The study tried to answer two questions: (1) In what areas is the Coordinating Council successful and productive? (2) What do council members define as program priorities? A questionnaire was mailed to each of the 44 councils located in rural northern Missouri. Sixty-nine usable returns (71%) were obtained.

Council member program priorities were ranked as follows:

0. More client/provider awareness of available services (65.2%).
1. Improved access to service for the client (60.9%).
2. Elimination of service gaps (50.7%).
3. More efficient use of resources (46.3%).
4. Most appropriate referral for service needs (37.7%).
5. Most appropriate assessment of needs (28.9%).

The study indicates that awareness of access and availability of services are of primary concern to council members. Intervening in treatment issues, data collection, and evaluation are of minor importance.

Respondent's ranked achievements this way:

0. Public education and awareness of available services (23.2%).
1. Referral and placement information (14.5%).
2. Emergency services (13.0%).
3. Treatment services (11.6%).
4. Transportation services (11.6%).

Information dissemination through database sharing and informal consultation among HSCC members were highly successful activities. Direct service coordination efforts, such as those to improve treatment interventions and clinical outcome evaluation, were less successful. This finding correlates well with the councils' list of program priorities.

Transportation ranked as the most difficult service delivery barrier for most HSCCs (29%). State policy and procedures, eligibility criteria for services, and service district restrictions categories were tied in level of difficulty to effect at the local level (20.3%). Achieving public awareness of program was the most difficult barrier to overcome in community services (17.4%), although most councils felt they were succeeding in overcoming this barrier.

The HSCC study indicates that council members generally agree on key program priorities and recognize successes and corresponding barriers to effective program coordination. The HSCC Memorandum of Agreement, which spells out joint goals and policy, is a useful interagency agreement where competition rather than coordination has been the rule.1

Results of this study have been shared with local and state government leadership to facilitate improved coordination efforts between human service agencies located throughout rural northern Missouri.

1. Paul Sundet, Human Service Network Coalitions Memorandum of Agreement (Columbia: University of Missouri in cooperation with University Extension, May 1, 1989).