Are we really cracking down on the misuse of public assistance or creating another problem?

While on Twitter yesterday I came across a tweet that stated, "Beginning July 1st, the state of Florida will require drug testing before issuing public assistance."  Interesting.  I got my career start in Social Services beginning as a Case Manager, so I am fully aware of the disparities that plague the programs of self-sufficiency. 

The real problem that I have is this....are we creating a different problem, perhaps a more severe problem?  The individuals who unfortunately have to use public assistance are from lower income families.  This is the demographic that is probably affected the most by the economic downturn that our country is facing. These are the individuals that have the odds stacked against them, limited education, poor housing, high crime, etc.  Although I understand the crack down with the drug tests, are we looking to create a higher problem of crime.  Without the "check" due to a positive drug test, can we see higher crime rates.  Florida is known to be senior living retreat.  Will this new policy invoke fear?  Honestly, these are things that I tend to think about.

Perhaps we need to go back to the drawing board with regards t the crack down.  We need a bigger view of the big picture.

The Business of Systems

Recently, I came across an article that highlighted a program in the Dallas area called the Prostitution Diversion Initiative.  Due to my heightened emotions regarding women’s issues, I was intrigued to read about the services that this program had to offer.  As I continued to read, I noticed that I had begun to take a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde stance on the issue.  

Sgt. Louis Felini, who had noticed that the same women were continually stuck in the cycle of being arrested, sent to jail, and then allowed back on the street; developed this program which allows prostitutes to choose between jail or forty-five days in a residential drug treatment facility, followed by transitional housing and job training. The Dallas police have taken the approach that these women are victims with many of them who have severe substance-abuse problem.  Many of them are diagnosed with mental illnesses and the majority all have had a history of sexual and physical abuse dating back to their childhood.

You may think that sounds like an effective program that is helping women get back on their feet.  Why the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde complex?  Let me explain.  As an experienced individual within the social services arena, I have seen all too well good programs with good intentions turn sour.  We as human beings love to assist others who are hurting, those that we have a point of identification to within ourselves.  It is human nature to reach a hand to another person in a time of need.  The problem that I have is the business of systems.  A program such as the Prostitute Diversion Initiative which is founded upon the call of action to be a resource and a place of refuge to these women, stand at the open mouth of government regulations, benchmarks, and money.

My concern is that the giving heart of programs that truly have a desire and commitment to serve as well as establish a resolution for issues plaguing the community; will not be convoluted by the money hungry intentions of the government.  So often, the mission of an organization is rewritten by the demands of contract deadlines, paperwork and governmental guidelines.  Individuals who once were purposeful employees now become the product of burnout and constant programmatic changes.

The cycle of government influence on such programs leads to an increasing problem that is often overlooked, the cycle of dependency between the program and those that they service.  Instead of being a launching board into a life of self-sufficiency and productivity, the program then becomes another revolving door system of entry and release. 

All of us have taken notice, especially with the current state of the economy, how there are little resources in times of crisis.  How often have we heard of a local non-profit closing down due to the lack of funders or the loss of a contract?  Not all organizations close because they have implemented bad programming, they may not have focused on gaining the political backing sometimes needed in order to be escorted to the front of the contract line.

Ask yourself, are we contributing to these senseless systems of pacifying our community’s issues?  Do we really take notice to the systems that plague camouflage concern with yearly awards, but do little to sustain the Mom and Pop organization that relentlessly work long days and nights to feed, clothe, and restore hurting individuals?

Let not a need of a person become a business of competition or money, but lets get to the business of solution, resolution, and restoration.