Weeky Inquiry Questions

Week 5 Module

#1. What do you think? Reading and doing all the assignments is sharpening my critical thinking skills. This is happening in such a way that I am better able to understand the generalize concepts of the policies and measures that are in place to provide services that are needed in the human service agencies.

#2. Why do you think that? While working on a particular reading assignment concerning Welfare Fraud, I was required to give my professional opinion as to why a fingerprint system was being used in social service agencies. I have to “think outside the box,” rationalizing that the human mind is always at work conceiving ideas that can be geared to underme any system that is in place. Truth be told, there will always be dishonest people who will seek to get more that the amount of benefits for which they qualify.

#3. How do you know this? The Automated Fingerprint Image Reporting and Match (AFIRM) system was used in several social service agencies. Two years after the Los Angeles County began using the AFIRM system, General Assistance (GA) to new applicants was denied over 400 times due to fingerprint match, and another 800 applicants refused to be fingerprinted. This system can be considered as a great deterrent measure against fraudulent applicants.

#4. Can you tell me more? Over the last several years there have been major budget cuts for human services. These cuts will slow the nation’s economic recovery and undermine efforts of individuals and families that are still trying to make ends meet due to job losses. To bridge the gaps in the provision of these needed services, advocacy groups are mobilized to rally the support of private organizations and individuals to help in their efforts.

#5. What questions do you still have? My policy paper focuses on hunger amongst the elder. What form of public education campaign can be launched to raise awareness among those elderly who can get involved in community garden projects, or individual raised garden beds that will help in supplementing their dietary needs?