Examines some constraints unique to human service delivery in rural areas. Proposes a conceptual framework for strategies and examines implications of the framework for education of human services professionals. (Author/AH)

Describes how rural human service agencies of Clarendon County (South Carolina) cooperate, coordinate, and use creativity in providing services for their mutual client populations. Discusses use of interagency teams and shared resources and training, problems regarding confidentiality, and response to client needs. (NEC)

Presents a brief overview of four sociological theories concerning rural-urban differences: classical, determinist, compositional, and subcultural. Draws implications and applications for social workers and human service personnel. Suggests development of a typology which would include such components as theoretical orientation, roles of workers,…

A project to sponsor town meetings in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, to permit residents in isolated areas to express their concerns about delivery of human services and to make contact with others with similar concerns, is described. The description includes the project's rationale, purpose and goals, format, and evaluation. (KR)

The purposes of the Wyoming Human Services Project are delivery of human services, determination of how best to train and use human service personnel, and development of suggestions and guidelines for other rapidly growing communities about how to deliver human services most effectively. (Author/KR)

Small western boomtowns typically respond to increased social problems by placing greater demands on existing formal service systems rather than taking advantage of the potential of utilizing informal sources of help as part of a coordinated and comprehensive approach to meeting community needs. (Author/SB)

Outlines the development of a service delivery network--California Farm Families in Transition--for distressed farmers in Fresno County. Describes the three-tiered prevention model used, initial needs assessment, and services provided in legal, financial, mental health, social, and job development areas. Contains 15 references. (SV)

Focuses on some of the problems faced by human service workers in rural communities and suggests the use of an outreach child advocacy model (with a nine-step diagnosis procedure) for intervention. The rural advocate will be more successful and acceptable to the community using a collaborative approach. (Author/LC)

Considers natural, informal, and formal rural helping systems in an effort to clarify and elaborate concepts that are useful in understanding the context of rural practice. Describes and gives examples that influence available services: functionalist, historicist, acculturation, exchange, and ecological effects. (NEC)

After the Great Flood of 1993, crisis outreach services included casefinding, information and referral, community education, screening, counseling, mental health training, consultation, community organization, and advocacy. In two surveys, survivors rated their satisfaction with service appropriateness, clarity, timeliness, impact, and…

Explores options for human service delivery and related organizational change in rural areas. Addresses the unique context and distinctive features of rural service delivery, urban service professionalism and fragmentation, and potential advantages of traditional integrated rural systems. Discusses eight models derived from combinations of three…

Reviews characteristics of rural drug abuse and general considerations for rural service delivery. Describes the Prevention Project, a rural drug abuse program in Florida, and explains its development, philosophy, and teaching techniques, including a basic educational module for use with rural youth. Includes recommendations for similar programs.…

Reexamines definitions of "ruralness" and "resources." Describes three types of support services common to human service agencies. Discusses influence as a program development resource, advantage of rural programs, incumbent social work roles related to resource development, and what makes a program successful. Lists four program development…

Draws on evidence concerning rural population, families, schools, churches, and communities to conclude that the conceptualization of rural as "different from urban" has no contemporary empirical support and that differences among rural areas are greater than rural-urban differences. Offers suggestions for refocusing social work practice on the…

The Interdisciplinary Rural Health Training Project recruits and trains graduate-level, allied health and social service practitioners for practice in two rural Michigan counties with diverse and migrant populations. The program emphasizes cultural sensitivity, interdisciplinary community service projects, team building among health professionals,…