Challenges of Delivery of Social Services to Rural Areas of the United States
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- Date Submitted: 10/14/2010 11:54 AM
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Challenges of Delivery of Social Services to Rural Areas of the United States
One issue facing Human Services today is the delivery of social services to rural areas of the United States. Families receiving benefits and other social services are a substantial portion of the overall population of people in need of Human Services; for example, as Friedman notes, “Nearly 20 percent of welfare recipient families reside outside of central cities and metropolitan areas” (Friedman). Rural families depend on a variety of social services to assist them in moving toward an independent lifestyle. Nevertheless, rural human service delivery faces many barriers including cost, distance, and shortage of professionals. Supplying services to rural areas is difficult, especially when state revenues face the challenge of bringing affordable social services to rural residents.
Delivery of social services in rural areas is very much like those faced in urban areas. Some social service delivery challenges are more distressed in rural areas. For instance, establishing access to proper and affordable child care as well as dependable transportation are extremely challenging in isolated rural areas. Working families in rural areas have to rely on transportation not only to get to work, but also to get to the supports needed to retain their employment. Whether rural residents drive their own cars or use public transportation, they are challenged with longer commutes to their child care providers and workplaces. Since they spend more time traveling to and from work, their children spend more time in child care, resulting in added expenses. Residents dependent on public transportation face even greater challenges. “Nearly 40 percent of all rural residents live in areas with no public transportation and another 28 percent live in areas with limited levels of service” (Friedman). Few rural welfare recipients own cars, so having dependable public transportation is crucial. Solutions to this...
One issue facing Human Services today is the delivery of social services to rural areas of the United States. Families receiving benefits and other social services are a substantial portion of the overall population of people in need of Human Services; for example, as Friedman notes, “Nearly 20 percent of welfare recipient families reside outside of central cities and metropolitan areas” (Friedman). Rural families depend on a variety of social services to assist them in moving toward an independent lifestyle. Nevertheless, rural human service delivery faces many barriers including cost, distance, and shortage of professionals. Supplying services to rural areas is difficult, especially when state revenues face the challenge of bringing affordable social services to rural residents.
Delivery of social services in rural areas is very much like those faced in urban areas. Some social service delivery challenges are more distressed in rural areas. For instance, establishing access to proper and affordable child care as well as dependable transportation are extremely challenging in isolated rural areas. Working families in rural areas have to rely on transportation not only to get to work, but also to get to the supports needed to retain their employment. Whether rural residents drive their own cars or use public transportation, they are challenged with longer commutes to their child care providers and workplaces. Since they spend more time traveling to and from work, their children spend more time in child care, resulting in added expenses. Residents dependent on public transportation face even greater challenges. “Nearly 40 percent of all rural residents live in areas with no public transportation and another 28 percent live in areas with limited levels of service” (Friedman). Few rural welfare recipients own cars, so having dependable public transportation is crucial. Solutions to this...