Welcome to Community and Policy Studies new blogger site. 

The site is an opportunity to discuss the new issues related to the release of the book, Public administration and disability: Community services administration in the US (Racino, forthcoming 2013).

     The first PA Times article, From facilities to homes: On the rise of individualized funding and consumer-controlled budgets was released on September 6, 2013. http://patimes.org/facilities-homes-rise-individualized-funding-consumer   Questions to consider as a service provider, family member or administrator include:

1. Do you have consumer-controlled budgets in your area? If so, is the funded amount adequate? Who actually controls the budget?What does the budget pay for?

2. As an administrator, have you already reviewed your service systems that you are responsible for,and developed a plan for coordination? For example, what about traumatic brain injury survivors with alcohol problems? What about teenagers living in the parent household?

3. Have you heard about the reasons why control of services and budgets is important? Terms like locus of control, self efficacy, self-esteem are the older concepts that support "consumer control" and direction for better quality health care?

4. Do you believe your service systems have the capacity to help you and your family decide who controls the budgets or subsidies, or do you obtain subsidy amounts directly? As a young adult, do you have the option to "transition" to a new living situation from your childhood household?

5. What about the new generation, will consumer-controlled budgets support your new lifestyle?

For more information, contact julieannracino@gmail.com, including interest in seminars, online courses or information packages.