1. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2002 An Introduction to Human Services: Policy and Practice Self Determination §This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; Any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

2. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2002 Self-Determination and the Client §“Self-determination” is a strongly held value of the helping professions. §It means that human service workers should respect the rights of people to choose their own life paths and not force people to do something that is against their will. §However, in practice this value is often violated when human service workers are in agencies that coerce clients in some way.

3. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2002 Responsibility §Child welfare agencies take children away from their parents. §Probation agencies force compliance with court orders. §Some treatment programs require abstinence from drugs and alcohol. §Mothers who apply for welfare assistance are required to find a job.

4. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2002 Requirements §Welfare reform set a 5 year time limit for receiving public assistance and requires parents to look for a job in order to receive assistance. §Some people believe that this is a violation of self- determination. §Other people believe that the government has a right to require work in exchange for assistance.

5. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2002 Arguments §Proponents of the work requirement argue that any job is better than staying home to care for one’s children because it makes people self-sufficient and provides a good role model for the children. §Opponents of the forced work requirement argue that caring for one’s own children is valuable work and should be supported by society.

6. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2002 Arguments §Opponents of a forced work requirement believe that parents should be helped to work if they want to by providing supports such as child care, health benefits, transportation, and adequate pay. §They also believe that parents are the best judges of whether they are needed at home to care for their children, and that many children are cared for best by their parents.

7. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2002 Penalties §Welfare reform requires mothers to identify the fathers of the children so that the state can collect child support from the fathers. §Penalties for refusing to give identifying information can include losing public assistance for the entire family. §Some people believe that this is a violation of self- determination.

8. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2002 Child Support §Some people argue that men who father children should not be allowed to refuse to support the children. §They believe that mothers have a responsibility to hold the men accountable and help the state get support money from them. §They also believe that the state has a responsibility to enforce child support orders in order to recoup some of the money that the state pays for the family’s support.

9. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2002 Child Support Laws §Some people say that women who want help in getting child support from fathers should get this help, but that women who want no contact with the man should not be required to divulge information about him. §Many women have been abused by the fathers of their children and do not want to risk further abuse to themselves or their children.

10. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2002 Child Support Laws §Some people say that the decision about whether to prosecute for child support should be left up to the mother. §Those people believe, however, that the state should aggressively pursue child support when the mother wishes it.