Introduction
Despite the intention to control everything, people should admit that they are not always able to grasp the nature of a constantly changing world. One organization introduces innovation and achieves success and recognition fast, while another company has to work hard to make a remarkable input with time. The causes of such differences usually include the lack of access to human resources, poor equipment, limited practice, or a low level of education. To improve the quality of work and enlarge a range of services, companies apply macro and micro changes to their environments.
In this paper, the IMAGINE framework will be used to implement and evaluate a change in the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC), where social workers help and protect children against abuse and neglect. This organization aims at improving the quality of child life and enhancing safety. Many people have already made some contributions to the growth of the NYSPCC, but innovative ideas are still necessary today. Regarding the needs of children and recent technological progress, the idea to offer telehealth and change the quality of social work services will be developed.
The Organization, Mission, Values, and Goals
The NYSPCC is one of the oldest social work organizations in New York. It was founded as a protection agency for children in 1875 (The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 2017). The point is that until the 19thcentury, no particular laws were signed to support children and determine their rights in regard to maltreatment and parental (or caregiver) misbehavior. One of the first well-known cases was based on the petitions about Marry Ellen, a young girl who lost her parents at an early age and had to live with Mrs. C under rather terrible conditions (The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, n.d.).
An ordinary church worker, Etta Wheeler, discovered the truth about Mary Ellen and addressed several organizations (with no positive results) before she decided to ask an animal protection foundation led by Bergh and Gerry for help. The girl was protected by the law, and the quality of her life was improved.
This story serves as a solid background for the NYSPCC as it is known today. Its current mission is to respond to the complex needs of children and care providers and offer counseling, legal, and educational services (The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 2018). The vision is the promotion of safety for abused and neglected children and the support of families by means of teaching and training. To realize this vision, the NYSPCC sets a number of clear goals and objectives that include:
- improvement of the safety of children
- prevention of abuse
- reduction of neglect incidence
- recognize the needs of children
- provision of the best practices
- mental health services (therapeutic supervision)
- legal services (counseling for court testimony)
- education (reports and workshops)
- research initiatives
- implementation of new practices
- evaluation of approaches
- literature analysis
Child protection is a complex issue, and the NYSPCC team understands what kind of help is required, what steps can be taken, and why many families suffer from abuse and maltreatment. Human relationships may be developed in a variety of ways, and this organization indicates the main threats that challenge children and solve problems at personal, local, and national levels. Despite the already developed service delivery and client systems, some areas in the NYSPCC should be analyzed, changed, and improved.
Service Delivery System
Nowadays, the NYSPCC demonstrates one of the best examples of how social work has to be organized. It focuses on the promotion of social services and the creation of the most effective delivery system that includes the enhancement of parenting skills and trauma recovery for children. The team investigates and communicates with the local population to identify the major problematic areas. Using the existing system of law, the representatives of the organization introduce a case and its main issues and develop a list of services that could be appropriate for a child or a family.
For example, there is a trauma recovery program that is led by licensed therapists and social workers in English and Spanish, free of charge (The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 2018). Individual and family therapies are offered six days and three evenings per week to support victims of abuse or encourage parents to become better caregivers. In addition to direct cooperation with clients, the service delivery system contains visitation programs, crisis debriefing services, and media penetration (to make the public aware of the NYSPCC).
Client System
In its annual reports, the NYSPCC shares several client stories to demonstrate what kind of help is offered and what client database exists. Although the goal of this organization is to protect children, a variety of potential clients continues to change. In addition to abused children, the NYSPCC works with families or its members in order to teach, train, and support. Sometimes, young mothers are not able to understand how to take care of a child, and the company focuses on the parenting skills that have to be developed in a short period of time.
The NYSPCC is located in New York, but this team cooperates with families from Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and other regions where child abuse is a critical problem (The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 2018). The report shows that 90% of clients experience improvements in their lives after the NYSPCC delivers its services (The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 2018). Therefore, the already made choices prove a high level of services in the company.
Problem
The NYSPCC works hard to solve problems as soon as they occur. However, there are situations when the company does not face a serious challenge but needs some improvements in a particular sphere. Social work involves different services and a number of people, and the implication of modern information technology for this practice turns out to be an interesting idea. The NYSPCC pays attention to the worth of home-based parenting programs but fails to identify the worth of the telehealth delivery system as a helpful resource to save cost and time. According to Traube et al. (2020), telehealth is a unique opportunity to reduce barriers and expand cooperation with clients under the most favorable conditions. The NYSPCC has not yet considered this change in its practice, and this project helps to implement it via the IMAGINE framework.
IMAGINE
To implement change successfully, organizations have to follow specific standards and models that have already been checked and approved. In the case of the NYSPCC, macro change can be implemented as per the IMAGINE system that consists of seven critical stages, characterized by specific goals and outcomes:
To start with an innovative idea
Social help offered to children is a significant element in the work of the NYSPCC. The application of telehealth promotes secure video and audio technologies locally, without the necessity to be transformed into a facility (Traube et al., 2020). Families’ engagement in social media serves as a reason for choosing this idea. Parents and children evaluate their time and ask for help when it is necessary without leaving their houses. Appropriate behaviors, guidelines, and responses are discussed distantly to predict child abuse and neglect. The development of communication skills and the promotion of social interactions are the major expectations from this change in the NYSPCC social work.
To muster support and formulate an action system
To make sure telehealth is an obligatory activity for the NYSPCC, the team has to understand whom to influence with the help of this idea. Children and families are the target group, and social workers have to communicate with them via telehealth technologies. Health experts are invited by the NYSPCC to participate in discussions with the chosen participants. Skype conferences with social workers and families or children are the action system to be offered through this intervention. The NYSPCC employees have to improve their observational and communication skills to evaluate the conditions under which children and families cooperate and pay close attention to possible disturbing factors for further analysis.
To identify assets
The benefits of undertaking this change process include a limited number of resources. Today, millions of people have already used Skype and similar social media programs for communication (Viber, WhatsApp, or Facebook) via their personal computers or smartphones. The only requirement for this change is to share contacts with the NYSPCC representatives and agree to talk and write online. Telehealth technology may include the necessity to sign an agreement (accept the terms of social service) about confidentiality. IT workers, social workers, and healthcare providers are the recommended staff involved in change.
To specify goals, objectives, and action steps
The main goal of this change process is to strengthen cooperation between the NYSPCC employees and potential clients (families and children). Its objectives include the improvement of knowledge about successful parenting and child safety, the development of communication skills, and the discussion of burning problems. The actions that are necessary during the implementation of this intervention are the exchange of personal information, outside research, and visual observations. Sometimes, people may want to improve their knowledge about how to use Skype or other online social media services. Therefore, brief but informative guides with instructions are recommended for users.
To implement the plan
The implementation of change in the NYSPCC is a complex process. Firstly, it is necessary to inform the staff about the importance of intervention. Secondly, potential targets should have a clear source of information about telehealth and its impact on their lives. Finally, several trials are initiated to observe how families use these social services if they are ready to communicate online, and what questions may be discussed via Skype. All the participants should be informed that this technology is implemented to improve their lives and to offer support and professional help any time they need.
To neutralize opposition
Some people could find this intervention unnecessary or ineffective to meet the main purpose of the company that is to respond to child needs. Distant communication does not show true problems that a neglected child or poorly acknowledged mother faces. However, one must admit that telehealth technology has already provoked a number of positive outcomes, including better adaptive behaviors among children, high levels of self-control, and increased parenting skills (Traube et al., 2020). Similar achievements could be observed in the NYSPCC if plans and instructions were followed.
To evaluate progress
The analysis of the results obtained after the implementation of change is an integral step in the project. Telehealth progress can or cannot be achieved within the established timeframes, and it is the task of the NYSPCC team to gather enough information. A feedback system, online surveys, and face-to-face communications are methods to collect data from primary participants and learn what they think. Within the period of one year, the statistical data before and after the intervention (about the number of child abuse and neglect cases and parental maltreatment) should be compared. To prove progress, it is expected to have decreased post-intervention numbers compared to pre-intervention numbers.
Conclusion
In general, the implementation of macro change within the NYSPCC is a necessary process that has to meet certain standards and rules. It is not enough to say that a problem occurs, and a solution is required. Sometimes, an organization does not see particular challenges in its social work and continues following the same procedures. The idea of change in this project is not to solve a problem but to make a contribution to the way of how the NYSPCC employees cooperate with their clients. Families and abused children are not always able to visit the facility and talk about their needs. The telehealth platform is beneficial in terms of cooperating with social workers, healthcare experts, and ordinary people.
References
The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. (n.d.). History. NYSPCC. Web.
The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. (2017). About us. NYSPCC. Web.
The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. (2018). 2018 annual report. NYSPCC. Web.
Traube, D. E., Hsiao, H. Y., Rau, A., Hunt-O’Brien, D., Lu, L., & Islam, N. (2020). Advancing home based parenting programs through the use of telehealth technology. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 29(1), 44-53. Web.