The purpose of this study is to analyze the features of networks among service organizations within a community in which the children in poverty are living and to examine significant factors which influence the content of the networking. The region of...
The purpose of this study is to analyze the features of networks among service organizations within a community in which the children in poverty are living and to examine significant factors which influence the content of the networking. The region of Mora of Pusan Metropolitan City was selected as a subject area of study for its high density of poor children and high intensity of social services for the children. Service organizations as a research subject were sampled in a reputation approach and surveyed, and some of personnels in a primary organizations known as results of the survey were in-depth interviewed.
The results of the analysis are as follow;
1. Findings from a network analysis indicate that the content of the networks in Mora region is 'information exchange', representing a low level of linkage.
2. Findings show that interorganizational network in Mora region in a whole has a weak level of networking. Also, there are two major institutions known as the center of the networking. One is Community Resident Center located in Mora 3-district, a high service-density area and another is the Office of Education, implementing a role of control tower for The Project of Assistance for Educational Welfare Priority Region.
3. From the in-depth interviews with service practitioners, It is reported that individual experiences of network effectiveness and autonomy for task implementation provided by organizations are highly significant factors for networking.
And service implications of this study are as follow;
1. First, It is important to improve on accessibility with which service practitioners and children in poverty as a service beneficiary by gathering various organization in interorganizational network in the community like community welfare center, an educational institution, an administrative agency, an assistant agency, and a medical institution.
2. Second, it is necessary to determine the center organization, arranging a periodical meeting or joint activity. The center organization is possible two ways. One is a public like a administrative agency as top-down, and another is a private like community welfare center as a bottom-up. These can be selected under the conditions of community, social services, or service beneficiary.
3. Third, isolate organization has to belong to an interorganizational network by participating in periodical meetings like a joint case conference.
4. Finally, this study suggests that resouces pool be enlarged to utilize the networks for the children by strengthening the capacity of service practitioners and making some of organizations currently alienated from the network more activating.