Objective 2: Develop the concept that while public agencies are bound by means testing and regulations, private agencies may be less rigid and may have overarching spiritual or philosophical components.

The goal of this activity is to gain a more complete understanding of both public and private agencies serving one particular needy population.

• Explore the Internet and/or other resources to gather information about government services for one needy population. Some examples could be: veterans, victims of abuse, drug and alcohol abusers, the hungry, the homeless, the unemployed, women in crisis pregnancies and the disabled.
• Using the Internet or other resources research private agencies that serve the same or a similar population.
• Contact a private agency in your area to learn more about their goals, strategies and mission. Ask to speak to a manager, supervisor or other administrator. Below are some example questions to consider.
  • Who are the clients?
  • What services are provided?
  • How is the agency funded?
  • What training and experience is required for volunteers or employees?
  • What is the religious orientation? How is the religious message disseminated?
  • Does the employee have one or more particularly memorable anecdote or story?
• Write a 2 page paper comparing and contrasting the services of a government agency versus a private organization could offer a client or particular client population.
• To achieve maximum points for content and analysis, the following elements need to be thoroughly addressed:
  • What is the scale of the organization? How many people are served?
  • What are the criteria to receive help?
  • Who provides the human resources? What are the qualifications for workers or volunteers?
  • Is there a religious component to the private agency? What beliefs to they promote?
  • How is the private agency funded?