The Business of Human Services

Does your human services organization need help navigating the business world? Does your staff development program lack the focus on business skills you need to drive your organization forward? Are you having trouble finding a business book specifically written for human services professionals? If you answered these questions "yes," this book is for you. Since the 1970s, private human services organizations have been assuming the critical responsibility to care for people with disabilities, a duty formerly carried out by the government. Yet the philosophy of supporting individuals to live independently in the community is now colliding with the reality of limited funding. Regulators are demanding that agencies achieve quality outcomes at lower cost. Human services organizations can no longer ignore the need for their key managers to make program decisions using sound business concepts. The human services field attracts many people who "enjoy working with people, not numbers." But good mission is not possible without good business. Without a strong business foundation, your company will be unable to deliver the services that will fulfill its mission. If you are—or aspire to be—in a position of authority in our special industry, this book will be a vital tool. We hope it will enable you to understand: • The world we live in • Public policy • Agency mission • Organizational structure • Corporate culture and leadership • Birth, life, and death of a program • Accounting and finance concepts • Revenue strategies • Support functions • Business valuations • PLUS twenty critical takeaways for industry professionals!