Case Study of the Expansion of Human Services in Allegheny County 1968-1995

Policymaking Decisions and Processes of Allegheny County:

According to "The Expansion of Human Services in Allegheny County, 1968-95," policy making decisions and processes experienced significant transformations following changes in the quality and quantity of amenities that occurred in the human service sector. These changes occurred in Allegheny County when Thomas Foerster served as a commissioner for nearly three decades. Since the county does not have Home Rule, it does not have an intrinsic right to self-govern beyond the parameters of the state constitution and the General Assembly grant. Generally, commissioners in Allegheny County were primarily mandated with the responsibility of managing county property, finances, and care maintenance.

Policymaking decisions and processes in Allegheny County during this period were mainly based on the state constitution and the General Assembly grant. This was primarily because the county did not have Home Rule that could grant it the right to self-govern beyond these regulations. Notably, policymaking decisions and processes were geared towards creating opportunities for citizens and ensuring that the needs of vulnerable populations are met.

Commissioner Thomas Foerster was one of the major public servants who played a crucial role in the development of Allegheny County, especially through his ability to expand human services of the county. Through his service and ability that enabled him to deal with issues and concerns facing the county's citizens, the commissioner became a well-liked person and a well-respected politician. Actually, Foerster served longer than any other county commissioner and built more facilities to an extent that he left an indelible mark on Allegheny County ("Editorial: Commissioner Foerster," 2000).

Commissioner Foerster obtained this status through his innovations and meaning significance he gave to several objectives like impartiality, liberty, parity, and competence. The main philosophy in Foerster's service to the people was the philosophy of helping people. For instance, through his coaching of grade school football as a leisure activity, the commissioner would identify the great potential of young athletes and provide them with the opportunity to develop their potential. Moreover, Commissioner Foerster concentrated on role model leadership though which he positioned people first by seeking to lower unemployment, providing jobs for everybody, and education.

As part of achieving his objectives, Thomas Foerster used several models in his leadership i.e. rational model, political model, and policy model. These three models were the foundation with which Foerster was able to expand human services in Allegheny County. Under the rational model, the commissioner mainly focused on creating opportunities for all individuals to access basic necessities regardless of the physical and social statuses. While the model is criticized for being dogmatic, Foerster used it to ensure that the necessities of vulnerable populations are achieved. He combined this model with the policy model where he presented practical policy initiatives that promoted and toughened legislations for children, disabled people, the aged, families, and troupers. Through Leonard Staisey, the commissioner learnt a lot regarding human services and people with disability. His policy model and initiatives focused on redefining the role of county government in terms of human services. He believed that the government should promote a progression of equality, subsidized job training, and education. This acted as the basis of his political model where he acted as the mouthpiece for the need to provide services for people who couldn't do so themselves (Morgan, 2013).