The ultimate objective of this project is to develop strategies to improve the cooperation between social service agencies in meeting the needs of children and families within the agencies' particular communities. The specific focus will be on the individual case workers and other agency representatives who deliver direct services to children and families. By taking this focus, a second object is to innovate on past approaches to the problem of interagency coordination. More specifically, I introduce the concept of the ad hoc client service team and draw upon knowledge from small group dynamics. A third objective therefore is to use this concept to illuminate current practice in interagency coordination. New knowledge generated from this innovation is expected to facilitate achievement of the project's ultimate objective, mentioned above.

The problems of coordination between social service agencies are manifest in abused, missing, and undereducated children. The coordination across agencies in order to avoid such problems is an ongoing problem. The general approach taken to this problem has been at a macro institutional level through implementing formal programs of coordination or coordinator roles.
My research in contrast, applies theory from the small group dynamics literature to the networks among the front-line case workers representing each of the respective agencies involved with particular clients. A client's relationship to any agency is mediated through the individual worker handling the client's case, and the extent to which social service professionals from different agencies perceive themselves as a team with respect to a common client, or should perceive themselves as such, are questions that have not been asked.

This research is expected to make a theoretical contribution to the understanding about multilevel processes invoked as individuals negotiate the conflicts of identity, membership, and culture that arise when their work with clients takes them across the boundaries of their base organizations. Contributions to practice will be through programs designed to develop appropriate inter-group skills among direct service providers, and through prescriptions of organizational policies and practices to facilitate the use of these skills by their respective direct service providers. Finally, the project is expected to help agencies improve resource usage through synergies resulting from cooperation.
This specific research is at the beginning stages. A sample of interview data was collected in 2003-2004 from social work agencies in a rural county in Ohio, sponsored by the United Way. Preliminary data analysis has been feedback to the sponsoring agency, and this agency has begun actions based on the initial report mechanisms. More specifically, the United Way has begun a data-collection effort of the social service agency clients, and has followed up on recommendations related to unmet needs of the growing Hispanic population in that county.
Further, a paper presenting some of the preliminary findings has been presented at academic conferences. Currently, a comparable sample in Tompkins County is being identified, and grant applications to support research assistants have been submitted.

Since this work is at the beginning stages, it is difficult to detect any impact to date. As suggested above, however, the results of the preliminary set of interviews have prompted the sponsoring agency in the rural Ohio county to examine more closely some gaps in social service coverage in that community.

• Anita Howard (Case Western Reserve University)
• Dave Enzerra (Lubrizol Corporation)