A Study of Youth Services Networks from a Political-Economy Perspective

Abstract

Using the political-economy perspective, an analysis of three youth services networks was conducted. The internal political economies of the nehvorks were investigated. The dimensions of domain, ideology, coordinalion and evaluation were examined. The findings suggested the networks were vehicles for sharing new ideas and technologies. Advocacy activities were important in improving interagency cooperation and in obtaining community support for youth services. The resource exchanges among the member organizations in the networks were self-help efforts that enabled the organizations to survive and grow.

Conceptual Framework of Coalitions in an Organizational Context

“…These coalitions provide a convening mechanism through which a group of organizations can interact and work together around a common purpose (Roberts-DeGennaro, 1986a, 1986b, 1988. Under the ''Contract With America,'' funds for human services are expected to be increasingly cut back due to changes in public policies.…”

“…This perspective represents a broad approach or strategy direction. It suggests that the human services system in which coalitions operate reflects the political processes among those groups that have control over scarce resources, namely, money and authority, and around access to these resources, as well as their allocation (Benson, 1975;Roberts, 1983;Roberts-DeGennaro, 1988).…”