Structural Complexity

Given the governmental structures and multiple funding sources and agency functions involved, budget, fiscal management, and financing work can be highly complex and vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Agencies must navigate this complexity in a manner that keeps those at the local office or county level, operating closest to those being served, directly involved in identifying the best use of resources to achieve desired outcomes. Nuances in different jurisdictions include the following:

• Is human services state or locally administered?
• Where does child welfare reside: is it an independent agency or a department under a broader human services structure?
• How many federal/state/local funding sources are available?
• Are funding streams categorical or block grant in nature (e.g., does the state provide counties block grants)?
• Who is ultimately accountable for the agency’s budget, fiscal, and financing work? State or county human services leadership? Human services leaders or Office of Management and Budget (OMB)? Public agency or private providers?

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