title: The privatization of human services: myths, social capital and civil society.
abstract: It is fashionable to point to privatization and the involvement of for-profits as the parties responsible for many, if not most, of the ills that plague the social welfare system today. This article takes a contrary point of view. Three arguments are made. First, private sector human service delivery and the use of for-profits in the United States predate privatization as a defined public policy. Second, the privatization of the human services is a world wide phenomenon that transcends politics and ideology. Third, the privatization of human services helps to promote civil society and generate social capital.
authors.affiliation: Center for Community Partnerships, University of Central Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Lawrence L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D006077:Government Agencies; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D009938:Organizations; D011332:Privatization / Q000191:economics; D011640:Public Policy; D012944:Social Support; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000191:economics; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States