Publications from ODSW Social Insights: Letters by DSW (Vol 2) | Page 139

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in the community, often in ways that produced benefits that surpassed the
financial formula.
The many helping hands include the state that set the legal, regulatory
and financial parameters, the VWOs that directly serve the social needs of
communities, and the boards and organisations that take care of governance,
volunteers, staff, donors and funders. The focus is in coordinating the
different parties who intend to help in a way that ensures adequate and
timely delivery of services to those in need. The human arm may be used
as an analogy to explain the important roles played by the state and the
various key stakeholders. The upper part of the arm represents the donors
and the funders, including the state. They are the muscles that build and
help to strengthen the limb work. The hand and fingers represent the social
agencies and volunteers. They are the ones who are directly in touch with
the target. Being on the ground, they are able to respond more nimbly, with
immediacy, empathy and compassion. Every part of the arm, including the
limb and muscles, are intertwined, with each supported by the other in order
to be responsive and effective. They may have similar goals but each of them
can be distinctive and yet complementary. The state is part of the muscles,
but it is also the palm that connects the arm and the fingers. It connects and
channels resources from the upper arm to the different fingers. The state
also plays the role of enabler by supporting ground initiatives that enhance
community participation and facilitate connections between the givers and
the recipients of help. In addition to ensuring adequate financing for the
social se ctor, the state also invests in manpower development including
initiatives with a long-term view such as mid-career re-training, sabbatical
leave schemes, scholarships and various professional and organisational
leadership schemes.

Challenges in balancing tensions
Policy tensions are healthy when they are examined and debated because
the end result is likely a deeper understanding of the issues which will in
turn help produce effective solutions. In recent years, two significant policy
tensions related to social services have surfaced. The first concerns the
roles of the state and family in the “heavy-lifting” care of family members.
This is sometimes presented as the tension for greater intervention from
government on one hand and the preservation of the role of the family and
community. The second tension is that of centralised integrated support
that tends to provide more efficient service delivery versus a less organised
and uneven system that tends to involve a wider community participation.

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