SOME OF THE ISSUES RELATED TO SERVICE DELIVERY ARE FAR REMOVED FROM LOCAL DECISIONMAKING. LOCAL STAFF ARE RARELY INVOLVED IN FINANCIAL APPROPRIATIONS AND REGULATIONS REGARDING SERVICE DATA TO BE REPORTED. OTHER ISSUES, HOWEVER, ARE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, SUCH AS SELECTION, MANAGEMENT, AND SCHEDULING OF STAFF AND RELATIONS WITH OTHER AGENCIES. THE BASIC ISSUE WHICH MUST BE CONSIDERED IN LOCAL SERVICE DELIVERY IS THAT OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. EACH AGENCY MUST ARTICULATE SPECIFIC AND LIMITING GOALS TO PREVENT TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH WITH LIMITED RESOURCES. DETERMINATION OF AN APPROPRIATE BALANCE AMONG THE VARIOUS SERVICES DELIVERED BY AN AGENCY -- PROTECTIVE, FOSTER CARE, AND OTHER -- MUST ALSO BE CONSIDERED. IF TOO GREAT AN IMBALANCE EXISTS, NEEDED SERVICES MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE. THIS DETERMINATION OF BALANCE MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE SERVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH OTHER AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY; IF A BALANCE EXISTS AMONG AGENCIES, THEN ONE MAY BE ABLE TO SPECIALIZE IN A SINGLE SERVICE. AGENCIES MUST ALSO CRITICALLY REVIEW THEIR POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND TRADITIONS TO BE CERTAIN THAT THEY ARE STILL FUNCTIONAL AND DO NOT IN FACT INHIBIT THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES. CONTINUAL REVIEW AND RENEWAL OF THE STRUCTURE AND POLICIES OF THE ORGANIZATION IS ESSENTIAL. SIZE OF THE ORGANIZATION IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION; LARGENESS HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT UPON EFFICIENCY AND RESPONSIVENESS OF SERVICE AGENCIES. ONE CRITICAL ISSUE INVOLVES BUDGETING AND APPROPRIATIONS. THERE MUST BE A LOGICAL RELATIONSHIP AND PROGRESSION AMONG POLICYMAKING, PLANNING, FINANCING, AND SERVICE IMPLEMENTATION. THESE FUNCTIONS CANNOT BE CARRIED OUT SEPARATELY, AS IS FREQUENTLY THE CASE. ANOTHER IMPEDIMENT TO ADEQUATE SERVICE DELIVERY INVOLVES UNNECESSARY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. ANY DATA TO BE COLLECTED FOR RESEARCH AND PLANNING PURPOSES SHOULD COME FROM SPECIAL DATA COLLECTION EFFORTS, NOT FROM PROTECTIVE SERVICE STAFF. THE FINAL MAJOR ISSUE IS STAFFING. QUESTIONS WHICH MUST BE CONSIDERED ARE WHETHER AVAILABLE STAFF ARE QUALIFIED AND WHAT THE ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED OF A PROTECTIVE SERVICE WORKER ACTUALLY ARE. THE STAFF SHOULD BE ORGANIZED INTO TEAMS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE MUTUAL SUPPORT FROM COLLEAGUES AND A SOUNDING BOARD FOR DIFFICULT CASES AND DECISIONS. (VDA)