HUMAN SERVICES EMPHASIZE SOCIAL SYSTEM DEFICIENCIES RATHER THAN PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS, COMPETENCE AS THE CRITICAL VARIABLE IN HELPING ACTIVITIES OF VARIOUS CAREGIVERS, ACCESSIBILITY OF SERVICES, CONTINUITY OF CARE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF CAREGIVERS TO MULTIPLE CONSTITUENCIES. AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, ACTIVITIES CONCERNED WITH WELFARE REFORM, NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE, MEDICARE AND MEDICAID, QUASI-BLOCK SOCIAL SERVICE GRANTS, AND THE ALLIED SERVICES ACT ARE DESIGNED TO MINIMIZE GAPS IN SERVICE DELIVERY. AT STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS, TYPICAL ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSES TO HUMAN SERVICE IMPROVEMENT INCLUDE HUMAN SERVICE UMBRELLA AGENCIES, MULTISERVICE CENTERS, HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS, PEER REVIEW, AND STATUTORY AND PROFESSIONAL CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS. PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND NUMEROUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE INVOLVED IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND YOUTH OFFENSES, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS, AND THE MODEL CITIES PROGRAM. FOUR TYPES OF CHANGE AGENTS IN HUMAN SERVICE REFORM ARE OUTSIDE PRESSURE, ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, PEOPLE-CHANGE TECHNOLOGY, AND ANALYSIS FROM THE TOP. OMBUDSMEN, COORDINATORS, ADVOCATES, AND CITIZENS HAVE IMPORTANT ROLES TO PLAY IN CHANGE. INDIVIDUAL-ORIENTED CHANGE PROCESSES ARE CHARACTERIZED BY ANALYTIC, BEHAVIORAL, SOCIOPSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCRATIC-RATIONAL PRINCIPLES. POLITICAL FACTORS INFLUENCE CHANGE, INCLUDING INTEREST GROUP THEORY, PLURALISM, LOBBYING, AND ADVERSARY SYSTEM (COMPETITION), ELECTION YEARS, AND THE PRESS. SIGNIFICANT CHANGE PROCESSES FOCUS ON PROJECT PLANNING MANAGEMENT, COALITIONS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, CHANGE METHODS (CONSENSUS, PROCESS, COLLABORATION, ENABLING, BROKERING, CONFERENCES, COOPTATION, AND CAMPAIGNS), PROGRAM EVALUATION, NEGOTIATION AND BARGAINING, SOCIAL CHANGE AND THE COURTS, AND MILITANCY AND CONFLICT. SOME FACETS OF HUMAN SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY COURT DECISIONS PERTAIN TO DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION, REHABILITATION, HABILITATION, DUE PROCESS, CIVIL RIGHTS, LEAST RESTRICTIVE SETTING, DANGEROUSNESS, RIGHT TO TREATMENT, RIGHT TO LIBERTY, RIGHT TO COUNSEL, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, CLIENT RIGHTS, AND PROTECTION AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION. POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF COURT DECISIONS EXTEND TO GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTIONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL PRACTICES AND AFFECT PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS WHILE PROTECTING INDIVIDUALS. FORECASTING TECHNIQUES TO AID IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS AND IN PROBLEM RESOLUTION THROUGH THE PROPER ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES ARE NOTED: DEMOGRAPHY, EVALUATION OF SOCIAL IDEOLOGIES AND VALUES, ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS, AND EVALUATION OF HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAM PATTERNS (ORGANIZATIONAL AUSPICES, CENTRALIZATION AND DECENTRALIZATION, CAREGIVING NETWORKS, SELF-HELP GROUPS, AND ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICES). SELECTED CASE STUDIES OF HUMAN SERVICE DELIVERY AND CASE STUDY REPORTS ARE CITED IN AN APPENDIX. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. (DEP)