Health planning: structure, processes, and social work involvement

Health planning can be a significant influence on the delivery of social services. It has been increasingly characterized by regulation and restriction and, as such, presents both threats and possibilities to social work values and service ideals. Health planning priorities are consonant with social work values and service ideals. Its effect on health facilities and their responses to it, however, could pose threats to social work. On the other hand, health planning can be used to enhance social services as well as better integration of health and social services. The structure and processes of local health planning are described, and areas of social work involvement are suggested.