Resources and Challenges of Charitable Human Service Organizations in New Brunswick

Summary

In the post-welfare state that has been emerging since the early 1990s, increasing demands are placed on civil society organizations to supplement government services for at-risk populations. Charitable organizations involved in human services (i.e., social services and non-hospital health services) are but one of the sub-sets of organizations working with and alongside the state to provide various forms of help. However, how much do we know about these organizations in the Atlantic Provinces? What do they do? Where are they situated, and what areas do they serve? These are basic questions that must be answered before one can think about the proper role these agencies can or should play in the current mixed economy of care. This article presents the results of a survey research project exploring some characteristics of charitable human service organizations in New Brunswick. Using primary data provided by a mail survey of a representative sample (279) of these organizations in the province, the study explores key dimensions such as types of activities performed, governance, accountability, location, financial resources, gender representation, and service delivery challenges. These results are considered and discussed in light of current policy trends at the national and provincial level.