Citizen versus consumer representation : lessons from the neighborhood health center experience
By: LATTING, Jean Elizabeth
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ArticlePublisher: New York : Marcel Dekker, 1989International Journal of Public Administration - IJPA 12, 1, p. 113-136Abstract: Within the last two decades, consumers-actual service users-as distinct from citizens - at - large have been invited to serve on public service boards in this country. Many agency boards, however, allow citizens - at - large to represent the consumer constituency. This study compared the representativeness of four categories of consumer board members in 13 neighborhood health centers throughout the urban south and southwest: (1) actual service users who identified as consumers, (2) actual service users who did not identify as consumers, (3) nonservice users who identified as consumers, and (4) nonservice users who did not identify as consumers. Abstract: Although only cautious generalizations may be made to other settings, the finding suggest that health and human service agencies which desire consumer representation on their boards should select only those who actually use the agency's services, who identify as consumer representatives, and who have authorization from a consumer constituency.
Within the last two decades, consumers-actual service users-as distinct from citizens - at - large have been invited to serve on public service boards in this country. Many agency boards, however, allow citizens - at - large to represent the consumer constituency. This study compared the representativeness of four categories of consumer board members in 13 neighborhood health centers throughout the urban south and southwest: (1) actual service users who identified as consumers, (2) actual service users who did not identify as consumers, (3) nonservice users who identified as consumers, and (4) nonservice users who did not identify as consumers.
Although only cautious generalizations may be made to other settings, the finding suggest that health and human service agencies which desire consumer representation on their boards should select only those who actually use the agency's services, who identify as consumer representatives, and who have authorization from a consumer constituency.
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