California’s social services should be available for all, not just those with free time | Opinion

The appropriate delivery of government services is often not determined by the person who needs it or the service provider, but whether or not a third party advocate is pushing the system to do the right thing.

In an ideal world, healthcare and state and local government services would be accessible and efficient for everyone, regardless of circumstances. The reality is different. The efficacy of these systems often hinges on the presence of an outsider, such as a passionate family member or friend, who fights to ensure that services guaranteed in the law are provided to their loved ones.

Consider the vast array of state and local government services, from welfare applications to special education programs. Acquiring these services can be overwhelming, and for many, successfully accessing these services requires not just knowledge, but time, persistence and tenacity.

That’s why advocates can be so important, diving down rabbit holes of information about their unique situations to ensure they know as much as possible. This information makes a difference.

Stressed-out parents will find themselves getting a diagnosis for their child and then have to fight their way through a host of unfamiliar lingo and processes. Too many give up due to the complexity.

In special education services, federal laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act mandate that public schools provide individualized education plans for students with disabilities. While this may be a great policy on paper, securing these rights is complicated, requiring documents, numerous meetings with school officials and, oftentimes, an understanding of the law.

A special education teacher shortage is yet another challenge to seeking and establishing an individualized education plan.

According to National Public Radio, many schools are grappling with a significant lack of qualified special education teachers. This severely limits the quality and availability of services for students with disabilities. As a result, parents must work even harder to ensure their children receive the education and support the law provides.

Healthcare is no less daunting than education; navigating the healthcare system can be a nightmare, especially for those with chronic issues or disabilities. Insurance companies will often initially deny needed treatments or medications. Again, parents often emerge as the staunchest advocates, ensuring their children or family members receive the care they are entitled to.

All this raises critical questions as to whether our public service systems are fair and equitable. Why must access to essential services depend so heavily on having someone advocate on their behalf? This highlights a significant systemic failure in the delivery of services. Simplifying processes, providing clearer information and ensuring that services are genuinely accessible without the need for aggressive advocacy are crucial.

The role of advocates should be formalized and elevated. This support could take various forms, such as providing resources for advocacy training, offering respite care and implementing policies that acknowledge and compensate for the invisible labor these advocates perform.

While state and local government services and healthcare are vital components of a functioning society, their current implementation often leaves much to be desired. As private enterprises have made information more readily available and consumer friendly, the government has been slower to adapt.

Services should be more accessible, equitable and user-friendly and should not depend on the presence of a relentless advocate to function effectively, only then will we ensure that every individual truly benefits from the services designed to support them. Parents will always be important advocates for their children, but a parent’s ability and availability to fight the system should not determine the level of service received.