Final answer:
True, many leading human service agencies started with government initiatives to help the needy, as seen with the New Deal and Great Society programs in the U.S., with variations globally.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Many of the world's leading human service agencies have their roots in the government's mission to serve the needy' is true. Government initiatives have historically laid the foundation for many human service programs. During the 1930s in the United States, the New Deal programs provided relief through jobs, payments, and food. By the 1960s, the expansion continued with President Lyndon Johnson's 'Great Society' programs, which were aimed at eliminating poverty. Although the role of government varies globally, governments often initiate services that later become carried out by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) like the Red Cross or CARE. This is also reflected in different parts of the world, where countries like Sweden provide extensive programs, while others like Egypt rely more on the nonprofit sector, and still, others might have minimal government involvement, as seen in some parts of India.