EVALUATION IN CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE- Single case evaluation and Program Evaluation

Title Page

Adhering to APA 6th Edition Standards

Abstract

This will be the summary for the paper.

Agency/Program

Provide a narrative description of the program and the agency (e.g., theoretical model/framework, agency mission, program goals, target population, community context, need being addressed by the program, length and duration, mode of delivery etc.).

Review of the Literature

Present a comprehensive review of the “best practice” literature associated with the target population’s identified need (e.g., best practices for preventing teen pregnancy among adolescent girls; best practices for intervening with substance using older adult veterans; best practices for improving parenting skills and family functioning). In this section, students must attend to the best practices associated with a given problem area (e.g. teen pregnancy, substance use, poor parenting skills), as well as relevant developmental (adolescence, adulthood, older adulthood) and cultural (e.g., race/ethnicity, immigration status, military/war culture) factors.

Program Assessment

Here you provide the finding of your assessment of program performance in the domains of service utilization and program organization. Be sure that you answer each of the following questions. NOTE: You can present these findings in question/answer format. Yes or No responses are not acceptable – you must be analytical in your assessment and provide deep well thought out responses.

How many persons are receiving services?

Are those receiving services the intended targets?

Are they receiving the proper amount, type, and quality of service? Students will evaluate the extent to which their agency’s program is consistent with best practices. This section requires specific examples of how the agency’s program is/is not supported by the best practice literature.

Are there targets who are not receiving services or subgroups within the target population who are underrepresented among those receiving services?

Are members of the target population aware of the program?

Are necessary program functions being performed adequately?

Is staffing sufficient in numbers and competencies for the functions that must be performed?

Is the program well organized? Does staff work well with each other?

Does the program coordinate effectively with the other programs and agencies with which it must interact?

Are resources, facilities, and funding adequate to support important program functions?

Are resources used effectively and efficiently?

Is the program in compliance with requirements imposed by its governing board, funding agencies, and higher-level administration?

Is the program in compliance with applicable professional and legal standards?

Is performance at some program sites or locales significantly better or poorer than at others?

Are participants satisfied with their interactions with program personnel and procedures?

Are participants satisfied with the services they receive?

Do participants engage in appropriate follow-up behavior after service?

Students must provide specific recommendations for improvement based on this evaluation.

Current Program Evaluation Methods

After examining the agency’s current approach for assessing and evaluating program outcomes – describe the current program evaluation method that this agency currently uses and provide specific recommendations for improvement.

Be sure to provide the specific target outcomes currently assessed by the agency (e.g., teen pregnancy rate in Broward county; alcohol and other drug use among participants; parenting skills), the measures/assessment tools currently used to collect this data, the methods for collecting this data, and the overall research design.

Conclusion

Be sure to include the extent to which the current evaluation plan meets the standards for effective program evaluation discussed in this course and provide recommendations for improvement. In this section it is important to address whether or not the agency is currently exploring the following:

· Target outcomes are consistent with program goals and interventions delivered

· Assessment tools are valid and reliable

· Data collection is a standardized process designed to minimizes bias

· Research design is strong enough to allow evaluators to draw meaningful conclusions

References