To ensure the success of a program evaluation, a social worker must generate a specific detailed plan. That plan should describe the goal of the evaluation, the information needed, and the methods and analysis to be used. In addition, the plan should identify and address the concerns of stakeholders. A social worker should present information about the plan in a manner that the stakeholders can understand. This will help the social worker receive the support necessary for a successful evaluation. To prepare for this Assignment, identify a program evaluation you would like to conduct for a program with which you are familiar. Consider the details of the evaluation, including the purpose, specific questions to address, and type of information to collect. Then, consider the stakeholders that would be involved in approving that evaluation. Review the resources for samples of program evaluations.
Week 6: Program Evaluation: What, Why, and How
Most agencies prepare an annual report that includes the number of services or units of service provided, the number of individuals served, and information about demographics of the population served. This is generally accompanied by a budget summary, which includes sources and amounts of income and categories of expenses. In the past, that might have been adequate information to satisfy the public and funders, but today, stakeholders are demanding greater accountability for measurable results.
Program evaluations can provide insights into questions that such reports leave unanswered. As a social worker, you may be asked to play a role in a program evaluation. You should understand the nature and purpose of program evaluations and how they contribute to better social work practice. Then, you can reap the full benefit of such evaluations and adequately address the concerns of stakeholders.
This week, you analyze the benefits of two types of program evaluations, process, and outcome evaluations. You also analyze stakeholder concerns about evaluation. Finally, you recommend a program evaluation model and plan a program evaluation.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Analyze program evaluation models
- Analyze stakeholder concerns about program evaluation
- Create a program evaluation plan
Learning Resources
Required Readings
Dudley, J. R. (2020). Social work evaluation: Enhancing what we do (3rd ed.) Oxford University Press.
- Chapter 1, “Evaluation and Social Work: Making the Connection” (pp. 3–26)
- Chapter 4, “Common Types of Evaluations” (pp. 78-95)
- Chapter 5, “Focusing an Evaluation” (pp. 96-110)
- Chapter 4, “Overview of the Evaluation Process That Reflects Evaluation Thinking”
- Chapter 5, “Preparing for the Evaluation”
- Chapter 6, “Determine Stakeholders and Engage Them in Evaluation”
- Chapter 7, “Developing a Logic Model, Evaluation Questions, “Measurement Framework, and Evaluation Plan”
- Chapter 8, “Data Collection and Analysis”
- Chapter 9, “Summarize, Communicate and Reflection on Evaluation Findings”
Assignment: Developing a Program Evaluation
To ensure the success of a program evaluation, a social worker must generate a specific detailed plan. That plan should describe the goal of the evaluation, the information needed, and the methods and analysis to be used. In addition, the plan should identify and address the concerns of stakeholders. A social worker should present information about the plan in a manner that the stakeholders can understand. This will help the social worker receive the support necessary for a successful evaluation.
To prepare for this Assignment, identify a program evaluation you would like to conduct for a program with which you are familiar. Consider the details of the evaluation, including the purpose, specific questions to address, and type of information to collect. Then, consider the stakeholders that would be involved in approving that evaluation. Review the resources for samples of program evaluations.
The program we will utilize for this Assignment is the Client Transportation Program at an agency whose clients have mental health conditions and substance use disorder. The agency picks up client in the morning around 7:30am to bring them to the agency for Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) group and counseling services. Transportation then returns the clients to the sober living houses after group. Client are required to visit with their counselors and therapists after IOP group on a regularly scheduled basis. Client’s who remain in the building for services are often not sure how and when they will return to their sober living houses because transportation is out returning the other clients. Evaluating and improving this process would benefit the client as they would have a scheduled transportation appointment and reduce the stress on the clients and agency staff as client’s currently feel rushed to complete their counseling sessions to not miss their transportation.
Submit the following:
- A 1-page stakeholder analysis that identifies the stakeholders, their role in the agency and any concerns that they might have about the proposed program evaluation
- A 2-page draft of the program evaluation plan to submit to the stakeholders that:
- Identifies the purpose of the evaluation
- Describes the questions that will be addressed and the type of information that will be collected
- Addresses the concerns of the stakeholders that you identified in your Stakeholder Analysis
This paper must contain at least 3 references from the about list “Required Readings” materials
