Recommendations For Evaluation

Evaluation is a process that is used to look at the project, policy or program critically. It includes the collection and analyzing information that is related to the program or policy and that of its outcome. The Main purpose is to improve the policy or the program effectiveness. This will also help to identify any of the weak areas and changes that need to be made in the policy.

With this being stated; a program evaluation should be performed to see what changes need to be made to help their mission. It is clear that the services that they are providing are not as effective any more.

The service user has various assessments of need undertaken, this allows practioners to create plans and to regularly review the plans put in place for children and young people. Watson and West (2006), argue that good social work practice is good quality assessment, assessments inform evaluations and judgements. Assessment is about critically analysing information from a range of sources to determine need, eligibility and risk. Assessments involve a collaborative process; ensuring people participate and take as much control as possible in identifying their own needs. From the social work point of view, all professional judgments should be balanced and substantiated. Moreover, a perspective that sees the 'whole system' and the interconnected

A program evaluation offers a way to determine if adjustments are needed to improve upon the project in order for it to remain successful. Furthermore, the project evaluation team will analyze and measure each component of the outcome, input, and process in order to clarify the program’s objectives and goals. Thus creating a framework of evaluation methods and questions in addition to setting up a timeline for the evaluation activities will assist in the evaluation (CDC, 2011; HRSA, n.d.; McGonigle & Mastrian, 2015). The goal of outcome measures is to describe the overall performance of the process; therefore, outcome measurement will determine the program cost-effectiveness, attribution, and efficiency (CDC, 2012; HRSA, n.d.; McGonigle & Mastrian, 2015). There will be additional evaluation concerning the input measures, which are the resources that were put into the process. Lastly, the appraisal of process measures will provide data regarding the performance each course of action involved in the implantation of the project (HRSA, n.d.). After a thorough evaluation of the project, recommendations and the dissemination of results will be prepared and

Purpose of the evaluation: What aspect of the program would you assess? How does this complement the larger group evaluation? (5 points)

the nature, timing, and extent of the procedures performed are consistent with the tailored audit program ; adequate in light of the results obtained; and documented in sufficient detail to provide a clear understanding of the purpose, sources, and conclusions reached (including reasons for these conclusions);

The program evaluator is blind to what the program is supposed to be and therefore with data paints a picture of the reality occurring in the program. All kinds of methods of data gathering can be employed in this model of evaluation in order to get a complete view of the program and how it is or is not meeting the needs of the target population. Often because the evaluation needs to be bias free, evaluators are not well versed in the subject matter or industry when the goal-free model of evaluation is chosen. In the Goal-Free method it is advised to use more than one evaluator so that the evaluation does not rest upon only one evaluator (Boulmetis, J., & Dutwin, P., 2005,

Another model of evaluation based on the personal observations makes the use of intensive personal observations and conversations with the stakeholders would be the proponents of “qualitative or naturalistic” argues that only a deep and thorough understanding of a program will permit the most helpful with the evaluation. Offering the “expert opinion model” where the evaluator must be the data-gathering instrument; yet, a greater emphasis is placed on the understanding the experiences to such issues.

Lastly, evaluation is an important part of developing a behavior modification program. The effectiveness of the program cannot be determined without evaluating the behavior and conducting an assessment about the changes that took place. This can be done by collecting data, graphing the results, and making conclusions in order to see if there is a need to modify the chosen intervention (Kuhlenschmidt, n.d.). Without careful evaluation, it will be impossible to determine whether the program causes the desired behavioral change.

Within a program evaluation, there are four main phases, such as the survey phase, the planning phase, the fieldwork phase, and the final phase (Capella University, 2017). In regards to disseminating results, the final phase of program evaluation is when the data that was collected is then analyzed. The evaluators take the time to develop the findings through research, draw conclusions from the data, and finally make the best recommendations for the program that are based on the findings (Capella University, 2017). Depending on the type of program evaluation being conducted, the evaluators may be managers or staff that works within the program. For instance, formative evaluations are completed internally by the managers, so that they can assess their program and make improvements moving forward. The results are used within the program evaluation to measure accountability and develop new strategies needed to meet the outcomes and objective of

Implementation evaluation can be used if a new program is being started or if it is determined that an existing program initial goal is not being met (Mertens & Wilson, 2012). Utilizing implementation evaluation encompasses the following; responsive, monitoring, developmental, formulation participatory, and process (Mertens & Wilson, 2012). Furthermore, implementation evaluations asks questions such as; did the program fall in alignment with the plan or there any changes that need to be made in administrative or participant screening (Mertens & Wilson, 2012)?

When I attended the second AA meeting, one individual stated that they had been a member of the Alcoholics Anonymous group for twenty two years. The individual stated that they started drinking at the age of eighteen years old. The individual stated that they started off consuming 1 case of beer a day for a couple of months, then gradually started consuming two cases daily, until they stopped getting the desired effects of beer; therefore, they started drinking harder liquor, brown and clear. The individual stated that they would consume at least 2 bottles non mixed liquor a night. The individual stated that they had something to drink every day, at least three

Adapting the mixed-method approach, will take into consideration the children and young people’s ages and sensitivity to personal issues. The questionnaires and surveys will be aimed at the 11-16 year olds and they will have limited contact with the

The evaluation process allows information to be collected and analysed, allowing decisions to be made about effectiveness, quality and outcomes of programs (Robertson & Long, 2008, p. 96). Evaluation allows accountability for practice and services (Alston & Bowles, 2012, p. 178). This process is extremely important within nursing homes as not only are the evaluations used internally but outcomes may be requested by government funding programs, insurance companies, professional organizations or accreditation agencies (Robertson & Long, 2008, p. 96).

In the words of Bryan Rayner, “We always have to be on our toes and be alert and ready,”(n.d). Since Utilization-focused evaluation does not operate under textbook conditions but can be complex the evaluator has an obligation to make changes when necessary. Change can mean stepping out of your comfort zone and into the discomfort of uncertainty. But an evaluator goal and mission is to provide accurate and credible findings. If goals and intended outcome of Utilization-focused evaluation is the focus then the evaluators and primary intended users will determine those goals to be evaluated. But not all goals-based evaluation will be useful for every program. Some programs merit formative and summative evaluation, but others seek alternatives