The masses have been clamoring for a program evaluation of an eating disorder prevention program targeted at junior high school students. A couple of different issues here . . . how do you think the program measures up and, ethically, what do you think about this type of program targeted at junior high school students. Should make for plenty of good discussion. Click the link to read the article.
Evaluation of an Eating Disorder Prevention Program
Monday, September 29, 2008
NARCONON Drug Abuse Prevention Program Evaluation
NARCONON is a secular program based on the teachings and writings of L. Ron Hubbard. This program provides drug rehabilitation, eduation, and prevention services. The program provides a curriculum that is meant to be utilized in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms and is designed to supplement the school's core health and drug prevention curriculum. The link below presents a program evaluation of the NARCONON program. Let me know what you think.
Program Evaluation of NARCONON
Program Evaluation of NARCONON
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Advantages of Qualitative Interviewing in Program Evaluation
The majority of program evaluations utilize a quantitative research method. When reading both outcome and process evaluations, one most often encounters the use of some kind of a survey to elicit changes that have occurred. However, there is another method that can be used to elicit information during program evaluations. Qualitative interviews can be useful in eliciting more detail when investigating both processes and outcomes. These types of interviews can be used by themselves or in conjunction with, otherwise refered to as mixed methods, quantitatively based measures. Click the link below to read a general article about the use of qualitative interviews in program evaluation.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Silly, Silly Laws
Yet another little diversion from a point that was mentioned in class. Susan mentioned a law that was around when she lived in Tennessee that prohibited more that three unrelated females to live in the same dwelling - thus preventing brothels and, as it turns out, sororities . . . Click the links to check out the silly, silly laws.
Silly Law Site One
Silly Law Site Two
Silly Law Site One
Silly Law Site Two
Making Evaluation Meaningful to Stakeholders
In 2002, Western Michigan University released a checklist meant to assist in making evaluation meaningful to education stakeholders. The checklist establishes three major areas of interest to make these evaluation meaningful to wide range of stakeholders: 1) Assessing the customer base, 2) Formatting the evaluation report, and 3) Disseminating the information and educating the stakeholders. Click the link to read through the checklist. Do you think this type of a checklist would be useful in social work agencies? Let me know what you think.
Freaky Cell Phone Popcorn
A little break from evaluation here. I thought I would post the youtube clip to which we referred in class tonight. Click the link below to watch one of the fun tricks your cell phone can perform.
Evaluating Medicaid Managed Services
In January, 1994 the Board of Directors and the Health Care Policy and Practice Network of the New York City Chapter held a think tank for leading health and mental health social workers to discuss their experiences with the development of managed care for clients enrolled in the Medicaid program. Out of the think tank, a work group was formed to analyze the implementation of managed care and to make suggestions for impromvement. Click the link to read the report.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Cultural Competency Training for Physicians and Health Care Providers
Here is another article that outlines the evaluation of cultural competency training. This time, the article outlines the development and eventual evaluation of cultural competency training for physicians and health care providers. Click the link below and read the ENTIRE article. In addition, I would like you all to view this article with a critical eye . . . start thinking like the budding research evaluators I know you are. Remember, you evaluate things everyday. You evaluate storylines on your favorite tv shows. You evaluate new CD's by your favorite artists. You evaluate new menu items at your favorite restaurants. This task is no different . . . however, this time, you are being asked to evaluate information that could effect you professionally.
Let me know what you think.
Cultural Competency in Pharmacy Students
The following link will send you to an article evaluating the effectiveness of cultural competency training on 60 pharmacy students (from first year to fourth year). In this study, an 8 hour elective course was offered on cultural competency. At the conclusion of the course, a 12 item survey was given to evaluate the effectiveness of the class. Click the link to read the study, and let us know what you think. Give us a little critical evaluation!
NASW Standards of Cultural Competency
Although I have yet to find a social work related study on evaluation and cultural competency, I thought I would post the NASW standards of cultural competency. Below you will find the link for these standards. Check them out. Are the standards what you thought they would be? Do you think anything else should be added to make them more culturally relevant? Let me know what you think.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Evaluation of a Mental Health Court
The folks over in Norfolk Virginia have posted an article about the evaluation of their Mental Health Court. They are reporting that the four year old program has reduced recidivism and saved approximatley 1.63 million dollars in tax player money. They have kept these indivdiuals out of Virginia jails, and instead, have utilized the services of social workers and probation officers, along with already estblished court programs, in an attempt to slowly stabilize these individuals. Click the link to read the article and let me know what you think about this program.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Evaluating School Social Work
I am posting the link for a study which discusses school social work and it's outcomes in the state of Wisconsin. The researchers have not actually performed an evaluation study, but are proposing the best method for implementation. I would like for you all to read through the literature and review the suggestions the authors make for evaluating school social work. Are there suggestions plausible? Did they miss anything? Would their suggestions for evaluation result in the types of outcomes they desire? How might you do this type of evaluation differently?
Click the link to read the study.
As a result, now more than ever before, school social workers need to document positive outcomes for students related to the provision of their work. The challenge is to locally design a simple, valid evaluation system that addresses the priorities of the school district while not consuming inordinate amounts of time and resources. This paper 1) reviews available, relevant literature regarding outcome evaluation of school social work services, 2) includes salient passages from this literature which provide critical direction in designing outcome evaluation, 3) provides suggestions to help guide local design, and 4) outlines a process to develop an outcome evaluation plan using readily available data commonly gathered by school districts that reflects progress on school districts’ goals and is indicative of the positive impact of school social work services.
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