Competency 9: Evaluate individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
Introduction: Evaluations help determine if services to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities were effective, goals were met, and if clients were served efficiently. Evaluations also measure effectiveness or lack thereof for programs, organizations, and interventions.
9.1 – Select evidence-based evaluation strategies according to their efficacy with specific client systems
Course Evidence: A part of the L.I.F.E Organization Proposal also included an explanation of how Administrators would evaluate staff performance. Method of evaluation are surveys and performance assessments. Rationale was for staff to assess their overall performance, address concerns, and set new goals. Supervisors would provide feedback, recognize achievements, and assess for appropriate promotion. The emphasis on staff meeting expectations and annual goals are achieved ensures L.I.F.E continues functioning. This will also develop positive working relationships between all staff and management personnel. After conducting research on staff evaluations, our plan was thus created.
Field Evidence: For the Children’s Advocacy Center Parent to Parent Support group, I created an eight question Overall Evaluation for the parents to share their feedback about the sessions overall. This allowed me, the lead facilitator, and the agency to know the level of parent satisfaction. This also demonstrated if specific objectives were met, and what subjects they would be interested to learn more in regard to their child’s trauma if they were to attend future group sessions. Upon reviewing all responses received the parents gave high ratings that the support group was beneficial to them.
9.2 – Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of practice outcomes across systems
Course Evidence: To evaluate outcomes of the Second Chance program proposal a survey, of clients that are currently affiliated with the program as well as those that have completed their treatment would be used. One of the goals for program completion is that clients maintain stable employment. This will be determined because a section of the survey will inquire their current work status, how long they have been employed by current company, and how satisfied they are with their place of employment. We also planned to evaluate their overall wellbeing by being able to establish healthy relationships and measuring emotional stress levels since completing the program. This will be done using a pre and post test questionnaire comparing when they first started the program and nearing completion. This is a critical part of the evaluation plan to obtain information related to their outcomes in participating in the program. Client outcomes demonstrates if program strategies were effective and goals met, which also helps Second Chance to continue to receive funding and further conduct research studies.
Field Experience: For CAC’s Parent Support Group I created a Pre and Post Evaluation Summary Report of the parent’s pre and post quizzes grade to measure a change in knowledge (i.e Quiz 1 five out of six parents completed both quizzes; three individuals score improved between 21 and 30%). These answers came from a compiled spreadsheet that documented pre and post quiz answer Outcomes. From these reports we were able to evaluate that the parent’s knowledge had increased as the number of correct answers on the post quiz was more than the pre quiz.