Handbook of Program Evaluation for Social Work and Health Professionals

by Smith, Michael J.

• ISBN13: 9780195158434
• ISBN10: 0195158431
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-01-21
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Evaluation is crucial for determining the effectiveness of social programs and interventions. In this nuts and bolts handbook, social work and health care professionals are shown how evaluations should be done, taking the intimidation and guesswork out of this essential task. Current perspectives in social work and health practice, such as the strengths perspective, consumer empowerment, empowerment evaluation, and evidence-based practice, are linked to evaluation concepts throughout the book to emphasize their importance. This book makes evaluation come alive with comprehensive examples of each different type of evaluation, such as a strengths-based needs assessment in a local community, a needs assessment for Child Health Plus programs, comprehensive program descriptions of HIV services and community services for the aged, a model for goals and objectives in programs for people with mental illness, a monitoring study of private practice social work, and process evaluations of a Medicare advocacy program and a health advocacy program to explain advance directives. Equal emphasis is given to both quantitative and qualitative data analysis with real examples that make statistics and concepts in qualitative analysis un-intimidating. By integrating both evaluation and research methods and assuming no previous knowledge of research, this book makes an excellent reference for professionals working in social work and health settings who are now being called upon to conduct or supervise program evaluation and may need a refresher on research methods. With a pragmatic approach that includes survey design, data collection methods, sampling, analysis, and report writing, it is also an excellent text or classroom resource for students new to the field of program evaluation.

Author Biography

Michael J. Smith is Professor Social Work, Hunter College, New York, NY.

Table of Contents

List of Exhibits	p. xi
Introduction to Program Evaluation	p. 3
Types of Program Evaluation Studies	p. 29
New Trends and Issues in Program Evaluation: The Strengths Perspective, Consumer Empowerment, Empowerment Evaluation, and Evidence-Based Practice	p. 57
Describing the Program	p. 81
Needs Assessment Studies	p. 139
Determining Program Goals	p. 163
Formative Evaluations: Program Monitoring and Process Evaluations	p. 205
Designing the Evaluation Study	p. 249
Implementing the Evaluation Study and Analyzing the Data	p. 303
Writing the Report and Implementing the Findings	p. 355
Appendix: University Employee Assistance Program: Client Satisfaction Questionnaire	p. 365
Glossary	p. 369
Index	p. 381
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