Assume you are a program evaluator and that you are completing an evaluation at the 6-month interval for the following fictitious program. Read the program description, and then complete the tasks that follow:
Safe Haven is a shelter for adolescent runaways waiting for a court determination and trial. It was established as an alternative location to place adolescents instead of the general jail population. The goal of the shelter is to keep the residents safe while they wait for their court date. The ages of the residents range from 14 to 17. The Safe Haven staff monitors three safety risks for this population: harm to others, harm to self, and alcohol or drug use. Staff provides specific programming to address these three issues.
First, mandatory group counseling is provided daily from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, so residents can learn conflict resolution skills to prevent them from harming others. During this group session, members listen to a 30-minute curriculum-based presentation followed by a demonstration. Group members then practice the skills with each other.
Second, all residents are monitored for depression and suicidal ideations to prevent self-harm. Residents meet Monday through Friday for 30 minutes with a social worker for mandatory individual counseling.
Finally, group members participate in a drug and alcohol education class. This is also a curriculum-based educational presentation on refusal skills followed by group practice and process discussions. This mandatory group meets daily from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Urinalyses are conducted on residents every 3 days and a breath analysis every day before bed.
The rest of the day throughout the week, residents are tutored by a teacher who is brought into the shelter. On weekends, residents receive visitors and participate in recreational activities at the shelter under close supervision.
Tasks:
Design a program description for this program that includes the types of services being provided and their location; the program’s mission; the frequency with which services are offered, including time and day; and characteristics of the people you serve (number of residents, gender, race, age, income, etc.).
Be sure to include a discussion of any ethical, cultural, or socioeconomic concerns that the program evaluation must consider when developing the evaluation plan.
Develop a minimum of three program objectives. Objectives should be able to meet the SMART standard (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely or time-bound) and should demonstrate cultural competence, clear adherence to social work ethics, and sensitivity to marginalized and oppressed populations.
Develop a plan to evaluate the MOST objectives.