This week, you focus on extending the logic model to include criteria for measuring the outcomes that you identified in your Week 7 logic model.

In the Discussion, you evaluate which group research design is appropriate for a case study. You also generate criteria for an outcome evaluation of that program. In the Assignment, you generate a plan for an outcome evaluation of a hypothetical program.

PART 1:

Discussion: Use of Group Designs in Program Evaluation

Group programs are common in social work. Just as with other types of programs, social workers must understand the options available to them and know how to select the appropriate research design.

For this Discussion, you evaluate group research design methods that can be used for an outcome evaluation of a foster parent training program. You also generate criteria to be measured in the program.

To prepare for this Discussion, review the “

Social Work Research: Planning a Program Evaluation

” case study in this week’s resources, Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. (Eds.). (2014b). Social work case studies: Concentration year. Retrieved from http://www.vitalsource.com , and the section of “Basic Guide to Outcomes-Based Evaluation for Nonprofit Organizations with Very Limited Resources”, titled “Overview of Methods to Collect Information.”

Post your explanation of which group research design and data collection method from those outlined in the Resources you selected as appropriate for the “Social Work Research: “Planning a Program Evaluation” case study and why.

Then, generate criteria to be measured using the research design by identifying a specific outcome and a method for measuring that outcome. Specify who will collect the data and how the data will be collected.

PART 2:

Assignment: Designing a Plan for Outcome Evaluation

Social workers can apply knowledge and skills learned from conducting one type of evaluation to others. Moreover, evaluations themselves can inform and com`plement each other throughout the life of a program. This week, you apply all that you have learned about program evaluation throughout this course to aid you in program evaluation.

To prepare for this Assignment, review “Basic Guide to Program Evaluation (Including Outcomes Evaluation)” from this week’s resources, Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. (Eds.). (2014b). Social work case studies: Concentration year. Retrieved from http://www.vitalsource.com , especially the sections titled “Outcomes-Based Evaluation” and “Contents of an Evaluation Plan.” Then, select a program that you would like to evaluate. You should build on work that you have done in previous assignments, but be sure to self-cite any written work that you have already submitted. Complete as many areas of the “Contents of an Evaluation Plan” as possible, leaving out items that assume you have already collected and analyzed the data.

Submit a 4- to 5-page paper that outlines a plan for a program evaluation focused on outcomes. Be specific and elaborate. Include the following information:

• The purpose of the evaluation, including specific questions to be answered
• The outcomes to be evaluated
• The indicators or instruments to be used to measure those outcomes, including the strengths and limitations of those measures to be used to evaluate the outcomes
• A rationale for selecting among the six group research designs
• The methods for collecting, organizing and analyzing data

https://managementhelp.org/evaluation/outcomes-evaluation-guide.htm#anchor30249

 
Social Work Research: Planning a Program Evaluation

Joan is a social worker who is currently enrolled in a social work PhD program. She is planning to conduct her dissertation research project with a large nonprofit child welfare organization where she has worked as a site coordinator for many years. She has already approached the agency director with her interest, and the leadership team of the agency stated that they would like to collaborate on the research project.

The child welfare organization at the center of the planned study has seven regional centers that operate fairly independently. The primary focus of work is on foster care; that is, recruiting and training foster parents and running a regular foster care program with an emphasis on family foster care. The agency has a residential program as well, but it will not participate in the study. Each of the regional centers services about 45–50 foster parents and approximately 100 foster children. On average, five to six new foster families are recruited at each center on a quarterly basis. This number has been consistent over the past 2 years.

Recently it was decided that a new training program for incoming foster parents would be used by the organization. The primary goals of this new training program include reducing foster placement disruptions, improving the quality of services delivered, and increasing child well-being through better trained and skilled foster families. Each of the regional centers will participate and implement the new training program. Three of the sites will start the program immediately, while the other four centers will not start until 12 months from now. The new training program consists of six separate 3-hour training sessions that are typically conducted in a biweekly format. It is a fairly proceduralized training program; that is, a very detailed set of manuals and training materials exists. All trainings will be conducted by the same two instructors. The current training program that it will replace differs considerably in its focus, but it also uses a 6-week, 3-hour format. It will be used by those sites not immediately participating until the new program is implemented.

Joan has done a thorough review of the foster care literature and has found that there has been no research on the training program to date, even though it is being used by a growing number of agencies. She also found that there are some standardized instruments that she could use for her study. In addition, she would need to create a set of Likert-type scales for the study. She will be able to use a group design because all seven regional centers are interested in participating and they are starting the training at different times.

Running Head: SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH 1

SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH 6

Social work research assignment: Outlining a Logic Model

Cynthia Schopen

Walden University

Master of Social Work

Practice-Level Logic Model Outline

Problem

Needs

Underlying Causes

Intervention Activities

Outline

Hellen is experiencing an increased level of anxiety, stress, medication management problems, back pains as well as difficulties in addressing substance abuse associated with her son, Alec. She is also looking for a reliable support system for Magda.

Hellen needs to know the best way of addressing self-care as well as how to manage factors such as stress, anxiety, and psychiatric evaluation. She also needs an improved support system as well as a housing plan for Magda.

Hellen suffers from stressors that limit family support where she is seemingly overwhelmed by the duties at home especially the duty of taking care of her mother in law. Her son, Alec, has also caused extra stress to the family as he stole checks, jewelry, and medication as he sought to sustain his substance abuse habit.

I would settle for the use of cognitive restructuring as an intervention activity. The cognitive restructuring approach comes in hand in enhancing focus on anxiety and chronic stress and is a psychotherapy technique that enhances how an individual perceives anxiety and stress when it comes to uncertain events which one has little control on (Swets& Bjork,1990). Individual counselling will be key for Helen as it will help her to cope with stress as well as provide her with medication for lowering stress and anxiety issues. Furthermore, I think that Helen can benefit from some form of physical therapy intervention to ensure that she recovers from her current back issues.

The outcomes are meant to lower Helen’s anxiety and stress by limiting her role in the family. By lowering Helen’s role in the family, it will be possible for her to deal with her stressors as well as to access family counseling intervention meant to aid other family members to deal with the daily surroundings of their family dynamics.

Program-Level Logic Model Outline

Problem

Needs

Underlying Causes

Intervention Activities

Outcomes

Helen is experiencing anxiety as well as increased stress levels. Therefore, there is a need for a supportive family environment as well as a medication management program for her back pain problem. Her son’s substance abuse issues also need to be addressed and while Helen needs a more supportive family system.

Helen needs to deal with her stress and anxiety as well as a securely supported housing plan for Magda, her mother in law. She also needs a psychiatric evaluation and her solution to her back issues.

At the moment, Helen has a lot of responsibilities in her family which in turn contributes to an increase in her anxiety and stress issue. She also lacks support from her family members while her son has even worsened the issue by stealing items from his grandmother as he looks to support his substance use. All these activities have led to the family becoming dysfunctional and hard to deal with the issues surrounding it. Furthermore, the Petrakis family does not have a reliable caregiver for Magda.

The intervention activities will entail the use of a solution-focused approach that is goal-directed and one that focuses on the solutions while emphasizing the resilience, strengths and resources of a person (Proudlock& Wellman, 2011). By employing an individual counseling therapy, Hellen will be able to address her life stressors as well as her uncertain anxiety issues. One can also use the psychodynamic therapy to ensure that the Petrakis family is able to focus on the issues at hand in order to gain insight into their personal lives (Leichsenring, Hiller, Weissberg&Leibing, 2006). The specific activity will entail individual counseling sessions and family counseling.

By engaging in the psychodynamic therapy approach, Hellen will be able to deal with her anxiety and stress issues. The process will entail 13 individual counseling sessions in the short run. On the other hand, the long term approach will provide the family counseling sessions for a period of 2 years based on the psychodynamic approach and will involve the family members with the aim of lowering the level of stressors within the family.

Practice level logic

It is clear that Hellen is not good at responding to challenges which is the key reason why she is experiencing some form of undergoing depression. Furthermore, she is experiencing a state of guilt and distress while her self-love is clearly at a low. Additionally, Hellen is concerned about ensuring there is the order in her family while she needs to cope with different life stressors and an overall well-being intervention.

Cognitive restructuring is key in changing the perception of an individual towards stress given that it aids in reassessing a situation as well as replacing irrational beliefs with more progressives and positive self-statements. In case one changes the perception of a situation, one is able to avoid the stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system which in turn aid in lowering stress and anxiety(Swets& Bjork,1990). Using the latter technique comes in handy id different situations especially when an individual is experiencing negative thoughts resulting from depression and anxiety. Furthermore, it reframes one’s thought to ensure that one is more productive by lowering the individual’s sympathetic response.

Program level logic

When dealing with the Petrakis Family, it is key to use a closed group for therapy especially through the implementation of the psychodynamic therapy approach due to the family beliefs and culture. The family does not share social issues with strangers thus making it hard to employ therapy. Through the specific group activities, it is possible for the family members to express themselves individually and therefore the family members can discuss the idea of reducing Hellen’s responsibilities so as to alleviate anxiety and stress issues. Additionally, psychodynamic therapy, as well as solution focus therapy, can come in handy in ensuring that each family member identifies his or her role in the family and becomes more supportive especially when dealing with matters affecting Magda.

The short-term outcomes will ensure that Hellen gets individual counseling sessions where she can address her anxiety and stress issues regarding her overwhelming family duties. The counseling session will take part in 13 sessions and will allow time for framing of approximately one and a half with a trained therapist. The sessions will focus on Hellen’s immediate issues with stress and anxiety. On the other hand, the long-term outcome will seek to deal with the family stressors so as to ensure that there is a secure housing plan for Magda. To measure the outcome, the therapist can record data during the counseling sessions especially recording the way Hellen feels about taking care of Magda, her son as well as the duties designated to each member of the family. The therapist can also use a scale for measuring the anxiety and stress level of the members of the family before beginning the counseling sessions.

References

Leichsenring, F., Hiller, W., Weissberg, M., &Leibing, E. (2006). Cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy: Techniques, efficacy, and indications. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 60(3), 233-59. Retrieved from

http://search.proquest.com/docview/213135027?accountid=1229

Proudlock, S., & Wellman, N. (2011). Solution focused groups: The results look promising. Counselling Psychology Review, 26(3), 45–54.

Swets, J. A., & Bjork, R. A. (1990) “Enhancing human performance: An evaluation
of “new age” techniques considered by the U.S. Army.” Psychological
Science, 1, 85-l96.