HAWAII - DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING PROJECT EVALUATION REPORT - CORRECTIONS AND VOLUNTEER SERVICES COORDINATOR

• NCJ Number: 48026
• Author(s): R COLE
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 22 pages
• Corporate Author: Hawaii Dept of Social Services and Housing
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE PLANNING, OPERATIONS, AND CONTROL OF A PROJECT COORDINATING VOLUNTEER SERVICES FOR CORRECTIONS ARE EVALUATED ACCORDING TO PROJECT OBJECTIVES.

Abstract

THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A POOL OF VOLUNTEER RESOURCES TO SUPPLEMENT EXISTING CORRECTIONAL SERVICES AT MINIMAL ADDITIONAL COST AND TO TRAIN CORRECTIONS STAFF TO USE THESE VOLUNTEER SERVICES EFFECTIVELY. SPECIFICALLY, IT INVOLVES THE RECRUITING, SCREENING, TRAINING, AND MAINTENANCE OF VOLUNTEERS WITH PARTICULAR SKILLS WHO WILL ASSIST IN MEETING IDENTIFIED NEEDS WITHIN THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM. THIS EVALUATION USES METHODS AND PROCEDURES FOR ASSESSMENT WHICH CONSIDER THE PLANNING, OPERATIONS, AND CONTROL ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT. THE EVALUATION PERIOD IS NOVEMBER 1, 1976 TO MAY 9, 1977. THE APPRAISAL OF THE PLANNING ASPECT INVOLVES A CONSIDERATION OF THE PROGRAM CONTRIBUTION AND THE PLANNING STRUCTURE. THE EVALUATION OF OPERATIONS EXAMINES TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE, INFORMATION GENERATION, AND STAFF EFFECTIVENESS. THE ANALYSIS OF PROGRAM CONTROL INCLUDES A FINANCIAL STUDY AND EXAMINATIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS AND GENERAL MEASUREMENTS. DATA FOR THE EVALUATION CAME PRINCIPALLY FROM THE PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE AND OBSERVATIONS OF THE PROJECT DIRECTOR. ALTHOUGH PLANNING WAS DONE ON A SMALLER SCALE THAN WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED BY THE FUNDING AGENCY, THE PROJECT WAS FOUND TO HAVE MET ITS OBJECTIVES FOR THE FIRST YEAR. SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS NOTED ARE: THE DEFINITION AND ASSESSMENT OF THE EXISTING VOLUNTEER PROGRAM; THE IDENTIFICATION OF A POOL OF 75 TO 100 VOLUNTEERS AND THE COMPILATION OF A RESOURCE FILE; THE START OF A COORDINATED PROGRAM; AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE PROGRAM. EVALUATORS INDICATED THAT THE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES HAVE LEFT LITTLE TIME FOR SPECIALIZED RECRUITING TO FILL STAFF REQUESTS FOR VOLUNTEERS. IF THE COORDINATOR IS TO REMAIN THE SOLE PAID STAFF MEMBER FOR THE PROJECT, CLARIFICATION OF THE COORDINATOR'S ROLE IS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE WORKLOADS OF THE BRANCH VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS BE ADJUSTED TO ALLOW ADEQUATE TIME FOR VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING. A FULL-TIME SECRETARY AND AN ASSISTANT VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR ARE BELIEVED NECESSARY TO ASSURE THE EFFECTIVE OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (RCB)