NCJ Number
57699
Journal
Child Welfare Volume: 58 Issue: 4 Dated: (APRIL 4, 1979) Pages: 229-236
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
PLANNING AND EVALUATION, AND THE ROLE OF THE PUBLIC AND VOLUNTARY SECTORS REGARDING CHILD WELFARE ARE DISCUSSED IN GENERAL TERMS; TYPES OF EVALUATION MODELS ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
SETTING OBJECTIVES AND MEASURING RESULTS IN THE DELIVERY OF HUMAN SERVICES CAN BE ENHANCED THROUGH COOPERATION AND COMMON GOALS. PLANNING AND EVALUATION ARE SEPARATE ASPECTS OF WHAT MIGHT BE VIEWED AS A CYCLE OF PLANNING, PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, EVALUATION, AND FEEDBACK. MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND PLANNING HAVE GREATLY ACCELERATED IN RECENT YEARS WITH THE WIDESPREAD INCREASE OF THE PURCHASE OF SERVICES, AND THE GROWING EMPHASIS ON COST FACTORS. METHODS AND TECHNIQUES FOR CONDUCTING EVALUATIONS OF SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS FALL INTO THREE OVERLAPPING AND GENERAL GROUPINGS. FIRST, THERE ARE TRADITIONAL OR EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH METHODS. THESE INVOLVE CAREFULLY SELECTED TARGET POPULATIONS AND CONTROL GROUPS; INCLUDED ARE IMPACT EVALUATIONS, OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS, AND EFFECTIVENESS STUDIES. ALTHOUGH THESE METHODS USUALLY CONTRIBUTE SOUND AND VITAL DATA, THEY ARE OFTEN FRUSTRATING AND TIME CONSUMING BECAUSE DOCUMENTING SUCCESS IS PROBABLY EASIER THAN IDENTIFYING THE SOURCE OF THAT SUCCESS. THE HUGE INVESTMENT OF TIME AND MONEY REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT SUCH MODELS MAY BE INADVISABLE. THE SECOND GROUPING INCLUDES SYSTEM TECHNIQUES. TIME STUDIES, MANAGEMENT AUDITS, AND MONITORING ARE INCLUDED; UNIFORM STANDARDS OF ACCOUNTING ENSURE COMMON ELEMENTS FOR ANALYSIS BUT SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES PREVAIL WITH REGARD TO DEFINITIONS, MAKING CONCLUSIONS DRAWN FROM SUCH INFORMATION LESS THAN PRECISE. THE THIRD GROUPING INCLUDES THE MORE PRAGMATIC PROCESS TECHNIQUES SUCH AS SURVEYS, CASE STUDIES, AND PROGRAM REVIEWS, WHICH SEEK TO IDENTIFY REASONS FOR LACK OF SUCCESS AND TO BRING ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS. IN SELECTING A METHODOLOGY OR MODEL TO BE USED, IT IS VITAL TO FIRST DETERMINE THE PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE EVALUATION, TO DEFINE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES IN MEASURABLE TERMS, AND TO TAKE PUBLIC AND VOLUNTARY SECTORS INTO ACCOUNT. IN MOST CASES, THE THIRD METHOD DISCUSSED IS USUALLY THE MOST FEASIBLE. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (LWM)