Socw 6311 Social Work Research In Practice Please Not 631127

Socw 6311 Social Work Research In Practice Iiplease Note That This Is

Socw 6311 Social Work Research In Practice II Please note that this is a master level course so master level work. Please check the grammar, use APA format and you have to use the reading that I have provided to you. You must answer all the questions that I post. Thank you. Please NOTE that my school is checking for plagiaries through Safe Assign Week 8 Needs Assessment in Program Evaluation Resources Readings • Dudley, J. R. (2014). Social work evaluation: Enhancing what we do. (2nd ed.) Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books. o (For review) Chapter 6, “Needs Assessments” (pp. 107–142) o Chapter 7, “Crafting Goals and Objectives” (pp. 144–164) • Tutty, L. M., & Rothery, M. A. (2010). Needs assessments. In B. Thyer (Ed.), The handbook of social work research methods (2nd ed., pp. 149–162). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Discussion: Planning a Needs Assessment Social workers often identify client problems that suggest the need for a new or more focused service. Rather than bemoaning the lack of resources, many social workers consider creating new services in the future. They might next imagine what an appropriate service or program would look like. This week, you generate a needs assessment plan for a program that meets an unmet need of your choice. To prepare for this Discussion, review the examples of needs assessments presented in both of the readings. Consider the elements of a needs assessment plan that you must include in your own plan. Planning a Needs Assessment Discussion Needs assessment plan for a potential program of your choice that meets a currently unmet need. Describe the unmet need and how current information supports your position that a needs assessment is warranted. Identify the sources of information that you might use when conducting a needs assessment, including potential informants. Explain who among these potential informants would be valuable resources and why. Identify steps for obtaining credible, unbiased information. Be sure to cite course resources or other resources, such as those in the Walden Library, related to both the program idea and approaches to needs assessments.

Paper For Above instruction

The process of developing a needs assessment plan is a critical step in establishing effective social work programs aimed at addressing specific community or client needs. For this discussion, I propose developing a needs assessment for a new mental health outreach program targeted at homeless youth in urban areas. This unmet need stems from the rising rates of youth homelessness coupled with insufficient mental health services tailored to this vulnerable population. Current data from local health departments and homeless shelters indicate a gap between the number of homeless youth and the availability of specialized mental health services, necessitating a thorough needs assessment to justify program development.

The importance of conducting a needs assessment in this context is supported by scholarly literature, notably Dudley's (2014) emphasis on needs assessments as foundational to effective program development. According to Tutty and Rothery (2010), a needs assessment helps identify the scope of the problem, stakeholders involved, and resources required, thereby informing the program’s design. In my case, the unmet need is the lack of accessible mental health services for homeless youth, often compounded by barriers such as stigma, transportation issues, and lack of awareness.

To collect pertinent data, I would utilize multiple sources of information, including existing qualitative and quantitative data, community observations, and stakeholder interviews. For quantitative data, I would explore local health department records, homeless shelter reports, and school enrollment data to gauge the extent of youth homelessness and mental health concerns. Qualitative data could be obtained through focus groups and interviews with homeless youth, shelter staff, healthcare providers, and local policymakers. These informants are crucial, as they directly experience and understand the barriers and needs of homeless youth.

Among potential informants, homeless youth themselves are invaluable, offering firsthand insights into their mental health needs and service barriers. Shelter staff and mental health practitioners serve as essential resources because of their direct interactions with the target population and their knowledge of existing service gaps. Policymakers and community leaders are also important, as they influence resource allocation and program support. Engaging these informants ensures a comprehensive understanding and enhances the credibility of the needs assessment data.

To obtain credible and unbiased information, I would implement several steps. First, I would use standardized assessment tools and validated questionnaires to gather quantitative data, thus ensuring reliability. Second, I would employ purposive sampling to select diverse participants for interviews and focus groups, aiming for representation across different demographics and experiences. Third, I would triangulate data from multiple sources—combining surveys, interviews, and existing reports—to cross-verify findings. Finally, I would maintain transparency throughout the process, clearly documenting methods and potential biases, and seeking peer review or consultation to validate findings.

In conclusion, developing a comprehensive needs assessment plan involves identifying specific unmet needs, utilizing varied and credible data sources, and engaging key informants to gather diverse perspectives. For addressing homelessness among youth with mental health concerns, this process informs the design and implementation of targeted, effective services. Adhering to established guidelines, such as those articulated by Dudley (2014) and Tutty and Rothery (2010), ensures that the assessment is thorough, unbiased, and capable of guiding impactful social work interventions.

References

• Dudley, J. R. (2014). Social work evaluation: Enhancing what we do (2nd ed.). Lyceum Books.
• Tutty, L. M., & Rothery, M. A. (2010). Needs assessments. In B. Thyer (Ed.), The handbook of social work research methods (2nd ed., pp. 149–162). Sage.
• Glisson, C., & Green, P. (2014). Mission and Measurement in Organizational and Community Contexts. Research on Social Work Practice, 24(1), 1-10.
• Fetterman, D. M., & Wandersman, A. (2013). Empowerment evaluation principles in practice. Guilford Publications.
• Rossi, P. H., Lipsey, M. W., & Freeman, H. E. (2004). Evaluation: A systematic approach. Sage.
• Cooper, H. (2010). Research synthesis and meta-analysis: A step-by-step approach. Sage.
• Patton, M. Q. (2008). Utilization-focused evaluation. Sage.
• Kirkpatrick, D. L., & Kirkpatrick, J. D. (2006). Evaluating training programs: The four levels. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
• Leviton, L. C., & Proctor, E. K. (2010). Needs assessment. In C. S. Malley (Ed.), Handbook of evidence-based practices for emotional and behavioral disorders (pp. 721–736). Guilford Publications.
• Green, L. W., & Kreuter, M. W. (2005). Health program planning: An educational and ecological approach. McGraw-Hill.