The Program Evaluation Plan The Growth In The Number And Var

The Program Evaluation Planthe Growth In The Number And Variety Of Hu

The Program Evaluation Plan: The growth in the number and variety of human services over the past 25 years has increased the community’s expectations for accountability and made program evaluation a necessary feature of a service program’s design. The information generated by program evaluation forms an important element in program planning and decision making. Managers require information regarding program activity and outcomes to improve program services, be accountable and build support among community stakeholders. Please be sure to review this week’s learning activity as it will help prepare you to complete this assignment. In this assignment, you will construct an evaluation plan for the program alternative you selected in the Unit 2 Assignment as the basis of the plan.

Use the questions below to outline the elements of your plan: What are the program goals, process objectives, and outcome objectives? Be sure to write your objectives in a measurable form and be as specific as possible. What types of evaluation would you use to monitor program implementation and evaluate whether the program was effective? What are the basic questions about the program you want the evaluation to answer? What type of data would you collect to answer your evaluation questions?

What method would you employ to collect the data? What criteria would you use to determine the success of the program? What method of analysis would use to measure change on process and outcome objectives? How would you plan to report and share evaluation results with stakeholders?

Paper For Above instruction

The development of a comprehensive program evaluation plan is essential in ensuring accountability and effectiveness in human services programs. This paper outlines an evaluation plan for a hypothetical community-based youth mentoring program, focusing on establishing clear goals, objectives, suitable evaluation methods, data collection techniques, success criteria, analytical approaches, and dissemination strategies.

Program Goals, Process Objectives, and Outcome Objectives

The primary goal of the youth mentoring program is to improve the social skills, academic performance, and overall well-being of participating youths. Process objectives include recruiting and training 50 mentors within six months, matching mentors with mentees within eight weeks, and maintaining regular contact with mentees through weekly meetings. Outcome objectives focus on measurable changes such as a 20% improvement in mentees' school attendance, a 15% increase in academic achievement (e.g., grades or test scores), and a reduction in problematic behaviors as reported by parents and teachers within a year.

Evaluation Types and Key Questions

Formative evaluation will be used during program implementation to monitor processes, such as mentor recruitment and training efficacy. Summative evaluation will assess overall program effectiveness by measuring changes in mentees’ social and academic outcomes. The key questions guiding the evaluation include: Are mentors being recruited and trained effectively? Are mentees showing improvement in school attendance and behavior? Is the program sustainable and meeting the community’s needs?

Data Collection and Methods

Data will be collected through multiple methods, including surveys, interviews, attendance records, academic reports, and behavioral assessments. Surveys administered to mentees, parents, and mentors will capture perceptions of program impact. School records will provide attendance and academic performance data. Behavioral assessments conducted by program staff and teachers will evaluate changes in social skills and behavior.

The primary data collection method will involve structured questionnaires and standardized assessment tools administered at baseline, mid-point, and conclusion of the program. Additionally, regular progress reports from mentors and teachers will provide ongoing qualitative insights.

Criteria for Success and Analysis Methods

Success will be defined as achieving at least 80% of the set outcome objectives, such as improved attendance and academic performance, with positive feedback from stakeholders. The evaluation will employ quantitative analysis techniques like paired t-tests and ANOVA to measure changes over time in attendance and grades. Qualitative data from interviews and open-ended survey responses will be analyzed thematically to capture nuanced program impacts.

Reporting and Sharing Evaluation Results

Results will be compiled into comprehensive evaluation reports and presented to stakeholders through community meetings, digital reports, and executive summaries. Visual aids such as charts and graphs will facilitate understanding of program outcomes. Feedback from stakeholders will be solicited to improve future iterations of the program and evaluation process, fostering transparency and continuous improvement.

References

• Berk, R. A. (2018). An Introduction to Program Evaluation. Sage Publications.
• Fitzpatrick, J. L., Sanders, J. R., & Worthen, B. R. (2011). Program Evaluation: Alternative Approaches and Practical Guidelines. Pearson.
• Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods. Sage Publications.
• Rossi, P. H., Lipsey, M. W., & Freeman, H. E. (2004). Evaluation: A Systematic Approach. Sage Publications.
• Scriven, M. (2016). The Logic of Evaluation. In Evaluation Theory & Practice (pp. 116-134). Springer.
• University of Wisconsin-Madison. (2020). Program Evaluation Resources. https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/evaluation/
• Yarbrough, D. B., Shulha, L. M., Hopson, R. K., & Caruthers, F. A. (2011). Program Evaluation: Methods and Case Studies. Wadsworth Publishing.
• Clark, H. (2019). Building a Culture of Evaluation in Nonprofit Organizations. Nonprofit Management & Leadership, 29(3), 359-372.
• Chen, H. T. (2015). Practical Program Evaluation: Assessing and Improving Planning, Implementation, and Effectiveness. Sage Publications.
• Weiss, C. H. (1998). Evaluation: Methods for Studying Programs and Policies. Prentice Hall.