NCJ Number
51554
Editor(s)
C C ATTKISSON,
W A HARGREAVES,
M J HOROWITZ,
J E SORENSEN
Date Published
1978
Length
506 pages
Annotation
THIS INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAM EVALUATION DISCUSSES INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, COMMUNITY SERVICE NEEDS ASSESSMENT, MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION OF PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS, AND FUTURE TRENDS.
Abstract
DESIGNED AS AN INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAM EVALUATION AT THE ADVANCED UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL OR AS A TOOL FOR PRACTITIONERS WORKING WITH SOCIAL PROGRAMS, THE ANTHOLOGY CONSIDERS THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND CONTEMPORARY TRENDS OF HUMAN SERVICE DELIVERY AND ANALYZES THE PROGRAMMATIC ROLES AND MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS OF EVALUATION. THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IS EXAMINED ALONG WITH THE BASIS FOR SYSTEM DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION. A MANAGEMENT INFORMATION AND PLANNING SYSTEM FOR INDIRECT SERVICES IS DESCRIBED. A SECTION ON ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICE NEEDS DISCUSSES NEED IDENTIFICATION AND PROGRAM PLANNING IN THE COMMUNITY CONTEXT. SERVICE UTILIZATION, SOCIAL INDICATORS, AND CITIZEN SURVEY APPROACHES TO HUMAN SERVICE NEEDS ASSESSMENT ARE COVERED, AS ARE THE MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION OF PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS. CHAPTERS CONSIDER EVALUATION OF PROGRAM OUTCOMES, GOAL ATTAINMENT SCALING, USE OF COST-OUTCOME AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS FOR IMPROVED MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND QUALITY ASSURANCE IN PROGRAM EVALUATION. TO ILLUSTRATE EVALUATION OF INDIRECT SERVICES TO SCHOOLS, A MODEL FOR PROGRAM EVALUATION OF MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION SERVICES IS PRESENTED. THE FINAL SECTION FOCUSES ON PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PROBLEMS OF HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAM EVALUATION AND OUTLINES FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR EVALUATION AND FOR EDUCATION OF EVALUATORS. MAJOR SECTIONS OF THE TEXT OPEN WITH INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS, AND CHAPTERS CONCLUDE WITH SUMMARIES OR CONCLUSIONS AND LISTS OF BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES. A SUBJECT INDEX TO THE TEXT IS PROVIDED.