Goal Oriented Evaluation and Patterns of Use Data - A Presenting Problems Approach

• NCJ Number: 70652
• Journal: Loop Issue: 8 Dated: (December 1978) Pages: 17-21
• Author(s): J C Schwartz
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The paper presents an approach to gathering patterns of use data, intended to profile the client population, which utilizes goal-oriented evaluation formats and incorporates treatment goals to allow a richer portrait of clients.

Abstract

Although the gathering of patterns of use data based on demographic measurements is useful, and analysis of data-based on goal-oriented evaluation formats and the incorporation of treatment goals which focus on client-specific concerns, allows a statement of characteristics more congruent with perceptions clients have of themselves. An example of such an approach can be found in the Out Client Service of Oesterlen-Services for Youth in Clark County, Ohio. Using a version of Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS), and writing goals reflecting the problematic initial conditions of the adolescent client along with expected better and worse outcomes thought to be associated with successful and unsuccessful interventions, 171 treatment goals involving 60 clients became available for analysis. The goals were classified into seven broad categories based on Ellsworth's PARS II Adjustment Scale for Ages Six to Eighteen. Follow-up guides for the 171 treatment goals were studied through content analysis, which also allowed identification of subgoals. It was then possible to construct typical initial conditions and also typical expected better and worse outcomes for each of the subgoal categories. Utilization of this approach to patterns of use allows characterization of the client population in terms of what is lacking and what needs to be done. With that information, checks on the system of service delivery can be made, and monitoring of the appropriateness of both clients served and agency mission can be accomplished. Further, the nature of the goal categories may serve as a baseline for evaluating the relevance of future, more finely tuned evaluation methods. This approach should complement the collection and analysis of demographic data. Six footnotes and four tables are included.