NCJ Number
39409
Journal
EVALUATION Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (FALL 1972) Pages: 29-34
Date Published
1972
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A PROPOSED NETWORK OF HUMAN SERVICES PLANNING AND EVALUATION MECHANISMS RANGING FROM THE FEDERAL TO THE LOCAL LEVEL IS DESCRIBED, AND THE PLACE OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE IS SUPPORTING THIS EVALUATION EFFORT IS OUTLINED.
Abstract
NOTING THAT HUMAN SERVICES ARE BECOMING MORE CENTRAL TO THE EVOLVING NATURE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY, THE AUTHOR PREDICTS THAT AN UNPRECEDENTED EXPANSION OF THIS FIELD WILL CHARACTERIZE THE 1970'S. TO ENSURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS EXPANDING SYSTEM, THE AUTHOR MAINTAINS THAT A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM MUST BE LAUNCHED, AND THAT GUIDANCE SYSTEMS MUST BE CREATED WHICH WILL OPTIMIZE HUMAN SERVICES. EVALUATION OF HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS MUST BE A CENTRAL EFFORT IN THESE DEVELOPMENT AND GUIDANCE EFFORTS. THE AUTHOR OUTLINES A PROPOSED SYSTEM FOR ACCOMPLISHING THIS PLANNING AND GUIDANCE PROCESS, WHICH ENCOMPASSES: 1) A COUNCIL OF SOCIAL ADVISORS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL; 2) STATE-LEVEL GUIDANCE THROUGH COOPERATION WITH UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CENTERS OR STATE CHARTERED PLANNING AND EVALUATION INSTITUTES; AND 3) USE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO INTEGRATE AND ADMINISTER PROGRAMS. FINALLY, THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES MAY UTILIZE THREE BASIC EVALUATION APPROACHES TO SUPPORT THIS PLANNING AND GUIDANCE EFFORT: GATHERING OF BASELINE DATA ON PROGRAMS; CONDUCTING CAUSATION STUDIES TO DETERMINE CAUSES OF SOCIAL ILLS; AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS TO MEASURE THE EFFECT OF EXISTING PROGRAMS. THE NEED FOR THESE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE EVALUATION ACTIVITIES IN DEVELOPING A HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM IS STRESSED....DMC