Discussion 1:
Program Evaluation: Benefits and Concerns of Stakeholders

Dudley (2009) points out that social work practice is usually embedded in programs. While you looked at practice evaluation using single-subject design in Week 3, this week, you shift focus to program evaluation. Program evaluation serves many purposes, including accountability to funders and to the public. Often, funding sources such as government agencies or private foundations requires periodic program evaluations. These evaluations can help provide answers to many different questions, and can contribute to improvement of services. There are a variety of program evaluation models that are appropriate for addressing different questions as well as facilitating the collection and analysis of many different types of data.

To prepare for this Discussion, identify a program within an agency with which you are familiar, which could benefit from process evaluation and outcome evaluation. You do not need to identify the agency in your post. Also, review the different evaluation models highlighted in this week’s resources (needs assessment, program monitoring, client satisfaction study, outcome evaluation, or cost benefit study).

· Post a brief summary of the program that you selected. Recommend a program evaluation model that would answer a question relevant to the program.

· Explain the potential benefits of the program evaluation that you proposed (both process and outcome).

· Identify 2–3 concerns that stakeholders might have about your proposed evaluation and how you would address those concerns.

· Then explain 2–3 concerns that stakeholders may have about your proposed program evaluation and how you would address those concerns.

Assignment: Program Evaluation

References (use 2 or more)

Dudley, J. R. (2014). Social work evaluation: Enhancing what we do.(2nd ed.) Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books.

• Chapter 1, “Evaluation and Social Work: Making the Connection” (pp. 1–26)
• Chapter 4, “Common Types of Evaluations” (pp. 71-89)
• Chapter 5, “Focusing an Evaluation” (pp. 90-105)

Document:Logan, T. K., & Royse, D. (2010). Program evaluation studies. In B. Thyer (Ed.), The handbook of social work research methods(2nd ed., pp. 221–240). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. (PDF)

W. K. Kellogg Foundation. (n. d.). W. K. Kellogg foundation evaluation handbook.Retrieved October 8, 2013, from http://www.wkkf.org/knowledge-center/resources/2010/w-k-kellogg-foundation-evaluation-handbook.aspx

• Chapter 3, “Three Levels of Evaluation” (pp. 14–18)
• Chapter 5, “Planning and Implementing Project-Level Evaluation” (pp. 47–104)

Discussion 2: Ethics and the Law

When working with clients, it is important to maintain professional boundaries to safeguard both you and your clients. Legislation such as HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) and the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics are specific in how you as a social worker should protect client information and safeguard confidentiality. Responding ethically in a professional situation may be clear in most situations, but not necessarily in allsituations. Even though you have established laws and code of ethics to guide your decision-making process, you may still face ethical conflicts.

For this Discussion, review the media of the Bradley case and consider how the case relates to social work professional ethics.

·  Post the strategy you would use to address the Teen First director’s request if you were the social worker in the Bradley case.

·  Then, describe a hypothetical situation in which an organization’s decision conflicts with your personal/professional ethics but remains within the law. Explain how you would respond to this situation, and why.

Assignment: Program Evaluation

References (use 3 or more)

Northouse, P. G. (2018). Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice(4th ed.). Washington, DC: Sage.

• Chapter 12, “Addressing Ethics in Leadership” (pp. 273-300)

Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and practice (6th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage Publications.

Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Chapter 16, “Leadership Ethics” (pp. 423–449)

Stephenson, M. O., Jr. (2011). Considering the relationships among social conflict, social imaginaries, resilience, and community-based organization leadership. Ecology and Society, 16(1). Retrieved from http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol16/iss1/art34/

National Association of Social Workers. (2014). Code of ethics. Retrieved from http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/default.asp

Laureate Education (Producer). (2014a). Sessions: Bradley(Episode 5 of 42) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Discussion 3: Reflections on Ethical Leadership

What does it mean to be an ethical leader? How is ethical leadership demonstrated in social work practice? As a leader in the social work profession, you have to achieve a balance between your professional and personal ethics. At times, these may be aligned with each other, but there may be situations in which they conflict. Because leadership includes value and moral dimensions, your character, actions, and goals as a social work administrator should reflect ethical leadership.

For this Discussion, consider the characteristics of ethical leadership and the challenges associated with practicing ethical leadership.

·  Post your definition of ethical leadership as it relates to the social work profession.

·  Explain what it means to be an ethical leader and describe the challenges of being an ethical leader.

References (2 or more)

Northouse, P. G. (2018). Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice(4th ed.). Washington, DC: Sage.

• Chapter 12, “Addressing Ethics in Leadership” (pp. 273-300)

Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and practice (6th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage Publications.

Chapter 16, “Leadership Ethics” (pp. 423–449)

National Association of Social Workers. (2014). Code of ethics. Retrieved from http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/default.asp

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CLASS

Discussion Questions (DQ)

• Initial responses to the DQ should address all components of the questions asked, including a minimum of one scholarly source, and be at least 250 words.
• Successful responses are substantive (i.e., add something new to the discussion, engage others in the discussion, well-developed idea) and include at least one scholarly source.
• One or two-sentence responses, simple statements of agreement, or “good post,” and responses that are off-topic will not count as substantive. Substantive responses should be at least 150 words.
• I encourage you to incorporate the readings from the week (as applicable) into your responses.

Weekly Participation

• Your initial responses to the mandatory DQ do not count toward participation and are graded separately.
• In addition to the DQ responses, you must post at least one reply to peers (or me) on three separate days, for a total of three replies.
• Participation posts do not require a scholarly source/citation (unless you cite someone else’s work).
• Part of your weekly participation includes viewing the weekly announcement and attesting to watching it in the comments. These announcements are made to ensure you understand everything that is due during the week.

APA Format and Writing Quality

• Familiarize yourself with APA format and practice using it correctly. It is used for most writing assignments for your degree. Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for APA paper templates, citation examples, tips, etc. Points will be deducted for poor use of APA format or absence of APA format (if required).
• Cite all sources of information! When in doubt, cite the source. Paraphrasing also requires a citation.
• I highly recommend using the APA Publication Manual, 6th edition.

Use of Direct Quotes

• I discourage overutilization of direct quotes in DQs and assignments at the Masters’s level and deduct points accordingly.
• As Masters’s level students, it is important that you be able to critically analyze and interpret information from journal articles and other resources. Simply restating someone else’s words does not demonstrate an understanding of the content or critical analysis of the content.
• It is best to paraphrase content and cite your source.

 

LopesWrite Policy

• For assignments that need to be submitted to LopesWrite, please be sure you have received your report and Similarity Index (SI) percentage BEFORE you do a “final submit” to me.
• Once you have received your report, please review it. This report will show you grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors that can easily be fixed. Take the extra few minutes to review instead of getting counted off for these mistakes.
• Review your similarities. Did you forget to cite something? Did you not paraphrase well enough? Is your paper made up of someone else’s thoughts more than your own?
• Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for tips on improving your paper and SI score.

Late Policy

• The university’s policy on late assignments is 10% penalty PER DAY LATE. This also applies to late DQ replies.
• Please communicate with me if you anticipate having to submit an assignment late. I am happy to be flexible, with advance notice. We may be able to work out an extension based on extenuating circumstances.
• If you do not communicate with me before submitting an assignment late, the GCU late policy will be in effect.
• I do not accept assignments that are two or more weeks late unless we have worked out an extension.
• As per policy, no assignments are accepted after the last day of class. Any assignment submitted after midnight on the last day of class will not be accepted for grading.

Communication

• Communication is so very important. There are multiple ways to communicate with me: 
  • Questions to Instructor Forum: This is a great place to ask course content or assignment questions. If you have a question, there is a good chance one of your peers does as well. This is a public forum for the class.
  • Individual Forum: This is a private forum to ask me questions or send me messages. This will be checked at least once every 24 hours.