Program Method- Action Research Program Topic Area- Leadership and Organization

Program Method- Action Research
Program Topic Area- Leadership and Organizational Culture/Learning
Part One – 3 pages
Develop a short description of a program designed to address a problem a human service organization can solve.
The program description should include a problem statement supported by data, relevant history, policy, program context, stated program goals and objectives, and core program activities. Use a cultural competence lens.
“When we conduct an evaluation, everything we do reflects our own cultural values and perspectives—from the evaluation purpose, the questions we develop, and the methodologies we select to our interpretation of the findings and the recommendations we make based on those findings. Because culture is influenced by many characteristics (i.e., race, ethnicity, language, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, education, and experience), it is important that we stop and reflect on our own culture before embarking on an evaluation. To conduct culturally competent evaluations, we must learn and appreciate each program’s cultural context and acknowledge that we may view and interpret the world differently from many evaluation stakeholders” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014, p. 3).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Practical strategies for culturally competent evaluation. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
1. Describe the human service topic you are interested in examining.
1. Find a minimum of five scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles on your topic.
2. Describe the problems or issues in the community or specific area that needs to be addressed as it relates to the human service topic you described. Include an overview of the human service problem or issue using supporting national/local data.
1. In this program development, you will need to support your topic choice with data from national professional organization web sources or reports such as CDC, SAMHSA, HUD, National Center for Homeless Education, National Center for Preventing Homelessness, National Foster Youth Institute, National Center for Children and Families, Child Welfare Information Gateway, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Census Bureau, and/or any number of other professional organizations relevant to your topic.
2. Find patterns of claims you can make based on the data or literature, state the reasons for the claim, and provide evidence supporting those reasons.
3. Based on the findings, write a problem statement.
4. Develop a plan to address this problem. (An alternative to developing a program from scratch is to identify and adopt evidence-based programs that have proven effective. To do this, begin by reflecting on your organization’s characteristics and identifying programs that could serve as the basis of the program evaluation.)
1. Describe strategies to address this problem. Find a minimum of five scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles discussing strategies to address your identified problem and use them to support your proposed program plan.
2. Develop program goal(s) outlining who will benefit from your program, what benefits they will receive, and when they will be achieved.
3. Develop objectives to support the program goal.
5. Link all the above together and write a clear description of your problem, how it will be addressed, and the goals and objectives that will get you to the desired outcome. Be sure to assess and highlight any disparities identified.
References (include the following) + additional 3
1. https://www.cdc.gov/evaluation/approach/index.htm
2. Executive Perspective CDC’s Program Evaluation Journey: 1999 to Present by Kidder and Chapel
Part Two- 4 pages
Present the following in the proposed evaluation plan:
1. Program description (from Assessment 1): Suggested length 2 paragraphs.
1. Program background & history.
2. Program size, locations, and organization.
3. Evaluation needs (Do NOT just say “program evaluation” will be conducted. Specify the type of evaluation being conducted).
2. Key stakeholders description: Suggested length 1–2 paragraphs.
1. Stakeholders include people who reflect the community’s diversity, will use the evaluation results, support or maintain the program, or are affected by the program activities or evaluation results.
3. Program goals and objectives: Suggested length 2 paragraphs.
1. Provide a broad statement reflecting what you intend to see accomplished by the program—what is the goal?
2. Identify the indicators/performance measure of success. Specify the results to be achieved and how they will be achieved. Note: Indicators are used to determine if the program is being implemented as expected and achieving its outcomes. Indicators can relate to any part of the program and its logic model or program description.
4. Logic model
1. Identify and describe evidence-based strategies and activities that are culturally appropriate and, if appropriately implemented, will address the issues identified in your problem statement. You should have already introduced at least one of these strategies in Assessment 1. They are the proposed activities that, if implemented, should address the human services issue you are working to address.
2. Develop a graphic representation of your logic model to succinctly identify available resources (inputs), what the program is doing (activities), and what you hope to achieve (outcomes).
5. Evaluation Purpose Statement (What is the purpose of your evaluation?): Suggested length 1 paragraph.
1. Describe the focus and anticipated outcomes of the evaluation.
2. State the evaluation question(s).
References (Attached)
1. Chouinard, J., & Cram, F. (2020). Culturally responsive approaches to evaluation: Empirical implications for theory and practice. SAGE Publications, Inc., https://doi.org/10.4135/9781506368559
2. Hansen
3. McLaughlin
written communication: Write concisely and directly, using active voice.
Format: Use current APA style and format for references and in-text citations.
Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.