Locate a website for a social program. Review the services that this program delivers and the stated goals and objectives of the program. Taking that information at face value, identify five specific outcomes you would measure as a part of an evaluation of this program. In a 3- to 5-page essay, describe how you would measure each outcome.

The assignment should:

Follow assignment directions (review grading rubric for best results).
Use correct APA formatting per the APA Publication Manual, 7th Edition.
Demonstrate college-level communication through the composition of original materials in Standard American English.
Be written in Standard American English and be clear, specific, and error-free. If needed, be sure to use the Writing Center for help.

Your paper should include:

Title Page
Main Body of the paper (3–5 pages)
Reference Page

Include a cover page and references page in 10 – 12 point font (Arial, Courier, and Times New Roman are acceptable)
Viewpoint and purpose should be clearly established and sustained
Assignment should follow the conventions of Standard English (correct grammar, punctuation, etc.)
Writing should be well-ordered, logical and unified, as well as original and insightful
Your work should display superior content, organization, style, and mechanics
Appropriate citation style should be followed

You should also make sure to:

Include a title page with full name, class name, section number, and date
Include an introductory and concluding paragraph and demonstrate college-level communication through the composition of original materials in Standard English
Use examples to support your discussion
Cite all sources on a separate reference page at the end of your paper and cite within the body of your paper using APA format and citation style. For more information on APA guidelines, visit Academic Tools

SOLUTION

Introduction

Introduce the purpose of the paper: to evaluate a social program by identifying measurable outcomes.
Briefly describe what social programs aim to achieve (improve well-being, provide support, enhance skills, etc.).
State that the program selected for this essay is Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), a national mentoring program serving children and adolescents.

Program Overview: Big Brothers Big Sisters

Website: https://www.bbbs.org
Services Provided:
- One-to-one mentorship between adult volunteers (Bigs) and youth (Littles).
- Academic support, life skills development, and guidance in personal growth.
- Community engagement activities and enrichment programs.
Goals and Objectives:
- Promote positive relationships between youth and adults.
- Increase self-confidence, school attendance, and academic achievement.
- Reduce risky behaviors among at-risk youth.
- Encourage long-term development and successful transition to adulthood.

Five Specific Outcomes to Measure

Academic Performance
- Measurement: Track school grades, standardized test scores, and report card improvements over time.
- Rationale: Academic improvement is a central goal of mentorship programs.
Social and Emotional Development
- Measurement: Use validated surveys (e.g., Social Skills Improvement System) to assess self-esteem, resilience, and social competence.
- Rationale: Mentoring should enhance emotional well-being and interpersonal skills.
Attendance and Engagement in School
- Measurement: Monitor school attendance records and participation in extracurricular activities.
- Rationale: Consistent attendance and engagement indicate positive behavioral outcomes influenced by mentoring.
Reduction in Risky Behaviors
- Measurement: Conduct self-reported surveys or guardian/teacher assessments on substance use, delinquency, or other at-risk behaviors.
- Rationale: Mentoring programs aim to deter risky behaviors through guidance and support.
Quality of Mentor-Youth Relationship
- Measurement: Use structured questionnaires or interviews to assess trust, communication, and satisfaction in the mentoring relationship.
- Rationale: Strong mentoring relationships are the mechanism through which other positive outcomes are achieved.

Measuring Outcomes

Explain how each outcome would be quantitatively or qualitatively measured.
Describe the use of pre- and post-assessment tools to track changes over time.
Highlight the importance of longitudinal tracking for sustained impact assessment.
Mention potential challenges: reliance on self-reports, attrition of participants, and variability in mentor quality.

Discussion

Discuss how these measurements help assess whether BBBS is achieving its objectives.
Explain how evaluation results can inform program improvement, resource allocation, and funding decisions.
Connect measurable outcomes to program goals and social impact.

Conclusion

Summarize the importance of evaluating social programs.
Emphasize that measurable outcomes allow programs to demonstrate effectiveness and justify continued support.
Reiterate that BBBS provides critical mentoring services, and systematic evaluation ensures it meets the needs of youth in the community.

References (APA 7th Edition Example)

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. (n.d.). What we do. Retrieved from https://www.bbbs.org/what-we-do/
DuBois, D. L., Portillo, N., Rhodes, J. E., Silverthorn, N., & Valentine, J. C. (2011). How effective are mentoring programs for youth? A systematic assessment of the evidence. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 12(2), 57–91. https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100611414806
Rhodes, J. E., & Lowe, S. R. (2008). Mentoring in adolescence: Influence on academic, social, and emotional development. Journal of Adolescent Research, 23(2), 208–231. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558407310435

✅ Tips for Expanding to 3–5 Pages

Each outcome can be discussed in 1 paragraph (4–6 sentences), explaining what, how, and why it is measured.
Include examples from research on mentoring programs to support your explanations.
Add a paragraph describing the overall methodology for evaluating the program (pre/post tests, surveys, observational data).
Ensure smooth transitions between outcomes and discussion sections to maintain logical flow.

Evaluation of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Program