Description
Week 4 dq, 2 peer responses and paper
Unformatted Attachment Preview
SOCW 6311 Week 4
IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS
Return, for a moment, to the idea of noticing. Sensory and observational skills paired
with an analytical mind are the basis of social work assessment. And assessment is
perhaps the most fundamental of all social work activities. It is a process of gathering
pertinent information to answer questions about problems, contributions to problems,
and potential strengths and assets. At a program-evaluation or program-planning level, a
social worker applies the same thoughtful process used in individual assessment but
extends or filters it to answer program-level questions.
As a result of this assessment, social workers often identify client problems that suggest
the need for new or more focused services. They might next imagine what an
appropriate service or program would look like. In this Discussion, you navigate a similar
process of noticing problems, identifying needs, and envisioning a program to support
those problems and needs.
LEARNING RESOURCES
Required Readings
•
Dudley, J. R. (2020). Social work evaluation: Enhancing what we do (3rd ed.).
Oxford University Press.
•
o
Chapter 4, “Common Types of Evaluations”
▪
Read “Common Program Evaluations” (pp. 78–89).
o
Chapter 5, “Focusing an Evaluation” (pp. 96–111)
o
Chapter 6, “Needs Assessments” (pp. 115–147)
TO PREPARE
•
•
•
Review the Learning Resources on focusing an evaluation and on needs
assessments.
Consider your field agency, practice, or community setting, and any common
client problems, issues, or service gaps you have observed. If you are not
currently in a practice setting, you may draw on your past work or practicum
experience.
Research and/or brainstorm ideas for programs or services that could address
the problems, issues, or gaps.
BY DAY 3
•
•
•
•
Describe at least one common client problem, issue, or gap in services or
programs at your field agency, practice, or community setting. (If you are not
currently in a practice setting, you may draw on your past work or practicum
experience.)
Specifically, highlight what you see that tells you clients need something more
than what the agency, practice, or community setting is offering.
Identify a program that you think is necessary to address the problem, issue,
or gap and explain why.
Generate a question that you might ask about your identified need and to
whom.
BY DAY 6
Respond to at least two colleagues by comparing your agency observations about
problems, issues, and needs with theirs. Provide respectful feedback on your colleague’s
program idea or need-related question.
NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Oftentimes, social workers must justify the development of a new program to
stakeholders through a formal needs assessment that generates scientific data about
needs and gaps in the agency or community. They can use existing data from their
agency, practice, or community setting to assess whether clients are receiving the help
they need. They can also gather information from their clients through interviews,
surveys, focus groups, and more.
In this week’s Discussion, you informally observed a problem in your agency or
community setting and critically thought about an appropriate program to address the
problem. Now, in the Assignment, you consider how to support the need for your
proposed program more scientifically.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
TO PREPARE
•
•
•
Review and refine your potential program based on the feedback received in
Discussion.
Consider which clients will be included in the program and why.
Review the methods for gathering information from clients and other
stakeholders, including interviews, surveys, focus groups, etc. Determine
which two methods would give you the most pertinent and reliable
information to justify the development and implementation of your program.
BY DAY 7
Submit a 1- to 2-page paper expanding on and justifying the potential program you
identified in this week’s Discussion. Include:
•
•
•
A brief description of the program to be developed
Criteria for inclusion in the program (which clients and why)
Justification for the proposed program. What two best methods would you
use to gather credible information to support the need for your program (e.g.,
interview, surveys, focus groups, etc.). Why? Be sure to state from whom you
would gather the information.
Use the Learning Resources and peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles to support your
paper. Make sure to include appropriate APA citations and a reference list.
SUBMISSION INFORMATION
Purchase answer to see full
attachment
