Describe the strengths and limitations of using internal agency based evaluation teams for conducting evaluations of social service programs.

What will be an ideal response?


The strengths of using internal evaluation teams include: (a) they are knowledgeable about the interventions and programs, as well as the broader agency culture and workforce, and have easy access to agency records and staff; (b) they can typically engender agency cooperation and support because they know where to locate data and relevant information, have the relationships to gain needed levels assistance and cooperation, and know the agency leaders whose endorsement and direction will facilitate the evaluative work in a timely manner; and (c) they can more easily translate the findings to agency personnel because they understand the organization, its mission, purpose and the audience who needs to be engaged in the evaluation. Challenges or limitations include: (a) many agencies may not be able to hire internal evaluators because they do not have sufficient funding for evaluation, their existing staff lack the necessary skills and knowledge to conduct evaluations, or program evaluation is so infrequent that it doesn’t merit the funding or staff; (b) internal evaluators may in fact not have the relationships and networks with program staff or agency leadership that are required for a successful evaluation; and (c) familiarity with a program may also impede objectivity, particularly if the relationships and knowledge of the program are an integral part of the evaluator’s work life, and thus the credibility of the evaluation is sacrificed; (d) internal evaluators may also face internal political pressure by agency personnel regarding the evaluation methods and/or results.

Social Work & Human Services

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Social Work & Human Services

Adler's theory stresses self-determination in opposition to Freud's

a. psychosexual stages of development. b. psychic structure composed of id, ego, and superego. c. defense mechanisms. d. deterministic view of human beings.

Social Work & Human Services

Members may become more aware of their apprehensions as they experience the group process. As the group moves through the stages:

A) ?the leader's relationship with individual members will become more superficial, and the leader's interventions will likely be different. B) ?the leader's relationship with individual members will become more superficial, and the leader's interventions will not change. C) ?the leader's relationship with individual members will become deeper, but the leader's interventions will not change at all. D) ?the leader's relationship with individual members will become deeper and the leader's interventions will likely be different.

Social Work & Human Services

The Social Work Code of Ethics provides program evaluation guidance in which of the following areas?

a. The importance of providing services that are effective and helpful to clients b. A social workers’ mandate to focus on social justice c. The importance of effective interviewing d. a and b e. all of the above

Social Work & Human Services