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Looking for Strengths: The Irony of Internal Auditing of Social Work Services as a Strengths-based Evaluation Method
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| Presenter(s):
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| William Cabin,
Youth Consultation Service,
williamcabin@yahoo.com
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| Abstract:
Strengths-based and evaluation theory de-emphasize problem-centered approaches to social work practice (Saleebey, 2006). Auditing typically emphasizes problem identification and correction (Harvard Business Review, 2006). The two approaches appear contradictory. The literature indicates limited, if any, mention of auditing as a strengths-based approach or as an accepted human services evaluation methodology. The paper presents an actual internal social work auditing program, the results of which were used as a strengths-building practice approach with social workers. The program was used at a multi-site, non-profit child welfare organization. The paper describes the origin, goals, design, implementation, and results of the two-year-old program, emphasizing the use of results to build on social worker strengths. Samples of the audit tool, expit report, and trend reports are included.
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Applications of Complexity to Social Program Evaluation
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| Presenter(s):
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| Michael Wolf-Branigin,
George Mason University,
mwolfbra@gmu.edu
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| Abstract:
This presentation develops the application of complexity theory to social program evaluation. It links aspects of complexity theory to social work values as outlined in the NASW Code of Ethics. It presents a model for framing social work phenomena within this framework by describing the complexity component followed by simple prompts for evaluators to use. The presentation discusses three diverse applications – community inclusion of persons with developmental disability, role of spirituality in substance abuse treatment, and application to social work education - of this flexible technique to social program evaluation. Framing social program evaluations in a complexity framework has a widening appeal given the increasing availability of evaluation tools and computational power.
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Understanding the Nature of Work: New York State Child Welfare Workload Study
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| Presenter(s):
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| Paul Frankel,
American Humane Association,
paulf@americanhumane.org
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| Elizabeth Oppenheim,
Walter R McDonald & Associates Inc,
loppenheim@wrma.com
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| Abstract:
This study is the first child welfare workload study that addresses the activity of both voluntary and public agencies. This is an important advance in understanding the total effort required to assess, plan, provide, and document the broad array of child welfare services. Eleven district offices in New York State, including the Administration for Children's Services, and 42 voluntary agencies participated in the study. Detailed time data from more than 2,200 caseworkers were analyzed. The findings of the time data collection and the other components of this study lead us to recommend that New York State reduce its caseloads for Child Protective Services Investigations, Foster Care Case Planning Services, and Preventive Case Planning Services. Recommendations are offered to improve performance on many different child welfare indicators (e.g., face to face contact with children), and systemic improvements in training and supervision, management, and outcome measurement are discussed.
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