An Outcome Evaluation of the Spirituality for Kids Program

An Outcome Evaluation of the Spirituality for Kids Program
Author: Nicole Maestas
Publisher: Rand Corporation
Total Pages: 74
Release: 2008
Genre: Education
ISBN:

This report presents results from a multisite, quantitative evaluation of the international Spirituality for Kids (SFK) after-school program. A nonreligious program, SFK seeks to build resilience in children. Interestingly, the authors found that the program positively affected not just social and internal outcomes but also school-related outcomes, even though SFK is not an academic intervention.

An Outcome Evaluation of the Success for Kids Program

An Outcome Evaluation of the Success for Kids Program
Author: Nicole Maestas
Publisher: Rand Corporation
Total Pages: 70
Release: 2010-12-08
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0833051253

This report presents results from a multisite, quantitative evaluation of the international Success for Kids (SFK) after-school program. A nonreligious program, SFK seeks to build resilience in children. Interestingly, the authors found that the program positively affected not just social and internal outcomes but also school-related outcomes, even though SFK is not an academic intervention.

Program Evaluation

Program Evaluation
Author: Kenneth J. Linfield
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 334
Release: 2018-09-03
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1351592025

This text provides a solid foundation in program evaluation, covering the main components of evaluating agencies and their programs, how best to address those components, and the procedures to follow when conducting evaluations. Different models and approaches are paired with practical techniques, such as how to plan an interview to collect qualitative data and how to use statistical analyses to report results. In every chapter, case studies provide real world examples of evaluations broken down into the main elements of program evaluation: the needs that led to the program, the implementation of program plans, the people connected to the program, unexpected side effects, the role of evaluators in improving programs, the results, and the factors behind the results. In addition, the story of one of the evaluators involved in each case study is presented to show the human side of evaluation. This new edition also offers enhanced and expanded case studies, making them a central organizing theme, and adds more international examples. New online resources for this edition include a table of evaluation models, examples of program evaluation reports, sample handouts for presentations to stakeholders, links to YouTube videos and additional annotated resources. All resources are available for download under the tab eResources at www.routledge.com/9781138103962.

Contexts for Assessment and Outcome Evaluation in Librarianship

Contexts for Assessment and Outcome Evaluation in Librarianship
Author: Anne Woodsworth
Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing
Total Pages: 201
Release: 2012-09-05
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1781900612

This themed volume focuses not on the how of undertaking assessment and outcome evaluations, but rather on their successes and failures in various contexts in which these tools have been and will be used.

Exploring and Engaging Spirituality for Today's Children

Exploring and Engaging Spirituality for Today's Children
Author: La Verne Tolbert
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 365
Release: 2014-05-19
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1625641222

Exploring and Engaging Spirituality for Today's Children: A Holistic Approach answers questions about the most effective ways to help children, pre-teens, and teens develop spiritually. This collection of research gleaned from presentations during the Fourth Triennial Children's Spirituality Conference at Concordia University in 2012 is divided into four major sections: (1) theological and historical foundations, (2) engaging parents and congregations, (3) engaging methodologies, and (4) exploring children at risk, child pornography, social justice, intercultural diversity, and abstinence education. Researchers acknowledge that the home is the foundation for Christian nurture. In Exploring and Engaging Spirituality for Today's Children, both scholars and ministry leaders come together with parents to promote a holistic environment where children are encouraged to love, respect, and obey God. From birth to high school, children's voices resonate throughout these studies as they are invited to share their reflections and experiences. Exploring and Engaging Spirituality for Today's Children is a lively, easy-to-read collection that reflects a broad range of faith traditions and is ideal for all those who are committed to the spiritual development of children.

Improving Outcomes for Children and Families

Improving Outcomes for Children and Families
Author: Anita Lightburn
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Total Pages: 242
Release: 2011-03-15
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0857002481

Significant amounts of money and resources are spent on child and family services, so successful evaluation of whether or not they are achieving the best outcomes is therefore essential. This edited collection offers an international perspective on the challenges of designing and undertaking outcome-based evaluation of child and family services. With contributions from leading international experts, it introduces the key ideas and issues currently being debated in the evaluation of these services; discusses relevant approaches to designing and using evaluation methods; and provides examples of evaluation from the real world of policy and practice. Issues covered include setting appropriate indicators for service effectiveness, cross-cultural evaluation of service interventions, service user involvement in evaluation, and evaluations of family and community-based services. This invaluable book will be essential reading for policy makers, planners, commissioners and managers across child and family welfare services, as well as researchers and other academics in the field.

Development and Evaluation of Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programs (P.A.T.H.S.)

Development and Evaluation of Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programs (P.A.T.H.S.)
Author: Daniel T.L. SHEK
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 331
Release: 2013-06-28
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 9814451541

This book outlines the development, implementation and evaluation of a project entitled “P.A.T.H.S. to Adulthood: A Jockey Club Youth Enhancement Scheme," with P.A.T.H.S. denoting Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social programmes. This pioneer project was conducted in Hong Kong between 2005 and 2012 with more than 210,000 participants. Its goal was to help students meet various challenges in their path to adulthood, with a focus on their psychosocial competencies, developmental assets and the promotion of healthy peer relationships. The project was initiated by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in collaboration with the Government’s Social Welfare Department, Education Bureau and five universities in Hong Kong. Edited by the researchers of the project, Development and Evaluation of Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programs explores the nature of positive youth development (PYD), the application of PYD constructs to youth programs and implementation issues. Using multiple strategies, the book evaluates the overall effectiveness of the P.A.T.H.S. school-based programme and reveals that stakeholders had positive perceptions of the project, its implementers and benefits. Students in the program showed better positive development and displayed lower levels of substance abuse and delinquent behaviour than students in the control schools. The book also details lessons learned, emergent issues, future directions as well as insights into the development of positive youth development programs particularly in Chinese communities. Development and Evaluation of Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programs will appeal to all educators, administrators, psychologists, social workers and allied profeesionals looking to promote whole-person development in their students, especially those with in interest in education in China.

Program Evaluation for Social Workers

Program Evaluation for Social Workers
Author: Richard M. Grinnell
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 431
Release: 2012-02-15
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0199859051

An eminently approachable and practical introduction to case- and program-level evaluation techniques.

Evaluation in Child and Family Services

Evaluation in Child and Family Services
Author: Tiziano Vecchiato
Publisher: Transaction Publishers
Total Pages: 228
Release:
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9781412823067

As child and family interventions assume greater international application, it will be helpful to examine the various ways in which service innovations are being evaluated. As demonstrated in the seminar from which these chapters resulted, only by sharing our specific professional interests, our too frequent problems in measurement, our despair in implementing complicated studies, and our successes can we advance the evaluation of human services and their outcomes. This volume considers a variety of programs and issues in the field of child and family services. While different perspectives are evident among the authors in terms of their focus and/or emphasis, there is common concern about the value of examining each program or service so as to maximize its impact as well as its potential for dissemination. Intervention research should spur and motivate cross-national efforts not only among researchers but also among social workers and other practitioners from diverse professions engaged in the delivery of human services. Such collaboration would contribute to the ultimate goals of achieving greater clarity about the specifics of "best practices" in child and family services, protocols for assessing outcomes, and ways of improving service delivery. How then can researchers and policymakers in diverse settings within diverse countries improve practice and service delivery on behalf of children and families? What particular program findings can be generalized to improve services? How can we share and implement new solutions? The contributions to this volume address such questions from varying international perspectives. Contributors provide answers and generate discussion points for consideration by practitioners as well as researchers. The book is a must for social work parishioners in areas involving the delivery of goods as well as services. Tiziano Vecchiato is scientific director of the Fondazione Emanuela Zancan, Padua, Italy. Anthony N. Maluccio is professor of social work at Boston College, Graduate School of Social Work, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Cinzia Canali is research associate at the Fondazione Emanuela Zancan, Padua, Italy.