RUNNING HEAD: EVALUATION OF PRACTICE

Tamesha Green
Evaluation of Practice
SW 4997 Integrative Seminar
June 20, 2015
Wayne State University

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Abstract

Field placement for this writer was conducted at the NSO, Tumaini Center. The Tumaini center is
a twenty four hour, emergency warming center that shelters adult men and women. At the center
this writer worked with clients individually. The responsibility that was bestowed upon the writer
was to help clients obtain Social Security Insurance (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance
(SSDI) benefits. Once a comfort level was built with handling a case load, more responsibilities
were given. The extra duties included conducting an intake assessment for each client, to
determine their eligibility for each program, completed voucher applications for housing on the
clients behalf, and assisted by obtaining records, birth certificates and identification. While at
this site, the person in environment system theory was used when providing services for the
clients. With this approach the client and their environment is viewed a whole, with interweaving
components, in which each component is subsequently affected by another component. At the
NSO, they realize that each subcomponent affects the other component and the work diligently to
effectively tackle the interweaving components, so that the client is able to function productively
in society. This paper will evaluate the techniques used, and the methodologies to evaluate
practice effectiveness. Value and ethical dilemmas related to the delivery of service.

Evaluation of Practice

The NSO is an organization that focuses on dealing with situations that thwart the social
development of an individual. They have developed goal oriented campuses that target specific
populations, along with issues that may contribute to just that specific population. For instance,
the Life Choices location provides support to children and adults with developmental disabilities
and their families (NSO, 2015). Their services includes supplying free child day care for parents
in the program, an autistic development program, mental health services, shot clinics, housing
and many other referral services. During the interview process, the clients needs are assessed; it
is during this time that the social worker applies the person in environment theory to their
practice. These sites are located within some of the most impoverished neighborhoods and
usually deal with clients from these neighborhoods or surrounding area. To be able to better
service the client, every aspect of the person should be evaluated.
Kondat stated that Arguments define human actors as co constructors of, not just interactions
within, their social environments. Although human behavior is shaped by society and its
structures, those very structures are recursively constructed, maintained and reproduced by the
social actions of human agents over time (2001, p 436). With this theory applied to practice, an
understanding for the needs of the client can be addressed and met. The NSO has thrived for over
sixty years in the community by first identifying a need and then supplying that need. For the life
choices center, child day center is an important aspect to focus on. Their client demographic is
centered on single parents and children. One of the interweaving components in this person in
environment situation is the concerns and well being for the child. This is why child day care and
educational programs are offered through this center. They also offer G.E.D training and job
readiness skills.

Evaluation of Practice

To evaluate the methodology of practice effectiveness, first there were defined parameters that
were in place. One of the first parameters put in place for the clients in order for them to receive
services is, clients must have a mental disability and or a co-occurring substance abuse disorder.
The other parameter that was set in place was that they must also be homeless or at risk of being
homeless to be a participant in the housing program. If a client does not meet the perquisites for
the program, they are then referred to another agency that can better assist them. The next step in
evaluating services is to determine a need for an evaluation. This process is done upon the initial
intake process. Clients are asked a set of fifty questions to determine their acuity to certain
problematic areas. This evaluation tool determines how much assistance if any, the client will
need with becoming housed.
The next step in evaluating the methodology of practice design a method used for evaluating
services. This step is skipped at the Tumaini center, because there is already a prioritization tool
implemented. The assessment tool is called the Vulnerability Index Prioritization decision
assistance tool (VI-SPDAT). This tool is used in the evaluation process; it helps workers to better
understand the needs of their client and it helps to engage with them as well. The last part in the
evaluation of methodology is setting standards and decision making. In this step the client is the
one who sets the standards for the goals and services that they receive. Collection of evidence is
done by keeping a detailed log on a spread sheet. This spread sheet details the services that each
consumer is receiving and if they have became house. Making sure that each client is housed;
regardless to their circumstances is the ultimate goal for consumers.

Evaluation of Practice

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of practice with clients, bi weekly meetings are held
among workers. The entire staff that is responsible for attacking each of the interweaving parts
are brought together to discuss strategies, goals and new procedures that have been implemented.
This helps to eliminate any confusion that one may have, it brings clarity to the overall mission
of the team, and it sets standards for measurable and obtainable goals for the clients. In addition
to the bi weekly team meetings, there is also a quality review meeting that is conducted by the
centers supervisor. In this meeting the case manager is responsible for supplying all of the
records and documentation that has been kept on all of the cases in their case load. The
supervisor then checks to see if the records in the chart are in order, all of the required documents
are in place and if the information was placed in the data collection information system correctly.
At the end of each month the information that was placed into the information processing
system generates an output for each center. The output tells us how many people have been
housed, how many were granted benefits, and those who were not helped. This gives the workers
a chance to see if their goals are measuring up to the actual outcome. The output measures the
overall progress and outcomes center by center, and each individual worker at that center. Once
a client is granted benefits, determines if the services that were given had directly impacted their
lives, by helping the client through a tedious process that they may have otherwise bypassed to
avoid the confusion and frustration. When this writer has assisted a client with obtaining
benefits, help to get them into a rehabilitation center, and walk them through the process for
obtaining a house, indeed goals are measured and a level of productivity is established.

Evaluation of Practice

Other research has suggested that access to rent subsidies significantly improves housing
outcomes for homeless persons with mental illness. Rosenheck, Kasprow, Frisman, & Liu Mares
(2003) found that the combination of immediate access to rent subsidies through housing
vouchers plus intensive case management significantly reduced days homeless over a 3-year
follow-up period as compared to either intensive case management without housing vouchers or
standard care. Another experimental study similarly found that access to housing vouchers
increased the likelihood that clients would remain independently housed after 18 months.
However, no study has yet examined outcomes associated with the continuum approach and a
more direct approach to housing when clients in both conditions had access to such subsidies.
The housing first program and the rapid re housing program are needed to help workers
implement their client goals.
There are other tools and skill sets that are needed to work at this site, including exceptional
computer skills, being self motivated, task centered, proficient organizational skills, an ability to
have understanding and patience with the mentally ill and drug addicted clients A worker should
possess the ability to utilize their time wisely, communicate effectively both written and orally,
and adhere to all company policies and rules. This population needs the dedication of a hard
working and goal oriented individual who enjoys what they do for a living (Green, 2015).

In

order to better assist this population, the NSO uses the Systems Theory perspective to address the
co-occurring issues of the homeless. Systems theory perspective looks at the relationship
between elements that constitute a whole, and what factors influence those relationships. One of
the factors that are usually associated with this group is substance abuse.

Evaluation of Practice

Research has shown that the prevalence of mental illness and addictions is higher among
homeless individuals than in the general population, and that homeless individuals often have
complex unmet service needs. Studies have found that 2570% of homeless individuals have cooccurring mental health and substance use problems (Hwang, Kirst, Misir, Stergropoulos, 2015,
p. 24). This co-occurring issue was tackled by addressing addiction, along with treating mental
illness. The center was accredited by The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation
facilities (CARF). CARF is an accredited organization that sets the standards for rehabilitation
facilities, specifically evaluating and identifying program standards.
The accreditation is given to facilities if they meet all written standards, the accreditation
criteria and principles. The Narcotics Anonymous groups that are held every Wednesday are free
and open to those whom wish to attend. The certification from CARF ensures that the individual
that is conducting the meetings met the proper guidelines for giving adequate care. For those
cases that are more chronic and severe, a treatment facility may be an option that is offered to
consumers at no cost. Treatment facilities are not a part of the services that the NSO has to offer,
so the client would receive a referral for another treatment facility that is better equipped to
handle their rehabilitation. This helps to address the co- occurring issues for this at risk
population, but also leaves another health related issue unresolved (Green, 2015).
In conclusion, in order to help end homelessness, you have to be able to give people more
than just a home to live in. It takes a systems approach theory to tackle each and every intricate
part of the consumer. This means addressing their mental health, physical health, any substance
abuse issues, income, transportation, and social issues that they may have as a barrier that
prevents them from becoming housed. This population present with an abundance of issues that
may be as simple as putting them into a house, or as complicated as them never wanting to live

Evaluation of Practice

in a house. However, they are an at risk population for more than one reason. This population is
in need of individuals that really care about the homeless, to help impact their lives. It takes a
unique individual to look past their biases and judgments to roll up their sleeves and help impact
the lives of those who need it most. The positive impact of the workers at the Tumaini center can
be seen changing the lives of this disadvantaged group every single day (Green, T. 2015).

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References

Green, T. (2015). Wayne State University field placement. Unpublished manuscripts.

Hwang, S., & Burns, T. (2014). Health interventions for people who are homeless. The Lancet,
384(9953), 1541-1547.
Kirst, M., Zeiger, S., Misir, V., Hwang, S., & Stregropoulos, V. (2015). The impact of housing
first randomized controlled trial on substance use problems among homeless individuals
with mental illness. Drug and alcohol Dependence, 146, 24-29.
doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.10.019
Kondat, M. (2002)Actor- Centered Social Work: Revisioning person in environment through
critical theory lens. 47 (4), p 435-448. Issn: 0037-8046
OConnell, E., Kasprow,W., Rosenheak, R.,(2012). Supported Housing in a Population of
Veterans who are Homeless. http.//.dx.doi.org.proxy.lib.wayne.edu/10.1037/a0014921

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