Running head: PROGRAM PLANNING AND EVALUATION

Program Planning and Evaluation HSM 270 September 4, 2011

PROGRAM PLANNING AND EVALUATION Program Planning and Evaluation After reading all of the scenarios in appendix B, I have chosen to concentrate on the PEACE Domestic Violence Agency throughout this class. The purpose of this organization is to

reduce the trauma, the incidence of sexual assault, and domestic violence. Through education the organization focuses on assisting victims on how to overcome barriers and return back to living a normal life. The goal of the PEACE Domestic Violence Agency is to help promote the wellbeing of young men, women, and children who have been affected by domestic violence live in a community that is a less violent place to live. Program planning is the selection of related purposeful activities that will be undertaken to accomplish one or many related objectives. (Program Planning, 2000) It is a continuing process of development that has the intent of planning activities that will take care of the determined needs and problems; it is a means for program development. (Yuen/Terao, 2003) Program evaluation systematically assesses the process or outcomes of a program with the intent of furthering its development and improvement and carefully collects information about the program in order to make the necessary decisions about the program. Evaluators work with program staff closely to implement an evaluation design that is responsive to the needs of the program. (Office of Educational Assessment, 2005) Program planning and evaluation are not separate activities. They both are steps in the bigger process of program development. When program planning and evaluation are planned carefully they can be mixed into an organized set of ongoing operations that promote a support each other. Program planning and evaluation are an important part of human service programs and play a critical role in determining if a program is successful. These two components are also related as they are both the process and the product of

PROGRAM PLANNING AND EVALUATION the political and economic environments. Program planning and evaluation interrelate because there is a need for this type of program. The PEACE Domestic Violence Agency has to set goals, objectives, activities, and evaluations to be effective in addressing the problem. This will also assist in ensuring that the individuals who are associated with the program have a clear idea of what the program is supposed to accomplish. The target population has been clearly shown by the PEACE Domestic Violence Agency and the mission statement also clearly shows what the program hopes to accomplish.

Technical and political issues can occur in both program planning and evaluation process. I believe that one technical issue that the PEACE Domestic Violence Agency may come across is the transformation of inputs into outputs. For example, once data and information about domestic violence is accumulated and the PEACE Domestic Violence Agency has an idea of which route they want to go with the program, there is no assurance that the program will be effective. At this point the organization will have to make an educated guess based on the data of how the program should manage services and what those services should be. Once the program has been evaluated for effectiveness the agency would then know if the program plan was on target or not. (Yuen/Terao, 2003) I believe that a political aspect of program planning and evaluation is going to a higher authority. For example, speaking to congress and fighting to obtain better laws to protect individuals against domestic violence. The aspects that could affect the planning and evaluation process are an individuals housing. It may be difficult for an individual to find a safe place to for protection. It may also be difficult to get in contact with someone who can put the victim into some type of protection program so that the abuser will not be able to find the victim and hurt them again. When an

PROGRAM PLANNING AND EVALUATION

individual is being abused, one has to wonder if the victim will go back to the abuser or will they go forth with pressing charges. If the victim goes forth with pressing any chargers against the abuser, it is important to consider that the victim may very well drop those charges in the future. The success of any project depends on program planning and evaluation. There are several program planning and evaluation processes that an individual can choose from. And since everyone has various ideas and various ways of resolving issues it is not a bad thing that everyones program planning and evaluation process may be different than someone elses.

PROGRAM PLANNING AND EVALUATION References Office of Educational Assessment. (2005). Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from http://www.washington.edu/oea/services/research/program_eval/faq.html Program Planning. (2000). Program Planning. Retrieved from

http://www.gchd.us/ReportsAndData/ClioModePlanningProcess/PDF/ProgramPlanningG enCoHlthDpt%20ClioBook.pdf Yuen, F. (2003). Practical Grant Writing and Program Evaluation. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.