ASSIGNMENT #4:
PROGRAM DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL
As you have analyzed the various components of program design and development in a specific social service agency, you have undoubtedly come across some facet of service that could be improved. For this assignment, you will design a program to meet that gap in services. It will be assumed that you have conducted a thorough needs assessment that clearly indicates a need for your new program. Your program must include the following elements:
1. A problem analysis
2. The program hypothesis(es)
3. The program’s mission statement
4. The program goals and objectives
5. The elements of the program (inputs, throughputs, outcomes)
6. Data elements that will enter into your Management Information System
7. The program’s budget (including direct and indirect costs)
Unlike your previous assignments, please follow the below guidelines (used for grading) for format of the paper in a step-by-step manner, incorporating the materials mastered from the textbook, assigned readings and lectures to each component. Each section of the paper is detailed below with specific expectations for content and questions to be answered/addressed and the percentage of the paper grade attributed to each section. The grading rubrics that follows provides overview of general form and content expectations typically associated with specific letter grades for the final paper. Please note that these rubric expectations apply to each section of the final paper and paper as a whole.
A. Problem Analysis (6-10 pages; 20% of Paper Grade)
This assignment forms the basis or foundation for a program that will be designed to deal with the problem or condition you plan to address. It establishes the framework for all other components of the program planning process. Much of this information extends from previous assignments completed in the class and serves as the foundation for your program hypothesis.
In this section you will be expected to:
1. Describe the problem
2. Estimate the numbers affected
3. Identify the factors that “cause” the problem
4. Provide a rationale that justifies action and the expenditures of resources
5. Provide a theoretical framework describing the proposed intervention
There are no hard and fast rules for the format you select for this section. There is a need, however, to present your “argument” in a clear, logical and interesting way. Keep in mind as you write this section that it is the first piece that those who will make final decisions about whether or not to approve your proposal will read. This section should reflect your understanding of Chapters 2 through 6 of the required text as well as your research on the social problem you have chosen to address.
The following headings (as sub-sections) represent the types of content that needs to be covered in your problem analysis (it is strongly suggested the student follow this format):
1. Introduction (about 1 page) (all page suggestions assume double spacing with 1” margins all around and a standard font size as specified by the instructor.)
This sub-section provides a summary statement of the problem. It should not be more than two or three paragraphs. It usually is written after the rest of the section is completed. It tells the reader what the problem is, who is affected by the problem, the numbers affected, the geographic area you are targeting, and
why the action should be taken.
2. Nature of the Problem (3 – 5 pages)
In this sub-section, you will be expected to discuss what is already known about the problem. Here, you will include clarifying statements (definitions),
national, state, and local statistics, incidence and prevalence figures, and trends if they are available and appropriate to your description. You will also discuss in some detail what you have learned about the problem from the research literature. After reviewing the research literature, you will focus on the researcher’s underlying theoretical understandings of the problem in a way that help the reader to understand etiology as well as the basis for the intervention.
3. The Target Population (1 – 2 pages)
In this sub-section, you will discuss the specific population (demographic (characteristics) and the geographic area on which you will focus. Data that you will present will help to put your presentation of the problem (sub-section #2 above) into a local context. At the conclusion of this sub-section, you should make a summary statement that allows the reader to know exactly who you are going to recruit into the program, how many are affected, and where the program will be targeted.
4. Rationale for Action (1 – 3 pages)
In this sub-section, you will make the case that it is worthwhile to expend resources on the proposed program. You can do this in a number of ways depending on the nature of the program. You might argue that the problem is such that it needs to be dealt with within a framework of justice or fairness. You might choose to make the case that it will be more cost-effective to implement this intervention by preventing a later more costly intervention (e.g. outpatient counseling now vs. possible in-patient treatment or incarceration at a later time). Or you might argue the case in terms of an investment in human capital, enabling the recipients of your services to more fully participate as productive members of the community.
B. Framework for the Intervention: The Program Hypothesis (1 – 2 pages; 10% of Paper Grade)
In this section you will synthesize the research/theoretical material from the previous section in the form of a detailed program hypothesis. The program hypothesis is introduced in Chapter 6: Selecting the Appropriate Intervention Strategy and the discussion is continued in subsequent chapters.
C. Mission Statement, Goals, and Objectives (20% of Paper Grade)
This section is a very important piece of the program plan. As presentations are made on programs, and as programs are implemented, monitored, and evaluated there will be many occasions where those involved will want to refer back to goals and objectives. The details for preparing goals and objectives are included in Chapter 7. The following content should be included in your presentation of goals and objectives:
1. Mission Statement
An opening paragraph should set the stage for this section of the plan. In this paragraph you should focus on the higher level statements in your program hypothesis – what it is that you hope to do through your intervention as encapsulated within a broader mission statement for the program.
2. Goal Statement
Write at least one goal statement that meets all the specifications for a goal statement as mentioned in Chapter 7 and that will cover the entire program plan.
3. Outcome Objectives (S.M.A.R.T. Objectives)
List your objectives under these headings:
Final Outcome Objectives
1.0 By (date), to ………………. (include all 5 parts of a complete objective)
2.0 Continue with all other final objectives
Intermediate Outcome Objectives
1.1 By (date), to …………………(again, include all 5 parts of a complete objective; use a numbering system or some other method to make clear which intermediate outcome objectives are related to which final outcome
objectives)
1.2 Etc…..
2.1 This intermediate outcome objective, for example, would be related to
final outcome objective 2.0
4. Process Objectives and Activities
Write process objectives and activities for each intermediate outcome objective:
Process Objective 1.1: By (date), to ……………..
Activity 1 These may be put into a Gantt Chart format (see
Activity 2
Activity 3 Chapter 7)
Process Objective 1.2
Activity 1
Activity 2
Activity 3
Reordering of Goals, Objectives and Activities: You may wish to order your presentation of goals and objectives in the following manner:
I Goal
II Ultimate Outcome Objective 1.0
Intermediate Objective 1.0
Process Objective 1.1
Activity 1
Activity 2
Etc.
Process Objective 1.2
Activity 1.
Activity 2 Etc.
III Ultimate Outcome Objective XXX
Intermediate Objective XX
Process Objective 1.1
Activity 1
Activity 2
Etc.
Process Objective 1.2
Activity 1
Activity 2
Etc.
Continue until all objectives are “packaged” in a way that the ultimate outcome, intermediate outcome process and activities lay out a clear set of expectations and actions designed to achieve them.
D. Program Components (20% of Paper grade)
This sub-section will itemize all the data elements to be included in your data collection system. They will be organized around the basic components of a system: Inputs, Throughputs, Outputs, and Outcomes.
Inputs – List variables to be used under the headings of clients, staff, material resources, facilities, and equipment.
Throughputs – Identify all services to be provided, and include a service definition for each. List relevant service tasks and methods of intervention for each service.
Intermediate Outputs – List and define units of service for each service to be provided.
Final Outputs – Define a service completion for each service to be provided.
Intermediate Outcomes – List intermediate outcomes for each service being provided.
Final Outcomes – List final outcomes
E. Management Information System (15% of Final Paper Grade)
It is important during the program development phase to begin the process of generating questions that, in turn, will be the basis for the development of a data collection system for your program which, in turn, will eventually become part of the management information system for the agency. Working with “bivariate” questions will help in understanding how and why output tables are developed and used, as discussed in the text. Identify the monitoring function you will need for your program and how it will address specific management information needs for your project. List examples of specific questions you expect the data collection system to answer to illustrate (1) evaluation of effort, (2) evaluation of cost efficiency, (3) evaluation of outcome, and (2) evaluation of cost effectiveness. Now, identify the data elements (list and describe how they are classified) that will be collected as part of your management information system.
F. Budget (15% of Final Paper Grade)
In this section, you will prepare a budget for your program plan. Your program design forms the basis for your budget. Taking into consideration the factors addressed in Chapters 10 and 11, you will identify the line items needed to cover all expenses associated with your programs. You will then prepare the budget in a way that you can provide the financial data needed to determine cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness. You are required to prepare a line item budget, making sure that you identify line items that account for all expenditures, and that each expenditure fits into each line item. Attach a budget justification sheet in which you define each line item and explain how the dollar figure used was calculated.