Week 1 Discussion Board

This class discussion board focuses on assessing the characteristics of programs delivered by human services organizations. Identify your human service organization and a specific service / program.

If you don’t work for a human services organization, select one that you might use for your final project. It may be one with which you are familiar or one from whom you or your family have received services.

You may have to do some research to understand the organization. Briefly discuss the intended strategic outcome for the service (an outcome describes the changes in behaviors / skills of individuals and/or conditions for individuals, groups, or communities) and how the organization might measure the results of the service.

Review the requirements outlined on the Discussion Board Rubric

Resources:

• Performance Measurement and Evaluation (Links to an external site.)This brochure reviews basic definitions and relationships of performance measurement and outcomes measurement, key concepts throughout the course.
• Performance Measurement Primer (Links to an external site.)You should review this primer several times over the next few weeks as it provides a comprehensive foundation for understanding logic models.

Answer preview

Human service organizations have taken great strides in saving the lives of many families in communities who have no food, shelter, clothing, and other basic needs. Without such organizations, the set objectives in the human services field would be challenging to fulfill. On that note, Covenant House is an example of a human service organization that I am familiar with (covenanthouse.org, n.d.). The organization offers housing and support initiatives to homeless youths. The initiatives provided by the organization helps in transforming the lives of young people who are at higher risk of engaging in deviant acts to make ends meet. One service that the organization offers is within the transitional housing program.

The intended strategic outcome for the transitional…