Family-based service (FBS) programs have been developing rapidly across the country at a time of increasingly scarce human resources and in a politically volatile climate. Such a context has made evaluation of such programs imperative. The present volume reviews basic elements of evaluation in the light of current knowledge and then highlights the most useful research instruments for measuring changes in child and family functioning. Chapters focus on evaluation methods that can be employed to determine the success of existing policy and to influence the development of new policy. The authors assume that their readers will have a basic familiarity with research methods and program evaluation. They discuss the challenges they have encountered in conducting extensive research on family preservation, family support. and other related programs and pose practical solutions for administrators, practitioners, and evaluators confronted with similar difficult issues. Each chapter presents a brief conceptual framework for understanding issues related to assessment. Essential elements are reviewed, while research design, measurement variables, and qualitative and quantitative analyses are discussed in turn. The book concludes with a review of the limitations of evaluations.

Leaders in interprofessional education efforts examine the potential and the challenges of developing effective partnerships between universities and communities focusing on improving the lives of families and children. Until recently, higher education has had little to do with the multiple service reform efforts underway across the country in response to widely perceived crisis in services for families and children. By maintaining professional preparation programs that emphasize separation between disciplines and increasing specialization, universities have typically reinforced service fragmentation. This book suggests steps that universities can take toward solutions by changing current approaches to professional education in multiple disciplines, supplementing professional education with interprofessional training, and developing effective partnerships with communities to improve outcomes for families and children.Directed toward those academics in professional preparation programs and allied professionals, this book describes changes underway in professional practice with families and children, including service integration, multidisciplinary service provision, and other collaborative efforts, and suggests steps that universities can take to partner with community members and community-based professionals. A broad range of disciplines and perspectives are represented including social work, education, public administration, geography, urban planning, nursing, psychology and medicine, and other allied fields. The chapters are organized in four parts: the needs and challenges for interprofessional education, changing theories and infrastructures of community practice, linking the university to the community, and challenges for universities for the next century.

Family-based service (FBS) programs have been developing rapidly across the country at a time of increasingly scarce human resources and in a politically volatile climate. Such a context has made evaluation of such programs imperative. The present volume reviews basic elements of evaluation in the light of current knowledge and then highlights the most useful research instruments for measuring changes in child and family functioning. Chapters focus on evaluation methods that can be employed to determine the success of existing policy and to influence the development of new policy. The authors assume that their readers will have a basic familiarity with research methods and program evaluation. They discuss the challenges they have encountered in conducting extensive research on family preservation, family support. and other related programs and pose practical solutions for administrators, practitioners, and evaluators confronted with similar difficult issues. Each chapter presents a brief conceptual framework for understanding issues related to assessment. Essential elements are reviewed, while research design, measurement variables, and qualitative and quantitative analyses are discussed in turn. The book concludes with a review of the limitations of evaluations.

Family-based service (FBS) programs have been developing rapidly across the country at a time of increasingly scarce human resources and in a politically volatile climate. Such a context has made evaluation of such programs imperative. The present volume reviews basic elements of evaluation in the light of current knowledge and then highlights the most useful research instruments for measuring changes in child and family functioning. Chapters focus on evaluation methods that can be employed to determine the success of existing policy and to influence the development of new policy. The authors assume that their readers will have a basic familiarity with research methods and program evaluation. They discuss the challenges they have encountered in conducting extensive research on family preservation, family support. and other related programs and pose practical solutions for administrators, practitioners, and evaluators confronted with similar difficult issues. Each chapter presents a brief conceptual framework for understanding issues related to assessment. Essential elements are reviewed, while research design, measurement variables, and qualitative and quantitative analyses are discussed in turn. The book concludes with a review of the limitations of evaluations.

Family-based service (FBS) programs have been developing rapidly across the country at a time of increasingly scarce human resources and in a politically volatile climate. Such a context has made evaluation of such programs imperative. The present volume reviews basic elements of evaluation in the light of current knowledge and then highlights the most useful research instruments for measuring changes in child and family functioning. Chapters focus on evaluation methods that can be employed to determine the success of existing policy and to influence the development of new policy. The authors assume that their readers will have a basic familiarity with research methods and program evaluation. They discuss the challenges they have encountered in conducting extensive research on family preservation, family support. and other related programs and pose practical solutions for administrators, practitioners, and evaluators confronted with similar difficult issues. Each chapter presents a brief conceptual framework for understanding issues related to assessment. Essential elements are reviewed, while research design, measurement variables, and qualitative and quantitative analyses are discussed in turn. The book concludes with a review of the limitations of evaluations.

Leaders in interprofessional education efforts examine the potential and the challenges of developing effective partnerships between universities and communities focusing on improving the lives of families and children. Until recently, higher education has had little to do with the multiple service reform efforts underway across the country in response to widely perceived crisis in services for families and children. By maintaining professional preparation programs that emphasize separation between disciplines and increasing specialization, universities have typically reinforced service fragmentation. This book suggests steps that universities can take toward solutions by changing current approaches to professional education in multiple disciplines, supplementing professional education with interprofessional training, and developing effective partnerships with communities to improve outcomes for families and children.Directed toward those academics in professional preparation programs and allied professionals, this book describes changes underway in professional practice with families and children, including service integration, multidisciplinary service provision, and other collaborative efforts, and suggests steps that universities can take to partner with community members and community-based professionals. A broad range of disciplines and perspectives are represented including social work, education, public administration, geography, urban planning, nursing, psychology and medicine, and other allied fields. The chapters are organized in four parts: the needs and challenges for interprofessional education, changing theories and infrastructures of community practice, linking the university to the community, and challenges for universities for the next century.

Family-based service (FBS) programs have been developing rapidly across the country at a time of increasingly scarce human resources and in a politically volatile climate. Such a context has made evaluation of such programs imperative. The present volume reviews basic elements of evaluation in the light of current knowledge and then highlights the most useful research instruments for measuring changes in child and family functioning. Chapters focus on evaluation methods that can be employed to determine the success of existing policy and to influence the development of new policy. The authors assume that their readers will have a basic familiarity with research methods and program evaluation. They discuss the challenges they have encountered in conducting extensive research on family preservation, family support. and other related programs and pose practical solutions for administrators, practitioners, and evaluators confronted with similar difficult issues. Each chapter presents a brief conceptual framework for understanding issues related to assessment. Essential elements are reviewed, while research design, measurement variables, and qualitative and quantitative analyses are discussed in turn. The book concludes with a review of the limitations of evaluations.

Family-based service (FBS) programs have been developing rapidly across the country at a time of increasingly scarce human resources and in a politically volatile climate. Such a context has made evaluation of such programs imperative. The present volume reviews basic elements of evaluation in the light of current knowledge and then highlights the most useful research instruments for measuring changes in child and family functioning. Chapters focus on evaluation methods that can be employed to determine the success of existing policy and to influence the development of new policy. The authors assume that their readers will have a basic familiarity with research methods and program evaluation. They discuss the challenges they have encountered in conducting extensive research on family preservation, family support. and other related programs and pose practical solutions for administrators, practitioners, and evaluators confronted with similar difficult issues. Each chapter presents a brief conceptual framework for understanding issues related to assessment. Essential elements are reviewed, while research design, measurement variables, and qualitative and quantitative analyses are discussed in turn. The book concludes with a review of the limitations of evaluations.