Nursing

Presentation: Nanohealth And Patient Care
Presentation: Nanohealth And Patient CarePermalink:
Presentation: Technology And Patient Care, Nanohealth
Explore the technology systems offered by Nanthealth, a provider of “telehealth” and health management services via the following link:
Prepare a brief (8-10 slides) PowerPoint presentation in which you do the following:
1. Identify at least two technology innovations to connect patients, providers, and insurers across the care continuum.
2. Describe how the technologies work to provide patients and providers with data necessary for health care decision making.
3. Discuss how the real-time data encourages outcome-focused planning.
4. Predict what impact the technology will have on future health care delivery. Provide rationale and examples.
Presentations must include speakers’ notes on each slide, as well as references for the presentation. A minimum of three academic references from credible sources are required for this assignment. The slide count (8-10 slides) does not include the introduction and References slide(s).
It is not a surprising fact that people don’t like to go to hospitals. Is it due to the excessive bills? Is it due to the fear of the unknown? Well, it’s all of the above and moreover, people sometimes have to travel a lot of miles to get access to quality healthcare. Access to hospital care is a big issue for people especially in rural areas and countries that are sparsely populated.
, a clinical researcher at the University of California, said that one-third of the patients over 70 and more than half of the patients over 85 leave the hospital more disabled than when they came in. According to statistics in the US (urban area), the median travel distance to the nearest high volume hospital is 7.6 miles, and for the rural area, it’s 31.1 miles. People avoid going to hospitals because of these long distances. Wouldn’t it be nicer if the care comes to your home? Wouldn’t it be nice if you are treated at the convenience of your own bed?
Healthcare at your doorsteps is a newly emerging concept where doctors and physicians use portable and compact medical devices to treat patients in their home. These devices help them to check blood pressure, sugar level, and even ECG just by the click of a button. The presence of such advanced technology in the market helps patients to avoid going to the hospital for small tests. There are caregivers and health coaches who can come to your doorstep to administer medical drugs and to take test samples. Now, elderly people can get the treatment at the comfort of their home, with no need for them to travel for hours to get treated. According to statistics, there are more than 617 million seniors (people over the age of 65) in the world today, and with 10,000 more becoming elderly every day, there is an increasing demand for exceptional at-home health care.
Who is benefited by at-home health care services?
Majority of the people believe that at-home healthcare is for those who are bedridden due to their illness, but there are various other reasons why people need at-home health care like

Assignment: Psychologist working
Assignment: Psychologist working
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Assignment: Psychologist working with veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Scenario: Imagine that a psychologist working with veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder wants to compare the effectiveness of several therapies focused on reducing symptoms of anxiety. The psychologist randomly sampled 20 veterans who recently returned from combat and randomly assigned each of them to receive one of four interventions for 8 weeks. A survey was used to measure the participants’ anxiety at the end of the 8 weeks. Higher anxiety scores indicate more anxiety. You can find the data for this Assignment in the Weekly Data Set forum found on the course navigation menu.
By Day 7
To complete this Assignment, submit answers to the following. Use SPSS to compare the mean anxiety scores with a one-way ANOVA.
Before computing any analyses, state the and in words (not formulas).
Identify the factor and .
Name the levels of the factor.
State the degrees of freedom between groups and explain how you calculated it by hand.
State the degrees of freedom within groups and explain how you calculated it by hand.
Identify the obtained F value using SPSS and report it in your answer document.
Identify the using SPSS and report it in your answer document.
Explain whether the F test is statistically significant. Explain how you know.
Explain what the psychologist can conclude about the between different types of therapy and anxiety.
Should the psychologist conduct a post hoc test? Why or why not? If post hoc testing is needed, conduct a Tukey HSD in SPSS. Explain what the results tell you.
Be sure to fully explain the rationale for your answer to each question, including evidence from the text and Learning Resources.

Assignment: historical-cultural influence
Assignment: historical-cultural influence
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Assignment: historical-cultural influence
historical-cultural influences include such events as the sexual revolution, the control of conception, the emergence of contraception, as well as the redefining of gender roles throughout history. Many of these events changed the way sexuality is viewed today. create a time-line and identify several important historical events that you believe influence sexuality today. Place the date, a brief description, or even a video clip of the historical-cultural influence.
Part A
Some questions in Part A require that you access data from Statistics for People Who (Think They) Hate Statistics. This data is available on the student website under the Student Test Resources link.
1. For the following research questions, create one null hypothesis, one directional research hypothesis, and one nondirectional research hypothesis.
a. What are the effects of attention on out-of-seat classroom behavior?
b. What is the relationship between the quality of a marriage and the quality of the spouses’ relationships with their siblings?
c. What is the best way to treat an eating disorder?
2. Provide one research hypothesis and an equation for each of the following topics:
a. The amount of money spent on food among undergraduate students and undergraduate student-athletes
b. The average amount of time taken by white and brown rats to get out of a maze
c. The effects of Drug A and Drug B on a disease
d. The time to complete a task in Method 1 and Method 2
3. Why does the null hypothesis presume no relationship between variables?
4. Create a research hypothesis tested using a one-tailed test and a research hypothesis tested using a two-tailed test.
5. What does the critical value represent?
6. Given the following information, would your decision be to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis? Setting the level of significance at .05 for decision making, provide an explanation for your conclusion.
a. The null hypothesis that there is no relationship between the type of music a person listens to and his crime rate (p < .05). b. The null hypothesis that there is no relationship between the amount of coffee consumption and GPA (p= .62). c. The null hypothesis that there is a negative relationship between the number of hours worked and level of job satisfaction (p = .51). 7. Why is it harder to find a significant outcome (all other things being equal) when the research hypothesis is being tested at the .01 rather than the .05 level of significance? 8. Why should we think in terms of “failing to reject” the null rather than just accepting it? 9. When is it appropriate to use the one-sample z test? 10. What similarity does a z test have to a simple z or standard score? 11. For the following situations, write out a research hypothesis: a. Bob wants to know if the weight loss for his group on the chocolate-only diet is representative of weight loss in a large population of middle-aged men. b. The health department is charged with finding out if the rate of flu per thousand citizens for this past flu season is comparable to the average rate of the past 50 seasons. c. Blair is almost sure that his monthly costs for the past year are not representative of his average monthly costs over the past 20 years. 12. There were about 15 flu cases per week, this flu season, in the Oshkosh school system. The weekly average for the entire state is 16 and the standard deviation, is 2.35. Are the kids in Oshkosh as sick as the kids throughout the state? From Salkind (2011). Copyright © 2012 SAGE. All Rights Reserved. Adapted with permission. Part B Complete the following questions. Be specific and provide examples when relevant. Cite any sources consistent with APA guidelines. Question Answer The average raw math achievement score for third graders at a Smith elementary school is 137; third graders statewide score an average of 124 with a standard deviation of 7. Are the Smith third graders better at math than third graders throughout the state? Perform the correct statistical test, applying the eight steps of the hypothesis testing process as demonstrated on pp. 185–187 of Statistics for People Who (Think they) Hate Statistics. What is a research question that you would like to answer? Write the null and research hypotheses. Would you use a one- or two-tailed test? Why? What do we mean when we say that a statistical result is significant? What is the difference between a statistically significant and a meaningful result? Why is statistical significance important? Describe a Type I error for the previous study that compares third graders’ math achievement. Describe a Type II error for that study. historical-cultural influences include such events as the sexual revolution, the control of conception, the emergence of contraception, as well as the redefining of gender roles throughout history. Many of these events changed the way sexuality is viewed today. create a time-line and identify several important historical events that you believe influence sexuality today. Place the date, a brief description, or even a video clip of the historical-cultural influence.

Treating sleeping problems assignment
Treating sleeping problems assignment
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Question 3
A patient has been admitted to the ICU because of multiple traumas due to a motor vehicle accident. The physician has ordered propofol (Diprivan) to be used for maintenance of sedation. Before administration of propofol, a priority assessment by the nurse would be to check for a history of
A. diabetic hyperlipidemia.
B. increased intraocular pressure.
C. seizure disorders.
D. low blood pressure.
1 points
Question 4
A 39-year-old patient who is having trouble sleeping is beginning drug treatment with zaleplon (Sonata). The nurse will be sure to ask the patient if she is taking
A. oxycodone (Percodan).
B. secobarbital (Seconal).
C. cimetidine (Zantac).
D. meperidine (Demerol).
1 points
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a patient who has been admitted with acute cocaine intoxication. Which of the following vital signs would the nurse expect to find initially when assessing the patient?
A. BP: 130/88, P: 92, R: 28
B. Blood pressure (BP): 98/50, pulse (P): 120, respirations (R): 40
C. BP: 170/98, P:110, R: 20
Medical treatment for sleep disturbances might include any of the following:
sleeping pills.
melatonin supplements.
allergy or cold medication.
medications for any underlying health issues.
breathing device or surgery (usually for sleep apnea)
a dental guard (usually for teeth grinding)
Jan 26, 2016
D. BP: 150/90, P: 80, R: 16tR
Changes in sleeping patterns or habits that can negatively affect health.
Most common types
A condition characterised by a nearly irresistible urge to move the legs, typically in the evenings.
A sleep disorder that can affect those who travel quickly across multiple time zones.
A chronic sleep disorder that causes overwhelming daytime drowsiness.
The act of getting up and walking around while asleep.
Intermittent airflow blockage during sleep.
Persistent problems falling and staying asleep.
Consult a doctor for medical advice

Discussion: Treating acute alcohol withdrawal
Discussion: Treating acute alcohol withdrawal
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Question 10
The wife of a patient who is taking haloperidol calls the clinic and reports that her husband has taken the first dose of the drug and it is not having a therapeutic effect. An appropriate response by the nurse would be
A. “I’ll ask the nurse practitioner if the dosage can be increased.”
B. “Continue the prescribed dose. It may take several days to work.”
C. “I’ll ask the nurse practitioner if the haloperidol can be discontinued and another drug started.”
D. “I’ll report this to the nurse practitioner and see if he will add another drug to enhance the effects of the haloperidol.”
1 points
Question 11
A patient who is experiencing acute alcohol withdrawal is being treated with intravenous lorazepam (Ativan). This drug achieves a therapeutic effect by
A. inhibiting the action of monoamine oxidase.
B. increasing the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA.
C. increasing the amount of serotonin available in the synapses.
D. affecting the regulation of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.
1 points
Question 12
A nurse will be prepared to administer naloxone (Narcan) to a patient who has had an overdose of morphine. Repeated doses of Narcan will be necessary because Narcan
A. has a shorter half-life than morphine.
B. has less strength in each dose than do individual doses of morphine.
C. causes the respiratory rate to decrease.
D. combined with morphine, increases the physiologic action of the morphine.
Diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and chlordiazepoxide (Librium) are used most frequently to treat or prevent alcohol withdrawal, but other benzodiazepines may be used [43]. … We prefer lorazepam (Ativan) or oxazepam (Serax) for thetreatment of patients with advanced cirrhosis or acute alcoholic hepatitis.
The greatest risk of seizures during alcohol withdrawal occurs 12-48 hours after the last drink. People who have seizures because of alcohol withdrawal are at greater risk for experiencing seizures again if medication or drugs change their levels of GABA in the brain later in life

Discussion: Buccal mucosa and slanting
Discussion: Buccal mucosa and slanting
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1st part home work
While interviewing and examining a 17-year-old male, you discover a white patch on his buccal mucosa and slanting palpebral fissures in his eyes. He also states during the interview that he plays baseball and is hoping to earn an athletic scholarship to college.
· What do you suspect? What kind of client teaching is appropriate in this situation?
· Discuss appropriate educational materials for health promotion and disease prevention
· When would slanting palpebral fissures be normal?
· While performing a retinal examination on this patient, you discover that the margins of the optic disc become blurred and indistinct. What further testing would be required? Why?
Second part student post/I needs answer to this post base on the homework
Week 2 physical assessment 17 year old
Joh
Symptoms and Treatment
Buccal mucosa is the inner lining of the lips and cheeks. Presence of white patches in the mouth of the patient could be as a result of irritation of the walls of the mouth cavity. This white patch is hard to come off and mainly attaches itself to the buccal mucosa. This condition is prevalent in tobacco and alcohol users. The patient is probably a smoker; if this is true, he needs to desist from smoking to avoid further irritation of the mouth walls which is a good disease prevention measure. Most teenagers of the patient’s age are likely to engage in smoking an activity which they do as fun. The patient should find other alternatives to smoking such as taking snacks and being with the right company in sports to ensure he succeeds in his quest of securing a scholarship.
The palpebral fissure is the meeting point of the lower and upper eyelids. Slanting of palpebral fissures occurs normally on Asians which is a probable indication of the patient’s descent. The slanting of palpebral fissures is prevalent in people suffering from downs syndrome which has not been stated by the patient. More than 80% of the patients with Down’s syndrome suffer from palpebral fissure (“Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21)”, 2018).

Assignment: life history and personality
Assignment: life history and personality
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Assignment: Reflect on your life history and discuss which aspects of your personality have changed over time and which aspects have stayed consistent.
Write a three to four (3-4) page paper in which you:
Reflect on your life history and discuss which aspects of your personality have changed over time and which aspects have stayed consistent.
Based on your retrospective analysis, describe the roles of nature and nurture in shaping your personality. Reflect on your justification for distinguishing between nature and nurture.
Discuss the possible sources of bias and inaccuracy whenever a person looks back on their past history. Be sure to discuss factors related to memory and factors related to cognition.
Describe why the science of psychology places more emphasis on results based on scientific studies than it does on personal experience and anecdotes.
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required page length.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
Relate psychological concepts to real-world situations.
Describe the major theories of personality development, learning, memory, cognition, consciousness, development and social psychology.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in psychology.
Write clearly and concisely about psychology using proper writing mechanics

Advanced Coding: Integumentary Assignment
Advanced Coding: Integumentary Assignment
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Advanced Coding: Integumentary/Cardiovascular/Sensory Assignment
1. A 38-year-old patient is admitted to the hospital due to a lesion in her right breast, and a painful lump and nipple discharge from the left breast. The physician places a percutaneous needle localization device in the right breast under ultrasound guidance, excises the right breast lesion, and then excises the lactiferous duct fistula in the left breast. What CPT codes should be assigned?
A. 19129-RT, 19284-RT, 19122-LT B. 19125-RT, 19285-RT, 19112-LT C. 19127-RT, 19283-RT, 19132-LT D. 19122-RT, 19275-RT, 19142-LT
2. A 92-year-old female patient experiences difficulty hearing in her left ear. She is prescribed a BICROS hearing aid that she can wear behind the ear. What HCPCS code is assigned?
A. V5250 B. V5320 C. V5220 D. V5240
3. A 57-year-old patient is admitted to the hospital for a hip arthroscopy procedure. The patient is a normal healthy patient with no systemic disease. What CPT code should be assigned?
A. 01612-P1 B. 01402-P1 C. 01202-P1 D. 01312-P1
4. An 80-year-old patient is admitted to the hospital with congestive heart failure. What ICD-10-CM code should be assigned?
A. K15.0 B. L50.5 C. K52.9 D. I50.9
5. A 44-year-old female patient comes to the hospital for removal of a 4 cm malignant lesion from the arm. During the course of the procedure, the patient undergoes a 14 sq. cm adjacent tissue transfer from the right leg, as well as a 20 sq. cm split-thickness skin graft from the left arm. What CPT codes are assigned?
A. 14021, 15100-51 B. 14045, 15400 C. 14032, 15207 D. 14044, 15350
6. A patient has a breast localization device placed through the skin using stereotactic guidance in order to treat two lesions. What codes would be assigned?
A. 19285, 19286 B. 19287, 19288 C. 19283, 19284 D. 19296, 19297
7. A 19-year-old patient is diagnosed with acne vulgaris. The physician performs laser dermabrasion of the facial skin. What codes are assigned?
A. L50.5, 0HB1XZZ B. L70.0, 0HD1XZZ C. L70.5, 0HA1XZZ D. L70.6, 0HQ1XZZ
8. Implantation of a patient-activated cardiac event recorder is assigned to code
A. 33286. B. 33282. C. 33285. D. 33284.
9. A 27-year-old patient is diagnosed with a chalazion on the upper left eyelid, which is excised using an external approach. What ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes are assigned?
A. H04.16, 08BQXZZ B. H02.14, 08BTXZZ C. H00.14, 08BPXZZ D. H07.19, 08BRXZZ
10. A 77-year-old patient is diagnosed with an ear infection. She receives an injection of 40 mg of gentamicin sulfate. What HCPCS code should be assigned?
A. J1452 B. J1472 C. J1675 D. J1580
11. A patient undergoes a transcanal labyrinthectomy. What code would be assigned?
A. 69930 B. 69915 C. 69955 D. 69905
12. A 92-year-old patient is diagnosed with senile cataracts and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The physician performs a bilateral cataract extraction. What ICD-10 codes are reported?
A. H27.9, H90.3, 08KJ3ZZ, 08MK3ZZ B. H26.9, H90.3, 08EJ3ZZ, 08LK3ZZ C. H25.9, H90.3, 08DJ3ZZ, 08DK3ZZ D. H21.9, H90.3, 08PJ3ZZ, 08NK3ZZ
13. Mr. Oliver is an elderly gentleman who has been having problems with his vision for the previous three weeks. He is diagnosed with keratoconus, as well as hypertension with stage III chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus, for which he takes long-term insulin. The anesthesiologist provided general anesthesia for this patient with severe systemic disease. After the administration of anesthesia, the surgeon performs an endothelial keratoplasty. Prior to performing the endothelial keratoplasty, the surgeon performs backbench preparation of the allograft. Code this scenario (including the anesthesiology service).
A. 65756, 65757, 00144-P3; H18.609, E11.65, R46.89, Z79.4 B. 65754, 65727, 00134-P1; H18.609, E11.40, I12.9, N18.4, Z79.899 C. 65756, 65757, 00144-P3; H18.609, E11.9, I12.9, N18.3, Z79.4 D. 65757, 65787, 00142-P2; H18.229, E11.51, I12.0, N18.9
14. A 47-year-old female patient is seen for a worrisome lesion on the back of her hand. What ICD-10-CM code should be assigned?
A. L94.9 B. L98.9 C. L91.5 D. L97.4
15. Breast reconstruction with transverse rectus with a TRAM flap would be assigned to code
A. 19370. B. 19342. C. 19369. D. 19316.
16. Ms. Nelson comes to the emergency room due to sustaining multiple lacerations after being pushed into a glass door during a physical altercation with her husband at a hotel. She sustained a 5 cm laceration on her right hand and a 7 cm cut on her neck. She also has a 5.0 benign lesion removed from her left arm. The physician performs a simple repair on the lacerations on her hand and neck. Code this scenario.
A. 11443, 12008-59; S61.209A, S31.652A, Y04.0XXA, W45.8XXA, V97.29XA B. 11422, 12007-59; S51.809A, S61.351A, W86.8XXA, Y04.0XXA C. 11409, 12005-59; S58.119A, S11.22XA, X19.XXXA, V95.13XA D. 11406, 12004-59; S61.401A, S11.90XA, Y04.0XXA, W45.8XXA, Y92.29
17. Biopsy of the lacrimal gland is assigned to code
A. 68520. B. 68811. C. 68815. D. 68510.
18. A patient comes to the emergency room complaining of lightheadedness and difficulty hearing. The physician examines her and determines that she has Ménière’s disease. The physician performs an endolymphatic sac decompression (excision of the right inner ear using an open approach). What ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes are assigned?
A. H81.03, 09BF0ZZ B. H83.03, 09BK0ZZ C. H81.03, 09BD0ZZ D. H82.03, 09BG0ZZ
19. A physician performs a biopsy of the cornea. What code should be assigned?
A. 65420 B. 65410 C. 65419 D. 65415
20. Injection of contrast medium for dacryocystography is assigned to code
A. 68853. B. 68854. C. 68850. D. 68851.

Assignment: Item-characteristic curve
Assignment: Item-characteristic curve
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Assignment: Item-characteristic curve
IMPORTANT: AFTER PURCHASE, LOG IN TO YOUR ACCOUNT AND SCROLL DOWN BELOW THIS PAGE TO DOWNLOAD FILES WITH ANSWERS.
1. Factor analysis can help the test developer
2. As the result of a sensitivity review, items containing ________ may be eliminated from a test.
3. When an item-characteristic curve of an ability test has an inverted U shape, it usually indicates that
4. Ability tests are typically standardized on a sample that is representative of the general population and selected on the basis of variables such as
5. Which is a major difference between multiple-choice questions and essay questions?
6. The best type of item yields an item-characteristic curve that
7. Looking at the item-characteristic curve (below), a reasonable conclusion about the performance of the item illustrated would be that
8. If all raw scores on a test are to be converted to scores that range only from 1 to 9, the resulting scale is referred to as this type of scale:
9. The reason latent-trait theory is so-named has to do with the presumption that
10. In item analysis, the term item endorsement refers to the percent of testtakers who
11. Brotto and Yule reported that the development of their measure of asexuality was developed in four stages. Which best characterizes what they did during Stages 2 and 3?
12. A test developer of multiple-choice ability tests reviews data from a recent test administration. She discovers that testtakers who scored very high on the test as a whole, all responded to item 13 with the same incorrect choice. Accordingly, the test developer
13. The concept of asexuality was first introduced by
14. The development of a criterion-referenced test usually entails
15. An individually administered designed for use with elementary-school-age student is in the test tryout stage of test development. For the purposes of the tryout, this test should be administered
16. An item-characteristic curve includes all of the following EXCEPT
17. According to Brotto and Yule, their new measure of asexuality performed satisfactorily on
18. Which is TRUE of the latent-trait model of measurement?
19. These tests are often used for the purpose of licensing persons in professions. The tests referred to here are
20. A “good” test item on an ability test is one
21. Estimates suggest that approximately ________% of the population might be asexual.
22. In Guttman scaling
23. Generous time limits are typically associated with
24. According to your textbook, the minimum sample for a test tryout is
25. Scoring drift refers to
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Assignment: Discussion Program Evaluation
Assignment: Discussion Program Evaluation
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Assignment: Discussion 1: Use of Group Designs in Program Evaluation
Group programs are common in social work. Just as with other types of programs, social workers must understand the options available to them and know how to select the appropriate research design.
For this Discussion, you evaluate group research design methods that can be used for an outcome evaluation of a foster parent training program. You also generate criteria to be measured in the program.
To prepare for this Discussion, review the “Social Work Research: Planning a Program Evaluation” case study in this week’s resources, Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. (Eds.). (2014b). Social work case studies: Concentration year. Retrieved from http://www.vitalsource.com , and the section of “Basic Guide to Outcomes-Based Evaluation for Nonprofit Organizations with Very Limited Resources”, titled “Overview of Methods to Collect Information.”
· Post your explanation of which group research design and data collection method from those outlined in the Resources you selected as appropriate for the “Social Work Research: “Planning a Program Evaluation” case study and why.
· Then, generate criteria to be measured using the research design by identifying a specific outcome and a method for measuring that outcome. Specify who will collect the data and how the data will be collected.
References (use 3 or more)
Dudley, J. R. (2014). Social work evaluation: Enhancing what we do. (2nd ed.) Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books.
· Chapters 9, “Is the Intervention Effective?” (pp. 213–250)
· Chapter 10, “Analyzing Evaluation Data” (pp. 255–275)
Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. (Eds.). (2014b). Social work case studies: Concentration year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].
Read the following section:
“Social Work Research: Planning a Program Evaluation”
Social Work Research: Planning a Program Evaluation
Joan is a social worker who is currently enrolled in a social work PhD program. She is planning to conduct her dissertation research project with a large nonprofit child welfare organization where she has worked as a site coordinator for many years. She has already approached the agency director with her interest, and the leadership team of the agency stated that they would like to collaborate on the research project.
The child welfare organization at the center of the planned study has seven regional centers that operate fairly independently. The primary focus of work is on foster care; that is, recruiting and training foster parents and running a regular foster care program with an emphasis on family foster care. The agency has a residential program as well, but it will not participate in the study. Each of the regional centers services about 45–50 foster parents and approximately 100 foster children. On average, five to six new foster families are recruited at each center on a quarterly basis. This number has been consistent over the past 2 years.
Recently it was decided that a new training program for incoming foster parents would be used by the organization. The primary goals of this new training program include reducing foster placement disruptions, improving the quality of services delivered, and increasing child well-being through better trained and skilled foster families. Each of the regional centers will participate and implement the new training program. Three of the sites will start the program immediately, while the other four centers will not start until 12 months from now. The new training program consists of six separate 3-hour training sessions that are typically conducted in a biweekly format. It is a fairly proceduralized training program; that is, a very detailed set of manuals and training materials exists. All trainings will be conducted by the same two instructors. The current training program that it will replace differs considerably in its focus, but it also uses a 6-week, 3-hour format. It will be used by those sites not immediately participating until the new program is implemented.
Joan has done a thorough review of the foster care literature and has found that there has been no research on the training program to date, even though it is being used by a growing number of agencies. She also found that there are some standardized instruments that she could use for her study. In addition, she would need to create a set of Likert-type scales for the study. She will be able to use a group design because all seven regional centers are interested in participating and they are starting the training at different times.
Discussion 2: Assessing Outcomes
How do you determine the “success” of a human services program? Part of your role as an administrator is to collaborate with your staff to determine how a particular program’s effectiveness will be measured. The outcomes must be clear, realistic, and feasible, and how the outcomes will be assessed must be clear also.
For this Discussion, you will address the “Social Work Research: Program Evaluation” case study in Social Work Case Studies: Foundation Year. Assume the role of an administrator in the case study to evaluate what has occurred in the program and how you might improve it.
· Post an evaluation of the success of the CALWORKS program based on the information presented in the case study.
· Be sure to define what success would be for the program and how you, as an administrator of the program, might evaluate whether success has been achieved.
· Finally, make one recommendation for improving the program’s effectiveness.
Reference (use 3 or more)
Benton, A. D., & Austin, M. J. (2010). Managing nonprofit mergers: The challenges facing human service organizations. Administration in Social Work, 34(5), 458–479.
King, D., & Hodges, K. (2013). Outcomes-driven clinical management and supervisory practices with youth with severe emotional disturbance. Administration in Social Work, 37(3), 312–324.
Lawrence, C., Strolin-Goltzman, J., Caringi, J., Claiborne, N., McCarthy, M., Butts, E., & O’Connell, K. (2013). Designing evaluations in child welfare organizations: An approach for administrators. Administration in Social Work, 37(1), 3–13.
Lynch-Cerullo, K., & Cooney, K. (2011). Moving from outputs to outcomes: A review of the evolution of performance measurement in the human service nonprofit sector. Administration in Social Work, 35(4), 364–388.
Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. M. (Eds.). (2014c). Social work case studies: Foundation year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing [Vital Source e-reader].
· “Social Work Research: Program Evaluation” (pp. 66–68)
Social Work Research: Planning a Program Evaluation
Joan is a social worker who is currently enrolled in a social work PhD program. She is planning to conduct her dissertation research project with a large nonprofit child welfare organization where she has worked as a site coordinator for many years. She has already approached the agency director with her interest, and the leadership team of the agency stated that they would like to collaborate on the research project.
The child welfare organization at the center of the planned study has seven regional centers that operate fairly independently. The primary focus of work is on foster care; that is, recruiting and training foster parents and running a regular foster care program with an emphasis on family foster care. The agency has a residential program as well, but it will not participate in the study. Each of the regional centers services about 45–50 foster parents and approximately 100 foster children. On average, five to six new foster families are recruited at each center on a quarterly basis. This number has been consistent over the past 2 years.
Recently it was decided that a new training program for incoming foster parents would be used by the organization. The primary goals of this new training program include reducing foster placement disruptions, improving the quality of services delivered, and increasing child well-being through better trained and skilled foster families. Each of the regional centers will participate and implement the new training program. Three of the sites will start the program immediately, while the other four centers will not start until 12 months from now. The new training program consists of six separate 3-hour training sessions that are typically conducted in a biweekly format. It is a fairly proceduralized training program; that is, a very detailed set of manuals and training materials exists. All trainings will be conducted by the same two instructors. The current training program that it will replace differs considerably in its focus, but it also uses a 6-week, 3-hour format. It will be used by those sites not immediately participating until the new program is implemented.
Joan has done a thorough review of the foster care literature and has found that there has been no research on the training program to date, even though it is being used by a growing number of agencies. She also found that there are some standardized instruments that she could use for her study. In addition, she would need to create a set of Likert-type scales for the study. She will be able to use a group design because all seven regional centers are interested in participating and they are starting the training at different times.