One of the many reasons social workers conduct needs assessment is to provide support for new programs. Social workers have many methods available to collect necessary data for a need’s assessment.

 

Social workers can use existing data from a wide range of sources, including local and national reports by government and nonprofit agencies, as well as computerized mapping resources. Social workers can gather new data through interviews and surveys with individuals and focus groups. This data can provide the evidence that supports the need for the program.

 

To prepare for this Assignment, review the needs assessment plans that you and your classmates generated for this week’s Discussion. Also, review the logic models that you created in Week 7 (problems affecting young mothers such as; depression)

 

and any literature on needs of caregivers that you used to generate them. Consider the following to stimulate your thinking:

 

• Getting      information about the needs of the target population: 
  • Who       would informants be?
  • What       is your purpose for interacting with them?
  • What       questions would you ask?
  • What       method would you use (interview, focus group, questionnaire)?
• Finding      potential clients: 
  • Who       would informants be?
  • What       is your purpose for interacting with them?
  • What       questions would you ask?
  • What       method would you use?
• Interacting      with the target population: 
  • Who       would informants be?
  • What       is your purpose for interacting with them?
  • What       questions would you ask?
  • What       method would you use?

 

Assignment

 

Submit a 2- to 3-page paper outlining a hypothetical needs assessment related to the support group program for caregivers. Include the following:

 

• The      resources needed to operate this service
• The      program activities
• The      desired outcomes
• A      plan for gathering information about the population served
• Justifications      for your plans and decisions
• A      one-paragraph conclusion describing how you might conduct a follow-up to      the need’s assessment at the implementation stage of the program evaluation
• Resource

 

Dudley, J. R. (2014). Social work evaluation: Enhancing what we do. (2nd ed.) Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books.

• (For review) Chapter 6, “Needs Assessment” (pp. 107–142)
• Chapter 7, “Crafting Goals and Objectives” (pp. 144–164)