Assessing A Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation 3

Policy Evaluation

Program/policy evaluation is a valuable tool that can help strengthen the quality of programs/policies and improve outcomes for the populations they serve. Program/policy evaluation answers basic questions about program/policy effectiveness. It involves collecting and analyzing information about program/policy activities, characteristics, and outcomes. This information can be used to ultimately improve program services or policy initiatives.

Nurses can play a very important role assessing program/policy evaluation for the same reasons that they can be so important to program/policy design. Nurses bring expertise and patient advocacy that can add significant insight and impact. In this Assignment, you will practice applying this expertise and insight by selecting an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation and reflecting on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program/policy.

To Prepare:

• Review the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template provided in the Resources.
• Select an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation or choose one of interest to you.
• Review community, state, or federal policy evaluation and reflect on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program or policy described.

The Assignment: (2–3 pages)

Based on the program or policy evaluation you selected, complete the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template. Be sure to address the following:

• Describe the healthcare program or policy outcomes.
• How was the success of the program or policy measured?
• How many people were reached by the program or policy selected? 
• How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?
• At what point in program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted?
• What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?
• What specific information on unintended consequences was identified?
• What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples.
• Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?
• Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?
• Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after 1 year of implementation.

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Promoting Safe and Stable Families

Name

Walden University

Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health

NURS 6050

Date

1

Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analy

Promoting Safe and Stable Families

The role of nurses throughout healthcare program and policy evaluation is vital to our role as change agents within our communities. As nurses we participate in the evaluation process every time we go to work, assess our patients, and then partake in delivery of care. If we want to our voices to be heard we must be willing to take our evaluation skills to the next level. We must ask ourselves tough questions about whether the healthcare programs we are providing are meeting the needs of patients, their families, and communities.

We must evaluate the healthcare program goals and outcomes to help determine whether it remains fiscally responsible and continues to meet a need in the population it aims to serve. Ultimately, we cannot blindly accept that the presence of a program validates its success. We must be willing and able to take personal action to ensure patients receive the highest quality of healthcare each and every day. The purpose of this paper is to present an evaluation of the Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) program with respect to it’s background, goals, outcomes, success, costs and related nursing advocacy opportunities.

Conclusion

The healthcare program evaluated for the purposes of this paper was the Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF). During the course of research for this paper it was challenging to find all of the data for completion of the above table. The background, data, goals, and outcomes were not presented in a comprehensive way that made evaluation clear and concise.

As research carried on it became apparent why being involved in program evaluation in person and in real time is imperative to success of the evaluation process. While evaluation of this program was challenging it was meaningful in that the impact of this program over the last 25 years became obvious. The PSSF program is proof that programs can withstand the test of time as long as modifications can be made along the way to continue to best meet the needs of the target population and take into account the evolving desires of the key stakeholders.

References

Casey Family Programs. (2011). The Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program: Background and Context. Retrieved from http://www.casey.org/media/PromotingSafeandStableFamilies.pdf

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (2017). SNAP Helps Millions of Children. Retrieved from https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/snap-helps-millions-of-children

Colorado Office of Children, Youth, & Families: Division of Child Welfare. (2018). 2018 Annual Progress and Services Report: 2015-19 Child and Family Services Plan. Retrieved from http://co4kids.org/sites/default/files/IM-CW-2017-0018.pdf

State of California Health and Human Services Agency. (2014). Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program. Retrieved from http://www.childsworld.ca.gov/res/OCAP/PSSFFactSheet.pdf

United States Department of Health & Human Services. (2018). Administration for Children and Families (ACF): Mandatory. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/about/budget/fy2018/budget-in-brief/acf/mandatory/index.html#promoting

United States Department of Health & Human Services: Administration for Children and Families. (2019). FY 2019 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees. Retrieved from https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/olab/acf_master_cj_acf_final_3_19_0.pdf

United States Health & Human Services: Administration for Children and Families. (2015). Promoting Safe and Stable Families. Retrieved from https://library.childwelfare.gov/cwig/ws/library/docs/capacity/Blob/105742.pdf?r=1&rpp=10&upp=0&w=+NATIVE%28%27recno%3D105742%27%29&m=1

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Children’s Bureau. (2012). Promoting Safe and Stable Families: Title IV-B, Subpart 2, of the Social Security Act. Retrieved from https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/resource/pssf-title-iv-b-subpart-2-ssa

Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template

Use this document to complete the Module 5 Assessment Assessing a Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation

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