Designing and Managing Programs

How can you design effective social programs, programs that successfully address the needs of those they serve? Designing and Managing Programs offers practitioners and administrators step-by-step instructions for designing, implementing, managing, and assessing social programs. Written in a clear and accessible style, the authors first address the problem of identifying the need for specific social programs (and how to make informed decisions as to whether or not a program is, in fact, needed). They thoroughly discuss program design, setting goals and objectives, developing and managing budgets, administration, service delivery processes, and program evaluation. In addition, they provide a useful case illustration of hypothetical private, nonprofit, mid-sized, and multiservice agencies. Designing and Managing Programs is an ideal resource for administrators and experienced practitioners looking to create an effective social program. "A well-organized discussion of an effectiveness-oriented approach to social service program design, management, and evaluation. Liberal use of examples, tables, and figures adds additional clarity to a precisely stated, straightforward exposition that walks the reader through all the basic steps of a highly systematic approach. . . . Provides guidance to the process of understanding social problems, assessing needs, selecting appropriate intervention strategies, setting goals and objectives, designing programs, creating an information system, calculating costs, quantitative monitoring, and evaluating program effectiveness. Since effectiveness is an extremely valuable program quality and the authors' descriptions are highly sensitive, the book represents a valuable resource. . . . Essentially, it is a cookbook approach in which Step A must be completed before Step B, and each of the remaining activities follow from completion to the previous one. This is a very good cookbook." --Community Alternatives