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Explain whether you agree with your colleague’s definition of success and method for evaluating success, and why

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Explain whether you agree with your colleague’s definition of success and method for evaluating success, and why.

• Critique your colleague’s recommendation for improving the program’s effectiveness.
• Be sure to use reference in your response

DB 1—Kylie

Success of CalWORKs

CalWORKs was a federally funded program that assisted families of low-income status with financial assistance, job seeking, and educational/vocational opportunities. The program had stipulations for those receiving services, which include a timeframe of 5 years to obtain an educational degree or vocational training or finding stable employment with the help of Job Club courses. Those who did not wish to participate could choose to receive benefits at a lower threshold. The idea of this program was to motivate participants to receive stable income and employment by the end of the 5-year timeframe to decrease the number of families on welfare (Plummer et al, 2014).

While the program did show successful rates of smaller numbers of families on the welfare program for several years, the economic decline from 2007 to 2011 dramatically affected those in need of services. Because of this event, the number of families participating in this program increased by nearly double. As a result, the program extended the timeframe for family members (Plummer et al, 2014). While the program was helpful to many families, the potential of environmental factors such as the economic turmoil was not considered (Lawrence et al, 2013, p 6-7). In turn, the program led to an increased number of families and prolonged welfare assistance. As the administrator, these factors dictate whether the program is successful and if adjustments need to be made.

Improving the Program

To improve this program, I would suggest implementing educating high school aged children on employment and educational/vocational goals post-graduation. In addition, assisting students with obtaining grants and scholarships as well as educating them on finances is beneficial. By having educating children at a crucial time as they are nearing adulthood and increased responsibilities, there is potential for a decreased need for welfare services once they reach adulthood. I feel this could lower the number of recipients in the future.

References

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, DOI: 10.1080/03643107.2011.607887

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].

DB 2—Jacqui

he goals of CalWORKs program were to facilitate more self-sufficiency among the welfare recipients, confront long term dependency on welfare, reduce the cost of welfare services, provide job training, placement, and other assistance to families. Some of these goals were met. and some were not. The fact that these goals sometimes conflicted with each other made obtaining the goals very hard. Some of the goals could not be done with the other goals in mind, The program got people working and less dependent on the welfare system nut these programs still cost a lot of money. You have to look at the results versus the opportunities when observing this program. The goal of reducing public assistance was met and then not met and did money was not necessarily saved.

I think that from an education empowerment point of view this program is a great one. However, I believe that in the efforts to save money this may not be a very effective plan. I do think that encouraging people to go to school and get job training by offering them increased welfare is a great idea. I also think that the two years at a time, five years total is a great plan. This way families cannot take advantage of the welfare system and live off of it forever.

The best way to make this plan work is to look for some kind of educational grant to cover the educational part of the expense for these people. Then the welfare money can strictly be used for welfare and the ediucation money can be used just for that. It makes things a little more cut and dry, especially to the stakeholders and grant people reading the reports. As an administrator I would feel that some of this plan was achieved and some of it was not. I woud suggest that the plan for the CalWORKS be looked over by a professional business ananlyst. I would as an administrator be proud of the postiives of the plan outcome and look for ways to plan and fix regarding the parts of the plan that didn't work. I would be troube shooting to make the most out of the plan that can be made.

References

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].