Program evaluation of two residential care group homes in the province of Newfoundland

Leland, Caroline Cadwalader (1985) Program evaluation of two residential care group homes in the province of Newfoundland. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

A group home program was established in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1977 to provide community based programming for children and young adults with special needs. This research constitutes the first formal effort to systematically study the programs of two group homes in this province, located in Corner Brook and St. John's respectively, by utilizing an evaluative strategy designed by Holosko and Feit (1981). In addition, the researcher will determine the effectiveness of this strategy in the group home setting. The Corner Brook group home provides for emotionally disturbed adolescents while developmentally delayed young adults live in the St. John's group home. -- The research method chosen for this study is a quantitative-descriptive program evaluation. The strategy is a "Population Profile Narrative Study" as designed by Holosko and Feit (1981). The goal for this strategy is to describe the clients, services, personnel and immediate community served by the agency and includes three specific objectives. These are to provide: 1) a typical "day-in-a-life" of a client; 2) sociodemographic variables on the clients, services, personnel, and community; and 3) a description of clients, services, personnel as they interface with the community. -- The programs in each group home differed in certain aspects. The St. John's group home had behaviorally specific programs for each resident designed according to the individual's needs. In addition, the assessment of residents and the basic program goals were coordinated with the programming and constantly reviewed. The Corner Brook group home had the same individual programs for all residents, with only one exception - psychiatric counseling - which was recommended for one resident by a referring agency. There was no regular assessment of the individual residents and the group home staff were not familiar with the basic program goals of the group home. -- Recommendations are presented to the group homes based on the data compiled. It is recommended that both group homes: 1) utilize and maintain a strong outreach approach to the community; 2) initiate regular and ongoing evaluation of their operation; 3) introduce a systemized method of recordkeeping on clients and programs/services; and 4) choose Board members who have experience with similar agencies in order that their experience be used to help the group homes develop productively. It is recommended that the Corner Brook group home: 1) introduce regular and ongoing staff training including a formal orientation with a review of program goals and objectives; 2) introduce respite workers; 3) encourage Board members to increase their interaction with the group home staff; 4) institute a method for client assessment; and 5) develop and/or strengthen individualized programs for clients based on needs assessment. -- The Holosko and Feit (1981) "Population Profile Narrative Study" worked well for the researcher in the group home setting with minor limitations. In addition, the quantitative/descriptive data collected for this evaluative strategy may provide a useful data base for policy planning and decision-making in the two group homes, as well as future analyses and research.

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