Date of Award

Winter 1996

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Program/Concentration

Urban Services - Urban Education

Committee Director

Stephen W. Tonelson

Committee Member

Wolfgang Pindur

Committee Member

George W. Pratt

Committee Member

Rebecca S. Bowers

Committee Member

Donna B. Evans

Abstract

The primary purpose of this research was to design and to implement an evaluation model for the Norfolk Interagency Consortium (NIC). The research design employed in this study focused on four areas of investigation: program clarification, processes and activities, outcomes, and cost. The study utilized qualitative and quantitative methods and procedures.

The program clarification stage of the research served as a pre-evaluative phase. An evaluability assessment was incorporated to define and clarify the NIC'S program components and goals, and determine which goals were evaluable. Data regarding the target population also were collected.

The processes and activities investigation used a survey instrument adapted from the questionnaire, "Assessing Local Service Systems for Chronically Mentally Ill Persons". Survey participants included 149 NIC personnel. Participants assessed the organization's activities related to availability and accessibility and coordination of services and information. Respondents also provided information regarding NIC's challenges and accomplishments with regard to at-risk youth. A series of ANOVAs indicated significant differences in the assessment of NIC activities by organizational levels.

The outcomes research included both client and community effects. Client effects were measured using a restrictiveness of living environment scale (ROLES). An overall restrictiveness score was calculated for 40 young people to give an indication of the NIC's ability to maintain or lower its clients' ROLES score over a period of three years. The ROLES scores were also used in a multiple regression analysis to determine if age, parent involvement, or previous out-of-home placements (POOH) could be used to predict a lowered ROLES. POOH reported a low, but significant predictive value (R2 = .24). The results of community effects indicated that the NIC has had a positive impact on developing a continuum of care in Norfolk and in encouraging agency integration.

Cost research employed survey instruments to examine NIC's fiscal practices and utilized ROLES scores in a correlation analysis with Virginia's Comprehensive Services Act (CSA) funds. The correlation results suggested a significant, but small relationship between ROLES and CSA funds.

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DOI

10.25777/vkjr-qr57

ISBN

9780591262278

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