The Evaluation of International Development Programs

The process of communication and agreement between people who want to change something together, they need action work.  For research it is necessary to know what is plan and research. Research is an organized and systematically way of finding answer and question. There are always some specific steps that should be adopted to achieve the right conclusion. It should be a planned procedure and collection of methods, practices, procedures and rules to attain the object and purpose. The research is successful when we find answer. Question is like a nuclease of the research. Research concentrate on important, related, relevant and useful questions, in the absence of question it is purpose less and has no values.  The good management skills and an understanding of group dynamics are important skills for the research to acquire. This type of research is necessary in areas such as organizational management of criminal justice such as drug court

Analyze the written policies, procedures, and job descriptions necessary for implementing and conducting the program.

Written policies, procedures, and job descriptions necessary for implanting and conducting the program is important to program implementation. New Jersey Courts says, Collaborative links among the courts, prosecutors, public defenders, law enforcement, treatment providers, social service agencies and community-based non-profit organizations; A standardized assessment process used to identify eligible non-violent offenders; Staff members trained in substance abuse and recovery issues operating in a non-adversarial atmosphere. A system of graduated sanctions and incentives to encourages recovery goals and hold offenders accountable for non-compliant behaviors. (2011, p.1)  Juvenile Drug Court says make certain that the planning and operational teams comprise a diverse and broad-based group of key community stakeholders and agencies, including individuals who can represent the interests and experience of the population to be served. (2011)

The job descriptions are going to entail of specialized non-drug users, who in some cases, might be former users with the knowledge of drug-use, the jobs will consist of counselors, probation officers, and people to be in place to help the program succeed. Juvenile Drug Court says, as a first step in defining the target population, revisit the data collected during the initial needs assessment (on substance use, arrests, and criminal activity in the community). Then review the mission statement for the juvenile drug court, its goals for solving the problem(s), and the objectives for reaching those goals. (2011)

According to Juvenile Drug Courts, Provide immediate intervention, treatment, and structure in the lives of juveniles who use drugs through ongoing, active oversight and monitoring by the drug court judge. Improve juveniles’ level of functioning in their environment, address problems that may be contributing to their use of drugs, and develop/strengthen their ability to lead crime- and drug-free lives. (2011) the program needs to keep stakeholders, law enforcement, and the courts updated on the changes and process.

Evaluation of the Implementation Plan and Timeframe

As part of the evaluation process, it is important to make sure that the implementation plan has all of the necessary components.  The plan should describe the purpose of the Drug Court Program and identify all of the systems that should be implemented in order for the program to be created and then be successful. 

There are certain assumptions that are made regarding the development and execution of the Drug Court Program and what possible constraints that are applicable.  It is important to consider certain items when identifying the assumptions and constraints, such as; the schedule, budget, resource availability and skill sets, and necessary technology to be purchased.  Charts, diagrams, and graphics should be included during this phase of the implementation plan to provide a clear picture of the entire program.

Points of contact should be established to identify the responsible parties or organizations.  Some of the points of contact should be the Business Sponsor, Project Manager, Quality Assurance Manager, Site Implementation Representative, and Database Administrator.  These positions should be filled with highly qualified individuals in their areas.  Their education and experience should consist of program development and implementation.  It is important to have highly qualified individuals to ensure that all codes, processes, and procedures are met in order for the program to be open and operated as soon as possible.

The positions that should be filled within the Drug Court Program itself should also consist of highly qualified individuals.  Personnel are a key point of interest knowing that the success of the program will impact the future funding of the program.  In evaluating the personnel, the project implementation plan should describe the number of personnel, length of time needed, types of skills, skill levels, and area of expertise.

For the Drug Court Program we will need a Psychiatrist that has worked in the field of chemical dependency, board certified in both general psychiatry and addiction psychiatry, and has counseling experience with at-risk youth.  We will also need a Detox Specialist who is certified in psychiatry, mental health issues, chemical dependency, and client detox procedures.  A Family Therapist should be on staff to assist with dependency recovery, trauma, and family group conferencing.  A Psychotherapist should be hired as well to provide individual and group psychotherapy to those kids struggling with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, relationship issues, life transitions, and addiction.  A clinical Social Worker would be helpful with training, psychodrama, group psychotherapy, and outreach programs.  A Sober Life Coach will be able to assist with the transition from treatment to independent living and focusing on continued life skills development.  Outpatient care would be the final piece to the employment department as they would do the follow up with the drug court participants to ensure that they are meeting the expectations of the program and to see if any additional assistance is required. 

An appropriate timeline for the program to be operating efficiently and set for long term success would be about five years.  It would seem appropriate to have the program operating after two years, but time will be needed to create access to federal grants, gain support for a long-term operational funding stream, and to develop relationships with the private sector.

Training Requirements, Materials and Assignments Needed For Key Personnel

Program and design involves a couple of factors in its implementation. Among these are well trained personnel. The following essay covers exactly what is required in training them. It is important to come up with a training plan complete with long and short term objectives, ways of attaining them, constraints and resources needed. There needs to be a qualified supervisor and a willing and proactive team. The supervisor needs to exhibit soundness and integrity on problem solving, decision making, delegation and overall leadership skills. The team on the other hand is required to be creative and innovative. The students particularly need to exhibit ethical behavior, discipline and commitment besides being good time managers. There needs to be a lot of team work and a positive working environment.

Other requirements include accountability and responsibility. Collaboration between authorities and supervisors, supervisors and their teams and team members with each other is also required.

Finding a training facility which is conducive for learning, that is, with space and learning material is also a key requirement. Conducive in this case means a place with minimal or no distractions and interruptions.  Effective coaching and training should be provided. Trainers need to be mentors as well as sensitive to learning needs. Performance reviews keep team members on their toes so there has to be an emphasis on attainment of goals and rewards for good performance.

Research material is needed to collect information and analyze it. This material includes questionnaires for data collection and data entry and processing material such as computers. There needs to be stationary at hand, that is, recording and storage material. Reference material is also important and the more the better.

Assignments needed for key personnel include analyzing the objectives and coming up with instruments to achieve them. There needs to be a clear outline of the challenges and constraints likely to be encountered and a clear plan on how they will be dealt with. There needs to be activities that test and teach about dealing with emerging threats and opportunities. It also shows how learners handle time and stress during the training process. Assignments need to play the role of testing, motivating and especially teaching besides achieving the required goals and objectives. In short assignments need to be given with the aim of developing personnel professionally.

Funding is extremely important during training. Technology and material needed for key personnel requires continuous funding. Funding is also required as incentive and to reward performance.

Efficiency in project design and development

The project’s success is normally dependant on the efficiency and effectiveness of the plans made in that specific project. The management is also very essential in the evaluation process and will enhance efficiency since; they will ensure everything goes to plan. In most cases a cost benefit analysis is essential in assessing the efficiency of the project (Nas, 1996). This is also referred to as a cost-effectiveness breakdown where the benefits and the costs involved in the project are outlined and compared. This is expected to be so in the justice department where it is paramount the produce perfect results.

Efficiency is implemented to ensure the plans made for the project deliver the output required; they will compare the outputs and inputs and making sure there is an efficient way of maximizing the outputs for the resources present. This will gauge whether the methods being applied are the best and how best they can be modified to produce maximum results for the project (Bamberger, 2000). This process will be mainly dependent on the descriptions, results and judgments on the project’s life. In any case the costs exceed the benefits then the project is not efficient and requires certain measures to reduce the negative impacts. A good project should have lower ratio of the costs and benefits meaning the benefits will exceed the costs. This means that the justice process will be very efficient.

The projects when well evaluated will ensure that the project remains valid, sensitive and reliable; this contributes greatly to ensuring success. In the cost benefit analysis, the evaluator requires to focus on the valuation, time and the risks and uncertainties (Rossi, et al. 2004). Valuation includes the financial aspects of the projects and will mainly be gauged by the benefits to forego the financial resources invested to solve the problem addressed by the project.

Time is also very relevant since the projects aims and objects must be worked on in time; this will cater for the present values and any discounts. The risks and uncertainties helps evaluators know the amounts of risks that the project faces and the expected return in foregoing other plans.

Data Collection Methodology

Researchers collect data when designing any type of program.  The research methodologies used to design a program alternative to incarceration tested the success of participants in a drug court program.  The researchers determine the purpose of the evaluation, the subject evaluated, and who is affected by the evaluation.  Once the researchers determine the audience participating in the program, heor she determines the kind of data collectedand the methods and instruments used to obtain valid and reliable information.  The researchers organize the data into quantitative or qualitative data analysis and interpret the data and report the results of the data. 

Before developing the drug court program the researches began documenting and data collection.  The data collection includes the purpose of the program, the clients served, and the degree to which the program operates, the program activities, and determines the outcome and needs of the people served.  The data collection also determines if there is evidence to support the theoretical assumptions to develop the program.  The information is crucial when developing a new program to learn how the program will operate before incorporating the program into the court systems.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) requires continued efforts to collect data pertaining to the performance of a drug court program.  The programs complete follow-up evaluations for the results of the program to determine the recidivism rates or relapse of substance abuse after the clients complete the program.  The data also provides information on the differences and limitations in the objectives, scope, and methodology of existing evaluation studies and the impact or effectiveness of the programs.  The Drug Court Program Offices (DCOP) requires performance and outcome data collected semi-annually using a Drug Court Grantee Data Collection Survey (Grassley, 2002). 

Quantitative data collection includes experimental trials, collecting and recordingevents, obtaining data from other information systems, administering surveys, and questionnaires.  Qualitative data collection is an important part of the evaluation process.  The data collection relies on interactive interviews and other forms of multiple data collection methods for authenticity of the results.  Qualitative data collection takes more time and the researchersneed to record the data thoroughly, accurately, and systematically data collection methods must observe the ethical principles of research (Data Collection Methods).

The methods of data collection for a drug court program include entrance and exit questionnaires.  The entrance questionnaires have a higher response rate when submitted face-to-face.  Paper-pencil-questionnaires usedfor the exit interviews because the respondents are more truthful when answering questions regarding controversial issues in particular when the responses are anonymous.  The research and data collection has been completed for the new drug court program.  The evaluations proved drug courts are the best practice to alternatives to incarcerations.  

Conclusion

The incarceration alone does little to alleviate the cycle of illicit drug use and crime.  Juvenile who are sentence to incarceration for substance-related offenses return at a high rate once released. On the contrary part treatment for illicit substance abuse has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing both the drug addiction and drug related crimes. The research on the biological, social and behavioral bases of drug use and addiction has grown from studies done by a handful of experienced researchers who are working to improve the prevention and treatment of one of the mankind’s most vexing problems. Training an adequate number of drug personnel is necessary to improve the quality of the result. This can be accomplished by the targeting training efforts. Drug courts, an alternative to incarceration began to appear in the late 1980’s in response to this unprecedented growth in the prison population. It prove that it is effective and model represented a paradigm shift away from the traditional court system as the focus became one of treatment and design, less punitive and non-adversarial.