Training Program and Unemployment

¶ … Measuring and Evaluating Performance

Select a societal issue that detracts from the mental health and welfare of society members anywhere in the world.

Unemployment is regularly cited as a major factor that adversely affects the mental health and welfare of people all over the world (Butterworth, 2008). Although there are a number of reasons for people being unemployed, the condition can have a wide range of negative effects, including higher levels of depression and anxiety, and even serious mental disorders such as schizophrenia (Butterworth, 2008). These effects are further exacerbated by a lack of availability of appropriate mental health resources for the poor in many communities, even in affluent nations (Butterworth, 2008). Finally, the condition of being unemployed adversely affects individuals' self-esteem and sense of self-worth, as well as limiting their ability to satisfy their basic daily living needs (Martin, 2009).

Write a brief description of the societal issue you selected, and describe two recommendations experts have made for resolving this societal issue.

Because time is of the essence in reducing unemployment to mitigate the above-described negative effects, many experts, including a professor of economics at the University of Chicago who recommends short-term strategies for reducing unemployment, including: (a) building roads, (c) cutting payroll taxes, and (c) investing in clean energy (Steigerwald, 2011). Other professors of economics have recommended longer-term solutions for reducing unemployment, including (a) increased investments in job training programs by the public and private sectors and (b) providing tax credits for small businesses that employ disadvantaged youths (Couch & Atkinson, 2005).

Identify two ethical challenges that might arise when following these recommendations

The implementation of the short-term solutions to reducing unemployment cited above involve an ethical challenge with respect to the burden they would impose on taxpayers who would be required to essentially subsidize these reduction efforts, especially in view of the mixed results of public sector job training programs in the past (Compos & Pradhan, 2007). Although this same ethical challenge applies to many of the long-term solutions described above, increased investments in job training programs by the private sector would not be similarly affected from an ethical perspective since no taxpayer resources would be involved (Compos & Pradhan, 2007).

Finally, explain how you might address those ethical challenges. Be specific, and reference a professional code of ethics to support your response

Even though taxpayer funds will be needed for most of the above-described solutions, this investment in public funds can be justified in terms of the potential social and economic benefits that can be achieved through unemployment reduction initiatives in both the short- and long terms (Xinxuan & Cheng, 2015). Moreover, these investments are also consistent with the second ethical principle of the National Association of Social Worker code of ethics which states, "Social workers' social change efforts are focused primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice."

Capstone Project Part IV: The Technicals: Measuring and Evaluating Performance

Description of leading indicators of success

The leading indicators for success for the strategic plan envisioned herein is based on the following goals:

1. Expand the indigenous youth programs and partnerships throughout North America

2. Develop a program model-based CWY's model that can be readily implemented in the countries of Oceania where it currently lacks a presence.

3 Develop a training program for mentors participating in its mentorship program

Identify four indicators that would signify success with regard to the strategic plan

1. Expand the indigenous youth programs and partnerships throughout North America

a. Number of new partnerships established with other youth-focused organizations in the U.S.;

b. Number of youths provided CWY training in new programs;

c. Effectiveness of new programming as perceived by participants based on quantifiable metrics; and,

d. Effectiveness of new programming as perceived by staff based on quantifiable metrics.

2. Develop a program model-based CWY's model that can be readily implemented in the countries of Oceania where it currently lacks a presence.

a. Effectiveness of CWY model development committee oversight in model program development based on quantifiable metrics;

b. The number of partnerships established with other youth-focused organizations in Australia;

c. The number of partnerships established with other youth-focused organizations in New Zealand; and,

d, The number of new participants completing the model program.

3 Develop a training program for mentors participating in its mentorship program

a. Evaluations of the Hamilton Fish Institute on School and Community Violence mentor training series by participants completing the series using a custom questionnaire;

b. The number of mentors receiving training;

c. The number of trained mentors who subsequently participate in CWY mentorship initiatives; and,

d. The effectiveness of trained mentors versus untrained mentors as measured by a custom questionnaire of mentees.

Discuss specifically how you would measure each indicator

The indicators using numbers described above will be measured through frequency analyses using a statistical analysis application such as Excel or SPSS. Likewise, the statistical data that results from the administration of the custom questionnaires to evaluate the effectiveness of programming will also be measured in this fashion.

Identify performance targets

1. Expand the indigenous youth programs and partnerships throughout North America:

a. Establish a minimum of ten new partnerships with youth-focused organizations in the U.S. within 6 months of project launch;

b. Create at least three new indigenous programs in the U.S. and five within 18 months of project launch;