Program Theory & Implementation

Overview
The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate your vision of your program theory and why
and how it is expected to work to ameliorate the problem affecting your particular population. The
establishment of the program’s goals and objectives have been developed to facilitate the
implementation of the program as well as to establish the measurable outcomes that are to be
achieved by your program services and interventions. You will demonstrate that you have
created a plan for implementation of the program based on the program theory and
establishment of your program goals and measurable outcomes. There are two major
components of this assignment:
a. Program Theory: Goals, Objectives, Performance Standards
The goals and objectives should be developed based upon the application of your previous
work in defining the problem, the variables to be impacted to achieve the desired outcomes,
the specifics of the population and definition of need, and the theory that supports your
intervention strategies. The goals and objectives that are created will indicate how each
objective will measured to determine that the objective has been achieved. The format of the
goals will demonstrate the application of the SMART structure and will include both process
and outcome objectives.
b. Service Tasks & Program Implementation
This assignment reflects your analysis of the tasks and required time lines necessary to bring
your program recommendations from concept to actuality. That is, how long will it take from
receiving approval to implement the program until services are actually provided to clients?
This exercise requires that you outline in a logical sequence the tasks that must be
accomplished to implement the program recommendations and time required to complete the
tasks. Consider tasks that may be completed prior to program approval and those that may not
be commenced until the funding or administrative approval has been received. Too often
funders want programs initiated in an unrealistic timeframe after they have approved the
funding. This preparation of tasks and timelines will facilitate the successful implementation of
the program.
Directions
In 7 to 10 pages, using scholarly grammar and APA 7th edition guidelines, create clear and
concise goals and apply the SMART formatting for process and outcome objectives. Apply
a numerical and formatting structure that demonstrates the hierarchy of the goals to outcome
objectives to process objectives to activities (strategies and interventions). No additional
narrative is required.
Follow the structure below for a seamless transition of your paper:
Note: Always start your paper with an introduction section, conclude your paper with a
conclusion section, cite scholarly resources and include references (at least 5 to 7) outside
of your textbook.
Program Theory: Goals, Objectives, Performance Standards
Step 1: Outline your Program Theory: Program Theory is the assumption that
your program’s design, activities, and execution will lead to the achievement of the outcomes
you intend for your clients. It is also called the theory of change. Program theories are
underlying rationales for programs, describing how and why a program should lead to the
intended outcomes. Identifying and assessing the strength of the program theory are critical
for increasing the likelihood that programs will be effective. A clear program theory makes it
much easier to choose the most appropriate outcomes (results) to measure.
Based on the literature review and rationale of action for the problem and population you
have analyzed in assignments 1 and 2, state your program theory or the theory of change
clearly.
For example, a school-based ATOD prevention program could have the following
theory: If trained teachers provide alcohol prevention training to youth, youth will: (a)
gain knowledge of alcohol avoidance strategies; (b) practice alcohol avoidance
strategies, and (c) reduce alcohol initiation and use. As a result of the reduced
alcohol use of individual youth, alcohol problems in schools will decline.
Step 2: Develop one consumer-oriented goal for the recommended program, ensuring that
the goal meets the standards outlined in the text and readings.
Remember:
• The goal should be clear and concise.
• The goal should reflect the overall purpose of the program and should describe the
intended results with a clear definition of the specific target population.
Step 3: Develop at least two consumer-oriented objectives that reflect the achievement of
the goal. The objectives provide the strategies that explain how the program goal will be
accomplished.
• The objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-phased
(SMART objectives).
• The objectives should demonstrate the activities utilized to implement the program
model you have previously recommended.
• At least one of the objectives should be outcome-oriented and at least one should
be process- oriented.
Step 4: For each objective, specify a performance measure that will be used to determine if the
objective has been achieved.
• The performance measure needs to be observable and measurable.
Step 5: Include an objective that indicates the criteria for defining the consumer as a beneficiary
of the services provided. That is, what is the minimum level of participation that is required to
expect that the participant will experience some benefit from the program. This definition of the
beneficiary will be used in determining the success of client engagement and retention in the
program (process outcome) and to determine which clients are included in the outcome measures.
Service Tasks & Program Implementation
Step 6: Provide a chart of anticipated expenses for the addition or expansion of the program
that you have recommended.
a. List the new staff positions (administrative, direct service, support) that are required, the
desired credentials (degree and experience), and the starting salary for each position.
b. List the additional expenses that are related to implementation of an evidence-based
program, e.g. purchase/licensing fees, training/certification of staff, travel to training site.
c. List the expenses for consumables or flexible wrap around funds required by the program
format, strategies, and activities.
d. It is not necessary to provide a complete budget that includes facility expenses, office
equipment, supplies, indirect costs, etc. It is expected that your agency will have someone
with financial expertise to assist you with these expenses and the formal budgeting
process.
Step 7: Provide a Gantt chart that lists in a logical order the tasks that need to be accomplished
from program approval to implementation and the required time frame to accomplish each task. No
additional narrative is required to explain the activity. Be sure to consider those tasks that can be
completed prior to program approval and those that must wait until after approval is obtained. Be
sure to consider the training schedule of the evidence-based program if certification and/or training
is required; do not assume the training will occur on your desire timeline. Also, be realistic about
how long the recruitment, interviewing, and on-boarding processes take if you are adding
additional staff positions.