These are discussions. I need one reference which is the textbook (Kirst-Ashman, K. K., Hull, G. H. Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities, 5th edition. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2012) and the rest can be internet references. See Discussions below.
Discussion Assignment 6: Organizational and specific program evaluation can really stir things up if not approached correctly. Staff, supervisors, licensing agents, administrators and even clients are not always happy about having to participate and undergo an extensive evaluation process. That is why, as pointed out in the textbook, the best time to plan for program evaluation is during the very creation of the program. Additionally, sometimes evaluations ask wrong or meaningless questions. For example, each of the discussion questions in this course is taken from material in the assigned text book. Think about how frustrating it would be if the questions were taken from a different text book. The results of that “evaluation” would then be meaningless to me in the context of this course. So it is, sometimes, that personnel and/or program evaluations are not properly dovetailed with the job description or stated goals. Furthermore, there are times when it is more important to “count” what didn’t happen, as opposed to what did. Sometimes, we just need to learn to ask different questions, instead of always allowing other peripheral parties to make up the questions we are then forcibly judged by. All that being said, discuss the importance of evidence-based practice and of having meaningful program and agency evaluations. To whom is it important and why? Do you think it results in more work being accomplished, or that program evaluations result in a net loss for the clients? Do you view those in charge of the evaluation (it whatever form it might be) as adversarial or as an advocate in some sense; someone who cares about the cause, so to speak?
Discussion Assignment 7: One definition for an ethical dilemma is as follows: “An ethical dilemma is a situation that will often involve an apparent conflict between moral [or value] imperatives, in which to obey one would result in transgressing another.” Your textbook states an ethical dilemma is when “we are faced with a situation in which a decision must be made under circumstances that set two or more ethical principles in conflict.” Page 453 Ethical dilemmas are basically unavoidable. They are all around us, in practically every area of life. As much as one might like for life’s tough questions to be black and white, the fact is that many things really are different shades of gray. If one always wants 2+2=4, then stick with mathematics. People are not formulas, and the answers they often seek are not formulaic. People, you and I, are very complex individuals, and as such can often present some very complex situations. When these situations involve competing values, both of which are good, but only one of which can be followed, you have found yourself face-to-face with an ethical dilemma. Welcome to reality. ? Chapter 12 of your text does an excellent job of discussing ethical dilemmas. You should be sure to read every word of it, and apply the teachings and concepts to your response to one of the ethical dilemmas found in the Additional Resources section of this syllabus.
Discussion Assignment 8: Online fundraising is growing exponentially. Any organization, cause, or political candidate serious about raising funds will have a very definite and professional presence on the Internet. It simply isn’t an option or a luxury anymore; it is absolutely required. Fortunately, it has become very easy to establish an internet presence in recent years, no longer requiring the small agency or organization to be able to afford the expensive services of professional designers and developers. There are many services out there and freely accessible, ready and willing to help you raise money for your cause. For example, YouTube is one that is literally asking to help, for free. Watch this short video, “Broadcast Your Cause-YouTube Nonprofit Program: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIdEnSkhA9A&feature=related.
Google offers organizations a lot of assistance in many different ways. For example, many organizations use Google as the back-end for their Web domain, email, document sharing, staff calendars and all the other services they offer. Accordingly, there are many other companies offering an extensive range of services to nonprofits that are meant to help the agency or organization reach its goals and raise the needed funds to effectively reach the people they serve. For your last discussion question, tell us about your online giving habits, assuming you have any, so that the rest of us will be able to know more about reaching people such as yourself in the future. Most of us, at one time or another, will find ourselves raising money for a worthy cause, and using the power of the Internet is very effective. Help us to better understand how we might reach you, using the Internet. Following are some of the things you might discuss in your post: Do you currently give money to charity over the Internet? Do you visit any websites of charities? Do you get emails from charities asking for donations? If you haven’t used the Internet to make contributions to charities, what would it take to convince you to do so? Most of us have made purchases over the Internet … what would it take to get you to make a contribution? Does the use of video help convince you to support the cause? Have you ever been a part of a grass-roots internet fundraising effort? Tell us about it.
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