Program Evaluation and Counseling: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Program Evaluation: The Accountability Bridge Model for Counselors

“…Instead, today's counselors must actively learn about and use evaluation methods as a means of enhancing their counseling practices, providing accountability to stakeholders, and enhancing the professional identity of all counselors. As Wheeler and Loesch (1981) predicted nearly 25 years ago, program evaluation continues to be a force in the development of the counseling professions. They likewise suggested that counseling professionals are gradually beginning to recognize that if counseling program evaluations are to be used, they must be initiated and implemented by counselors themselves.…”

“…Counselors may, therefore, refrain from program evaluation because of The Accountability Bridge Model for Counselors a lack of confidence in their ability to effectively collect and analyze data and apply findings to their professional practice (Isaacs, 2003). However, for those counselors with the requisite skills to conduct evaluations, their hesitance may be related to the fear of finding that their services are ineffective (Lusky & Hayes, 2001;Wheeler & Loesch, 1981).…”

“…Although counseling program evaluation may enhance client services and promote the professional identity of counselors, barriers to implementing program evaluation cannot be overlooked. First of all, program evaluation practices have often been considered as being too time-consuming and complex (Loesch, 2001;Wheeler & Loesch, 1981). Thus, counselors who have not previously initiated evaluations of their programs and services may be hesitant to embark on a seemingly difficult task.…”

“…Program evaluation in counseling has been a consistent topic of discourse in the profession over the past 20 years (Gysbers, Hughey, Starr, & Lapan, 1992;Hadley & Mitchell, 1995;Loesch, 2001;Wheeler & Loesch, 1981). Considered an applied research discipline, program evaluation refers to a systematic process of collecting and analyzing information about the efficiency, the effectiveness, and the impact of programs and services (Boulmetis & Dutwin, 2000).…”

Evaluating Addictions Counseling Programs: Promoting Best Practices, Accountability, and Advocacy

“…Promoted for several decades by researchers in various counseling specialties (e.g., Astramovich, Coker, & Hoskins, 2005;Benkofski & Heppner, 1999;Loesch, 2001;Wheeler & Loesch, 1981), program evaluation involves a systematic and planned process of gathering, analyzing, and reporting program-related data for the purposes of program improvement and for determining cost effectiveness and efficiency (Royse, Thyer, & Padgett, 2010). Although program evaluation methods originally were developed for use primarily in the business sector, human services organizations also have adopted program evaluation strategies as a means for identifying effectiveness of interventions and for providing accountability.…”