Jewish
Family Services of Greater Dallas is a non-profit program that I have had the
pleasure of working with for several years through the United Way campaigns
conducted every year through my place of employment. We are able to donate many
goods such as baby items and food for mothers who are unable to afford them and
we have created birthday bags that includes cake mixes, gift cards, balloons,
streamers, cake pans, etc. for children’s upcoming Birthdays.
This
program offers support to families through career services, financial services,
housing and a food bank. Jewish Family Services also offers various mental health
services for families or individuals who may suffering with mental illness.
Services are provided to any race, religion, or ethnic background. This program
has been around serving the greater Dallas since 1950. Their goal is to provide
Social Services based on the needs of the communities.
|
Social
Problem:
|
People
are unable to provide the basic needs for their family due life crisis such
as unemployment, low wages, and/or mental illness.
|
||||
|
For
Whom
|
Assumptions
|
Inputs
|
Activities
|
Outputs
|
Outcomes
|
|
Anyone
in need in the Dallas Fort Worth region
|
·
Unemployment is a huge issue within the community.
·
Some families are unable to provide basic needs
(e.g. food, clothing, etc.) due to low wages.
·
Many people do not know how to manage their
finances.
|
·
Financial Services
·
Employment Services
·
Mental Health Services
·
Social Services
|
·
Financial workshops
·
Training programs
·
Food Banks
·
Counseling services
|
Provide
lifelong self-sufficiency within a year of seeking services
|
·
Provide employment
·
Provide Housing Services
·
Families are more financially stable
·
Family have better coping mechanisms
|
Social
Problem
Even
though the country is coming out of an economic recession, there is still a
growing need for employment opportunities. Many people still are without work
and others do not make enough to make ends meet. These individuals are unable
to meet the basic requirements for providing for their family like the ability
to provide food, shelter, clothing, etc. These individuals are more prone to
suffering from mental distress such as depression and some are unable to cope
with their day to day lives.
Who
needs services
Although Jewish Family Services sounds
like it focuses on a specific religion, any race, nationality or individual who
doesn’t have the ability to pay can seek their services. If you are in need of
help financially or mentally, the services they offer may help you.
Assumptions
This program functions on the
assumptions that people are in need of unemployment services, many people struggle
with managing their finances and some people struggle with providing food, shelter,
clothing and they do not know where to find services to provide these needs.
Inputs
Jewish Family Services offers Financial
Services for individuals who struggle with large amounts of debt. They provide
Employment services for people who are unable to maintain or find jobs. Mental
Health services are available for families if they are struggling with family
problems or if an individual is suffering from their own problems separate from
their family. Jewish Family Services also has a food bank for people in need of
meals, they provide Birthday bags for people who are unable to afford a Birthday
party for their children. They also offer different resources such housing, intervention
services, support groups, etc.
Activities
Different activities that Jewish
Family Services implement range from financial workshops, career networking
events, job/resume training programs, counseling services such as support
groups.
Outputs/Outcomes
This programs have increased its
ability to provide services to the greater Dallas. Previously they only
serviced the city of Dallas but now they are able to reach areas such as Plano
and Grapevine. They are able to help many families improve their situation
within a year’s time.
Outcome evaluation is very important
in determining if a program actual works and if there was a need for the
program (Engel & Schutt, 2014). Since we have assumptions of a needs for
unemployment services, mental health services, and financial services, etc. an
outcome evaluation would be great in determining the community needs before and
after the program was implemented. If the unemployment rates began to drop in
the city, then the program may have been effective in providing great networking
opportunities or great resume writing workshops to cater to that overall need.
The stakeholders of the program would
include local mental health agencies and social workers who provide case management
services. Also the stakeholders would include groups such as United Way since
programs such as Jewish Family Services work directly through this non-profit organization.
If I were creating my own program, I would be interested in employing similar
groups to be stakeholders. These stakeholders would be a part of the
implementation process. They could offer feedback and guidance on the average
amount of people that should be serviced per year in order to be deemed an effective
program.
References
Engel, R. J., & Schutt, R. K.
(2014). Fundamentals of social work research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
