Catherine Scott 440W Task 9
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Old Dominion University *
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440W
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Health Science
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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docx
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5
Uploaded by ChefTreeFox18
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Assignment: Task 9 Reflection Letter
Catherine Scott
Old Dominion University
HMSV 440W: Program Development, Implementation and Funding
Dr. Sharon Silverberg
November 29, 2023
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Introduction
Upon entering my HMSV 440W: Program Development, Implementation and Funding
course with a very intimidating title, I was unsure in what to expect. I thought that it would
probably be like my other online courses in which we read from the books, had some online
lectures, watched some videos, did the mandatory discussion boards and papers. I was dreading
this course, because of the capital W it had at the end, signifying that it was a writing intensive
class. Little did I know the challenges that I was to face.
What I learned
This course required a huge amount of research. I learned how to write an Annotated
Bibliography, how to understand the role of research in the evaluation process, how to
understand the use of evaluation in program planning, how to effectively conduct a program
evaluation, how to recognize the components of an evaluation including research methods,
agency description, understanding population, stakeholders, and research. I also learned how to
understand similarities differences in the evaluator’s role and stakeholder’s role in the evaluation
process as well as how to recognize stakeholders and how to use them in the evaluation process
and understand the role of evaluation in the field of Human Services.
How My Learning is Demonstrated
I believe that this course was carefully thought out and planned. The discussion boards
seemed like they were laying out a blueprint for our essays and made it simpler to write them. I
enjoyed researching and reacting to my fellow classmates within the discussion boards, though I
wish that I could have taken the class in person so I could have that fellowship and camaraderie.
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My learning was also demonstrated in the Tasks that we had to complete. We have a total
of ten tasks to complete, this current one is number nine. We also had four quizzes in which I
have an average of 85.75% in.
The hardest part for me in anything in life is starting it. So therefore, looking for an
agency was a bit intimidating for me. I was really scared to introduce myself and contact
agencies to basically pry into their corporations and ask probing questions.
The first company
that I contacted was The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. They were
wary about me coming into their building and observing their facilities for safety concerns. As
the semester progressed and with permission of my other professor, I was able to volunteer there
for my Case Management and Crisis Intervention in Field Observation Course. As a volunteer I
can vouch and I agree, there are a lot of moving machines, people and massive amount of food
that are always going to different places. So, then I went back to Google and looked for places
around my zip code and found ForKids. A company that is dear to my heart because I was once
homeless and they assisted my family, so I naturally had questions.
Doing the Evaluation
As I progressed and in my evaluation of the ForKids program I gained confidence in
asking questions and following through with the evaluation. I did not get as much information as
I would have liked because of my hesitation to push and ask for more information. I am person
who does not really like confrontation and I felt as if this company has done so much for my
family that I may have been asking for too much, although the people in which I interacted with
were very kind and inviting.
I have learned through Task 5 “Research Plan” and Task 7 “Timeline”, that I could have
probably given myself more time if I had acted faster in the beginning. I do feel as though
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creating the research plan and timeline could have been much earlier tasks, because it was easy
to overestimate how much time was left in the semester to complete the evaluation plus all our
other assignments. I feel as if the Timeline project was one of my best thus far because it created
a picture of what was next.
How the Course’s Content Intersects with My Future Field
As a future Human Service Professional, it is important for me to understand who the
stakeholders are or who are the people you are responsible for and to. I had not realized how
much work it is to build a Human Service Program and keep it running. It takes a heap of
planning, funds, people, and energy. I understand why this class is important for future Human
Service Professionals such as myself to take, I am grateful that I now have a bit of “behind the
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scenes” knowledge so that I can better appreciate those who I will work with and for. Thank you,
Professor Silverberg, for your time, your knowledge and your understanding as you taught us
what was important.