Action Research Project Report and Presentation
This is the final assignment in your Action Research Project. This assignment is your opportunity to showcase your solution to the issue at the organization that you have examined throughout the course. In this assignment, you will demonstrate your understanding of the issue, your solution to the issue, the ethical implications involved in the study, and your action plan for the future, including your recommendations for the organizational stakeholders. Before you begin your final project assignment, review the Action Research Project Report and Presentation Scoring Guide and the Action Research Project overview in order to familiarize yourself with the requirements of this assignment.
Assignment Instructions
This final project assignment includes two components:
Action Research Project Report: Compile your work from the previous assignments to form the sections of this final Action Research Project Report, as outlined below. Incorporate revisions and updates based on the instructor and peer feedback you have received, as well as any changes that may have occurred as your project developed. Create the Conclusions section (as well as the table of contents) for your report at this time.
Action Research Project Presentation: Create a presentation on your project, using a PowerPoint slide deck (or similar software) and Kaltura (or similar software) for your audio recording, for your intended audience of the internal and external stakeholders of the chosen organization and program.
In both parts of your assignment, be sure to cover the following key points:
Describe the human services issue you have chosen, the study you have researched, and the organization and program studied.
Discuss the problem, goals, demographics, data, and issues involved, using the action research process to assess strategies for addressing them.
Detail your proposed solution to the issue for the human services organization, and discuss your recommendations for the stakeholders.
Develop concluding remarks that summarize the highlights of your chosen study, including your proposals for future steps.
Action Research Project Report
Your final Action Research Project Report should total at least 20 pages in length, including all of the previous project work you have developed throughout the course in the assignments and related discussions. Present your written report according to the following sections:
Cover Page.
Table of Contents.
Abstract: (roughly 1 page; no longer than two pages).
This section of the assignment corresponds to the Abstract section of the Publishing Action Research discussion in Unit 9. In this section, be sure to cover the following main points:
Describe the human services issue your action research project addresses, based on the study you have examined for your chosen organization.
Identify your proposed solution.
Briefly establish how you have used action research to assess the issue, examine the demographics and data, and develop strategies to achieve your solution to the human services issue.
Introduction: (minimum of 1 page).
This section of the assignment corresponds to the Introduction section of your Identifying a Chosen Issue and Its Background assignment in Unit 2. In this section, be sure to cover the following main points:
Briefly describe the human services organization and the program being examined.
Explain the focus of your chosen study.
State what the study is attempting to learn and understand about the issue.
Background for the Study: (roughly 2 pages).
This section of the assignment corresponds to the Background for the Study section of your Identifying a Chosen Issue and Its Background assignment in Unit 2. In this section, be sure to cover the following main points:
Discuss research that addresses or relates to your chosen human services issue, including the following:
State the history of the issue and how the history is relevant to the current state of the issue.
Describe the previous work that has been done on this issue.
Analyze how other research relates to this issue.
Analyze the background of your chosen study.
Examine your chosen study using theoretical frameworks and systems thinking.
Describe how this issue relates to other problems within the organization.
Description of the Research Context for the Study: (minimum of 5 pages).
This section of the assignment corresponds to the Data Collection and Ethical Concerns assignment in Unit 3. In this section, be sure to cover the following main points:
Discuss important information concerning the data and the participants for your chosen study.
State where the study was conducted, including where the data was gathered.
Discuss who the participants in the research were and describe how they were selected.
Examine the ethical implications of your chosen study on the human services issue.
State whether it was necessary for the researcher(s) to gain permission (informed consent) from participants to conduct the study. If so, describe those measures.
Explain how the researcher(s) assured participants that they were protected from harm and that they would not be exposed to risks.
Explain how participant confidentiality was protected.
Results of Data Collection and Analysis: (minimum of 4 pages).
This section of the assignment corresponds to the Organizing and Analyzing Data assignment in Unit 5. In this section, be sure to cover the following main points:
Discuss the general approach (such as individual, collaborative, organizational, or community) to the research design that is used in your specified study.
Evaluate the types of data collected, the methods used, the organization of the data, and the major findings of your chosen study.
Identify the significant types of data that were collected.
Explain how the data was organized in the study.
Describe the exact methods of data collection that were used (for example, behavioral observation, interviewing, journaling, artifact collection, taking field notes, etcetera).
Evaluate the use of each data collection method within the context of this study. For each method of data collection, explain how the data was collected.
Exhibit the data in an appropriate format. If you use charts or graphs, be sure to apply APA style and formatting.
Discuss what tools were used to analyze the data.
Briefly analyze the major findings of the study to determine what was learned and discuss supporting examples.
Classify the raw data from your chosen study into data sets. Organize the findings in one of two ways:
Identify and interpret themes that exist in the data and organize the data into those thematic categories. Display the data to support the statements you are making, so others may understand your groupings.
Organize the data according to a timeline of events chronologically, according to life history, in composite style, according to critical events, or in a narrative portraiture.
Action Plan: (1–2 pages).
This section of the assignment corresponds to the Project Action Plan discussion in Unit 7. In this section, be sure to cover the following main points:
Formulate a solution to your chosen issue, based on your findings.
Present your action plan for getting to your solution.
Explain how your plan will continue past its initial implementation and be reassessed as part of the action research cycle.
Evaluate your planned activities, including an assessment of how you will implement your plan.
Distinguish the strengths and weaknesses of your action plan.
Discussion of Implications: (minimum of 4 pages).
This section of the assignment corresponds to the Study Evaluation assignment in Unit 7. In this section, be sure to cover the following main points:
Evaluate the implications of your findings from the study and the potential significance for your organization and for society as a whole.
Analyze who might care about this study, and why.
Distinguish who benefits from this research.
Explain what is important to you and to others concerning this research.
Describe whose interests are served by this research.
Propose future research steps regarding your human services issue, using systems thinking.
Explain what new questions emerged in your analysis of your chosen study.
Explain how you will continue this inquiry.
Present a timeline plan that includes when to reassess this issue.
Conclusions: (roughly 2 pages).
Create this section of the report with this assignment. Address the following:
Create a brief summary of the study.
Develop concluding remarks that summarize the major insights from your chosen study, including proposing future steps.
Briefly identify the new questions that emerged in your analysis of your chosen study.
Summarize the key points of how you will continue this inquiry.
Briefly address the action plan you developed in the Unit 7 discussion.
Briefly reiterate your future steps, including your timeline plan.
Action Research Project Presentation
Create a 5–8 minute Action Research Project Presentation for a prospective audience of the internal and external stakeholders of the program and the organization, highlighting the action research process you have followed and effectively communicating methods and practices that explain your solution to the organizational issue you have examined. This presentation should summarize the content of your Action Research Project Report for the stakeholders, demonstrating your understanding of the issue; analyzing how it was addressed in the study, including the ethical implications; interpreting what the study data suggests; and presenting your solution to the issue and plan for the future. Your presentation should also demonstrate how you used action research methods and practices to get to your solution.
Your goal for the presentation is to get the stakeholders invested in your solution and to convince them of why they should provide funding. Utilize clear charts or graphs to explain the research, as this adds value to your presentation. Use PowerPoint (or a similar software program) to develop your slides, as outlined below. Use Kaltura (or a similar program) to record your audio narration of the slides and upload the presentation.
The format of your Action Research Project Presentation should closely follow the structure of your Action Research Project Report. Include the following sections in 15–19 slides:
Title (1 slide).
Introduction (1 slide).
Background for the Study (2–3 slides).
Description of the Research Context for the Study (2–4 slides).
Results of Data Collection and Analysis (4 slides).
Action Plan (1–2 slides).
Discussion of Implications (3 slides).
Conclusions (1 slide).
References (1–2 slides).
Review the Riverbend City: Action Research Reflection and Stakeholder Presentation multimedia presentation (linked in the Resources) for guidance on what your presentation should entail.
Presentation Submission Requirements
Your presentation must meet the following requirements:
Written communication: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and respectful of the diversity, dignity, and integrity of others, consistent with the expectations for members of the human services field.
APA guidelines: Follow current APA guidelines for style and formatting, using a title slide and references slide, and citing your sources properly in the body of your slides with corresponding references on the references slide.
If you use graphs and charts, follow APA formatting guidelines.
Audio recording: Record a brief (5–8 minute) audiovisual presentation that highlights your more extensive action research report.
PowerPoint slides: Include 15–19 slides.
References: Present at least 12 references to support this presentation, corresponding with the references you use in your report.
Report Submission Requirements
Your report must meet the following requirements:
Written communication: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and respectful of the diversity, dignity, and integrity of others, consistent with the expectations for members of the human services field. Write comprehensibly to support fundamental ideas, in APA format, using correct grammar and mechanics.
APA guidelines: Follow current APA guidelines for style and formatting, using a title page and references page, and citing your sources properly in the body of your paper with corresponding references on the references page.
If you use graphs and charts, follow APA formatting guidelines.
Length of report: Write a minimum of 2 new pages for this assignment and create a table of contents page, for a comprehensive total of at least 20 pages (including the content from your previous project activities). This page total is not including the title page and references page. The content should be typed and double-spaced.
References: At least 12 references in total must be used to support this report. Include peer-reviewed journals or other scholarly resources, assigned unit readings, and the like. In the total number of references, be sure to include your references for the 2 similar organizational reports you cited in the Unit 5 assignment.
Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12-point.
Title page: The title page can be creatively designed to reflect the personality of the organization and the dynamic data and information the report contains.
Submit the following document for the assignment:
Your assignment using the following file naming format: Your_Name_AssignmentNumber_Assignment_Title (for example: Ima_Learner_u09a1_Assignment_Title).
Refer to the Using Kaltura tutorial (linked in the Resources) for directions on using Kaltura to upload your presentation.
Submit this assignment to your instructor, including the link to your presentation in the body of the assignment and attaching your final report to the assignment, no later than 11:59 p.m. CST, Sunday.
Note: If you require the use of assistive technology or alternative communication methods to participate in this activity, please contact Disability Services (linked in the Resources) to request accommodations.
IDENTIFYING A CHOSEN ISSUE AND IT’S BACKGROUND 2
Action Research Project
Ashley Cook
HMSV8110 Capella University
Professor Cheryl Holm-Hansen
Introduction
The Haven is a local non-profit agency located in Valdosta, Georgia. The agency provides emergency temporary shelter and services to victims of family violence and sexual assault. In December of 1985 two women form the Levi-Strauss Foundation approached the senior advocate at the Victim –Witness Assistance Program in the District Attorney’s office and offered to help fund a program which was to include a temporary emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence. On July 18th, 1988 the Haven officially opened as a non-profit incorporation. The Battered Women’s Shelter, which serves victims of family violence, and the Rape Crisis Center, which serves victims of sexual assault. Both programs have a 24-hour toll-free crisis line, staffed by trained personnel, that is available to anyone wishing to utilize the emergency facilities or the outreach program. The program serves nine counties in South Georgia.
Mission
It is the goal at The Haven to provide victims with the necessary information, resources, protected head start and supportive follow-up to transition out of a violent lifestyle and into successful independent living. The Haven aims to provide for the immediate primary needs of family violence and sexual assault clients, including food, clothing, legal advocacy, mental health assistance, and referral for medical care. The Haven interfaces with local, state, and national resources, provides transitional assistance along with the re-education of the victim and family in order to promote a non-violent lifestyle, and educates all aspects of the local community regarding family violence and sexual assault. (The Haven, 2020)
Analysis of the problem
The Lowndes County community is a diverse community with a large Hispanic population that struggles with high levels of poverty, low graduation rates, high dropout rates, high rates of teen pregnancy, food insecurities, economic constraints, affordable housing and a severe need for childcare just to name a few. After a thoroughly review and interview with several people throughout the community, it became clear that Lowndes County was in desperate need of several different programs to help improve the conditions of the community. This would only be possible with a program design, such as the Haven. Program design is a very important aspect of any organization set out to plan or development a program. Program designing is a collaborative effort from several different stakeholders in the organization. All aspects working together to repeat, review and redefine a program until every consistently believes it is well enough to achieve its purpose. Designing programs and services for effectiveness involves collection of the kinds of data that will support responsiveness to funding source mandates for accountability and at the same time will allow program evaluators to determine whether the programs are getting the desired results (Calley, 2011). I will conduct my research bias over only one of the issues in Lowndes County and that’s affordable housing for low income families.
The Lowndes County Community is located in the southern region of Georgia with a population of approximately 115,000 people. The County seat is Valdosta Georgia, which is a neighbourhood that is listed as one of the poorest cities in Georgia. The poverty rate is 32.2% coming in at the highest. This means that one out of every 3.1 residents of Valdosta live in poverty. Because of the many socioeconomic issues residents of Valdosta aren’t able to focus on their basic needs, which in return causes a huge case load for shelters like The Haven. As previously stated The Haven only services family violence and sexual assault. Valdosta is in dire need of an expansion of services. Because of the many income crisis the community face The Haven needs to widen its umbrella to service those who are in need of affordable housing without the need for domestic violence or sexual assault being in the equation.
Analysing the Data
We’ve conducted a thorough review of the current Haven program in the Valdosta and Lowndes Community and plan to make the necessary adjustment to better support the community needs.
There are numerous methods that may be used to evaluate a clinical program and/or the clinical interventions that compose a clinical program. These include; randomized studies with random assignment of clients to either a treatment or control group, quasi-experimental study without random assignment of clients to either treatment or control; follow-up or cohort study- following an entire group of clients over a specified period of time; qualitative studies with statistical analyses; post-test studies; focus group, interview, or survey studies that draw from client self-report; and qualitative studies without statistical analyses (Calley, 2011).
The data that will be used to analyze the community needs of the community will come directly from the public assistance office and Lowndes County. The data is generate when clients apply for food stamps, temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), and housing, childcare or medical insurance such as Medicaid. Client applications are completed online at gagateway.gov and highlights all of the above needs before the client is able to process the application. Each month the data is generated and divided out among case workers throughout the county and other surrounding counties. It is at this point when caseworkers connect the clients to agencies such as the Haven for necessary support.
Methods
The methods I plan to use in order for the Haven to be able to better track the identified data is through a CRM software system. CRM software, can collect, track and access data without employees having to lift a finger. A CRM automatically pulls personal details about your constituents and organizes the information to give a complete record of the client relationship. All of this can be done through gateway database application process. Once clients fill out the application it will be sent over to ours through the CRM system to be analyzed. The CRM system will help ensure the data is consistent. A lack of consistency in data handling has been a huge issue for the Haven, It is critical to make sure that the entire organization is on the same page (www.keela.com, 2020)
Moreover, the CRM system will allow a regular review of the database on a regular. Accidents happen and any major loss of data could jeopardize the level of work the agency provides. The Haven has to be strategic with the way data is generated to ensure no discrimination methods are being included in the client pool. Some key elements to deciding how the data will be collected, it’s important to remember the following:
Who are the donors?
What are their interest?
How do they impact our organization?
Does the Haven the necessary resources in place to make the accommodations?
What is the best channel to reach them and to make our services known?
Data is more than numbers, data is crucial to becoming an effective data-driven organization. Accurate data is connected to expansions and growth projects to move the organization forward. Data shouldn’t be a foreign object to any non- profit organization as it should be used to enhance the line of work that is being done.
From an ethical prospective the gateway application does ask the donors ethnic background, sex, social security number and several other person attributes. From this perspective their will have to be parameters put into the CRM system to help ensure we are only pulling the data that is needed to service those clients in need.
Conclusion
The Valdosta and Lowndes County Community is in desperate need of a successful human services program that services all of those in need versus just a small group of people. Diversity refers to working with individuals who are different from us (Calley, 2011). With diversity comes different cultures and being able to understand and respect the differences. Being culturally aware and implementing, the awareness of diversity and cultural competence into all programs for human services is major. Valdosta and Lowndes County has a great demand for several service needs, but the resources are limited. The planning process is detrimental to program development as a whole. Simply put it’s apparent that certain needs cannot be measured adequately by selecting only what can be seen from the surface. However it’s very imperative to really asses the entire situation to understand the full picture. With each need perspective being so limited and only providing only one facet of the phenomenon, it important to understand why a serious exploration should be done to take into consideration all four dimensions of every need perspective (Kettner, 2017).
Research Implication to the Organization
The research study has showed that there is a gap in Lowndes county community in Georgia in terms of human services offered by non-profit organization including Haven. The non-profit organization Haven has done tremendous job in terms of handling issue of domestic violence and sexual assault but failed to consider the main problem that affects the people living in Lowndes county community. The study has indicated that there are issue of poverty, high drop-out rates and low income for the Hispanic community living in the community where they face the challenge of affordable housing that the Haven organization has failed to address. The research has shown that the Haven organization failed to conduct a thorough analysis on the basic community needs that should be addressed.
The Haven organization has been subjected to a critical condition where it is expected to evaluate the significance of the raised issues poverty and lack of affordable housing for the Hispanics (Mosley & Smith, 2018). The Haven organization also is challenged to come up with ways of accommodation lack of housing caused by low income in the community by developing a plan that would ensure that the vulnerable access temporary shelter in case they failed to meet their housing costs. The study results subjects the Haven organization to a dilemma on the issues to address due to limited resources and funding. The study results have impacted the organization to reassess the issues faced by the Lowndes community in Georgia.
Human Service Organization
Haven is a human service organization that serves Lowndes county community in Georgia by helping the victims of sexual assault and family violence with temporary shelter. The finding from the study has shown the gap that is present on human services needed in Georgia specifically the Lowndes county community where the Hispanics suffer low income rates, high drop-out rates and unaffordable housing. Haven has the opportunity to increase the services it offers to the community by accommodating the poor with temporary shelter when they fail to access affordable housing (Mosley & Smith, 2018). There is a gap also on the issue of offering shelter to victims of family violence and sexual assault because the victims require medical support and counseling services.
Haven should consider reviewing its research and data collection strategies to get updates on the real and urgent issues in the society to address and make sure that they regularly update the human services they offer by expanding the services based on the rising need of the community. The Haven organization has the mandate to re-strategize and look for funding from various sectors and sponsors to increase its services and serve the community in a better way possible. Haven should consider developing support programs for the community through thorough consultation to minimize the gap indicated on the findings (Mosley & Smith, 2018). Consultation and involvement of various stakeholders during developing support program like the one for Haven would help highlight all the community needs and pick the priorities and make sure that non-profit organizations serves their purpose well.
Targeted Audience of the Study
The study has highlighted various concerns about the human services needed in Lowndes county community in Georgia and the services available offered by the Haven organization. The research findings was beneficial to the Haven organization to access the threatening issues in the society and strategize ways to accommodate other causal factors that demand temporary shelter, food, clothing, referral to medical attention and counseling services. The Haven organization would benefit from the study findings on developing solutions to the highlighted challenges and gap on the human services present.
Sponsors also would care about the study in the fact that they assess the need for more resources to solve the challenges present in Lowndes county community in Georgia. The sponsors uses the findings to look for ways to support human service organizations like Haven to broaden their temporary housing and basic services to the victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and poverty by offering more funding (Mosley & Smith, 2018). The research findings are also important because it may reach the region representatives and leaders that would help ascertain the main causes of low income rates and increasing poverty levels and provide amicable solution to the problem. Political leaders would use the findings for development purposes after realizing that the human service organization cannot address the community challenges especially poverty-related issues due to huge costs.
Limitation of the Study
The study has illustrated and expressed issues and challenges experienced in the Lowndes county community and the available human services offered by Haven. The non-profit focuses on handling domestic violence and sexual assault victims but the research fails to explain the positive contributions that Haven has brought to the community. What is the significance of domestic violence and sexual assault as the Lowndes county community challenges? The question needs to be answered to know the criteria used by Haven organization to select the challenges to focus on if other issues including poverty were present. The study proposes that Haven should expand its human services to accommodate socioeconomic challenges but failed to address the source of funding to achieve the additional services. What is the main source of funding for Haven? The study has failed to show the sources of funding that Haven rely upon to offer the services including the temporary shelter, food, clothing and mental health services.
Impact to Haven Organization
The research does not address what the Haven organization needed because the non-profit firm was targeting on issues of domestic violence and sexual assault victims. Research that would be beneficial to Haven organization is about the best ways improve the mental health of sexual assault and family violence victims to proceed with their normal lives after the trauma. The issue of poverty and low income in the Lowndes county community is about uncovering a new issue that require a serious consultation to accommodate in Haven current human services because the resources required to meet the needs is too high (Mosley & Smith, 2018). The research is essential but introduced new issue that requires the attention of human service organization and a new organization can emerge to offer the services.
Research Benefits
The research study is beneficial to the people living in Lowndes county community in Georgia because their challenges are highlighted inviting human service organization to support in addressing the issues for a better society. The people living with poverty, low income and lack of housing would seek refuge in the human service organization as they plan for better ways to improve their livelihood. The chosen study has indicated that human service organization plays important roles in the community but their effort require government support since the issues and challenges are more and a single organization cannot address. The interests of the Hispanics living in Lowndes county community are focused and highlighted in the research finding creating possible ways in which Haven would look for ways to address the issue (NCSL, 2020).
Future Research about Human Services
The research finding shows the existing challenges experienced in Lowndes county community and the issue might be contributed by poor leadership and racial segregation that is expected to reduce in the coming future. Better leadership would reduce the issues of poverty that require the support of the human services. The success of human service on the issue of poverty requires the support of the government, sponsors and human service organization like Haven to support the victims. Future research would entail the analysis of the contribution brought by the collaboration between the stakeholders to offer a solution to the victims of poverty, sexual assault and domestic violence (Trochim et al., 2016).
There are various questions that emerged in the human services issue especially the responsibility of helping the poor people access temporary housing services food and clothing. What role does the government both federal and state has concerning handling poverty and lack of housing among the people of Lowndes county community in Georgia? The other emerging concern is how Haven and other human service organization handle the poverty either in a short term or long-term purposes.
The research enquiry about the challenges experienced in Georgia and the current human services offered by Haven would continue in order to highlight the upcoming challenges to integrate them to ensure that humans live comfortable lives. I would employ the CRM software where data is collected continuously to ensure that there is no gap that might arise while offering human services to the people.
The beneficiaries of this research include the human service professionals that get opportunities to serve in the community through the formation of new non-profit organizations and also strengthening the existing ones like the Haven organization. In the future the generation supported would be vigilant and supportive and this would strengthen the human services in the community minimizing cases of poverty and mental challenges causes by sexual assault and domestic violence by offering best solution to the challenges.
Action Plan and Timeline
The Haven organization would use the research findings to reassess the services they offer and compare with the current challenges highlighted in the research and make a final decision on the steps to take. Haven has a period of two months to check the progress about the human services directed towards sexual assault and family violence victims and also analyze the need to accommodate the desperation caused by low income and poverty. After the analysis the decision is made to incorporate victims of poverty in the program after consulting various stakeholders and start offering the services. The issue is also reassessed after a period of one year to check on the validity and progress.
References
(2017). In P. M. Kettner, R. Moronery, & M. L. Lawrence, Designing and Managing Programs An Effectiveness-Based Approach . Sage Publications.
(2020, Feburary 19). Retrieved from www.keela.com: http://www.keela.com/blog/non-profit-resources/data-analytics-for-nonprofits
(2017). ABE and ASE Programs. U.S. Departement of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education (2017).
About ED. (2019, 11 23). Retrieved from U.S. Department of Education : http:www2.ed.gov
Crary-Ross, E. Z. (2014). Beyond the GED: Promising Models for Moving High School Dropouts to College. Building Knowledge to Improve Social Policy , 126.
Murnane, L. a. (2004). Econominc Policy Institute. Robert Half Internaitional (2013).
The Haven. (2020, January 28). Retrieved from Valdostahaven.org: http://www.valdostahaven.org/our-mission
Mosley, J., & Smith, S. (2018). Human service agencies and the question of impact: Lessons for theory, policy, and practice. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance, 42(2), 113-122. https://doi.org/10.1080/23303131.2018.1425953
NCSL. (2020). Human Services Federal Issues Overview. Ncsl.org. Retrieved 5 January 2021, from https://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/human-services-federal-issues-overview.aspx.
Trochim, W., Cabrera, D., Milstein, B., Gallagher, R., & Leischow, S. (2016). Practical Challenges of Systems Thinking and Modeling in Public Health. American Journal Of Public Health, 96(3), 538-546. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2015.066001