Faith-Based Social Services: Measures, Assessments, and Effectiveness

Description

Read the latest studies on the effectiveness of religious-based services—and the problems revealed in the assessment The Charitable Choice provision and the Bush Administration’s National Faith-Based Initiative have broadened the scope of social services delivered through faith-based organizations. There are expectations that these faith-based social service providers will be more effective—but... Read more

Read the latest studies on the effectiveness of religious-based services—and the problems revealed in the assessment

The Charitable Choice provision and the Bush Administration’s National Faith-Based Initiative have broadened the scope of social services delivered through faith-based organizations. There are expectations that these faith-based social service providers will be more effective—but how should that effectiveness be measured? Faith-Based Social Services: Measures, Assessments, and Effectiveness explains the nature and quality of religion-based social service delivery while serving as a point of reference for future research and work. This unique source tackles the important, complex issue of measuring the effectiveness of faith-based social services in comparison to secular services while providing analysis of the latest available studies.

Faith-Based Social Services: Measures, Assessments, and Effectiveness provides a conceptual analysis of FBOs (faith-based organizations) that reflects the need to gather detailed studies to assess social service effectiveness while reviewing the crucial issues challenging public policy. The latest empirical research is detailed, including the problems found when comparing secular and faith-based social service providers, their organizational structures, and the types of services offered. Analysis is included of the data from a three-state evaluation of welfare to work programs, a study of four types of faith-based services found in four cities, and an assessment of a church-based program for teenage drop-outs.

Topics in Faith-Based Social Services: Measures, Assessments, and Effectiveness include:

discussion on how social science research shunned faith-based services and how this neglect affected effectiveness
problems inherent in efficacy assessment
making funding priorities decisions
the causes of outcome differences
a model of evaluation based on randomized controlled clinical trials
using measurement practices currently used by the nonprofit sector
comparative case studies in transitional housing, parent education, and residential substance abuse treatment programs
latest analysis of research involving faith-based organizations and the provided services’ efficacy
much more!

Faith-Based Social Services: Measures, Assessments, and Effectiveness is illuminating reading, perfect for social work professionals, students, educators, sociologists, religious leaders, and seminary educators. Read less

Section I: Conceptual Analysis
Introduction (Ram A. Cnaan and Stephanie C. Boddie)
Chapter 1. Setting the Context: Assessing the Effectiveness of Faith-Based Social Services (Ram A. Cnaan and Stephanie C. Boddie)
Chapter 2. Finding Congregations: Developing Conceptual Clarity in the Study of Faith-Based Social Services (Charlene C. McGrew and Ram A. Cnaan)
Chapter 3. Detecting and Decomposing the “Faith Factor” in Social-Service Provision and Absorption (George M. von Furstenberg)
Chapter 4. Faith-Based Programs and the Role of Empirical Research (Bruce A. Thyer)
Chapter 5. Social Service Research and Religion: Thoughts About How to Measure Intervention-Based Impact (David A. Zanis and Ram A. Cnaan)
Chapter 6. Testing Faith: Improving the Evidence Base on Faith-Based Human Services (Robert L. Fischer and Judson D. Stelter)
Section II: Emerging Empirical Findings
Introduction (Stephanie C. Boddie and Ram A. Cnaan)
Chapter 7. How Do They Fit? Assessing the Role of Faith-Based Organizations in Social Service Provision (Elizabeth A. Graddy)
Chapter 8. Investigating the Implementation of Charitable Choice (Wolfgang Bielefeld)
Chapter 9. The Effectiveness of Faith-Based Welfare-to-Work Programs: A Story of Specialization (Stephen V. Monsma)
Chapter 10. A Faith-Based Alternative Youth Education Program: Evaluating a Participatory Research Approach (Jill Witmer Sinha)
Chapter 11. Evaluating the Effectiveness of Faith-Based Welfare Agencies: Methodological Challenges and Possibilities (Susan E. Grettenberger, John P. Bartkowski, and Steven R. Smith)
Chapter 12. Assessing the Effectiveness of Faith-Based Programs: A Local Network Perspective (David Campbell and Eric Glunt)
Chapter 13. Belief Systems in Faith-Based Human Service Program (F. Ellen Netting, Mary Katherine O’Connor, and Gaynor Yancey)
Concluding Remarks: Common Findings and Challenges (Stephanie C. Boddie and Ram A. Cnaan)
Index
Reference Notes Included

Editor(s)

Biography

Stephanie C. Boddie, Ram A. Cnaan

Faith-Based Social Services Measures, Assessments, and Effectiveness

Description

Table of Contents

Editor(s)

Biography

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