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Research Requirement:

Program evaluation is a critical procedure that is used to ascertain whether the community-based mental health services deliver their desired results or not. Assessments bring out evidence to enhance service delivery, accountability and resource allocation. The outpatient anxiety treatment program in the Grand Concourse Counseling Center seeks to evaluate the efficacy of the interventions that were implemented to minimize anxiety and enhance the functioning of the clients in the community. By examining such programs, the progress is not only measured, but obstacles and areas of improvement are also established in the treatment implementation. According to Fink (2023), meaningful evaluation entails organized collection and analysis of data in order to examine the quality, effectiveness and value of the program. Outcome Being Evaluated The outcome under consideration is a reduction in anxiety symptoms of the clients attending the Outpatient Anxiety Treatment Program. The outcome will be assessed with the help of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7), according to which a reduction of the scores during the intake and discharge will signal an improvement. Evaluation Design This program evaluation will be based on a self-controlled pre/ post design that compares the GAD-7 clients' scores at the time of intake and at the time of discharge. This design is suitable for the program since clients already undergo screenings during the initial time they receive services, and they are reassessed during treatment planning or discharge. The program is conducted on a regular schedule of weekly therapy sessions, which provide sufficient time for a quantifiable change can be noticed. This approach is also a suitable method since the clients will develop at a pace unique to each individual, and having each person compared with their own norms will not make any assumptions regarding consistent progressions. The program does not divide the clients into various treatment categories, and thus, there will be no feasibility to establish a control group. Therefore, the pre-/post-design is acceptable and compatible with the current practices of the program to gather data. Limitations of the Design Maturation is one of the limitations of the pre-/post-design since clients can improve over time without any treatment. Some individuals may naturally adapt to the stress, or they may have a shift in their life situation, which will aid in the alleviation of symptoms. This matters for anxiety outcomes since the therapy may not be the sole reason why it has improved. While the program is expected to contribute to the reduction of anxiety, natural recovery or external support systems might also contribute. This limitation does not prevent evaluation, but must be taken into consideration in the interpretation of results. Sampling Strategy The sample will consist of all clients admitted to the program between January and June 2025 who complete both an intake and discharge assessment. This design is considered most appropriate since it applies to actual participants who are receiving services, therefore avoiding sampling bias. It also ensures that the assessment reflects the normal clients in the program so that any conclusions drawn regarding effectiveness have meaning. References Fink, A. (2023). Program evaluation: A primer for effectiveness, quality, and value. Routledge.