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Research Requirement:

Outcome Being Evaluated  One short-term outcome from the logic model is: "Participants in the Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI) will demonstrate a measurable reduction in PTSD and anxiety symptoms as indicated by CFTSI scores within six months of program initiation" (Pynoos et al., 2014).  Evaluation Design  The best design to evaluate this outcome would be a self-controlled pre/post design. This approach involves comparing each participant’s CFTSI scores at intake and again after completing the treatment program (Kazdin, 2017). This design is feasible because it systematically assesses each participant's mental health symptoms before and after the intervention, allowing for individualized tracking of progress. Given that this assessment provides consistent treatment within a structured program, this pre/post evaluation will yield valuable insights into the effectiveness of our services for each participant (Hernandez et al., 2015).  Limitations of the Design  One significant limitation of using a self-controlled pre/post design is the potential for "maturation." Maturation refers to natural changes that might occur in participants over time, regardless of the intervention (Hawkins et al., 2003). For example, youth may experience improvements in their mental health due to factors outside of our program, such as changes in their living situation or support from family and friends. This matters for this outcome because it could skew the results, making it challenging to determine whether the reduction in PTSD and anxiety symptoms is directly attributable to the CFTSI program or to other life changes that participants are experiencing simultaneously (Hawkins et al., 2003).  Sampling Strategy  The evaluation will include all youth participants enrolled in the CFTSI program over the evaluation period. This includes those who actively participate in individual and group sessions and complete the necessary pre- and post-assessments. This sampling approach is appropriate for this program because it encompasses the entire population we aim to support, ensuring that this evaluation reflects the experiences of those directly benefiting from our services (Creswell, 2014). By evaluating the outcomes for all participants, we can gather a comprehensive understanding of the program's overall efficacy while identifying any specific needs or areas for improvement. References Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (4th ed.). Sage Publications.  Hernandez, M., Cline, K., & Kellam, S. (2015). Effective treatments for youth with PTSD.  Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 56(10), 1096-1102.  Kazdin, A. E. (2017). Research Design in Clinical Psychology (5th ed.). Pearson Education.