feedback Lance:   Program Impact Vision  If the Tides... | Psychology

Research Requirement:

Program Impact Vision  If the Tides Family Services EOS program were highly successful, clients and families would demonstrate sustained emotional stability, improved functioning at home and school, and reduced reliance on crisis or emergency psychiatric services. Success would mean youth are maintaining behavioral symptom control, caregivers feel confident managing crises, and clients remain in the least-restrictive, community-based settings (Friedman et al., 2014). Ultimately, success would reflect strengthened family systems, consistent school engagement, and long-term positive developmental trajectories—indicators of resilience and empowerment central to social work practice (NASW, 2021). Desired Outcomes  The key desired outcomes are 1# reduced acute psychiatric or emergency utilization and 2 # improved family functioning and caregiver confidence. These outcomes are essential because they indicate that the EOS program is effectively stabilizing youth in their natural environments while reducing system-level burdens such as hospitalizations or school disruptions (Bruns et al., 2019). Improvement in caregiver confidence supports the sustainability of treatment gains beyond discharge, aligning with social work’s emphasis on empowerment and self-efficacy in family systems (Bandura, 1997). Measurement Ideas  These outcomes could be measured through measurements such as the PSC-17 (Pediatric Symptom Checklist), SDQ (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), and the Family Crisis Scale. Additional data such as attendance logs, session length, and emergency room utilization rates could complement self-report measures. These approaches align with best practices in community-based mental health evaluation, combining quantitative symptom scales with administrative data to capture both behavioral and functional changes (Kazdin, 2019). This mixed-method approach ensures ecological validity and is practical for clinicians embedded in home-based service settings. Ethical and Practical Consideration  Challenges in collecting data may include confidentiality concerns, inconsistent data entry, and participant attrition due to crisis-driven service needs. Given the program’s use of in-home interventions, maintaining privacy and informed consent is critical under HIPAA and NASW ethical standards (Reamer, 2018). To address this, staff should receive ongoing ethics and data management training to ensure proper handling of sensitive client information and enhance data completeness. Clear communication about data use and voluntary participation can further promote client comfort and ethical integrity. References  Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. W. H. Freeman. Bruns, E. J., Pullmann, M. D., Sather, A., Brinson, R., & Ramey, M. (2019). Effectiveness of wraparound vs. case management for children and adolescents: Results of a randomized study. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 46(3), 423–439. Friedman, R. M., Katz-Leavy, J., Manderscheid, R. W., & Sondheimer, D. L. (2014). Systems of care for children and adolescents with emotional disturbances. American Psychologist, 49(1), 1–7. National Association of Social Workers (NASW). (2021). Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Reamer, F. G. (2018). Ethical standards in social work: A review of the NASW Code of Ethics (3