INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Would you like board members to understand the basics of outcome-based evaluation? Have new staff joined your organization since you began tracking and measuring outcomes? If so, offer to sign them up for Measuring Program Outcomes, a thorough, hands-on workshop that covers terminology, measurement, analysis and reporting. The next sequence of sessions will meet September 10, 17 & 24, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the Greater Kalamazoo United Way Board Room (709 S. Westnedge Avenue). Cost is $15/person; any community member is welcome. Register by August 31, 2001. For a registration form, call Elaine Griffin at 616/343-2524.

STAGES OF CHANGE IN INDIVIDUALS

CHANGING FOR GOOD by James O. Prachaski,, John C. Norcorss, and Carlo C. Dislemente, (Avon Books, September, 1995)

The three authors, practicing clinical psychologists and university professors, wanted to know more about how people change. They conducted more than fifty different studies on thousands of individuals to discover how people overcome problems of smoking and alcohol abuse, emotional distress and weight control. They found that people go through six stages of change. These stages are the same whether or not people are receiving professional help.

What did they find? They discovered that we change slowly through six definitive stages. They also claim that people in the helping professions could improve outcomes by identifying a participant's stage of change and using methods appropriate to that particular stage.

The authors argue that there are six well-defined stages of change: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination.

Precontemplators resist change. In this stage people need to raise their consciousness about their problem and become aware of their defenses. Others can help by offering a supportive relationship. The authors' overall advice to helpers is to ask the person what would be helpful. Generally in this stage helpers are cautioned not to push someone into action, not to nag, and not to enable. Honest statements about the problem can be helpful: "Your binge drinking on the weekend makes Mondays a lost day."

Contemplators want to change but are also resistant. Contemplators need to use or create a strong appeal to emotions that might motivate them. The authors suggest movies that portray the problem like Jack Lemmon's portrayal of an alcoholic in Save the Tiger. Contemplators also need to find out everything they can about themselves and their problem. They need to create a baseline i.e. how often do I use drugs, how much, when do I turn to drugs? The authors suggest a detailed and honest pro and con list (reasons to change/reasons not to change). Helpers can be supportive, listen, and offer feedback. False praise and pushing the person to action are not recommended.

People in the preparation stage work out the specific steps they will need to take in the action stage. While in the contemplation stage people gather information about the problem, in the preparation state they focus on finding the most suitable type of action to overcome their problem. During this stage it is important to add to the list of reasons to change and reduce the number of reasons to stay the same. Helpers can work with the person to visualize the advantages of achieving the change.

People in the action stage need to replace their problem behaviors with healthy behaviors. Exercise and relaxation are two great substitutes. The action stage usually requires a change in environment as well. Avoidance of the problem or its triggers helps. People trying to change may become anxious, irritable, confused and difficult. Helpers need to encourage people through these difficult days and be supportive when the person slips.

People in the maintenance stage need to develop long-term strategies for dealing with social pressures and internal challenges. The authors note, "For all of us, former problems, especially addictive ones, will hold some attraction long after the habit is broken." Helpers need to be assertive in this stage. They need to confront the person if they express overconfidence, put themselves in tempting situations, or begin the old habit.

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Evaluation for Learning
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