eprintid: 10028
rev_number: 4
userid: 6
dir: disk0/00/01/00/28
datestamp: 2011-11-10 20:08:02
lastmod: 2016-11-15 13:53:06
status_changed: 2011-11-10 20:08:02
type: thesis_degree
metadata_visibility: show
contact_email: rachelle.das@gmail.com
item_issues_count: 0
eprint_status: archive
creators_name: Das, Rachelle M
creators_email: rachelle.das@gmail.com
title: Tracking and Evaluation Issues for Homeless Service Providers in Allegheny County, PA
ispublished: unpub
divisions: sch_gsph_behavioralcommhealthsci
full_text_status: public
keywords:  evaluation; allegheny county; homeless
abstract: A main focus for social service agencies that work with homeless individuals is to help their clients achieve housing security. However, social service agencies report that the transient nature of many homeless individuals represents a major obstacle in achieving housing security. This transience leads to a loss of services for many homeless individuals and a return to the streets. This is of public health importance due to the increased risk that homeless individuals face of chronic diseases and exposure-related health complications. In order to address this problem, both improved tracking methods and evaluations are needed to increase the effectiveness of providers in helping clients achieve housing security. This thesis will first discuss innovative methods in tracking and evaluation nationwide to identify opportunities for improvement at the local level in Allegheny County, PA. These nationwide trends will then be compared to local trends, first in Pennsylvania as a whole and then in Allegheny County. This thesis will touch on the 10-year plan currently unrolling in Allegheny County to help end homelessness and how this program integrates tracking and evaluation. To further narrow the focus, this thesis will then discuss an evaluation conducted at Community Human Services Corporation (CHSC) in Pittsburgh, PA as a case study of tracking and evaluation obstacles faced by local homeless service providers. Finally, after thoroughly reviewing trends nationally and locally, several questions will be offered for Community Human Services and other homeless service providers to ask themselves in regards to tracking and evaluation methods. It is hoped that these questions will provide a starting point for social service agencies like CHSC to update and revise tracking and evaluation methods while also opening the door for further innovation in tracking and evaluation for Allegheny County.
date: 2009-01-29
date_type: completed
institution: University of Pittsburgh
refereed: TRUE
etdcommittee_type: committee_chair
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_name: Jaros, Kenneth
etdcommittee_name: Nolan, Beth
etdcommittee_name: Engel, Rafael
etdcommittee_email: kjaros@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: ban17@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: engle@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_id: KJAROS
etdcommittee_id: BAN17
etdcommittee_id: ENGLE
etd_defense_date: 2008-11-25
etd_approval_date: 2009-01-29
etd_submission_date: 2008-12-04
etd_access_restriction: immediate
etd_patent_pending: FALSE
assigned_doi: doi:10.5195/pitt.etd.2011.10028
thesis_type: thesis
degree: MPH
committee: Kenneth Jaros (kjaros@pitt.edu) - Committee Chair
committee: Beth Nolan (ban17@pitt.edu) - Committee Member
committee: Rafael Engel (engle@pitt.edu) - Committee Member
etdurn: etd-12042008-133008
other_id: http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-12042008-133008/
other_id: etd-12042008-133008
citation:   Das, Rachelle M  (2009) Tracking and Evaluation Issues for Homeless Service Providers in Allegheny County, PA.  Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.    (Unpublished)  
document_url: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/10028/1/Das_Thesis_2008.pdf