Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Department

Social Work

Faculty/School

Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work

First Advisor

Anne Westhues

Advisor Role

Thesis Supervisor

Abstract

ln this program evaluation, I present the demographic characteristics and underlying problems of YASAC’s clientele. The clients’ level of satisfaction regarding the services provided is also examined. A comparison of the results with YASAC's implementation objectives as well as its current goals and objectives helps to determine some of the clinic’s strengths and weaknesses. An extensive literature review provides the basis for six hypotheses used to address the following three questions: (1) whether clients involved with probation and parole differ from other clients in terms of successful completion of the program, (2) whether clients’ attitudes toward their alcohol and drug consumption are related to successful completion of the program, and (3) whether involving clients’ families in the treatment process would influence clients’ successful completion of the program. The current program evaluation is a secondary analysis of data collected by the Ontario Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study (ODATOS) conducted by the Addiction Research Foundation (ARF). The population for the current analyses is comprised of all clients referred to TASAC during the study period. Three different samples are used: (1) the total population is used for general information such as gender, age, referral sources, and the services provided; (2) the 113 (26.1%) clients whose worker completed some part of the assessment form are used to analyze the majority of the research questions and the hypotheses; (3) only the 22 clients that could be contacted for the follow-up interview are used to study the clients’ level of satisfaction with the program. The results of the tests of hypotheses demonstrate three major findings. First that clients’ involvement in the legal system renders them no less likely to be successful in the program. Secondly, choosing an alcohol goal of reduction rather than abstinence has no bearing on agreement between the worker and the client regarding the latter’s completion of the program. However clients who choose a goal of abstinence for their alcohol consumption are likely to attend more individual sessions than clients choosing reduction. Clients who consider themselves to be alcoholics remain in the program for longer than those who do not consider themselves alcoholics. Thirdly, despite the literature’s emphasis on family involvement in treating substance abuse problems, significant others are rarely involved in the clients’ treatment plan at YASAC. Clients who say a significant other is willing to be involved in their treatment plan remain in the program for a longer duration.

Convocation Year

1994

Convocation Season

Fall

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