Children, Youth and Family Services

SWS conducts some studies and evaluations that don’t fit neatly into one of the usual categories. We are always willing to discuss an unusual project with a potential customer, as long as the project will benefit children, youth or families. Here are some examples of such projects over the last ten years.

  • A Study of the Non-Academic Supports for the Montpelier, VT School System (2006).
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  • Evaluation of a Status Offender Service Project in the Southside of Spartanburg, South Carolina (2005-2006).
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  • Evaluation of a Weed and Seed Grant in the Southside of Spartanburg, South Carolina (2004-2005).
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  • A Needs Assessment of Out-of-School Time Programs in the State of South Carolina for the SC Afterschool Alliance. (2004)
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  • Evaluation of a Youth Development/Teen Pregnancy Prevention Project in Kershaw County South Carolina (2004).
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  • Evaluation of the U.S. Department of Justice School Partnership Grant to the Spartanburg Public Safety Department (2003-2004).
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    The project was aimed at reducing student problem behaviors, in-school incidents and in-school suspensions in the target middle school. The quantitative evaluation was based upon analysis of reported incidents. The qualitative evaluation was based upon mail and telephone surveys, interviews and focus groups conducted with students, parents and staff at the target school and with another school that has similar demographics. The report included recommendations for building upon the successes demonstrated by this violence prevention project.
  • Evaluation of a Dropout Prevention Program in the Spartanburg County SC Schools (2002-2004).
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    This project was funded by juvenile justice funds from the SC Department of Public Safety. This study evaluated the process and results of a multi-agency drop-out prevention program in selected schools of Spartanburg County, SC. The methodology included a mail survey with service providers, interviews with service providers and review of documents and data.
  • A Descriptive/Exploratory Study of the Service Needs of School-Aged Homeless Children and Their Families in South Carolina (2003).
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    The purpose of the study was to determine how school districts can retain homeless children in school and promote their academic performance. The study was funded by the SC Department of Education. Surveys, interviews, and focus groups of homeless children and their families provided the core material for this study. The project included a mail survey of service-providing agencies and interviews of school personnel. Implications for service provision and further research are described.
  • A Customer Survey Regarding Activities and Services Provided by the USC School of Law, Children's Law Office (2003).
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    This project included developing a survey instrument for the Children's Law Office (CLO), supporting the CLO in administering the instrument, and analyzing and reporting on the data from the responses to the survey. The purpose of the survey was to evaluate the usage of current services and identify a need for other potential services. The following groups were surveyed: judges, law enforcement, guardian ad litem, solicitors, attorneys, computer buddies staff, DSS staff, youth and parents.
  • Development of a Strategy, Method, Training Curriculum and Delivery of the Curriculum to Prepare Continuum of Care Workers to Emphasize Family-Based Services (2001).
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    This project was conducted to assist the SC Continuum of Care for Emotionally Disturbed Children (CoC) in instituting a change in their approach to working with families. The organization adopted a family empowerment approach to replace the previous problem-centered approach. SWS worked closely with top management and the network of statewide offices to conduct a training needs assessment and then developed an intensive four-day training package. The methodology of the needs assessment included a mail survey of the CoC employees, followed up by a telephone survey, and focus groups in each of the CoC regions. A review of the literature and best practices in other states was also conducted. From the information, a training curriculum was developed and tested. Trainees applied the new principles to material from their own caseloads. The training prepared case managers to focus more intensely on the strengths of the families. Throughout the process, SWS provided top management with consultation and feedback on issues of staff development and policy alignment.
  • Perceptions of the State of South Carolina Employee Adoption Assistance Program (August 2002).
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    This project was conducted for the United Way of South Carolina as part of a W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant. The project utilized a survey instrument to determine the success of and potential improvements to the Employee Adoption Assistance Program offered by the State of South Carolina. A web-based survey was administered to state employees who had used the Employee Adoption Assistance Program. The purposes of the project were to determine who is likely to utilize adoption benefits, the effectiveness and usefulness of the program from the adoptive parents? point of view, and which benefits are most useful to adoptive parents. The results were used to provide programming to private employers interested in adding adoption benefits to their existing benefits packages.
  • Survey to Determine the Needs of Foster Care Parents and Adoptive Parents in South Carolina (April 2002).
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    This project was conducted for United Way of South Carolina as part of a W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant. Members of the Foster Parent Association were surveyed at the annual South Carolina Foster Parent Association Conference. This project involved analyzing and reporting on those surveys. The survey asked questions regarding the availability of employer benefits for adoption and other family services, as well as awareness, use and helpfulness of any adoption benefits. The results were used to identify what is or would be most helpful in encouraging and supporting the adoption of children in South Carolina.
  • Evaluation of the Adoption and the Workplace Project Funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (September 2002).
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    This report was produced for the United Way of South Carolina as their final report to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Adoption and the Workplace was established as a transitional grant of the South Carolina Families for Kids Project in an effort to improve workplace support of foster and adoptive parents. The report outlines the activities conducted under the grant and progress made toward goals and objectives.
  • Evaluation of the South Carolina Families for Kids Project Funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (September 2002).
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    This report was produced for the United Way of South Carolina as their final report to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The South Carolina Families for Kids Project is a public-private partnership between the United Way of South Carolina and the Department of Social Services. The goal of the SCFFK is to make and ensure the sustainability of systematic reforms to the adoption and foster care system in South Carolina. The report outlines the activities conducted under the grant and progress made toward goals and objectives.
  • A Study of the Reasons African-American Males Are Reluctant to Work with Youth (1998).
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    The study explored reasons why there are so few African American males working with high-risk African American youth who require intervention services. A mail survey design was used. A written report with recommendations was produced. This project was conducted under contract with the University of South Carolina, College of Social Work Clinic.
  • A Strategic Plan for the Spartanburg County Youth Services Council (2002).
  • A Strategic Plan for the Spartanburg Metro Boys and Girls Club (2002).
  • A Strategic Plan for The Alliance for South Carolina's Children (2001).
  • A Strategic Plan for the SC Fatherhood Initiative (2002).
  • A Strategic Plan for Rosewood House of Recovery (2001).