Program design and management6 social service programs

1. PROGRAM DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT<
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Social Service Programs
Name
University
Social Service Programs
PART 1: The National Head Start Association (NHSA)
Social service organizations play a critical role in any society in
that they ensure the social welfare of people living around a
particular area. Social services encompassed a wide array of
public services offered by public and private organizations, both
for profit and nonprofit. Some of the primary aims of public
services are to promote equality and opportunity for all, build
stronger communities, and create more effective organizations.
The National Head Start Association (NHSA) is one of the
national social service organizations that serve children and
youth in several areas. NHSA is a non-partisan, not-for-profit
organization whose commitment is for the belief that every
child or youth has the ability to succeed in life regardless of
their birth circumstances (NHSA, nd). The organization’s
opportunity for children and youths result to the development of
healthier, empowered children and families, thus translating to
stronger and more vibrant communities. NHSA offers free
learning and development services for children aged between
birth and five years and pregnant women from poor family
backgrounds. Contemporaneously, the organization serves about
1 million children, I,600 Head Start grantees and, 245,000 staff
in the United states, and has been working diligently for social

2. policy changes that would see all the at-risk children have
access to the Head Start support model for the development of a
holistic and functioning child, family and community. The
organization’s vision is to lead in serving every vulnerable
child with the Head Start support model for the whole child, the
family and the community and to advocate by diligently
working for policy and institutional changes that would ensure
that all vulnerable children and families have what they need to
for success in life. Her mission is ‘‘…to coalesce, inspire, and
support the Head Start field as a leader in early childhood
development and education’’ (NHSA, nd).
NHSA began in 1974 as the National Directors Association
(NDA) which was formed to advocate against the President
Nixon’s plan to close Community Action Agencies wherein
most of the Head Start programs were situated. In 1990, the
merger of the National Directors Association (NDA), the Head
Start Parent Association, Head Start Staff Association, and
Head Start Friends Association resulted to the formation of
NHSA to defend Head Start programs in Congress, although
each of the four affiliate associates maintained a separate
identity via distinct membership categories.
Contemporaneously, the Association has been able to expand its
mission to advocate for access to the Head Start model by the
most vulnerable children. The association also provides an
extensive array of professional development services and
programs portfolio for the entire early childhood community,
including the National Parent Conference and the annual
National Head Start Conference (NHSA, nd).
The NHSA’s primary achievement has been its enduring and
unwavering support for the Head Start program. The program
has been the most important educational and social investment
in US children, families and communities. Early Head Start and
Head Start programs are free, federally funded to promote
school readiness for children from low-income families, and
targets pregnant women and families with children under age 3

3. and children between 3 and 5 years old, respectively
(Childcare,gov, nd). For over the past half a decade, it has
offered a vital window of opportunities to over 37 million low -
income and other vulnerable children and their families and
communities across the country. Political, economic, and social
changes often affect our communities and thus negatively affect
the Head Start programs. For instance, as the income gap and
the number of people living in poverty is increasingly wi dening,
so is the number of vulnerable children eligible. NHSA has been
resilient because of its responsiveness to the changing needs
and circumstances of our local communities (NHSA, nd). The
association has found it inevitable to adopt current trends and
demands in social policy and social services like community-
based partnerships and involving the marginalized, having an
integrated approach encompassing environmental policies, trade
and labor market policies, and humanitarian aid, engaging in
public-private partnerships to enhance community organizations
and a strong regulatory framework and monitoring by citizens,
etc.
Part II: Program Hypothesis
The program hypothesis has become critical in ensuring the
success of social programs just as it is in research work. A
program hypothesis is not only about the ‘‘If’’, but should offer
a strong, comprehensive foundation for future evidence-based
research action and implementation (Kettner et al 2016). Now,
NHSA offers a wide range of programs to support the Head
Start program, especially amongst the at-risk or vulnerable
children and their families and communities to achieve their
wholeness. Through the Head Start model of Whole Child and
Whole Family, there are four vital components of Head Start
programs, including education, health, parent involvement, and
social services (NHSA, nd). The Whole Family program aims
to supports families facing difficulties to help mitigate the
obstacles that may hinder children from these families from
learning and proper social development in early years. The
following is a program hypothesis for a Head Start Whole

4. Family program:
According to the data contained in the NHSA’s master file,
there are currently millions of children spread across the USA
who are unable to reach their full potential in life. Most of these
children come from poor families that are unable to support
their development needs like sending them to school,
healthcare, proper housing, health and nutrition, and other
essential needs. More importantly, since these children are more
likely to be sent to [quality] schools [early enough] by their
parents, they are also more likely to be unable to effectively
compete in the socio-economic and political arena with their
peers, especially those who come from the affluent families or
otherwise received sponsorships. The consequence is that
chances are high that these children are unable to join gainful
employment and be productive to the society, and are more
likely to engage in alcoholism, drug and substance abuse, and
aggression as a result of frustration in life and engage in crime
to sustain their lives and families and finance their lifestyles in
the future.
The outcome of such a situation would be an increased income
gap and social inequality. While acknowledgin g this fact,
several lawmakers and leaders from other sectors have called
for more targeted and dedicated work to ensure vulnerable
children and families have access to high quality healthcare and
education in their earliest years as means to protect vulnerable
children and their families and communities from experiencing
the aforementioned social perils. Generally, whereas directly
sponsoring the at-risk children is helpful, such an approach is
often cited as a narrow, short-term focus to a wider and long-
term social problem. Therefore, by supporting their families,
more children are able to benefit more from the Head Start
programs, and are likely to be motivated to success by parents
through elementary school and beyond. A social service
organization like NHSA would be able to bring much positive

5. change in the lives of children and families, and help build a
more resilient and prosperous family environment for children
by helping them achieve their housing, education, and
employment goals if it focuses more on supporting the families.
<References
Childcare,gov. (nd). Head Start and Early Head Start . Retrieved
December 15, 2020, from Childcare.gov:
https://www.childcare.gov/consumer-education/head-start-and-
early-head-start
Kettner, P. M., Moroney, R. M., & Martin, L. L. (2016).
Selecting the Appropriate Intervention Strategy. In Designing
and Managing Programs: An Effectiveness-Based Approach (5
ed., p. 90). SAGE Publications, Inc.
NHSA. (nd). About US: Mission, Vision, History. Retrieved
December 15, 2020, from National Head Start Association
(NHSA): https://www.nhsa.org/about-us/mission-vision-history
NHSA. (nd). Why Head Start: The Head Start Model . Retrieved
December 15, 2020, from National Head Start Association
(NHSA): https://www.nhsa.org/why-head-start/head-start-
model>
Running head: REHABILITATION OF PRISON INMATES
1
REHABILITATION OF PRISON INMATES
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Rehabilitation of Prison Inmates
Prison inmate rehabilitation is a critical step in preparing
inmates to join society once they complete their jail term. In
most cases, the rehabilitation process focuses on approaches
that eliminate mental effects associated with some crimes, as
Derlic (2020) discussed. Previously, most rehabilitation

6. processes have focused on educational programs, mental health
support, and work-related training that equip prisoners with the
ability to compete equally in the job market, as indicated by
Heseltine, Day, & Sarre (2011). These ways have been
ineffective in preparing inmates back the society because they
fail to address character weaknesses associated with committing
crimes.
Some of the creative ways to rehabilitate prison inmates for
possible release back to society are as follows. First, prison
inmates can be rehabilitated through Prisoner Facilitated
Mediation, as outlined by Balafoutas et al. (2020). It is a
process that focuses on improving inmates' decision-making
ability and educating them on how to communicate effectively,
as indicated by Oliveira & Graca (2018). It equips them with
the ability to think critically, takes responsibility for their
actions, and achieve peaceful coexistence with society. The
other creative rehabilitation process involves allowing inmates
to participate actively in programs within the prison. It enables
them to gain a sense of responsibility for themselves and other
members of society.
Finally, the faith-based organization offers a critical form of
inmate rehabilitation. They provide psychological and spiritual
support to the inmates. Again, most of these organizations
engage the convicts and gives them the morale to be responsible
for their lives. Both convicts and ex-convicts are supported for
easy re-entry and coping with society, as stated by Timler,
Brown, & Varcoe (2019). Based on a few Biblical scriptures
such as Mathew 11:12, Romans 16:7, and Acts 12:1 and 12:5,
they also point instances of individuals' rehabilitation. For
example, apostles Paul, John, and Peter used mentorship as an
essential rehabilitation approach to support convicted Christian
followers, as highlighted by Tucker & Luetz (2021). As
highlighted in Mathew 25:36, Christians are urged to be vibrant
in helping inmates (Skotnicki & Carm, (2004).
ReferencesBalafoutas, L., García-Gallego, A., Georgantzis, N.,

7. Jaber-Lopez, T., & Mitrokostas, E. (2020). Rehabilitation and
social behavior: Experiments in prison. Games and Economic
Behavior, 119, 148-171.
Derlic, D. (2020). A Systematic Review of Literature:
Alternative Offender Rehabilitation—Prison Yoga, Mindfulness,
and Meditation. Journal of Correctional Health Care, 26(4),
361-375.
Heseltine, K., Day, A., & Sarre, R. (2011). Prison-based
correctional offender rehabilitation programs: The 2009
national picture in Australia. Australian Institute of
Criminology.
Oliveira, L., & Graca, D. (Eds.). (2018). Info communication
skills as a rehabilitation and social reintegration tool for
inmates. IGI Global.
Timler, K., Brown, H., & Varcoe, C. (2019). Growing
connection beyond prison walls: How a prison garden fosters
rehabilitation and healing for incarcerated men. Journal of
Offender Rehabilitation, 58(5), 444-463.
Tucker, S., & Luetz, J. M. (2021). Art Therapy and Prison
Chaplaincy: A Review of Contemporary Practices Considering
New Testament Teachings. Innovating Christian Education
Research, 239-269.
Skotnicki, A., & Carm, O. (2004). The Prison Chaplain and the
Mission of the Church. New Theology Review, 17(2).