This document outlines a model program for an LGBT outreach and thrift store organization. The organization aims to improve mental health of LGBT individuals through group/individual sessions, cultural competency trainings, and advocating for LGBT equality. It will be partially funded by a second-hand retail store. The theoretical framework draws from various counseling approaches and emphasizes empowerment evaluation. A detailed action plan outlines steps like securing funds, hiring staff, obtaining merchandise, and marketing. The evaluation plan will measure participation rates, satisfaction, outcomes, and community impact through various methods like surveys, interviews, and records analysis.

1. Model Program
My Best Friend's Closet LGBT Outreach & Thrift
April R. Bayer
University of New England

2. Contents

Overview of Purpose and Design

Theoretical Framework

Detail of Action Plan

Detail of Evaluation Plan

3. Overview: Mission

To provide peer and professional
interventions from a community-
based LGBT center with the end
goal of helping individuals cope
and the community to be more
LGBT culturally competent. There
will be a funding component from
an affiliated second-hand retail
outlet.

4. Overview: Context

To Improve the Mental Health of LGBT Individuals Cope via:

Group and Individual sessions

Resource for Professional Trainings

Inform Community of Cultural Competence

Retail store as Partial Funding Source

Connect Local LGBT Individuals to Bolster Community

Community Sexuality Education for Rape & STD's

Long-term Goal: Use Organization as a Platform to
Advocate Legislatively

5. Overview: Need

LGBT Community-based Intervention in
Location which has No Duplicate
Services

Disconnect within Community

Safe Place for LGBT Individuals to Share

Clinical Aspect will Serve all Ages

Community Cultural Bias Needs to be
Educated

6. Overview: Resources

Financial:
• Retail store
• Community
Donations
• Grant Funds
• Bank Loan(s)

7. Overview: Resources

Human Power:

Community
Involvement

Credentialed
Professional Staff

Qualified Retail Staff

Volunteers

8. Overview: Resources
 Miscellaneous:
• Structural Facility
• Donated Goods
• Store Fixtures
• Processing Materials
• Office Supplies
• Electronic Equipment
• Educational Materials
• Donation Vehicle

9. Overview: Constraints

Social Phobia Associated with
LGBT

Funding Availability

Ensured Adequate Operating
Space

Community Resistance Due to
Intolerance

10. Overview: Activities

Individual/Group Sessions

Social Club(s)

Community Booths

Pride Events Participation

Education on Sexuality, Rape, & STD's

Professional Cultural Competency Trainings

Retail Thrift Shopping Experience

11. Overview: Effects

Increased Positive Mental Health Status for
Clients and Community

Increased Community/Professional Cultural
Competency

Decreased Hate Crimes

Increased STD/Rape Knowledge

Decrease Prevalence of LGBT Suicide

12. Overview: Outputs

Cycle of Interventions Processes

Strengthened Community Connections

Macro Advocacy for LGBT Equality

Professionals Gaining from Competency
Trainings

Retail Profit

13. Overview: Logical Model

14. Theoretical Framework

Reversed Logic Concept
− Value & Methods of Change are Identified with the Solutions to “How”
Questions are being Answered for the Program Structure

Practice Theory
− Narrative Approach
− Family Systems Approach when Warranted
− Cognitive-Behavioral and/or Dialectical-Behavior Interventions
− Strength-Based Solution-Focused Goals, when Needed
− Modernist Psycho-Dynamic Theory Rooted in Understanding
Developmental Needs

15. Theoretical Framework Cont.

Evaluation Approach: Empowerment Evaluation Principles
− Improvement by means of Intermittent Efficacy Surveys
− Community Ownership by means of Open Program Planning Meetings
− Inclusion by means of Complete Staff Input for Programs & Policies
− Democratic Participation by means of Robert's Rules During Meetings
− Social Justice by the Pursuit of LGBT Equality in Local Legislature
− Community Knowledge by means of Educational Trainings and Mission Advocacy
− Evidence-Based Strategies by Implementing Scholarly Research into Programming
− Capacity Building by means of Professional Competency Staff Trainings
− Organizational Learning by means of Regular Trainings for All Employees
− Accountability by means of Evaluations and Restructuring, if Needed
(Wandersman et al., 2004)

16. Action Plan Overview

Plan Steps:
− Step One: Researching Demographic Needs &
Securing Funds
− Step Two: Hiring & Training Staff for Retail &
Clinical Aspects
− Step Three: Securing Merchandise & Method of
Replenishment
− Step Four: Marketing Store & Clinical Services
− Step Five: Maintaining Client Relationships &
Retail Success

17. Action Plan Table
Action Steps By Whom By When Resources and SupportResources and Support
Available/Needed
Potential Barriers or
Resistance
Step 1:
Researching Area for
Demographic Needs &
Securing Grant/Donor/Loan
Funds to Begin Project.
Program Coordinator 5/1/15 Educated Staff to Conduct
Grant/Financial Tasks,
Library for Research, Access
to Computer/Fax
Available Grants, Private
Donations, Bank Lender
Step 2:
Secure Building and
Logistics
Program Coordinator 08/01/15 Staff, Computer for
Research, Funds
Building up to Code,
Working HVAC System,
Clothing/wares Fixtures,
Processing Equipment,
Registers, Hangers
Step 3:
Hiring and Training Staff for
Retail and Clinical Areas.
Program Coordinator 08/01/15 Local University, Computer
for Research, Funds
Clinical Program Manual,
Retail Training Manual,
Employee Policy Manual,
Insurance Plan/Benefits
Package, System for
Evaluations for All
Employees & Interventions
Step 4:
Securing Merchandise and a
Method of Replenishment.
Program Coordinator & Staff 11/01/15 Staff, Demographic
Information, Funds
Second-hand or New
Merchandise Items,
Donation Kiosks, Staff for
Solicitation
Step 5:
Marketing the Area for
Those Interested in the
Retail and Outreach
Services.
Program Coordinator, Staff,
& Volunteers
8/1/15 &
There-forward
Staff, Computer, Funds Printing Supplies, Email
Contacts, TV Public Access
Spot
Step 6:
Maintaining Client
Relationships as well as
Retail Success.
Program Coordinator, Staff,
& Volunteers
11/1/15 &
There-forward
Educated Professional
Clinicians, Personable
Efficient staff, Effective
Programs, Enjoyable Retail
Space, Funds
Program Evaluations,
Consumer Satisfaction
Surveys, Revolving Sources
of Merchandise

18. Evaluation Plan: Subjects

Understanding of Who & How many Individuals Participate, Completes, &
Retained for Programing & Consuming

Client & Consumer Satisfaction

Program Efficacy

Volunteers

Donations

Funding Income

Community Impact

19. Evaluation Plan: Measures

Structured Interviews

Direct Observation

Archival Records

Case Studies

Surveys

Time Series

Pre/Post Testing
*Program & Retail Efficacy will be Measured at Varying Intervals Based upon Subject &
Need

20. Evaluation Plan Continued
Key EvaluationKey Evaluation
Question(s)Question(s)
Type of
Management
Information and
Evaluation
Measure(s)
Survey /Survey /
ScaleScale
StructuredStructured
InterviewInterview
SelfSelf
Report /Report /
LogLog
DirectDirect
ObservationObservation
ArchivalArchival
RecordsRecords
CaseCase
StudyStudy
Pre-Pre-
and/orand/or
Post-Post-
testtest
TimeTime
SeriesSeries
Planning and
Implementation
Issues
Descriptive and
Process Measures
1. Who
participates? Is
there diversity
among the
participants?
A. Clinical Clients:
LGBTQ Individuals
and Concerned
Family/Friends
X X X X
B. Retail
Consumers: Open
to All Individuals
X X X
2. Why do
participants
enter and leave
the program?
A. Participants'
Reasons for
Starting/Stopping
Services
X X X
B. Consumers'
Reasons for
Patronage/Goods
Donation
X X
3. Are there a
variety of
service and
alternative
activities
generated?
A. Individual
Interventions,
Perpetual Weekly
Open Group
Sessions, Weekly
Social Club
Meetings
X X X X

21. Evaluation Plan Continued
Assessing
Attainment of
Objectives
Outcome Measures Survey /Survey /
ScaleScale
StructuredStructured
interviewinterview
SelfSelf
Report /Report /
LogLog
DirectDirect
ObservationObservation
ArchivalArchival
RecordsRecords
CaseCase
StudyStudy
Pre-Pre-
and/orand/or
Post-Post-
testtest
TimeTime
SeriesSeries
1. How many
people
participate?
A. Participation
Numbers for
Individual and Group
Activities
X X X X X
B. Participation
Numbers for
Consumers and
Goods Donors
X X X
2. How many
hours are
participants
involved in
service and
activities?
A. Individual
Sessions Subject to
Need, Groups
Sessions are One to
Two Hours
X X X X X
3. How many
hours are
volunteers
donating to
reduce
overhead?
A. University
Courses/Clubs
which offer
Volunteers
X X X
4. Is retail
revenue
enough to cover
operation
costs?
A. Goods
Donations,
Consumer
Totals/Purchases
X X X

22. Evaluation Plan Continued
Impact on
Participants &
Consumers
Outcome Measures Survey /Survey /
ScaleScale
StructuredStructured
interviewinterview
SelfSelf
Report /Report /
LogLog
DirectDirect
ObservationObservation
ArchivalArchival
RecordsRecords
CaseCase
StudyStudy
Pre-Pre-
and/orand/or
Post-Post-
testtest
TimeTime
SeriesSeries
1. How do
behavior and
attitudes
change as a
result of
participation in
the program?
A. Individual &
Groups Sessions
Report Positive
Impacts
X X X X X X X
B. Consumers
Supporting Mission
X X X
2. Are
participants
satisfied with
the experience?
A. Satisfaction
Reports from Clients
& Consumers
X X X
3. What is the
long term
participation?
A. Clients
Continuing with
Services and
Completing
Treatment Goals
X X X X X X
B. Consumers
whom Repeat
Patronage
X X X X

23. Evaluation Plan Continued
Impact on
Community
Outcome Measures Survey /Survey /
ScaleScale
StructuredStructured
interviewinterview
SelfSelf
Report /Report /
LogLog
DirectDirect
ObservationObservation
ArchivalArchival
RecordsRecords
CaseCase
StudyStudy
Pre-Pre-
and/orand/or
Post-Post-
testtest
TimeTime
SeriesSeries
1. What
resulted from
the program?
A. Quality of Life
Improvement for
Clients, Community
Awareness,
Legislative Policy
Changes via
Advocacy (Once
Established)
X X X X X X X
2. Do the
benefits of the
program
outweigh the
costs?
A. Cost Benefit Data X X X
3. Is the
community
satisfied with
the participants
and the service
they provided?
A. Satisfaction
Ratings from
Community at Large
X X

24. Reference
Wandersman, A., Keener, D. C., Snell-Johns, J., Miller, R. L., Flaspohler, P., Liuet-
Dye, M., Mendez, J., Behrens, T., Bolson, B., & Robinson, L. (2004). The
principles of empowerment evaluation; chapter 8: Empowerment evaluation:
Principles and action. New York: Guilford Publications.