AccountabilityProfessional counselors need to provide evidence of effectiveness in multiple aspects of their job, not just talking with clients. For a counselor to have accountability, they must include the following:
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Conducting a Needs Assessment for ClientsNeeds assessments help professional counselors understand the needs of various sub populations of a community. This may include different clients, congregations, neighborhoods, teachers, parents, students, administrators, community organizations, or local business people. Needs assessments also help to establish the priorities of a counseling program and help to continue improving the program to best help the people who are needing the counseling. A needs assessment emphasizes how the program currently works and then the goals to further improve the program.
The needs assessments are important because it is important for counselors to always be updating their program to best benefit the clients that are coming to them. The needs of these clients may change based on the environment or sub groups that they may be working with. |
Conducting Program EvaluationsProgram evaluation, or sometimes called process evaluation, is a systematic examination of a test's content. Program evaluation asks whether the counseling that is provided is adequate by having a written program that is being used to its fullest potential. This means that the evaluation determines whether the program is being implemented appropriately. The program audit will provide an analysis of each part of the counseling program.
Conducting program evaluations is important because counselors need to be sure that they are providing the best service possible to their clients. The program being provided may change for each client, but it is important that each counselor is upholding the highest ethical standards and providing the best program they possibly can. |