"As a practitioner in the field for over thirty years, I have been exposed to endless 'planning' sessions that are prescriptive to the point of being oppressive. Thistext 'gives permission' to the practitioner to allow for emergence, uncertainty, and ambiguity in the planning process. Comparative Approaches to Program Planning provides a guide for the manager, administrator, executive director, strategic planner, and CEO to embrace multiple planning strategies and the understanding of each. This is extremely worthwhile in a dynamic environment and an ever- changing landscape and worldview." —Paul D. McWhinney, ACSW, Director of Social Services City of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia "This is the book I've been waiting for. It provides not only a linear approach to program design, but gives language to the tacit knowledge many planners have of the circular nature of their work. Both linear and circular thinking are important to planning processes and now we have a resource for teaching." —Jon E. Singletary, PhD, MSW, MDiv, Baylor University, School of Social Work The first text on program planning to guide readers in selecting program planning approaches appropriate to setting, culture, and context Valuable for students and practitioners in the social work, public administration, nonprofit management, and community psychology fields, Comparative Approaches to Program Planning provides practical and creative ways to effectively conduct program planning within human service organizations. Written by leaders in the social work education community, this innovative book explores program planning as a multi-layered and complex process. It examines both a traditional linear problem-solving model as well as an alternative emergent approach to program planning, helping professionals to successfully develop and enact effective and culturally competent planning in organizations and communities.

Table of Contents:
Preface xiii Acknowledgments xxiii Chapter 1 Differences Between Lines and Circles 1 Lines and Circles as Planning Metaphors 5 A Brief History of Lines and Circles 7 Planning Theory: Both Lines and Circles 16 Examples of Planning Approaches 20 The ‘‘Surety’’ of the Line and the ‘‘Tentativeness’’ of the Circle 24 A Conceptual Framework 25 Summary 27 Discussion Questions 28 Chapter 2 Programs: Containers for Idea Implementation 31 Programs and Projects; Services and Interventions 32 Programs and Projects 36 Services and Interventions 38 Programs in Organizational Context 39 Program Planning 43 Mandates and Initiatives 44 Planning Different Types of Programs 46 Summary 48 Discussion Questions 49 Case Exercise: Chronic Pain 51 Chapter 3 Rational Planning and Prescriptive Approaches 59 Case: The Mayor and the Street Educators 61 Introduction 69 History of Rational Planning and Prescriptive Approaches 71 Dimensions of Rational Planning and Prescriptive Approaches 75 The Logic Model 75 Assessing Needs 78 Defining and Analyzing Problems 80 Selecting Intervention Strategies 82 Writing Goals and Objectives 87 Program Design and Decision-Making 91 Accountability in a Prescriptive Approach 96 Accountability Challenges 97 Information Systems 100 Budgeting 103 Rational Planning 104 Mind-sets 104 Skills 106 Strengths and Challenges of Rational Planning 110 Summary 112 Discussion Questions 114 Chapter 4 Interpretive Planning and Emergent Approaches 117 Case: The Invisible People and the Area Agency on Aging 119 Introduction 126 History of Interpretive Planning and Emergent Approaches 129 Dimensions of Interpretive Planning and Emergent Approaches 133 The Logic of Emergence 133 Engagement 138 Discovery 144 Sense-making 146 Unfolding 148 Accountability in an Emergent Approach 155 Accountability Challenges 156 Accountability Options 157 Interpretive Planning 162 Mind-sets 163 Skills 164 Strengths and Challenges of Interpretive Planning 165 Summary 166 Discussion Questions 167 Chapter 5 Knowing When to Use Which Planning Approach 169 Case: AIDS Orphans and the Pig Intervention 173 Similarities in Planning Approach Challenges 176 Gaining Entry 177 Becoming Oriented 179 Engaging in Critical Thinking 181 Making Ethical Decisions 187 Comparing Program Planning Approaches 192 Comparing Dimensions 192 Examining Accountability 198 Thinking about Mind-sets and Skills 201 Decision Issues for Approach Selection 205 Summary 208 Discussion Questions 208 Appendix: Comparing Planning Approaches 210 Chapter 6 Program Planning in Diverse Cultural Contexts 213 Culture and Context 216 Defining Culture 216 Elements in Culture Development 217 Cultural Competence 220 Skills of the Culturally Competent 222 Challenges to Culturally Competent Human Service Programming 225 Understanding Empiricism 225 Recognizing Realism and Interpretivism 227 Responding to Accountability Demands 229 Cultural Competence and Program Planning 231 Planning with Sensitivity to Difference 233 Planning with Sensitivity to Inclusion 238 Planning with Sensitivity to Context 240 Planning Across Multiple Organizational Settings 244 Issues When Practicing Internationally 245 Summary 247 Conclusion 249 Exercises 250 Glossary 253 References 271 Index 281