ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the wide-ranging accountability functions of the professional counselor, including needs assessment, program evaluation, and outcome research. It addresses understanding the needs of a clientele and community; determining the extent to which a program is implemented; evaluating leader, member, and group processes; and evaluating group work. At least two primary purposes underlie the use of a needs assessment in counseling programs. First, needs assessment helps leaders understand the needs of various subpopulations of a community. Second, needs assessment helps establish the priorities that guide the construction of a counseling program or group work intervention, as well as continuous quality improvement of the program. Data-driven decision making deals with real needs and impact, not perceived needs. Data-driven needs assessment is most frequently used in school systems but can be applied just as easily to group work in other settings.
