July, 2011 INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PARTICIPANT QUESTIONNAIRE
Aggregate Data example from past program
- Please answer the following questions related to your experience with the exchange program (Feel free to use the reveres side for further comments).
The program design- Please rate the following by marking the best answer; add any comments or suggestions in the space provided. NA designates no answer.
1. Advance preparation for the trip by your delegation
Excellent Good-3 Fair-5 Poor Very poor 3.38
2. The reception on arrival
Excellent-5 Good-3 Fair Poor Very poor 4.63
3. Housing accommodation during the program
Excellent-1 Good-5 Fair-2 Poor Very poor 3.88
Comments/suggestions: Comment on 1 marked Fair
We had electric break, 2x days of dormitory. All in all the housing was good (and excellent in our foster houses in Champaign).
4. Choice of organizations and people to visit
Excellent-5 Good-3 Fair Poor Very poor 4.63
Comments/suggestions: Comment on 1 marked Excellent
I saw so many interesting agencies and projects. When we went to the Amish families I would have liked to have an opportunity to talk to these people or to talk to
other people who know about Amish and discuss social issues about this community.
5. Site visits overall
Excellent-5 Good-3 Fair Poor Very poor 4.63
Comments/suggestions: Comments on 2 marked Excellent
The visit might be better if we had more time for discussions.
The program was very busy and needed more detailed discussion
6. Information to help you choose the sites
Excellent Good-4 Fair-1 PoorVery poor No Answer-3 3.80
Comments/suggestions: Comments on 1 marked No Answer and 1 marked Fair
Unfortunately, I had no choice with only one track.
7. Balance between professional and social/sightseeing activities
Excellent-2 Good-5 Fair-1 Poor Very poor 4.13
Comments/suggestions: Comment on 1 marked Good
Only 2 days time to sightseeing – could be more
8. Balance between free time and planned activities
Excellent Good-5 Fair-2 Poor-1 Very poor 3.50
Comments/suggestions: Comment on 1 marked Good
I think starting on Saturday 9th July would have been better to help ease the 'Jet-lag'.
9. Time management during the exchange
Excellent-2 Good-6 Fair Poor Very poor 4.25
10. Communication between delegates and hosts
Excellent-6 Good-2 Fair Poor Very poor 4.75
11. Cross-cultural exchange
Excellent-4 Good-4 Fair Poor Very poor 4.50
12. Overall rating of the exchange
Excellent-5 Good-3 Fair Poor Very poor 4.63
Program events- Please rate the following by circling the best answer; add any comments or suggestions in the space provided.:
13. American social service system
ExcellentGood-5Fair-1Poor-1Very poorNo Answer-1 3.29
Comments/suggestions: Comments on 1 marked Fair and 1 marked Poor
I would have appreciated more time devoted to this as well going back to the basics of political system etc....
By seeing and discussing, I understood a lot about our own system. It was very interesting for me to understand what difference it makes if a system is based on
law. On the other hand, I was very much impressed by the engagement and the power, the social workers had, how hard they worked and how much they didin addition to that on a voluntary basis!
14. Site visits Monday, 07/11 P.M.
Excellent-3 Good-5 Fair Poor Very poor 4.38
15. Site visits Tuesday 7/12 A.M. Erikson Institute:
Excellent-2 Good-4 Fair-2 Poor Very poor 4.00
16. Site visits Tuesday 7/12 P. M. Inner Voice
Excellent-3 Good-3 Fair-2 Poor Very poor 4.13
17. Site Visits Wednesday 7/`13 A.M. Youth Guidance
Excellent-8 Good Fair Poor Very poor 5.00
18. Site visits Wednesday 7/13 P. M. National Youth Runaway Switchboard
Excellent-7 Good-1 Fair Poor Very poor 4.88
19. Site visits Thursday 7/14 A.M. UIC Medical Center, Youth Advocacy Center
Excellent-2 Good-4 Fair-2 Poor Very poor 4.00
20. Site visits Thursday 7/14P. M. Cook County Juvenile Court, UIC Children's Hospital
Excellent-3 Good-3 Fair-2 Poor Very poor 4.13
21. Site visit7/15Illinois Mentor
Excellent-6 Good-2 Fair Poor Very poor 4.75
Comments/suggestions: Comment on 1 marked Excellent
Impressed by the motivation of the family to care about children
22. Site visit Monday 7/18 Aunt Martha's
Excellent-1Good-6FairPoorVery poorNo Answer-1 4.14
23. Presentation Tuesday 7/19A M. University of Illinois Staff (Freedom School)
Excellent-3Good-4FairPoorVery poorNo Answer-1 4.43
Comments/suggestions: Comment on 1 marked Excellent
Was the first agency that honed into the theme and focused on the issues affecting society.
24. Site visits Tuesday 7/19A. M. Center for Women in Transition
Excellent-4Good-2Fair-1PoorVery poorNo Answer-1 4.43
25. Site visit Tuesday 7/19P. M. Crisis Nursery
Excellent-7GoodFairPoorVery poorNo Answer-1 5.00
Comments/suggestions: Comment on 1 marked Excellent
My favorite site!
26. Site visit Wednesday 7/20Amish Interpretive Center
ExcellentGood-3Fair-4PoorVery poorNo Answer-1 3.34
Comments/suggestions: Comment on 1 marked Fair
I was not sure how this fitted into the program, i.e., social activity or the program theme as a project.
27. Conference Preparation Thursday 7/21Dominican University
ExcellentGood-7FairPoorVery poorNo Answer-1 4.00
Comments/suggestions: Comment 1 marked Good
Time was too short (and interrupted by the Positive Teaching presentation)
28. Group presentations Friday 7/22 A.M.
Excellent-3 Good-5 Fair Poor Very poor 4.38
Comments/suggestions: Comment on 3 marked Excellent
The British presentation!
Gave an opportunity to 'unpack the theme'
The conference in general!
29. Break-out sessions. Friday 7/22. P. M
Excellent-4Good-3FairPoorVery poorNo Answer-1 4.57
Comments/suggestions: Comments on 1 marked Excellent and 1 marked No Answer
Gave an opportunity to un-pack the theme and speak to other social workers in the field.
Not yet!
Outcomes and reflections- Indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statements by circling the best answer; add any comments or suggestions in the space provided.:
30. I gained a better understanding of American culture
Fully agree-4Agree-4 NeutralDisagreeStronglydisagree 4.50
31. I gained a better understanding of American social services and policies
Fully agree-6 Agree-2NeutralDisagreeStrongly disagree 4.75
Comments/similarities & differences with yours: Comment on 1 Fully Agree
It also makes me better understand our system and feel it is worthy
32. I gained a better understanding of American social problems/issues.
Fully agree-6Agree-2NeutralDisagreeStrongly disagree 4.75
33. I gained a better understanding of how American social agencies respond to social problems/issues.
Fully agree-5Agree-3NeutralDisagreeStrongly disagree 4.63
34. I would recommend participation in this type of exchange to other professionals
Fully agree-8AgreeNeutralDisagreeStrongly disagree 5.00
35. I would like this type of exchange to continue.
Fully agree-8AgreeNeutralDisagreeStrongly disagree 5.00
36. I believe my professional work will be changed and/or enhanced as a result of this exchange.
Fully agree-2Agree-6NeutralDisagreeStrongly disagree 4.25
How/why?: Comment on 1 marked Agree
I would like to implement something like Freedom School in Hamburg
37. My expectations were fully met
Fully agree-6Agree-2NeutralDisagreeStrongly disagree 4.75
38. My professional goals were met
Fully agree-5Agree-3NeutralDisagreeStrongly disagree 4.63
39. I think that the delegation from my city will have follow-up activities when we return home.
Fully agree-5Agree-2Neutral-1DisagreeStrongly disagree 4.50
Comments/suggestions: Comments on 1 marked Fully Agree and 1 marked Agree
At least one meeting!
I hope we can make that when we get back to our everyday work
Your opinion- Please answer the questions in the space provided:
40. The following outcomes from this exchange will benefit social services in my home city:
A. To my teams:
Youth Guidance
Runaway Switchboard
All we have seen the first Monday
My own agency: I'll proof to adopt some ideas/measures in practice
Knowledge that Chicago and Hamburg also faces same problems/issues.
Model of the Crisis Nursery, Urbana
Freedom School
School based Social Work
Encouragement!
B. To political discussions
Freedom School
Crisis Nursery
Illinois Mentor
Universal Family Connections
Networks forged during the Exchange will help my work in the future.
Assessment tools (Erickson Institute and DCFS)
Youth Guidance
Multidisciplinary teams working together
More group work if possible.
Different/more positive approach to volunteers
41. Two things that should be continued or discontinued in future exchanges:
A. Continue
Meetings with host families
The team of organization and structure of the visit. The organization was excellent.
More informal exchange time with American social workers on the visits.
Meeting hosts at their homes
Conference/seminar. Focus to provide opportunity to share learning/observations
B. Discontinue
Too many site visits on one day
No more than 3 visits per day
The visit to the Amish Community needs to be reviewed
Visit to the Amish
Little free time
Max of 2 visits per day
42. What did you enjoy?
Learning Different issues All we saw on the first day of the exchange
Youth Guidance Freedom School
Runaway Switchboard Visiting Social services outside of Chicago
Universal Family Connections Illinois Mentor
Informal meetings to meet the culture, personal contacts The Crisis Nursery
The structure of the Exchange
I would like to do a final reflection discussing together with everybody instead of writing everything down or in addition to that
43. What were the greatest personal/professional benefits to you from this exchange:
The wonderful people I met!!
Empowerment of the children and youth like they did in the Youth Guidance project, at the Freedom School and at the Runaway Switchboard, but
also in theUniversal Family Connections and at the Illinois Mentor program.
Personal contacts and discussions about all subjects
This year's participation was critical/vital to the future participation of Birmingham in future years.
Meeting the friends in Chicago again (from last year Exchange)
New views on social work
How to handle Trauma (Child)
I understood a lot about my own system
The discussions and the diversity of the organizations!
View into American everyday life in the services and of the hosts
The experience has enhanced my confidence and knowledge to further my cases.
The hospitality of our hosts
Believe we have the same issues in Germany and on. like at Chicago, but the solutions are different
Outcome orientation
I took up a great spirit of dedication to their work from the American social workers
The energy that all professionals have.
Discover common values between the delegations – Germany/US
The networks will help me in the future.
Compare the child care system
The concentration of help systems
Evidence based work/projects
I would like to see a boys group like BAM in Hamburg
Compare fundraising
I have met friends and built up new friendships
44. How can communication between the cities be maintained?
Contact/Exchange/Visits
Exchange and keeping on the contacts
Exchange the reports on the Exchange
Work on special issues after the Exchange (via mail)
Prepare the next Exchange or next personal visits
Exchange of e-mails. Regular updates on the development of next year's programme.
Social Media
Exchanges like this
E-mail, Skype
I would like to work here for a while
I would like to bring German students or especially students of social work!
45. What surprised you most about the visit?
That it was so wonderful
Youth Guidance, Runaway Switchboard, all that was seen the first Monday, Freedom School,
Crisis Nursery, Illinois Mentor, Universal Family Connection
The high motivation of my colleagues from the USA
The hospitality and warmth of the people
Did not see much advancement in American society since my last visit in 2005.
People shot on Monday evening
Nice people during ten days in the same situation.
Everything really is bigger in the US
“Dry” areas
Non-smoking in private houses
A cat was in the building and very very good housing
Chaos in the infrastructure of social work
The dedication of the social workers to their jobs, their power
The willingness of the hosts to do everything for us, like driving us around and even hosting us in their private homes.
46. Any other comments:
Thank you soooo much
I would like direct contacts between professionals should be fostered during the change to keep in contact about issues
You're welcome to visit us back in Hamburg! :-)
Thank you very much!
Demographics- Please answer the following:
47. Are you from Birmingham-1Hamburg-5 No Answer-2
48. How many other times have you visited the U.S.? 2,1,2,0,5, No Answer-3
49. Have you been involved in previous international exchanges Yes-3 No-3 No Answer-2
Eight surveys were completed by the delegates
The average response score for items number 1-39 was 4.27 (5.0 was a perfect score).
Each delegate's response (or no response) is noted in the comments beginning with item number 40.
Respectfully submitted,
James L. Scherrer, PhD, LCSW