| Session Title: Extending the Reach: Making the Most of Limited Evaluation Resources |
| Demonstration Session 657 to be held in Chesapeake Room on Friday, November 9, 3:35 PM to 4:20 PM |
| Sponsored by the Health Evaluation TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Tom Summerfelt, University of Chicago, tom.summerfelt@uchicago.edu |
| Cidhinnia M Torres Campos, Crafton Hills College, cidhinnia@yahoo.com |
| Rebekah King, Spectrum Health Healthier Communities, rebekah.king@spectrum-health.org |
| Abstract: This demonstration session highlights an innovative approach to evaluation of community health programs. It builds off of empowerment evaluation principles as well as developmental and participatory approaches to engage line staff, middle managers, and directors in the evaluation process from conceptualization of theory to implementation. In designing this engaged evaluation strategy, we created a model that would be responsive to community needs and resources; would develop the evaluation research capacity of community based organizations; would produce outcomes that are practical, understandable, and useful to the community; and facilitate organizational learning. We successfully implemented this type of evaluation approach while working with a hospital community benefits department (program budget of $6M) and over 45 programs that they fund. The approach allowed for outcome assessment at both the individual program level and the department level (combining similar programs by targeted outcomes). Factors critical to successful implementation of this approach will be discussed. |