| Session Title: Human Services Evaluation TIG Business Meeting and Presentation: The Impact of Differing Contexts on the Planning and Implementation of Two Community-Based Evaluations in Florida |
| Business Meeting Session 415 to be held in Panzacola Section F2 on Thursday, Nov 12, 6:10 PM to 7:00 PM |
| Sponsored by the Human Services Evaluation TIG |
| TIG Leader(s): |
| Tania Rempert, Bureau of Evaluation and Research, trempert@illinois.edu |
| Tracey Greever-Rice, University of Missouri at Columbia, greeverricet@umsystem.edu |
| Vajeera Dorabawila, Bureau of Evaluation and Research, vajeera.dorabawila@ocfs.state.ny.us |
| Barry Cohen, Rainbow Research Inc, bcohen@rainbowresearch.org |
| Presenter(s): |
| Gary Walby, Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida, gwalby@ounce.org |
| Karen van Caulil, Health Council of East Central Florida Inc, kvancaulil@hcecf.0rg |
| Abstract: Two community based initiatives in Florida, the Parramore Kidz Zone (Orlando) and the Miami Magic City Children's Zone, were conceptualized and initiated in very different contexts. Both 'Zones' were created to 'take back the community' from violence, apathy, poor access to and coordination of resources and services, low educational achievement, and a pervasive sense of despair. Though the vision and mission are similar, the contextual differences the evaluation teams adapted to resulted in dissimilar pathways to both formative and summative evaluation strategies. The size, demographic makeup, and location of the communities designated as Zones also contributed to design and methodological differences. The political, community, funding, pragmatic differences and barriers encountered between the two evaluations are highlighted in this discussion of the planning and implementation of two community-based evaluations. Lessons learned and recommendations for similar initiatives, likely with the recent discussion of Promise Neighborhoods by the Obama administration, are offered. |