|
Adapting Evaluation Measures and Methods When the Local Environment Changes
|
| Presenter(s):
|
| Kristin Stainbrook, Advocates for Human Potential Inc, kstainbrook@ahpnet.com
|
| Abstract:
Useful evaluations of treatment programs reveal how well programs perform in relation to client outcomes. Frequently, programs must alter their program services to adapt to environmental changes. In turn, evaluations must also adapt to ensure the usefulness of findings. This presentation will describe the ways an evaluation of a trauma treatment program for homeless mothers was modified when changes in the local economy and housing market necessitated altering the program. Clients' lengthened shelter stays meant some outcomes, including residential stability, could not be assessed with existing methods. In response, the evaluation secured secondary data sources in attempt to these outcomes. The presenter will discuss the context in which program changes occurred; how program changes altered the evaluation questions; how questions about client outcomes were modified; how changes in evaluation were negotiated with program managers; and the changes to methodologies to ensure relevant information on client outcomes was collected.
|
|
Social and Political Context: A Discussion of the Evaluation of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust
|
| Presenter(s):
|
| Amy Donley, University of Central Florida, adonley@mail.ucf.edu
|
| James Wright, University of Central Florida, jwright@mail.ucf.edu
|
| Jenna Truman, University of Central Florida, jltruman@mail.ucf.edu
|
| Abstract:
This paper presents findings and discusses the ways in which the evaluation of the Miami Dade Homeless Trust was conducted by researchers at the Institute of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Central Florida. The Miami Dade Homeless Trust funds a continuum of care which provides services to homeless people ranging from outreach and emergency shelter to long term permanent housing with wrap-around services. The evaluation consisted of a multi-method design which combined quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques. While the Miami Dade County homeless continuum of care is considered to be a model around the country, one of the main purposes of the evaluation was to determine what improvements could be made within the system.
|
| |