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Examining Critical Episodes of a Developmental Evaluation: Unpacking the Progressions Involved in Relationship Building and Capacity Development
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| Presenter(s):
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| Cheryl Poth, University of Alberta, cpoth@ualbert.ca
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| Kathy Howery, University of Alberta, khowery@ualberta.ca
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| Dorothy Pinto, University of Alberta, dpp.pinto@ualberta.net
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| Abstract:
Using a two-year developmental evaluation of a technology-focused professional development initiative as a case study, this paper describes the project team's progression with respect to relationship- and capacity-development over the course of planning and implementing the initiative. Innovative professional development initiatives require mechanisms to monitor and respond to learners in order to maintain relevancy for both individuals members of the BlackGold school district and organizations as a whole. Our current understandings suggest that a developmental approach offers such a mechanism (e.g., Patton, 2011). However, studies have yet to examine specifically how evaluators build relationships and develop organizational capacity to sustain such mechanisms. This paper reports on five critical episodes from the analysis of multiple sources of data where team members identified shifts in their roles and relationships. Implications for future consideration are discussed, including the potential of developmental evaluation to support the development and revision of professional learning opportunities.
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Empowering Community-based Organizations in Evaluation - Findings from the Demonstrating Value Initiative
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| Presenter(s):
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| Bryn Sadownik, Vancity Community Foundation, bryn_sadownik@vancity.com
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| Abstract:
This paper will discuss the findings of the Demonstrating Value Initiative (www.demonstratingvalue.org), a Canadian project to address challenges in reporting and evaluation in the social enterprise sector, and to ultimately move the sector towards improved stakeholder accountability, and better sharing and communication of innovative practices, learning and social value creation. This project brought over 30 funders and community-based organizations together over two years to develop a framework for improvement, and has since led to a non-profit capacity building program based at Vancity Community Foundation. This will be of interest to attendees who are interested in rationalizing funder reporting demands and in empowering community organizations to use evaluation and reporting as a means to attract support and investment, and to improve operational and strategic decision making.
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Building Evaluation Capacity of Community-based Substance Abuse Prevention Programs in the United States Pacific Jurisdictions: Practical Implications for Work with Indigenous Populations
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| Presenter(s):
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| Alyssa O'Hair, Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies, aohair@casat.org
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| Eric Albers, Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies, ealbers@casat.org
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| Eric Ohlson, Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies, eohlson@casat.org
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| Anu Sharma, Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies, asharma360@yahoo.com
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| Wilhelm Maui, Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies, wil.maui@gmail.com
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| Kim Dash, Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies, kdash@edc.org
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| Abstract:
In response to increasing pressures to demonstrate effectiveness, community-based organizations are challenged to develop greater capacity to evaluate their own programs. Although several models and definitions of evaluation capacity building (ECB) emphasize the importance of collaborating with practitioners to capture their knowledge and expertise, few initiatives have focused on operationalizing these models—especially with indigenous populations. The current paper presents a case study of efforts to enhance local evaluator knowledge and skills as well as increasing evaluation capacity of prevention workers implementing programs developed for indigenous populations in the U.S. Pacific Jurisdictions through Service to Science (STS). STS is a national ECB initiative funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention and implemented by the Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies. Specifically, we describe an ECB approach involving 24 programs implemented since 2008, highlighting methods employed, challenges faced, and outcomes attained.
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