|
Session Title: Evaluating International Trafficking Programs: The Role of Evaluability Assessments in Determining Program Readiness and Documenting Program Strategy Evolution
|
|
Panel Session 312 to be held in Conference Room 13 on Thursday, Nov 3, 11:40 AM to 12:25 PM
|
|
Sponsored by the International and Cross-cultural Evaluation TIG
|
| Chair(s): |
| Beth Rabinovich, Westat, bethrabinovich@westat.com
|
| Discussant(s):
|
| Casey Branchini, United States Department of State, BranchiniCA@State.Gov
|
| Abstract:
Evaluability assessment (EA) has traditionally been used to determine the logical basis of a program; its readiness for implementation, outcome, or impact evaluation; the changes needed to increase its readiness; and evaluation approaches most suitable for measuring program performance and outcomes. In this presentation we discuss how EAs can help track the initiation of new programs (often using models borrowed from other disciplines) in international trafficking as well as document the development and evolution of program strategies. The presentations in this session will focus on recent EAs of international trafficking programs sponsored by the Department of State, Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP) and how the three-pronged program strategy - prosecuting trafficking offenders, protecting victims, and preventing trafficking - is being implemented or the changes required for implementation. Case studies (countries identified by region only) discussing the program challenges and successes will be presented.
|
|
Introduction and Description of the Methodological Approach Used for the Evaluability Assessments
|
| Beth Rabinovich, Westat, bethrabinovich@westat.com
|
|
Beth A. Rabinovich, Ph.D. is a Westat Senior Study Director with more than 25 years of experience conducting evaluations of programs for children, adolescents, and older adults. She currently directs a project for the U.S. State Department's Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP) that includes one impact evaluation and two evaluability assessments of anti-trafficking projects. She also directed a project that included three evaluability assessments of G/TIP anti-trafficking projects, and provided technical assistance. Dr. Rabinovich directed an evaluation of Department of Labor's child labor technical cooperation program. She has provided technical assistance to local agencies in the U.S. on performance measurement approaches to determine the effectiveness of program operations, appropriate targeting, and self-reported outcomes. Dr. Rabinovich has a doctorate in Human Development from the University of Maryland and in addition to her research has taught as an adjunct at the University of Maryland, University College for 20 years.
|
|
|
Assessing Trafficking Issues Associated with Foreign Domestic Workers in the Middle East and Northern Africa Region
|
| Frances Gragg, Westat Consultant, francesgragg24@yahoo.com
|
|
Frances Gragg, M.A., is a consultant with more than 25 years experience in research and evaluation design and methodology. She conducted an evaluability assessment of one of the State Department programs in the Middle East/Northern Africa (MENA) region. This program focused on trafficking involving domestic migrant workers. She examined data availability (existence of baseline data; accessibility to court records, determinations of trafficking, visas, employment contracts; ongoing employment conditions; outcome data following repatriation), and available local resources to conduct process and/or outcome evaluations, developed the site assessment, provided technical assistance on data collection and the use of current data, and prepared cross-site protocols and technical assistance documents. She has recently provided technical assistance to other Federal program grantees on developing sound evaluations and presenting evaluation findings that can be used both for accountability and marketing.
| |
|
Assessing Asian Programs Addressing Forced Labor and Child Sex Trafficking
|
| Tamara Daly, Westat, tamaradaly@westat.com
|
|
Tamara Daley, Ph.D. is a Senior Study Director at Westat, with a background in special education and cross-cultural health and mental health issues. Her research and evaluation background includes a range of methodologies, from ethnographic fieldwork to large scale surveys with nationally representative samples of children. In 2010, Dr. Daley conducted evaluability assessments of two grantees of the State Department G/TIP program, both located in Asia. One project focused on bonded laborers; the other focused on child sex trafficking. Each evaluability assessment involved a site visit, extensive document review and a comprehensive report, including recommendations for possible evaluation and ways to improve performance indicators already in place. Dr. Daley is also co-project investigator of a project in India, under which she is currently evaluating a parent training program for parents of children with autism.
| |
|
Assessing Prevention Programs in Central America by Changing Norms Through Peer-to-Peer Training
|
| Jessica Harrell, Westat, jessicaharrell@westat.com
|
|
Jessica Harrell has 6 years of experience conducting and supporting human services research in the areas of human trafficking, child labor, and child welfare. She conducted an evaluability assessment for one of G/TIP's international anti-trafficking programs in Central America. This program focused on prevention by way of changing cultural attitudes to reduce the demand for prostitution among young men. For the evaluability assessment, she created a logic model of the program, reviewed program documents and reports, interviewed program staff, observed the program in action, and developed the site assessment report. She also created a technical assistance document on how to create and use logic models for G/TIP.
| |