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Conducting
Evaluations
Conducting
evaluation at the collaborative level is challenging. It seems the
word "EVALUATION" creates uncertainty and even
fear because the process puts collaboratives and partners into unfamiliar
roles and stretches their boundaries. Only by doing it can you learn
lessons and refine your skills. You CAN DO evaluation!
This
toolkit section is designed to help you know what is expected and
the roles various partners, groups and individuals can play. Guidelines,
additional information and links will be provided for each stage
of the evaluation process - from planning, to implementing, reporting
and utilizing results. The goal is to make the entire evaluation
process seem more "doable."
Roles
and Expectations
The
total process of evaluation - planning, implementing and reporting
of findings - is best when it is a shared responsibility among members
of the collaborative. To learn more about the expectations, roles
in meeting expectations and guidelines for hiring and fully utilizing
a local evaluator, review:
Key
Roles in the Evaluation Process
FCP Expectations for Evaluation
The Ins and Outs of Hiring an Evaluator
Planning and Implementing a Strategy Evaluation
Evaluation planning begins when strategies or programs are first
conceived. These are more likely to lead to positive, measurable
results for families and children when desired outcomes and indicators
are targeted from the very beginning. For help with this critical
first step, refer to Strategy Development
in the Collaborative/Planning section of the Web site.
Planning
the FCP Evaluation
Evaluation
Plan Guidelines for FY08
Now
the real work begins. Building the capacity of all the stakeholders
to reflect, analyze and take action when implementing a participatory
evaluation is critical. This is especially important since each
collaborative is required annually to ensure that a results evaluation
of at least one strategy or component program (s) is being conducted
and to submit a report. To learn more about selected skills needed
in planning and conducting a strategy evaluation, consult the following
Strategy Evaluation Series.
Reporting
The report is a powerful way to tell the results of your strategies,
programs and activities. Well-written, well-documented and succinct
reports help convince funders that you have managed their money
responsibly and have used it wisely used to solve problems and achieve
positive results for families, children and communities.
Two
Approaches to Writing Reports and Telling Success Stories
Electronic
Quarterly Narrative Report
Download
the Electronic Quarterly Report User's Guide
Download
the Electronic Quarterly Report
Utilizing
Evaluation Results
Using
evaluation results strategically to inform practice, policy and
decision-making is very important. By focusing effort and resources
on the strategies that work, Family Connection should achieve positive
outcomes for families and children more quickly. Evaluating, learning
from evaluation, and making decisions based on lessons learned can
make the collaborative process more successful.
Guide
to Using Evaluation Reports
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