1. Program Assessment

2. Before you get started Need to determine if the program can be evaluated or should be evaluated. Is the answer already available?

3. Steps involved Engage Stakeholders Focus the Evaluation Describe program Define purpose Determine use/users Determine key questions Select indicators Determine design

4. Program assessment A proposal Allows for an investigation in advance of the actual evaluation. A rough plan that guides the complicated process.

5. Engage Make sure you know who this is for – Organization – Specific Program Who should be involved? How might they be engaged? Involve as many stakeholders as you can in at least part of the planning.

6. Purpose of Evaluation? What do you want to be able to decide as a result of the evaluation?

7. For example: Understand, verify or increase impact of products or services on customers/clients (eg, outcomes evaluation) Improve delivery mechanisms to be more efficient and less costly (eg, process evaluation) Verify that we're doing what we think we're doing (eg, process evaluation) Clarify program goals, processes and outcomes for management planning Public relations Program comparisons, eg., to decide which should be retained Fully examine and describe effective programs for duplication elsewhere

8. Describe program Analyze to understand as much of the program as possible. Write a description of the program with input from the stakeholders Create a logic model of the program. The description defines the parameters and expectations of the evaluation.

9. Audience(s) Who are the audiences for the information from the evaluation? o Clients/customers o Funders/Investors o Board members o Management o Staff/employees o Other(s)

10. What kinds of information are needed to make the decision you need to make and/or enlighten your intended audiences? __ The process of the product or service delivery (its inputs, activities and outputs) __ The customers/clients who experience the product or service __ Strengths and weaknesses of the product or service __ Benefits to customers/clients (outcomes) __ How the product or service failed and why, etc. __ Other type(s) of information?

11. Based on the purpose of the evaluation and the kinds of information needed, what types of evaluation is being planned? __ Goal- based? __ Process-based? __ Outcomes- based? __ Other(s)?

12. Where Should Information Be Collected From? Staff/employees Clients/customers Program documentation Funders/Investors Other(s)

13. __ questionnaires __ interviews __ documentation __ observing clients/customers __ observing staff/employees __ conducting focus groups __ other(s)

14. When is the Information Needed? Negotiating the timeline is difficult but it must be planned and made official One decision maker

15. What Resources Are Available to Collect the Information? Financial In kind Existing material

16. Dissemination What do you want to be able to decide as a result of the evaluation? Who has access to the findings? In what format will the findings be shared?

17. Audience(s) Who are the audiences for the information from the evaluation? o Clients/customers o Funders/Investors o Board members o Management o Staff/employees o Other(s)