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Evaluating Program Outcomes

Note: Child Welfare Information Gateway provides this information as a resource. Our library does not define or endorse specific criteria for program evaluations.

Provides information and offers resources to help you at various stages of the evaluation process:

• Evaluating program outcomes
• Planning for outcome evaluations
• Evaluation designs
• Collecting & analyzing data
• Using & communicating evaluation results

As child welfare professionals, we want to do our best for the children and families we serve. Thorough outcome evaluations can tell us if we are accomplishing our goals.

Outcome evaluations involve systematically gathering and analyzing information to assess how effective a program is in meeting its objectives. Evaluation results can provide meaningful information to:

• Justify continuation of a program
• Satisfy policy-makers' and funders' demands for accountability
• Inform program improvement efforts to strengthen outcomes
• Solidify support among stakeholders, including community members
• Contribute to the knowledge base about what works in child welfare programs.

Selected Resources Evaluation Plan Workbook: Logic Model and Evaluation Training Materials (PDF - 197 KB) Innovation Network (2003) A brief history of evaluation, steps in developing an evaluation plan, and data collection methods. Evaluation Toolkit W. K. Kellogg Foundation Selecting an evaluation approach, developing questions, planning, budgeting, and hiring evaluators. Key Steps in Outcome Management: Outcome Management for Nonprofit Organizations (PDF - 594 KB) Urban Institute (2003) Step-by-step approach to outcome management. Thinking About How to Evaluate Your Program? These Strategies Will Get You Started Gajda & Jewiss Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 9(8), 2004 Identifying and documenting outcomes, activities, and indicators to be evaluated, and assessing the quantity and quality of program achievements.

	Information Gateway Library Search Includes publications from 2000 to present Evaluation how-to's Evaluation how-to's (Search by Program Type) Performance measurement Conducting cost-benefit analyses

Updated on December 7, 2007