Home > Systemwide > Service Improvement/Systems Reform > Improving Practices > Program Evaluations: Planning for Outcome Evaluations

Planning for Outcome Evaluations

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

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

Planning for evaluation should be part of the program design process from the beginning, so the two are interconnected. For example, deciding which services to offer should be based on the outcomes you hope to achieve.

Planning for outcome evaluations includes thinking about:

• Purpose. What do you want to learn? Who will use the information?
• Participants. Who will be involved with the evaluation? Clients, other service providers, board members, program staff, program managers? Will you use external evaluators?
• Outcomes. What do you hope to achieve? How do your program's services link to the expected outcomes? A logic model is a useful tool for conceptualizing this.
• Indicators. How will you measure your outcomes? For example, measuring an outcome related to improved parenting skills may involve measuring discipline practices and parent-child interaction.
• Evaluation design. How will you measure change and the influence of program interventions on the outcomes?
• Data collection. What instruments will you use? How will data be collected, when, and by whom? How will the data be analyzed?
• Budget. What resources will you need to implement the evaluation?

Reviewing evaluation reports of similar programs can offer valuable information about their methods, instruments, and challenges. When you have answered all of the above questions, develop a written evaluation plan that documents your answers.

Selected Resources Logic Model Development Guide: Using Logic Models to Bring Together Planning, Education, and Action (PDF - 1330 KB) W. K. Kellogg Foundation (2004) Developing and using program logic models to evaluate programs serving youth and families. Evaluation Toolkit and Logic Model Builder FRIENDS National Resource Center and Child Welfare Information Gateway Provides a step-by-step process for developing a logic model and resources on evaluating the effectiveness of child abuse prevention, family support, and parenting programs. Logic Model Workbook: Logic Model and Evaluation Training Materials (MS Word - 644 KB) Innovation Network (2005) An introduction to the concepts and processes of creating a logic model. When and How to Use External Evaluators (PDF - 458 KB) Rutnik & Campbell (2002) Suggests priorities for selecting and hiring evaluators. Who Wants to Know? Tips for Involving Stakeholders in Your Program Evaluation Amherst H. Wilder Foundation (2005) Key questions and tips for effectively involving stakeholders in program evaluations.

	Information Gateway Library Search Includes publications from 2000 to present Selecting an evaluator Involving stakeholders Developing logic models Evaluation how-to's Evaluation how-to's (Search by Program Type)

Updated on November 19, 2008