Evaluation 101 for Funders and New Evaluators
Date: May 27-30, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. with lunch on own from 12-1
Place: Oregon Department of Human Services
800 NE Oregon St Room 369A, Portland, OR
More info: http://www.oregoneval.org/program/
Event: Evaluation 101 for Funders and New Evaluators
Program evaluation, the process of collecting information about a program in order to improve and inform decisions about it, is increasingly expected of social service delivery settings. With this expectation for program evaluation comes the needs for a greater understanding of program evaluation among funders, service system delivery settings and evaluators. The purpose of this interactive workshop is to provide an introduction to Program Evaluation to funders and new evaluators. Topics addressed include definitions of program evaluation, advantages and challenges to conducting program evaluation, different types and purposes of program evaluation, strategies to promote the use of evaluation findings, the request for and assessment of program evaluation plans, budgeting an evaluation and finding an evaluator. Participants will have receive practical resources and have opportunities for question and answers.
Agenda
1.What is program evaluation?
2.What are the advantages and challenges to program evaluation?
3.What are the different types and purposes of program evaluation?
4.Why does use of evaluation findings matter and what strategies are there to foster use?
5.What should be included in directions to fundees regarding evaluation plans?
6.How do you evaluate an evaluation plan?
7.What does it cost to conduct an evaluation?
8.How do you find an evaluator?
Katherine (Katie) McDonald, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Portland State University. Dr. McDonald received her B.S. with Distinction from Cornell University and her Ph.D. in Community and Prevention Research Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. McDonald has conducted program evaluations with large urban school districts, state departments of health and early intervention, university offices, and small not-for-profits and coalitions. She also teaches a graduate seminar in program evaluation at Portland State University.