My name is Deepa Valvi, and I am the Lead Evaluator for the Kentucky Asthma Program–which is a part of the Respiratory Diseases Program.
The Kentucky Asthma Program is a CDC-funded program to address asthma in Kentucky–mainly by the goals of establishing a surveillance system, reducing morbidity due to asthma, increasing self-management education on asthma and reducing disparities due to asthma.
Due to the varied components and activities of the Asthma Program, we developed a Strategic Evaluation Plan to prioritize and evaluate the Program’s various activities, based on each of the components of Surveillance, Partnerships and Interventions. Below is one rad resource that we used to develop the Strategic Evaluation Plan. Although we used it for the Asthma Program, the framework can be used for other health programs as well.
Rad Resource: The Learning and Growing Through Evaluation Module is a superb resource to develop the Strategic Evaluation Plan, and subsequently, the Individual Evaluation Plans. This guide uses a step-by-step approach through the process, and explains each step in a clear and succinct manner. It is a user-friendly and great tool for those plunging ahead in the field of Evaluation.
Hot Tip: Many times, key stakeholders and funders are seeking results that are useful, so they want to know what does and doesn’t work in a program—which is why it is important to carry out evaluations. New Evaluators should get to know their programs thoroughly and try to engage the stakeholders and representatives of the funding agency at every step of the way. Stakeholders and program staff are the people who should be able to help you with your evaluations. It is important and helpful to maintain a chart of all the activities going on and completed and to keep track of an increase or decrease of measures, indicators and activities. This is not monitoring, but planning ahead to carry out successful evaluations. This is particularly important since impact evaluations may take awhile, but having data on the activities early on will help the evaluator with the process evaluation.
This contribution is from the aea365 Tip-a-Day Alerts, by and for evaluators, from the American Evaluation Association. Please consider contributing – send a note of interest to aea365@eval.org.