Program Evaluation Toolkit for Harm Reduction Organizations
Identifying areas of program strengthening is often the primary focus of an evaluation. This is why most harm reduction program evaluations include process and outcome data. These data sets often help answer the questions: “Are we doing the right things?” and, “Are we achieving our program goal?” When programs use evaluation data to adjust how their program operates, they are using their data for program improvement. Evaluation results that are used for program improvement can help:
An internal focus typically means that your audience will be an internal audience such as staff, board of directors, etc. Sharing information with an internal audience for the purposes of program improvement means that you can be more straightforward and transparent about what is shared and how it is shared. That said, when sharing your data, it may be helpful to organize the way that it is presented to emphasize the following:
Sharing program evaluation data with an internal audience can be informal, but it should always be intentional and provide space for reflection, questions, and suggestions. Using Microsoft PowerPoint, Canva or Google Slides to present the results of the evaluation is a good way to not only visually capture the main elements of the evaluation results, but also celebrate your team’s accomplishments through the use of pictures and quotes.
To be successful, program improvement efforts require the full participation of all members of the program team. This is why inviting all members of this audience group in to discuss the implementation changes to strengthen the overall effort is a worthwhile strategy.
In instances where all members of your internal audience group were involved in the evaluation data collection and analysis process, consider reframing the evaluation results overview as an opportunity for reflection and brainstorming on how best to integrate program improvement measures.
Table (5.3). Sharing program evaluation data with an internal audience:
| Types of data to include: | Communication considerations: |
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“We also try to share information about evaluation findings with participants and support our participants engaging in advocacy themselves – both by providing educational support about how they can share their feedback directly with people who need to hear it and giving opportunities for them to review our presentations for educational sessions.”
—Sam Armbruster
