The mission of the Work and Health Initiative Evaluator is to evaluate the goals, objectives, strategies, and outcomes of each of the four Initiative programs, as well as the long-term impact of the Initiative as a whole. The purpose of the Initiative evaluation is to serve as an integrating, synthesizing force in providing feedback for continuous program improvement and for determining outcomes and impacts of Initiative programs. This session will describe key evaluation findings, challenges and lessons learned from conducting complex and multifaceted evaluations for 4 programs under The California Wellness Foundation's $20 million strategic and statewide "Work and Health Initiative." The 4 programs include: Winning New Jobs, Computers in Our Future, Health Insurance Policy Program, and The Future of Work and Health.
This session will present lessons learned and their implications for integrating a theory-driven, solution-focused, and empowerment approach into evaluations that are designed to foster continuous program improvement, maximize operational program effectiveness, and evaluate program impacts at multiple levels, including individual, organizational, community and policy. Particular emphasis will be placed on showing how this approach increases our understanding about how programs work and when they work, and how to address key issues challenging continuous program improvement, such as: dealing with inherent tensions between key stakeholders, balancing research rigor with practical resource constraints, maintaining program fidelity, managing evaluation anxiety, and establishing appropriate feedback mechanisms.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the evaluation approach for The California Wellness Foundation's Work and Health Initiative. 2. Present key evaluation findings, challenges, and lessons learned from conducting complex and multifaceted evaluations of programs designed to eliminate health disparities through approaches related to employment
Keywords: Evaluation, Interventions
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: This session is based on the evaluation of The California Wellness Foundation's Work and Health Initiative
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Work and Health Initiative Evaluation Director, funded by The California Wellness Foundation