Don't be afraid: Program planners can be skilled and enthusiastic evaluators

In 2006, Adult Role Models (ARM), a parent peer education program of Planned Parenthood of New York City launched a comprehensive, participatory evaluation. With the help of a part-time evaluator and research assistant, the program planners took a lead role in shaping the evaluation. In doing so, staff overcame their apprehension of the evaluation process to become competent and enthusiastic evaluators. Program planners began by drafting clear program goals and a logic model, essential components that were missing from this seven-year-old program. This process of reexamining the program mission was invigorating for the program planners, allowing them to see how the program could be improved. Program planners also learned the value in linking each tool, activity, and survey item to the program goals. Although daunting at first, this process allowed the planners to focus on finding tools to measure each goal. In total, eight tools were developed, including pre- and post-workshop surveys measuring knowledge, attitude and behavior (N = 400), workshop observations (N = 30), and post-workshop participant interviews (N = 30). Along the way, the evaluators were an important resource for the program planners, sharing their skills and insight. The program planners learned valuable methodology and gained confidence that their unique skill set and intimate knowledge of the program were an asset to the process. The program planners are now skilled, enthusiastic program evaluators wanting to spread the word to other program planners that evaluations don't have to be frightening and intimidating.