Facilitating Results: A Coordinated Approach to Measuring Performance and Delivering Standardized Evaluation Training and Technical Assistance

This presentation will describe the methods used to assess OMH grantees' evaluation needs and to provide standardized evaluation training and technical assistance. PIMS trainers engage with grantees early to strengthen their evaluation plans and increase evaluation knowledge and capacity. The presentation will cover the types of interventions PIMS trainers are utilizing to assist grantees with planning and monitoring the implementation of their evaluations. Common topics include the selection of outcomes-focused performance measures, timing data collection activities, and ensuring consistency between programmatic and evaluative activities and goals. The goal of these activities, which include assessment and technical assistance at the individual grantee and grant program levels, is to increase the quality and similarity of individual grantee performance indicators thereby allowing OMH to better assess its progress toward achieving office- and department-wide goals. The presentation will provide examples of improvements made to the grantees' evaluations after receiving training and technical assistance; will highlight challenges and successes that the grantees faced; and will provide some suggestions for best practices in helping organizations transition to more outcomes-focused performance measures. In addition, tools and resources will be described that are designed to promote systematic program design, planning, performance measurement, data collection, and evaluation; and to help assess the effectiveness of minority health and health disparities-related interventions. These include a searchable database of performance measures that permits users to identify and select indicators for outcomes or impacts related to minority health and health disparities.