LEVERAGING THE PARTS OF YOUR EVALUATION PLAN TO THEIR GREATEST

POTENTIAL

SESSION OBJECTIVES

• Review requirements for evaluation plan;• Review core components of an evaluation plan;• Identify core components in your own evaluation

plan.

WHY AN EVALUATION PLAN?

• Because the people who pay the bills (Congress) want to know how their money is being spent. As such, AIDD provides specific items to be addressed in the DD Council 5-year State plan related to the evaluation plan.

• Section 125(c)(3)(C) and (7) of the DD Act provide the legislative foundation for the elements of the evaluation plan.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE?

• An evaluation plan provides a foundation for the design, methods and uses for an evaluation;

• Clearly explaining the overall purpose helps a DD Council make decisions about how to conduct the evaluation;

• Knowing how the information will be used helps those conducting the evaluation understand what will be done with the findings

WHO IS THE RECEIVER OF EVALUATION INFORMATION?

• A receiver is the specific individual(s) who would receive the evaluation findings.

• The DD Council is a primary receiver because the evaluation information will inform and influence future actions.

• AIDD is a primary receiver of the findings as evaluation information helps focus on things that will inform as well as influence future actions.

COMMON WAYS EVALUATION INFORMATION IS USED

There are 4 common ways DD Councils use evaluation information:

1. To gain insight;2. To improve how things are done;3. To determine the effects of the initiative;4. To understand how people who participated in the

activity were affected.

Your DD Council may use evaluation information in other ways as well, please feel free to share with your small group.

SMALL GROUP WORK

• Using your own 5-year evaluation plan, identify the following:

1. Methodology (formative, summative);2. Procedures to be used to monitor progress (surveys, pre and

post-tests, focus groups, interviews, review of documents, etc.);

3. Council activities that will be used to measure effectiveness (including required Customer Satisfaction Survey);

4. Council’s role and process in reviewing and commenting on progress towards 5-year goals (committee review, quarterly reports by staff, review and approval of APPR);

5. How the annual review will identify emerging trends and needs as a means for updating the Comprehensive Review and Analysis (CRA)

TABLE RESOURCES AND REQUEST

Table Resources:• Evaluation plan for your DD Council• Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) for a DD Council

evaluation plan• Power point presentation with notes

Request: Leave us your thoughts and needs!• Please use the wall paper to jot down additional

resources or information that would be helpful to your DD Council

• Please use the wallpaper to share great ideas or strategies you think would be helpful to other DD Councils