 Developing
New Data Collection Tools
7.3 Share lessons learned with stakeholders
Evaluation
results can be categorized according to their
relevance and importance for:
- program operation
(programming, procedures, staffing),
- interaction
with the ‘program community’ (participants,
family, partners),
- broader community (funders,
supporters, potential for both.)
Managers can
tailor how they will deliver evaluation results
to the various stakeholders. Not all stakeholders
need or will want the same information or level of
detail but will want information about questions
they raised initially.
Engaging the community
The final stage of evaluation
creates an opportunity to re-involve participants
and families, letting
them see the connection between their participation
in providing
data and the overall picture. By promoting and explaining
evaluation results, programs can build links in the
community, acknowledge what is working and why, and
ask for both new ideas and assistance to overcome
challenges.
Methods of information-sharing
A variety of existing
opportunities can be used to share evaluation
results, e.g., presentations,
annual
general meetings, volunteer recognition ceremonies.
Varied formats can reach different segments of the
community: newsletters, flyers, reports, web sites,
community newspapers. As with other communication,
information should be accessible in tone, vocabulary
and language to those it is meant to inform.
Community
responsibility
Bad news will leak out eventually,
especially if the evaluation is in response to
some public criticism.
It is beneficial for community relations if programs
seize the initiative from a potentially disheartening
review to examine how problems can be addressed and
solved. Community residents and youth programmers
have the same basic aims—to help the community’s
children. This can provide the impetus for the support,
goodwill and compromise needed to move forward with
a strengthened program.
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