Developmental Disabilities Program Independent Evaluation DDPIE Project

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Developmental Disabilities Program Independent
Evaluation (DDPIE) Project

• UCEDD Meeting Technical Assistance Institute
• May 31, 2007
• Lynn Elinson, Ph.D.
• Project Director

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Developmental Disabilities Program Independent
Evaluation (DDPIE) Project

• Also known as ADD Independent Evaluation

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Purpose of PowerPoint

• To understand the background and progress of the
  ADD independent evaluation
• To obtain a background and context for giving
  feedback on ADD independent evaluation materials

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PowerPoint Outline

• 1. Background of ADD Independent Evaluation
• A. Purpose of the DDPIE Project
• B. Challenges
• 2. Research design
• 3. Project implementation
• A. Overview
• B. Project activities
• C. Evaluation tools
• D. Validation
• 4. Seeking individualized input
• 5. Progress and timing

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1. Background
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A. Purpose of the DDPIE Project

• Demonstrate impact of DD Network programs on
• Individuals
• Families
• Service providers
• State systems
• Provide feedback to ADD to help improve the
  effectiveness of its programs and policies
• Promote positive achievements of DD Network
  programs by storytelling
• Promote accountability to the public

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Why the independent evaluation?

• In 2003 ADD conducted a Program Assessment Rating
  Tool (PART) self-assessment under OMB guidance.
• PART is a series of questions designed to provide
  a consistent approach to rating programs across
  the Federal Government.
• PART has four parts (1) Program Purpose
  Design (2) Strategic Planning (3) Program
  Management and (4) Program Results.
• PART 4 asks whether an agency has conducted an
  independent evaluation of sufficient scope and
  quality to indicate that the program is effective
  and achieving results?
• ADD answered no which lowered overall score.

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Challenges

• Each UCEDD program is unique.
• Challenge is to develop performance standards
  that
• are relevant to all UCEDD programs
• capture the differences among the programs
  (variability) and
• will be useful to ADD in demonstrating impact.

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2. Research design
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Design Considerations

• PART prefers experimental or quasi-experimental
  research designs
• The structure of the ADD programs does not lend
  itself to conducting randomized trials or pre-
  and post-tests.

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Research Design Standards-Based Evaluation

• NOT a randomized control trial or
  quasi-experimental design
• IS a standards-based evaluation to
• - Set national standards
• - Determine levels that characterize extent to
  which national standards are being met
• - Determine impact DD Network programs (and
  collaboration among programs) are having on
  people with developmental disabilities, family
  members, State systems, and services providers

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Reporting at national level

• Data will be collected on individual programs and
  rolled up to national level.
• Independent evaluation will NOT be comparing
  programs to one another
• Independent evaluation will NOT replace MTARS,
  which is specific to individual programs.

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2 Types of Standards

• Evidence-based
• Consensus-based
• Performance standards for DDPIE are
  consensus-based
• Performance standards will be developed for each
  DD Network program and collaboration among the
  three DD Network programs

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Key assumptions for designing performance
standards

• State programs vary on their level of performance
  across the standards.
• Consistently high performance across the
  standards is related to better outcomes.
• Consistently low performance across the standards
  is related to poor outcomes.

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Research design seeks input and participation
from stakeholders

• Seeks input from
• Project Advisory Panel
• DD Network Program Working Groups
• All State programs
• Validation Panels
• The public

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Role of Advisory Panel

• To provide balance, impartiality, and expertise
• To provide advice on
• DDPIE process
• Benchmarks, indicators, performance standards,
  and performance levels
• Data collection protocols
• Pilot study
• Synthesis of findings and recommendations

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Composition of Advisory Panel

• Self-advocates
• Family members
• Representatives from 3 programs Richard Carroll
  from Arizona UCEDD
• Child/disability advocates
• Evaluation expert
• Federal representative (for PAIMI evaluation)

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Working Groups

• 4 Working Groups (PA, UCEDD, DD Council,
  Collaboration)
• Process In-person and telephone meetings
• Role
• - To assist Westat in understanding programs
• - To provide feedback on benchmarks,
  indicators, performance standards

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UCEDD Working Group members
Collaboration Working Group
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3. Project implementation
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A. Overview
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Phases of DDPIE Project

• DDPIE will be conducted in 2 phases.
• - Phase 1 development and testing of
  evaluation tools (measurement matrices and data
  collection protocols)
• - Phase 2 full-scale evaluation
• Westat was contracted by ADD to implement Phase
  1.
• - Project began September 30, 2005
• - End of contract September 29, 2008
• Phase 2 will be funded upon completion of Phase
  1.

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B. Project activities
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Steps in Phase I

• Construct evaluation tools (measurement matrices
  and data collection protocols) that contain
  performance standards and performance levels
• Conduct Pilot Study to test evaluation tools
  (measurement matrices and data collection
  protocols)
• Revise evaluation tools

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C. Evaluation tools
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2 types of evaluation tools

• Measurement matrices, which include
• - Key functions, benchmarks, indicators,
  performance standards
• - Performance levels
• Data collection protocols

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Definitions of key terms in measurement matrices

• Key functions
• Benchmarks
• Indicators
• Performance standards
• - Outcome performance standards
• - Program performance standards

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Logic model/format for measurement matrices
Benchmarks
Key Functions
Indicators
Performance Standards
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Key Functions

• Groups of activities carried out by DD Network
  programs
• Cover all aspects of program activity
• 5 UCEDD key functions
• 1st four key functions identified by Working
  Group (core functions in DD Act)
• Governance and Management Relevant to other
  four key functions
• Benchmarks, indicators, and performance standards
  are being developed for all key functions.

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UCEDD Key Functions

• Interdisciplinary pre-service training and
  continuing education
• Conduct of basic and/or applied research
• Provision of community services
• Dissemination of information
• Governance and management

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Benchmarks

• Broad, general statements
• Set bar for meeting expected outcome(s) of each
  key function
• About 20 UCEDD benchmarks
• 3-4 benchmarks for each key function

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Indicators

• Identify what gets measured to determine extent
  to which benchmarks and performance standards are
  being met
• 4 types of indicators outcome, output, process,
  structural
• Will guide the development of data collection
  instruments

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Performance standards

• Criterion-referenced (measurable)
• Consensus-based
• 2 types
• - Outcome performance standards
• - Program performance standards

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Outcome performance standards

• Linked to expected outcomes of
• each key function
• Answer the questions
• - Were the expected outcomes
• met?
• - To what extent?

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Program performance standards

• What the program should achieve, have, and do to
  effectively
• - meet the principles and goals of the DD Act
  and
• - have an impact on people with developmental
  disabilities, family members, State systems,
  service providers

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Program performance standards (continued)

• Linked to the structures, processes, and outputs
  of UCEDD program
• Answers the questions
• - What structures should be in place to carry
  out UCEDD network key functions? What should
  they be like?
• - What processes should be used? What should
  they be like?
• - What should the UCEDD network produce? What
  should products be like? To what extent should
  they be produced (e.g., how often, how many)?

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D. Validation
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Overview of validation

• There is no gold standard for an effective
  UCEDD, so another approach needs to be used to
  identify performance standards.
• The ADD independent evaluation uses a consensus
  approach.
• This implies participation in the process and
  validation from a wide variety of stakeholders.
• There will be several opportunities for
  validation throughout the development of
  performance standards.
• Stakeholders hold a variety of perspectives and,
  therefore, may not always agree with one another.
  

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Validation approach for DDPIE project

• Consists of obtaining input, feedback, and
  consensus
• Consists of validating measurement matrices
  (indicators and performance standards) and data
  collection instruments
• Is a multi-step process
• Provides validation opportunities to several
  types of stakeholders (e.g., consumers, family
  members, program representatives, advocates,
  evaluation experts)
• Provides opportunities for validation at
  different points in the process

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Opportunities for validation

• Working Group process
• Advisory Panel meetings
• State programs (at TA meetings, by telephone, in
  writing)
• Validation Panel process
• OMB process
• Pre-test and pilot study

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Validation Panels

• There will be 4 Validation Panels (UCEDDs, PAs,
  DD Councils, Collaboration).
• Process
• - Telephone call orientation
• - Paper approach (not face-to-face)
  accommodation will be provided
• - Opportunity for discussion by telephone

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Criteria for Validation Panel selection

• Stakeholder groups (e.g., people with
  developmental disabilities, family members,
  advocates, programs, service providers)
• Researchers

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Criteria for Validation Panel selection
(continued)

• Understands consumer needs
• Understands DD Network programs
• Diverse composition (gender, race/ethnicity)
• Mix of junior and senior program staff
• Urban and rural representation

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Focus of Validation Panel process

• Will achieve consensus
• Formal process
• Builds in objective methodology (e.g., criteria
  for eliminating and accepting indicators and
  performance standards)

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OMB approval process is another form of validation

• OMB approval process results from the Paperwork
  Reduction Act
• Act is administered by Office of Management and
  Budget (OMB)
• Purpose of Act is to ensure that information
  collected from the public minimizes burden and
  maximizes public utility
• All Federal agencies must comply

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OMB approval process (continued)

• When contemplating data collection from the
  public, Federal agencies must seek approval from
  OMB.
• Must submit an OMB package consisting of
  description of study and data collection effort,
  an estimate of burden, and data collection
  instruments.
• Approval process consists of making data
  collection instruments available for public
  comment in the Federal Register.
• ADD will be submitting an OMB package all
  interested parties will have opportunity to
  comment during public comment period.

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Pre-test and Pilot Study additional form of
validation

• Data collection protocols will be pre-tested in
  one state.
• A pilot study will be conducted in up to 4
  states.
• Pilot study states will be chosen randomly.
• Pilot study will test reliability and validity of
  measurement matrices and feasibility of data
  collection.

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4. Seeking individualized input
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Opportunities for individualized input

• UCEDD TA meeting (May 31, 2007)
• - Distribution of draft benchmarks, indicators,
  and a few examples of performance standards
• - Small group discussions facilitated by AUCD
• Telephone meetings scheduled in June and July
• In writing

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Small Group Discussions at UCEDD Technical
Assistance Meeting (May 31, 2007)

• Westat will
• - Distribute draft performance standards on
  UCEDD
• Network and Collaboration
• - Review organization of materials
• - Describe feedback process for individual UCEDD
  programs
• - Answer questions on process for feedback
• UCEDD programs will
• - Continue to meet in small groups to discuss
  the materials (facilitated by AUCD)
• - Report out in a large group on first
  impressions

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Type of Input Sought

• Benchmarks and indicators Are they the concepts
  that need to be addressed?
• Benchmarks and performance standards Do they
  represent what the programs should be
  achieving/should have/should do in order to be
  effective in meeting the principles and goals of
  the DD Act and have an impact on people with
  developmental disabilities, families, State
  systems, and service providers?
• Indicators Which seem the most important and
  feasible to measure? Which could be eliminated?
• If not these, then what?

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5. Progress and Timing
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Progress to Date

• Meetings with ADD, head of national associations,
  TA contractors November, 2006
• Site visit to programs in one state December,
  2006
• Review of background materials (provided by ADD
  Working Groups national websites other)
  October, 2005 February, 2007
• Meetings with Working Groups March, 2006
  September, 2006
• Meetings with Advisory Panel - March, 2006,
  October, 2006, March, 2007
• Synthesis of all information by Westat
  September, 2006 to February, 2007
• Draft benchmarks, indicators, performance
  standards February, 2007

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Upcoming DDPIE Project Milestones
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DDPIE Project Milestones (continued)