Intergenerational Program Evaluation

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Intergenerational Program Evaluation

• Shannon E. Jarrott, Ph.D. Aaron P.C. Weintraub,
  MS

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Objectives

• Consider the 4 Ws of evaluation
• Why
• When
• Who
• What
• Identify effective evaluation practices and
  tools. The HOW? in evaluation.
• Review step-by-step evaluation.

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Why evaluate?

• Documentation
• Funding
• Inform program development by assessing process
  and outcomes
• Identify problems early and fix them.
• Identify benefits and replicate.
• Stakeholder empowerment
• Marketing

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Theory-Practice-Evaluation Feedback Loop
Theory
Research
Practice
Evaluation
Lavee Dollahite, 1991
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Evaluate when?

• Begin before you begin!
• Plan for evaluation
• Evaluate your plan
• Formative
• Repeatedly and continually!
• Program monitoring
• Process evaluation
• Impact evaluations

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Who evaluates?

• Internal evaluators
• Increases investment
• Cost-effective
• Potential for bias
• External evaluators
• Greater objectivity
• Additional expertise
• Less familiar w/ culture history
• Combined approach

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What to evaluate?

• Requirements for funding licensing
• Stakeholders expectations
• Achievement of goals and objectives

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Program Goals
Your Evaluation
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Results-Management v. Activity-Management Design
4
1
Community Needs/Assets Agency Resources
Activities/Practices
3
2
Program Results
Community Results
Bowen et al., 2001, p. 20.
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• Tailor evaluation to fit objectives resources
  (personnel, money, time)

Needs Time Cost Expertise
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HOW to Evaluate

• Multiple Methods
• Observations
• Interviews
• Surveys
• Administrative data
• Documentation

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• Multiple perspectives
• Participants
• Staff members
• Family members
• Community members

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• Multiple points of time
• Repeated measures
• Longitudinal evaluation

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• Resources for Evaluations
• Agencies, universities
• Web sites
• Small community grants for evaluation

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Step-by-step

• Identify goals
• Identify needed available resources
• Support participatory evaluation
• Work with external evaluators
• Disseminate findings

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Review

• Consider the 4 Ws of evaluation
• Why
• When
• Who
• What
• Identify effective evaluation practices and
  tools. The HOW? in evaluation.
• Step-by-step evaluation

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Conclusion

• Societys needs circumstances call for
  intergenerational options.
• SSIPs take a strengths-based approach to meet
  community needs.
• To grow and sustain these programs, evaluations
  MUST be conducted.

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Contact Information
Shannon Jarrott, Ph.D., Associate
Professor Director of Research, VT Adult Day
Services Dept. of Human Development Virginia
Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061-0416 sjarrott_at_vt.edu
[phone] http//www. Intergenerational.clahs
.vt.edu
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• Aaron Weintraub, MS
• Doctoral Candidate
• Dept. of Human Development
• Virginia Tech
• Blacksburg, VA 24061-0416
• weintraub_at_vt.edu

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• Learn about studying intergenerational
  relationships at Virginia Techs Dept. of Human
  Development in Blacksburg, Virginia.
• B.S. M.S. in Human Development
• Graduate Certificate in Gerontology
• Ph.D. in Human Development
• Adult Development and Aging
• Family Studies
• Child Adolescent Development
• Marriage Family Therapy
• Neighbors Growing Together offers tours and
  consultation on developing, implementing, and
  evaluating intergenerational programs.