Including Diverse Stakeholder Voices in Youth Character Program Evaluation

2021 ◽  
pp. 109821402091721
Author(s):  
Lisa M. Chauveron ◽  
Satabdi Samtani ◽  
Megan G. Groner ◽  
Jennifer Brown Urban ◽  
Miriam R. Linver
Keyword(s):  
Program Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Youth Programs ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Evaluation Capacity Building ◽  
Community Based Organizations ◽  
Stakeholder Perspectives ◽  
Stakeholder Identification ◽  
Retrospective Pretest

Although experts agree that diverse stakeholder inclusion enhances quality and equity in evaluation designs and implementation, diverse voices are often omitted. Particularly antithetical to principles of youth character development, evaluations for these programs should strive to include voices from various social, economic, community, and demographic perspectives. One innovative national evaluation capacity building initiative, the Partnerships for Advancing Character Program Evaluation (PACE) project, paired practitioners from youth programs in community-based organizations with evaluation professionals to enhance stakeholders’ roles in evaluation. PACE promoted stakeholder identification and inclusion through group exercises, partnership work, and coaching sessions. Using a mixed methods design with interviews, retrospective pretest–posttest surveys, and observational data, triangulated data addressed diverse stakeholders in the evaluation process, diverse perspectives on program performance, and connecting diverse input to evaluation design. Postprogram findings indicate that participants included more varied and diverse stakeholder perspectives in all the three areas. Implications for programs and evaluations are discussed.

Sampling for Evaluation

2000 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Aileen O’Connell
Keyword(s):  
Program Evaluation ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Sampling Methods ◽  
Community Organizations ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Program Evaluations ◽  
Community Based Organizations ◽  
Design Selection ◽  
Sampling Procedures

Sampling methods are an important issue in the evaluation of community-based HIV prevention initiatives because it is through responsible sampling procedures that a valid model of the population is produced and reliable estimates of behavior change determined. This article provides an overview on sampling with particular focus on the needs of community-based organizations (CBOs). As these organizations continue to improve their capacity for sampling and program evaluation activities, comparisons across CBOs can become more rigorous, resulting in valuable information collectively regarding the effectiveness of particular HIV prevention initiatives. The author reviews several probability and nonprobability sampling designs; discusses bias, cost, and feasibility factors in design selection; and presents six guidelines designed to encourage community organizations to consider these important sampling issues as they plan their program evaluations.

Stakeholder Perspectives on the Stigma of Suicide Attempt Survivors

Crisis ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay L. Sheehan ◽  
Patrick W. Corrigan ◽  
Maya A. Al-Khouja ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Community Based Participatory Research ◽  
Public Stigma ◽  
Suicide Method ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Stakeholder Perspectives ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Prejudice And Discrimination

Abstract. Background: Past scholarly efforts to describe and measure the stigma surrounding suicide have largely viewed suicide stigma from the perspective of the general public. Aims: In the spirit of community-based participatory research (CBPR), the current study brought together a diverse stakeholder team to qualitatively investigate the suicide stigma as experienced by those most intimately affected by suicide. Method: Seven focus groups (n = 62) were conducted with suicide attempt survivors, family members of those who died by suicide, and suicide loss therapists. Results: Themes were derived for stereotypes (n = 30), prejudice (n = 3), and discrimination (n = 4). People who attempted suicide were seen as attention-seeking, selfish, incompetent, emotionally weak, and immoral. Participants described personal experiences of prejudice and discrimination, including those with health professionals. Conclusion: Participants experienced public stigma, self-stigma, and label avoidance. Analyses reveal that the stigma of suicide shares similarities with stereotypes of mental illness, but also includes some important differences. Attempt survivors may be subject to double stigma, which impedes recovery and access to care.

Community-based Organizations and Issues in Community Development in an Era Constant Change

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 585-605
Author(s):  
Terrence Thomas ◽  
◽  
Befikadu Legesse ◽  
Cihat Gunden ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Action ◽  
Black Belt ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Community Based Organizations ◽  
Constant Change ◽  
Black Belt Region ◽  
Local Problems ◽  
Community Based Organization

The failure of top-down categorical approaches for generating solutions to many local problems has led to the adoption of alternate approaches. Many scholars believe that a confluence of local and global forces have generated complex problems, which call for new approaches to problem solving. Previously, the top-down approach relied entirely on the knowledgeable elite. Communities were seen as passive study subjects and information flow was one way only- from knowledgeable elites to the less knowledgeable community agents or community-based organization acting on behalf of communities. The objectives of this study are to provide a review of governance as a means of organizing community action to address community problems in the Black Belt Region (BBR) of the Southeastern United States, and an assessment of community problems in the BBR from the perspectives of community-based organizations (CBOs). Data was collected from CBOs via a telephone survey in eleven Southeastern states and via listening sessions conducted with CBOs in 9 Southeastern states. The study provides valuable insight regarding the challenges faced by these organizations and strategies they employ in adapting to serve their communities.

scholarly journals Facilitators and barriers to the utilization of the ACT SMART Implementation Toolkit in community-based organizations: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aksheya Sridhar ◽  
Amy Drahota ◽  
Kiersten Walsworth
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Technology Acceptance Model ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Science Literature ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Community Based Organizations ◽  
Facilitators And Barriers ◽  
Acceptance Model

Abstract Background Evidence-based practices (EBPs) have been shown to improve behavioral and mental health outcomes for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Research suggests that the use of these practices in community-based organizations is varied; however, the utilization of implementation guides may bridge the gap between research and practice. The Autism Community Toolkit: Systems to Measure and Adopt Research-Based Treatments (ACT SMART) Implementation Toolkit is a web-based implementation toolkit developed to guide organization-based implementation teams through EBP identification, adoption, implementation, and sustainment in ASD community-based organizations. Methods This study examined the facilitators and barriers (collectively termed “determinants”) to the utilization of this toolkit, based on the perspectives of implementation teams at six ASD community-based organizations. Two independent coders utilized the adapted EPIS framework and the Technology Acceptance Model 3 to guide qualitative thematic analyses of semi-structured interviews with implementation teams. Results Salient facilitators (e.g., facilitation teams, facilitation meetings, phase-specific activities) and barriers (e.g., website issues, perceived lack of ease of use of the website, perceived lack of resources, inner context factors) were identified, highlighting key determinants to the utilization of this toolkit. Additionally, frequent determinants and determinants that differed across adapted EPIS phases of the toolkit were noted. Finally, analyses highlighted two themes: (a) Inner Context Determinants to use of the toolkit (e.g., funding) and (b) Innovation Determinants (e.g., all website-related factors), indicating an interaction between the two models utilized to guide study analyses. Conclusions Findings highlighted several factors that facilitated the utilization of this implementation guide. Additionally, findings identified key areas for improvement for future iterations of the ACT SMART Implementation Toolkit. Importantly, these results may inform the development, refinement, and utilization of implementation guides with the aim of increasing the uptake of EBPs in community-based organizations providing services to children with ASD and their families. Finally, these findings contribute to the implementation science literature by illustrating the joint use of the EPIS framework and Technology Acceptance Model 3 to evaluate the implementation of a web-based toolkit within community-based organizations.

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