NCIC Evaluation Approach
NCIC evaluation activities are designed to be formative and user friendly, so that adjustments can be made along the way and not after the project is over. Our approach to evaluation is to assess progress and impact through a clear feedback loop to ensure that the new practice or program is on target to accomplish its goals. We will work with each state to design and conduct an evaluation for your implementation projects that is useful to you and NCIC.
The evaluation will have three levels.
The first level focuses on whether States/Tribes develop and execute effective implementation projects. This will include whether the project plans are doable and properly resourced and reflect the keys to successful implementation. For each of the implementation projects, the IC evaluators will work with other members of the IC team and the state/tribe to develop an evaluation plan tailored specifically to that project. The plans will include mechanisms to assess sustainability and likelihood of improved child and family and organizational outcomes.
The second level evaluates whether the IC is able to build capacity of the States/Tribes. This will initially include focusing on the outreach and planning activities as well as the regional forum during the start-up of the project. This will also include assessing the quantity and quality of technical assistance that States/Tribes receive from the IC in developing and carrying out the implementation plans. As time goes on, the evaluation will assess ongoing activities such as peer networking and technical assistance provided by the IC and whether these activities are able to help States and Tribes achieve their objectives effectively in order to drive systemic change.
The third level of the evaluation is a cross site evaluation of the entire Children’s Bureau T/TA network. This work is being lead by a national evaluator in collaboration with the IC’s; your involvement in this part of the evaluation will be minimal but critical. These plans will be shared as they become available.
