Feedback & Evaluation Templates
The gathering of primary and secondary statistics in a program like this are crucial to show funders the impacts of the program and ensure consistent and ongoing support. Some of the statistics that may be worth gathering are trackable social service interactions like meals served, clothing donations, referrals made, advocacy etc. Other pieces that may feel worth tracking are demographic information of participants, especially when participants may have identities or experiences that can support accessing special funding pools. When tracking things like gender, ancestry, disability, or sexual or drug use practices be sure to do so in ways that respect confidentiality, are optional and produce non-attributing statistics. Recognizing that this is challenging in some small towns, (for example; you may only have one, 2-spirited injection-using woman in town, and so statistics that make it obvious that it is her must not be used in a way that could compromise her safety or willingness to attend the program.)
Remember that we cannot assume identity assignments and find ways for participants to anonymously self declare association with labels, understanding the stigma that can come with public declarations.
Some of the noted outcomes of a program of this nature are much harder to track. We cannot know if someone feels empowered to engage in a bystander intervention on the bus ride home, or if domestic violence occurrences are decreasing, or if the minute details of how someone injects have changed in a way that prevents an abscess that would’ve otherwise occurred. These incidences are only things we can witness anecdotally or gather in personal accounts from participants. Provide opportunity for the praxis feedback aspects of the program to include evaluation, including self-evaluation, that recognizes the challenge of tracking such outcomes.
Program facilitators and adjacent support staff may need to ask consent from participants to record their feelings about the project into testimonials.
Evaluation sheets and follow-up online surveys can be helpful, but burdening participants with huge amount of paperwork may feel overwhelming. Be sure to have ways for data to be collected that don’t rely on evaluation sheets.
The gathering of primary and secondary statistics in a program like this are crucial to show funders the impacts of the program and ensure consistent and ongoing support. Some of the statistics that may be worth gathering are trackable social service interactions like meals served, clothing donations, referrals made, advocacy etc. Other pieces that may feel worth tracking are demographic information of participants, especially when participants may have identities or experiences that can support accessing special funding pools. When tracking things like gender, ancestry, disability, or sexual or drug use practices be sure to do so in ways that respect confidentiality, are optional and produce non-attributing statistics. Recognizing that this is challenging in some small towns, (for example; you may only have one, 2-spirited injection-using woman in town, and so statistics that make it obvious that it is her must not be used in a way that could compromise her safety or willingness to attend the program.)
Remember that we cannot assume identity assignments and find ways for participants to anonymously self declare association with labels, understanding the stigma that can come with public declarations.
Some of the noted outcomes of a program of this nature are much harder to track. We cannot know if someone feels empowered to engage in a bystander intervention on the bus ride home, or if domestic violence occurrences are decreasing, or if the minute details of how someone injects have changed in a way that prevents an abscess that would’ve otherwise occurred. These incidences are only things we can witness anecdotally or gather in personal accounts from participants. Provide opportunity for the praxis feedback aspects of the program to include evaluation, including self-evaluation, that recognizes the challenge of tracking such outcomes.
Program facilitators and adjacent support staff may need to ask consent from participants to record their feelings about the project into testimonials.
Evaluation sheets and follow-up online surveys can be helpful, but burdening participants with huge amount of paperwork may feel overwhelming. Be sure to have ways for data to be collected that don’t rely on evaluation sheets.