Assessing Program Readiness for a Community Health Nonprofit
Our client is a community health nonprofit dedicated to improving access to healthcare for low-income families. They wanted to evaluate the effectiveness of a new outreach program.
People recognize the organization for its hands-on community engagement. Recently, they launched an initiative aimed at increasing health education and preventative care access in underserved neighborhoods. Before fully investing in a formal program evaluation, they wanted to know if the program was ready for assessment.
Table of Contents
The Challenge
The Solution
The Results
The Impact
The Challenge
Nonprofits have notoriously limited resources. To ensure that a formal evaluation would provide them with meaningful data, Better Way Consulting performed a program evaluation.
We sought to confirm the nonprofit implemented the new outreach program effectively. Necessary systems needed to be in place to support an evaluation. Our goal was to assess the program’s readiness. If needed, we'd recommend steps to prepare for a full evaluation.
The Solution
Better Way Consulting conducted an Evaluability Assessment to determine whether the outreach program was ready for a formal evaluation. Our approach included three key steps:
Program Design Review: We reviewed the program’s design, goals, and implementation plan to assess its structure. We looked at intended outcomes, target population, and key activities to ensure each element supported the program’s objectives.
Data Collection Capacity: We examined the nonprofit’s current data collection methods, focusing on the consistency and reliability of data sources. This helped determine if the organization has the necessary tools and processes to gather information. If done poorly, this can affect data quality.
Staff and Resource Assessment: We assessed the resources available to support an evaluation, including staffing, time, and budget. We reviewed staff readiness and capacity to engage in evaluation activities. This ensured the team could manage the process without disrupting program delivery.
The Results
Our evaluability assessment revealed several key insights:
Strengthened Program Structure: We identified areas in the program’s design that needed clarification, particularly in linking activities to expected outcomes. This gave the nonprofit a clearer picture of how each program component contributed to its goals.
Improved Data Collection Practices: The assessment highlighted gaps in data tracking and recommended tools to standardize data collection. Implementing these tools would enable the nonprofit to gather reliable information for future data analysis.
Resource and Capacity Adjustments: We suggested small changes in staffing roles. This will help the team support the evaluation process better. This included reallocating tasks to give team members time to focus on data collection and tracking.
The Impact
With our evaluability assessment, the nonprofit created a clear plan. This plan will help prepare their outreach program for a full evaluation. They implemented our recommendations, refining program activities and standardizing data collection processes.
As a result, they now have a clearer path forward. This allows them to measure their program’s impact accurately and make informed adjustments to better serve their community.
