Evaluating Comprehensive Community Change

Report of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 1997 Research and Evaluation Conference

By the Annie E. Casey Foundation

March 25, 1997

Summary

The document highlights the differing views held about the evaluation of comprehensive community initiatives, including their goals and expectations, study design and methodology, data collection and management as well as the interpretation, presentation and use of results. The summary also details the importance of defining the community and including the cultural context for these efforts.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaway

Flexible Evaluations and Tools

Comprehensive community initiatives require evaluators to use a variety of tools and methods to capture change within a complex environment. These include surveys, qualitative approaches, administrative data and other existing data sets. The evaluation itself may evolve over time rather than stay fixed.

Findings & Stats

Statements & Quotations