WCGMF-Discovery | Initiative Evaluation

[1] The Center for Assessment and Policy Development (CAPD) has been funded by the Memorial Fund to evaluate the Discovery Initiative and determine the extent to which Discovery’s goals are met. CAPD is working with [2] On Point Consulting on this project, which began in 2004 and is expected to continue to 2010.

The Discovery evaluation is designed to measure capacity building and systemic changes related to the [3] four Discovery Objectives.  The evaluation looks at: 

• Progress made by the Discovery communities and at the state level in capacity building and systemic change;
• Contributions of the initiative supports to community and state-level work -- the technical assistance offerings, web-based tools, and support provided by Memorial Fund staff and consultants; and
• The ways that interactions among community and statewide organizational grantees affect change in communities and a state level. 

The evaluation draws on a wide range of sources for information – community plans, grantee applications, and other documents; interviews with Memorial Fund staff and consultants; interviews with statewide grantees and other state-level stakeholders; interviews, surveys, and focus groups with community coordinators and other members of Discovery collaborations; statistical profiles of communities; and observations of Initiative activities and work in selected communities.

The evaluation uses a theory of change approach to defining the questions to be addressed as the Initiative unfolds. A theory of change is a set of assumptions, usually represented in graphic form, linking initiative strategies to expected immediate and longer-term results. The Initiative's theory of change and the evaluation reports linked with the theory will be available shortly.

To learn more or ask questions about the evaluation contact [4] Sam Stephens or [5] Sally Leiderman.

[1]: http://www.capd.org/
[2]: http://www.onpointconsulting.org
[3]: http://admin.wcgmf.org/about_objectives.html
[4]: mailto:sstephens@capd.org
[5]: mailto:sleiderman@capd.org