Overview

This website is designed for practitioners in the field of youth development who are interested in undertaking an evaluation of their program.  Designed to be a comprehensive tool, this website offers a wide variety of resources for all steps of the evaluation cycle.

Why should my organization do an evaluation?

• The single most important benefit of an evaluation is that it provides information about the organization itself, which can be used to improve the program.  Other instances in which an evaluation could be helpful include if the program is looking to expand, if the program wants to test a new idea, or in order to attract new or continuing funding.  
  
  
• In general, the results of a well-planned and executed evaluation can provide the program with the information necessary to continue to grow and improve as an organization, and in turn, continue to improve the lives of the youth and communities nationwide.

Navigating This Site

This website is designed to help guide you through the stages of program evaluation.

The PERC website is divided into eight sections which are always visible to you in the form of a toolbar that appears at the top of the page: Overview, Evaluation Cycle, Tools, Find Trainings, Find People, About Us, and Search.

The Evaluation Cycle is the centerpiece of this website.  From this page, you will be guided through a tutorial of the seven steps of the evaluation cycle and linked to various tools and resources related to that step.  If you are new to evaluation, you may wish to start at "Vision, Mission, and Values" and work your way through the cycle.  If you are familiar with evaluation, you can begin at any point in the cycle. The Tools section offers you tools for each step of the cycle without the tutorial portion.

If you aren't sure where to begin, the following questions will guide you to a start point.

1.      Does your organization have an articulated vision, mission, and values?

• If NO, click here and you will be directed to the vision, mission, and values section of the evaluation cycle.

2.      Is there a theory of change for your program?

•  If NO, click here and you will be directed to the theory of change section of the evaluation cycle.

3.      Has your organization developed indicators and benchmarks for data collection?

• If NO, click here and you will be directed to our indicators and benchmarks section of the evaluation cycle.

4.      Has your organization chosen data collection tools and methods for your evaluation and collected the data?

•  If NO, click here and you will be directed to our data collection tools, methods, and implementation section of the evaluation cycle.

5.      Has your organization analyzed the evaluation data you have collected?

•  If NO, click here and you will be directed to the data analysis section of the evaluation cycle.

6.      Has your organization shared its findings from the evaluation?

• If NO, click here and you will be directed to the share findings  section of the website.

7.    Does your organization know how to use the findings from the evaluation to modify practices?

•  If NO, click here and you will be directed to the modify practice section of the evaluation cycle.

8.      Is your organization looking for other people who share interests with you or for people who can offer expertise in evaluation?

• If YES, click here to be linked with our practitioner database.

9.       Is your organization looking for trainings and conferences regarding program planning and evaluation?

• If YES, click here to be linked with our calendar of training events.

10.       Are you a practitioner or a researcher with evaluation tools or stories to share?

• If YES, click here to be linked to the Contact Us section.