Rural Health Network Program Evaluation Plan Guide
RURAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS 2
Process: Design and Implementation presentation, 2014, John Gail, Maine Rural
Health Research Center Evaluation Workshop, presentation, 2014, Pete Walton,
Oklahoma State Office of Rural Health, Best Practices in Program Evaluation,
presentation, 2014, and Rural Assistance Center online Library. See the Resources
section for helpful links and documents.
GETTING STARTED
Program Evaluation
The purpose of program evaluation is to systematically collect information about
program activities and objectives, monitor progress, and to report and
communicate results to network members, partners, stakeholders, and community.
Spending time consider aspects and components for evaluating a program is well
worth the effort as it saves significant time in the long run. The following are
recommended evaluation plan components:
1. Program Description: Setting context for the evaluation plan including,
program mission, vision, listing of program goals and objectives, network
history and members.
2. Evaluation Design: Describing the purpose and method of evaluation.
3. Plan to Measure Key Data: Selecting key process and outcome data and
identifying specific and defined measurements.
4. Collecting and Reporting Results: Gathering and illustrating program
progress and impact.
5. Communication Plan of Key Results: Intentionally and purposefully
sharing evaluation results with members, partners, community and funders,
that demonstrates success and value.
Planning Framework
Planning for the future can be framed, or understood, from either of two different
planning perspectives:
Identifying the path of action, i.e. objectives or strategies that will lead to
successfully reaching the goal, a general strategic planning approach.
Identifying the expected results, i.e. outcomes of the program that will
illustrate positive progress toward the goal, a specific Logic Model approach.
The difference is due to the frame of reference of the planning approach and is
clearly seen within a chart or diagram that illustrates alignment between the
program goals, objectives, and activities.