SD-TIGT Evaluability Assessment

OVERVIEW

Mobilizing Action for Resilient Communities (MARC) grant is a national effort to prevent  Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and build resilience by supporting networks committed to trauma-informed change.  Recognized for its long standing work in this area,  the San Diego Trauma-Informed Guide Team (SD-TIGT), will be supported in its efforts to grow, strengthen, establish system change, and increase community engagement throughout the San Diego region.

EVALUATION

All 14 participating communities are required to participate in an evaluation process conducted by Westat, an independent research company. The purpose was to  better understand the history of the SD-TIGT, an overview of the the San Diego region’s trauma informed work, current and planned activities of the SD-TIGT, and intended outcomes for the SD-TIGT.

A three-day site visit was held in San Diego from Monday, February 1, 2016 to Wednesday, February 3, 2016.  Participants for the in-person interviews were selected by the SD-TIGT and included a cross sector representation.

WHAT IS AN EVALUABILITY ASSESSMENT?

This assessment determines a network’s readiness to be evaluated and provides suggestions on how to develop clear goals with measurable outcomes.

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

Westat noted that the SD-TIGT is in its developmental stage of redefining its goals, activities, and desired outcomes. The SD-TIGT is on track for completing a strategic plan that will include a logic model and activities aimed at identifying outcomes that are realistic and measurable.

Recommendations:

Growth of the SD-TIGT

• Work on further clarifying the purpose, goal, and process for growing and strengthening SD-TIGT.

Formal Structure and Membership

• Several network members suggested that it might be useful for the network to have more structure and hold members accountable on network participation.

Training to Service Providers and Community Organizations

• Many respondents also suggested that the network should have a goal of providing trauma informed training to service providers and community organizations as it did in the past.

Community Engagement

• Being more specific about the community engagement and deepening of community base that the network plans to achieve, such as which community members and type of community, is necessary to make the outcome plausible  

Systems Change

• The plausibility of enhancing the network’s capacity to establish system change would depend on the definition of system change and the intended magnitude of change.
• Some respondents commented that they thought one desired outcome of the network should be policy change that supports trauma-informed practice and ACEs awareness.

Evaluation

• Further define the goals, objectives, outputs and outcomes that are realistic and  measurable as defined by the SD-TIGT

NEXT STEPS- INTEGRATION INTO THE STRATEGIC PLAN

Since the Westat visit, the SD-TIGT has started a formal strategic planning process. This process addresses the feedback that Westat has given us. For example, the above suggestions have been integrated into the development of the  strategic plan. As we continue to advance this process, we will take into consideration how each activity directly relates towards the progress of the SD-TIGT goals and outcomes.