In developing Directions Home, the need for an independent evaluation team was identified to determine if associated programs and initiatives were meeting identified outcomes. The University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work Community Services Center was selected to serve in this vital capacity. In conjunction with the funding of other Directions Home programs by the United Way of Tarrant County, the evaluation began on April 15, 2009 and continues through April 14, 2011.
The Evaluation Plan
The evaluation philosophy uses three key strategies: (1) Continuous improvement approach that emphasizes routine monitoring and incremental adjustments to promote ongoing quality improvements; (2) Asset-based community development which involves a collaborative and strengths-based partnership between the evaluation team and project sponsors, stakeholders, subject-matter experts, and clients; (3) Culturally component data collection, analysis, and dissemination involving long-term and meaningful evaluative roles for clients and front-line case workers.
Using these strategies, the evaluation plan will meet these outcomes:
- Complete a process and outcome evaluation of the first year of the Direction’s Home plan
- Provide collaborative support, training, and monitoring of outcome data collection by United Way funded programs affiliated with the Directions Home plan
- Evaluate the community impacts of permanent supportive housing
- Collect, clean, aggregate, and store data associated with tracking the outputs and outcomes associated with the Directions Home strategies and tasks
- Develop an evaluation website containing downloadable quarterly reports, charts and graphs, and year-end final report(s) as well as a bi-monthly blog of evaluation activities
The Evaluation Team
Principal Investigator: Emily Spence-Almaguer, MSW, PhD
Co-Investigator / Study Coordinator: James Petrovich, LMSW, PhD
In addition to the Principal and Co-Investigator, the evaluation team includes:
- Graduate student interns (School of Social Work)
- Quarterly consultation from Aaron Mitschke, RN (School of Nursing) and Jaimie Page, MSW, PhD (School of Social Work)
- Bi-monthly consultation from the Directions Home Advisory Council comprised of 4 formerly homeless individuals housed through Directions Home
Related Links
- Evaluation plan (link coming soon)
- UT Arlington School of Social Work
- Community Services Center
To read the full plan, see the City of Fort Worth’s site on homelessness.
