Abstract: 

Programmatic evaluations not only show fidelity or effectiveness of an intervention but also allow for continuous improvement of services and make an organization more appealing to funders. Yet, evaluations also come with challenges and many organizations struggle to determine whether they are ready to use their data for research purposes. Evaluability assessments gather essential information about a program’s functioning and equip organizational leadership to ensure that programs are on the right track and set up for success in an evaluation. The Petey Greene Program (PGP) and RTI International (RTI) will present a case study of the PGP’s College Bridge Program, describing the process through which organizations can proactively strengthen their capacity and readiness to conduct a more rigorous evaluation of their programs. First, the PGP will describe the College Bridge Program model, rationale for evaluating it, and considerations for knowing when and how to prepare for an evaluation. RTI will then discuss common considerations, the role and importance of evaluability assessments, and the types of organizational practices and documentation often explored during this process. The webinar outlines the activities associated with evaluability assessment, key findings, and lessons learned from the current evaluability assessment and capacity-building exercises that organizations can implement to become more adequately prepared for evaluation.