DATA & EVALUATION

Quality baseline data can inform strong planning and implementation for a strategic plan by identifying existing assets and resources, as well as gaps in services and emerging needs. With the plan in place, evaluation can answer the critical questions: Is the strategic plan working as intended? Is it achieving its objectives? Evaluation aids in determining whether efforts should be continued, improved, expanded, revised, or curtailed.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

• Establishes a collaborative data work group
• Assesses needs & assets of the community
• Maps data of city, neighborhood & community
• Sets goals & SMART objectives
• Translates objectives into evaluation questions
• Determines indicators & unit of analysis
• Identifies exisiting & needed data
• Selects a comparison group
• Develops an evaluation plan
• Collects & analyzes data to measure progress
• Disseminates results
• Uses evaluation results for revision & implementation