How can communities measure the impact of peer support?

1 Define your goals

Before you start measuring the impact of peer support, you need to define what you want to achieve. What are the goals and objectives of your peer support program or service? How do they align with the needs and preferences of your target population? How do they fit with the values and principles of peer support? You can use a logic model, a theory of change, or a similar tool to map out your inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts. This will help you identify what you want to measure and why.

2 Choose your indicators

Next, you need to choose indicators that will help you measure your progress and performance. Indicators are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) data points that reflect your goals and objectives. For example, if your goal is to increase the well-being of your peer support participants, you might use indicators such as self-reported satisfaction, recovery scores, or quality of life measures. You can use quantitative indicators, such as numbers and percentages, or qualitative indicators, such as stories and feedback.

3 Select your methods

Then, you need to select methods that will help you collect and analyze your data. Methods are the ways you gather and interpret information from your indicators. For example, you might use surveys, interviews, focus groups, observation, or case studies to collect data from your peer support participants, staff, or partners. You might use descriptive statistics, thematic analysis, or mixed methods to analyze your data. You should choose methods that are appropriate, feasible, and ethical for your context and purpose.

4 Involve your stakeholders

Another important step is to involve your stakeholders in the evaluation process. Stakeholders are the people who have an interest or influence in your peer support program or service, such as participants, staff, funders, policymakers, or community members. By involving them, you can ensure that your evaluation is relevant, inclusive, and participatory. You can ask them for their input on your goals, indicators, and methods. You can also share your findings and recommendations with them and invite them to act on them.

5 Learn and improve

Finally, you need to use your evaluation results to learn and improve your peer support program or service. Evaluation is not a one-time event, but a continuous cycle of planning, doing, checking, and acting. You should review your data regularly and compare it with your goals and objectives. You should identify what works well and what needs improvement. You should also celebrate your successes and share your lessons learned with others. By doing so, you can enhance the quality and impact of your peer support.