How do you use evaluation results to improve human service quality and accountability?

2 Choose an appropriate evaluation model and design

There are different evaluation models and designs that you can use to assess your human service program or intervention. For example, you can use a logic model to map out your program's inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts. You can also use a formative evaluation to monitor your program's implementation and identify areas for improvement, or a summative evaluation to measure your program's effectiveness and impact. Depending on your evaluation purpose and questions, you should choose an evaluation model and design that suits your context, resources, and data sources.

3 Communicate and disseminate your evaluation results

Once you have collected and analyzed your data, you need to communicate and disseminate your evaluation results to your stakeholders. This includes your staff, clients, funders, partners, and policymakers. You should use different methods and formats to present your evaluation results, such as reports, presentations, infographics, dashboards, or stories. You should also tailor your messages and recommendations to the needs and interests of your different audiences, and highlight the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges of your program.

4 Use your evaluation results to inform decisions and actions

The ultimate goal of evaluation is to use the results to inform decisions and actions that can improve your human service quality and accountability. This means that you should not only report your evaluation results, but also act on them. You should use your evaluation results to identify best practices, gaps, and areas for improvement in your program design, delivery, and management. You should also use your evaluation results to demonstrate your program's value, impact, and sustainability to your funders, partners, and policymakers.

5 Engage your stakeholders in the evaluation process

One of the best ways to ensure that your evaluation results are used effectively is to engage your stakeholders in the evaluation process. This means that you should involve your stakeholders in defining your evaluation purpose and questions, selecting your evaluation model and design, collecting and analyzing your data, communicating and disseminating your evaluation results, and using your evaluation results to inform decisions and actions. By engaging your stakeholders in the evaluation process, you can increase their ownership, trust, and commitment to your program and its improvement.

6 Monitor and evaluate your evaluation use

Finally, you should monitor and evaluate how you and your stakeholders use your evaluation results to improve your human service quality and accountability. You should track the changes and outcomes that result from your evaluation findings and recommendations, such as program modifications, policy changes, or funding decisions. You should also collect feedback from your stakeholders on how they perceive and value your evaluation process and results, and how they apply them to their work. By monitoring and evaluating your evaluation use, you can learn from your experience and improve your future evaluation practice.