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The Harvard Family Research Project separated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education to become the Global Family Research Project as of January 1, 2017. It is no longer affiliated with Harvard University.
Volume ll, Number 2, Fall 1996
Issue Topic: Family Resource Centers
Evaluations to Watch
In 1994, the Connecticut State Department of Education was awarded a three-year federal demonstration grant to support the activities of nine existing Family Resource Centers and fund the development of new Family Resource Centers. The previously existing Family Resource Centers had been in operation for varying lengths of time ranging from seven years to less than one year. Nine new sites were first funded in the spring of 1994.
In this article we briefly describe our evaluation design, activities conducted during the first year, and the challenges of evaluating Family Resource Centers.
Evaluation Design
The purpose of the evaluation is to address questions related to the effectiveness of the Family Resource Centers in meeting client needs and determining the degree to which the FRC's fully integrated service model promotes client participation based on strong agency collaborations. The evaluation design includes both process and impact assessments of the Family Resource Centers' programs and the effects on families, children, and the FRC as an institution. The evaluation is divided into three major areas:First Year Activities
The development of a close partnership arrangement with the Family Resource Centers has been integral to the evaluation approach. To facilitate this partnership, a two-day retreat was held early in the grant period with RMC staff and the FRC Administrators.Written surveys were used to obtain quantitative information and site visits conducted by RMC staff provided qualitative data. Together, the information gathered from these methods provide a clear picture of the variations in program configuration, service delivery, and participation. RMC developed a computerized management information system for FRC staff to facilitate local collection of quantitative data from participating families.
To facilitate the development of local site specific evaluation plans by Family Resource Center administrators, RMC provided evaluation training sessions.
As a result of our activities during the first year, we refined our evaluation model to better reflect how the Family Resource Centers operate and to meet the data collection needs of the evaluation.
The first year's evaluation activities resulted in a better understanding of the processes and strategies used by the various sites to weave the core components together with the intention of reaching the long terms goals of children's success in school and strengthening effective family management practices.
Challenges
A number of features of the Family Resource Centers and the processes of evaluation create challenges for evaluators:Susan L. Frankel, Ph.D.
Research Associate
RMC Research Corporation
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Portsmouth, NH 03801
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