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Developing & Evaluating an Outcomes-Focused SPIL

 PART 1: Goals & ObjectivesApril 21, 2010; 3:00-4:30 PM EST

PART 2: EvaluationApril 28, 2010; 3:00-4:30 PM EST

Presented by:Mike Hendricks, Ph.D.

SILC-NET Presents…

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Our 3-Step Approach

Step 1: Decide what you want to achieve– Mission, goals, objectives, partial logic model

Step 2: Turn generalizations into specifics– Measurable indicators, geographic scope, target

performance level in 2013, timetable for interim progress

Step 3: Develop your action strategy to achieve each Objective– Activities, lead organization, key partners,

resources

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Step 1: Decide what you want to achieveA. State your Mission - But whose mission? Your total IL program’s!

- “PWDs in our state live independently and participate fully in their community”

- Your Mission will be different, but… - Wording is important:

– Start with your target group– Follow with a present-tense verb phrase– End however makes sense

- But what about a Vision statement?

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B. Develop your Goals - Desired outcomes one level below your

Mission - Objectives explain “How will we achieve our

Mission?” - What outcomes do you need to achieve first,

in order to achieve your Mission? - Outcome “stepping stones” on the way to

your Mission - Put each Goal in a box, right below the Mission

Step 1, cont’d.

Partial Logic Model with Goals

IF we achieve these three Goals, THEN we can achieve our Mission

Your Goals will be different You may not even agree with these Goals Try this format, using the suggested wording

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C. Define your Objectives - Typically can’t achieve Goals in 3 years - Make progress, yes; fully achieve,

probably no - Need another level of outcomes below

Goals…. Objectives! - “How will we achieve our Goals?” - What outcomes do you need to achieve

first, in order to achieve your Goals?

Step 1, cont’d.

IF we achieve these four Objectives, THEN we can achieve this Goal

Your Objectives will be different – try not to have too many (37 in one SPIL)

[Occasionally, may need to include sub-Objectives]

Partial Logic Model with Objectives

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Step 2: Turn Generalities into Specifics

Objectives are the core, but they’re too general

“IL providers are well-trained” – What does this mean – exactly?

Use columns 1-5 of our SPIL Planning Table (see next slide)

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SPIL Planning Table

Specific Objective

Measurable Indicators

Geographic Scope

Three Year Performance Targets

Timeframes for Interim Progress

Objective 1

Objective 2

Objective 3

Objective 4

Objective …

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A. Develop measurable indicators for each objective

- What exactly should change in 3 years? - How exactly will we know if we’re being

successful on this Objective? - How exactly would two parallel universes

be different? - “# and % of front-line staff who have an

up-to-date Prime Provider certificate”

Step 2, cont’d.

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B. Specify the geographic scope for each Objective

– Statewide? Only certain areas?C. Set performance targets for each

Objective– What an indicator should “read” at the

end of the 3-year SPIL period– Art + science: other States, national

standards, expert recommendations, extrapolation of your own performance, etc.

Step 2, cont’d.

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D. Set timeframes for interim progress

– Please don’t wait 3 years to see how you’re doing

– Measure an indicator as often as makes sense (annual, 6 months, 3 months)

– Shoot for a trend that makes sense (steady, gathers steam, levels off)

Step 2, cont’d.

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Step 3: Develop your action strategy to achieve each Objective

Now you know exactly what you want to achieve – very specifically But how are you going to achieve each Objective? Use columns 6-10 of our SPIL Planning Table (see next slide)

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Example Full SPIL Planning Table

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A. Determine the Activities you need to conduct in order to achieve each Objective

- What you do -- “-ing” words such as training, surveying, disseminating, etc.

- One or more activities for each Objective - But this will vary for each Objective - Activities depend almost entirely on the

decisions you’ve made in Steps 1 and 2 - Put activities right below Objectives on your

logic model (IF-THEN)

Step 3, cont’d.

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Partial Logic Model with Activities

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B. Agree on one lead organization for achieving each Objective

Important for the buck to stop some ONE place

SILC, DSU(s), or CILs might usually be the lead

But maybe not always?

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C. Agree on key partners for each Objective

- Other organizations may need to be involved, too

– Important to plan from the beginning

D. Document the resources needed to achieve each Objective

– Generally in $$ terms– As closely as possible, but may not be

perfect

Step 3, cont’d.

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E. Clarify funding sources– Part B? Part C? Chapter 2 – Older Blind?

Step 3, cont’d.

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Evaluating Your SPIL

Required by RSA SPIL evaluation plans not the strongest Guiding principles:

– Evaluation is important– Focus on improvement, not reporting– Evaluations should vary among states– Certain aspects are probably essential– Evaluation is a collaborative activity

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Use Evaluation to Answer Three Key Questions

1. How well are we achieving our Objectives?

- You’ve already done lots of this work

- Create a SPIL Evaluation Plan– Objectives, measurable indicators,

sources, methods, responsible organizations, frequency of gathering outcome information

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Example SPIL Evaluation Plan

SPIL Objectives to be Evaluated Systematicall

y

Measurable Indicators for Each

Objective to be

Evaluated

Sources of Information Needed for

Each Indicator

Methods to Gather Each

Item of Information

Organizations

Responsible for

Gathering Each Item of Information

How Often Each Item of Information is Needed

Objective 1

Objective 2

Objective 3

Objective ….

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2. How satisfied are our consumers?

RSA specifically requires this questionThink of this as one of your Objectives

(e.g., “Consumers are satisfied with our services”)

Then add to SPIL Evaluation Plan

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3. How can we improve our State’s total IL program?

This is a different kind of questionDon’t assume this happens

automaticallyUse the “Three C’s”COMPILE your evaluation information

– describe what is– compare as appropriate– interpret the meaning– recommend improvements

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CONVENE key stakeholders– At least quarterly– Include all key stakeholders

CONSIDER the implications– What findings say is happening?– Do we believe it’s true?– What should we do about it?

Improve things, keep evaluating

Evaluating Your SPIL, cont’d.

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Click the link below now to complete an evaluation of today’s program found

https://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/12291g4408a

SILC-NET

Support for development of this Webinar/teleconference was provided by the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration under grant number H132B070003-09. No official endorsement of the Department of Education should be inferred. Permission is granted for duplication of any portion of this PowerPoint presentation, providing that the following credit is given to the project: Developed as part of the SILC-NET, a program of the IL NET, an ILRU/NCIL/APRIL National Training and Technical Assistance Project.

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