Below is a sample case showing how Evaluation Works helps organizations improve performance results and meet strategic goals.
Case Study Two
Situation: A bi-state primary care association for federally-supported community health clinics (CHCs) experienced a demand for more diversified training and technical assistance (TA) for its members due to an expansion of clinics in their region. In addition to diversification demands, the local political climate was also challenged by increased demands for utility and efficiency amidst ongoing resource constraints. To address the critical issue of “doing more with less”, the Board of Directors commissioned an evaluation consultant to help measure the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the association’s suite of partnership and TA activities.
Solution: The key objective of this consulting engagement was to design and deliver an outcome-based service model to ensure that the association’s training and TA services were appropriately addressing member needs, with a primary focus on those services geared towards assuring the sustainability of member clinics. To that end, a business-critical, high volume TA training program was selected by stakeholders as a pilot for introducing and implementing an outcome-based service approach.
Results: Findings from the pilot implementation suggest that project objectives and desired results were successfully achieved. For example, pilot participants reported significant improvement in several measures of clinic effectiveness due to their use of cost control, cost conversion tools and resources gained from training. Operational outcomes positively influenced by participants’ collective use of training tools included: improved service delivery; improved ability to meet grant requirements; improved quality of patient satisfaction; and improved ability to meet Health Center requirements… thus improving their sustainability potential. Stakeholders were particularly pleased with results showing that 100 percent of participants perceived the pilot to be a good investment for the association and its members.
Implications for Grant Management: This case example shows how an outcome-based service model can be used to help grant managers focus on those programs or services that provide the most value returned for resources invested. Effective utilization of outcome-based processes can also help grant managers cultivate and maintain credible relationships with funders, who – in a competitive funding climate — are more likely to support programs that have proven success in achieving results and making a demonstrable impact with the clients and communities they serve.