It needs to be an ongoing process throughout the project so that decisions can be made in a timely manner. One agency executive said that if the partners had known in the sixth month what came out in the thirty-sixth month through evaluation, they would have done things very differently. While no two collaborations are going to require the same evaluation mechanisms, some basic questions need to be asked before undertaking an evaluation program. Once these questions are answered, planning for the evaluation can be undertaken. Collaborative efforts require rigorous evaluation before any possibilities are explored, discussions undertaken, and agreements made or entered into.
Many evaluations utilize the logic model.
It provides a baseline of expectations against which the realities of the program can be measured. Context - the environmental factors leading to consideration of collaboration as a method of maintaining services, such as rising costs, a more restrictive funding atmosphere, changes in the populations needing service, etc. This generally refers to conditions outside the control of any agency or service area. Inputs - the resources brought to the collaborative, including commitment to maintain services, staff and board resources and the existing administrative structures. This category refers to those assets which the agencies bring to the collaborative effort.