Two sets of hands together

The Evaluation Center

The Evaluation Center, and initiative of the EDIT Program, works to end health disparities among sexual, gender, and racial minorities. We believe that evaluation, when paired with responsive technical assistance, leads to greater data-based decision-making and subsequently stronger program outcomes.

Our team of evaluators, analysts, social workers, and researchers have experience working across HIV elimination, housing insecurity, behavioral health, and community investment among other areas.

Our evaluation and research framework (described below) drives a rapid review, using data to uncover opportunities for improved efficiency, effectiveness, and alignment with priorities.

The Evaluation Center aims to end health disparities among sexual, gender, and racial minorities. Read below for more information.

Our Framework

Systems-Informed Empowerment Evaluation (SIEE) is a theory-based, ecological framework that centers the priorities of community-stakeholders in the pursuit of social, economic, and environmental justice. SIEE embraces the idea that stories of our lives are whole concepts, and accordingly, must be understood holistically. As such, SIEE positions evaluation and technical assistance techniques as a set of processes that respond to the dynamic context of “the program.”

The SIEE framework tailors our evaluation and research projects to directly address the unique needs of each program, ensuring rapid and responsive support that is grounded in the real-world conditions affecting the program and its stakeholders. In this way, we craft partnership activities to meet the needs of program groups and build long-term capacity for data-driven decision-making.

Capabilities

development & Design

Needs Assessments
Literature Reviews
Logic Models
Intervention Development
Process EQM Plan
Implementation EQM Plan
Outcome EQM Plan
Intervention Manual

implementation

Project Management
Community Engagement
Recruitment & Retention
Interview Guides
Staff Training
Cultural Responsiveness
Dissemination

monitoring & evaluation

Key Performance Indicators
Information Management
Fidelity Assessments
Data Sourcing & Collection
Research Protocols
Qualitative & Quantitative Analysis
Gap Analysis

EDIT CARES


The EDIT Community Award for Research and Evaluation Services (EDIT CARES) supports community-based programming through short-term, focused evaluation projects at no cost to participating programs.

Through increasing the availability of university-based evaluation and technical assistance resources tailored to community-based programming, we aim to nurture community-based capabilities to lead in-house evaluation activities.

Programs with By us, For us leadership are encouraged to apply, with a particular emphasis on LGBTQ+ populations and racial/ethnic minorities. Both programs that are standalone and embedded within a larger organization are welcome to apply.

The EDIT CARES initiative provides the opportunity to work alongside an evaluator and analyst from the EDIT CARES team to strengthen evaluation infrastructures. Primary activities are summarized in a project plan aligned with your needs and priorities. By the end of the project (typically 3-6 months), you'll gain a suite of practical tools and insights to continually enhance your program's impact.

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The EDIT CARES initiative is particularly interested in supporting programs that address critical gaps in equity, health, and well-being, while confronting systemic barriers that marginalized communities face. We seek applicants who indicate a financial need for pro bono services, prioritizing smaller or emerging programs. The EDIT CARES initiative aims to foster a more equitable and inclusive society through cultivating the community-based capabilities around program evaluation.

At the end of the EDIT CARES project, these documents will typically be produced:
-- Context Map, illustrating your program-in-context
-- Evaluation Plan, detailing your evaluation questions and data collection approach
-- Data Collection Processes and Tools, centering your evaluation priorities
-- Evaluation Report, summarizing the findings, insights, and decisions related to the project

Highlighted Awardees

2018 - Chicago House and Social Service Agency2019 - Center on Health2020 - Black and Pink2021 - Sexpectations
2022 - Lighthouse Foundation