Through an approach known as partnership evaluation, CPE provides an alternative to traditional evaluation services through a commitment to work in partnership with organizations that strive to improve the quality of life of all people in Nevada and neighboring states. CPE focuses on three primary areas of specialization: health and wellness; education and youth development; and community and family services.
What is Partnership Evaluation?
Partnership evaluation represents a conscious shift away from evaluator as "expert" and acknowledges the effectiveness of the evaluation is based on the combined expertise of all key stakeholders, including program providers, agency representatives, and staff. Partnership evaluation is based on the relationship between the evaluators and stakeholders and their willingness to share the power and responsibility of addressing the issues. This shared and active approach to critical inquiry is used to find out what works, how it works, and what strategies will be sustainable.
CPE specializes in partnership evaluations that are dynamic, empowering, and participatory. Evaluators, clients, and stakeholders work together to assess the program and use information gleaned from the evaluation to inform decision-making and improve programs and systems. Partnership evaluation is a process in which participants have an opportunity to define the questions, receive informal and formal feedback, and make decisions about program processes and directions based on an exchange of information between the evaluators and program staff. Evaluators are respectful of the participants and their values as well as their need for specific information. A major component of CPE approach to evaluation is to increase the capacity and effectiveness of organizations that provide programs and services to students and their families.
Unlike more traditional research and evaluation designs, partnership evaluation designs are more evolutionary in nature—methodology and questions emerge as program processes evolve and as preliminary findings reveal new directions and program impacts not identified at the outset of the process. Our program evaluations blend traditional research methods and reporting with alternative methods and reporting strategies as dictated by program and client needs.
CPE has worked with school districts, non-profit organizations, and University faculty on a wide variety of projects and have provided services ranging from technical assistance to full-scale evaluations, all with the goal of improving the clients' and participants' lives and communities.
CPE has extensive experience in the preparation, presentation, and dissemination of audience-appropriate reports in numerous formats, such as one-page listings of key findings, evaluation bulletins, executive summaries, and complex technical research reports. Dissemination of reports can be done electronically and in hard copy, encompassing overall and site specific reporting for programs, prescribed reporting as specified by project funders, and technical reporting utilized in the production of publications for professional journals. Presentations range from informal provision of information to groups of key stakeholders to formal presentations at the local, regional and statewide level to entities such as school boards, executive boards and councils, and the state legislature.