Member Nicole
MemberForum Replies Created
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Evaluation is like a key, because it unlocks the information necessary to fill out the gaps of your improvement process. Without that critical piece of evidence obtained through evaluation we are not able to understand the needs we need to address or the changes we need to make in order to deliver a successful program.
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The metaphors provided already are great!
One thought I had was that evaluations are like adventurous roadmaps. It helps to guide next steps, to take detours or to rewrite the direction as required. All roads taken have value, even if it was to learn that ‘we don’t want to go that way again.’ I added the descriptor ‘adventurous’ to encompass a ‘preferred’ destination/outcomes that are fluid, flexible and ready to respond differently as needed or as the data indicates.
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Great document – thank you
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Unfortunately, this link is not valid
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Everyone has made some really solid suggestions regarding good practices. I think that transparency about how and who was consulted in developing the evaluation has value as well. Being clear about the purpose, the rationale and what the intention for the data is. Confirm that the data will be available for sharing. All of these should of course be in ‘youth speak’, not in a diminuitive way but developmentally appropriate. Being prepared to address any questions is critical too, especially for youth who may have a higher level of interest.
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– Ensure that all the information is provided
– Explain privacy/confidentiality as applicable
– Explain the ability to withdraw from the evaluation program
– Explain the possible benefits and consequences of participating
– Ensure that if youth are too young to make an informed decision for themselves, that a guardian is involved
– Be ready to answer questions
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I believe that the real work begins from home. Parents sharing the rich and uniqueness of their culture and embracing their heritage and everything that makes them who they are; will inevitably impact their children to also embrace their blackness and all that it encompass.
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TONIGHT in Toronto: commemorate World AIDS Day at An Evening of Storytelling, hosted by Casey House and Women’s Health in Women’s Hands at the Toronto Reference Library. FREE tickets are still available, so be sure to get yours now!
Storytellers include HIV Advocate Muluba Habanyama and Community Health Leader (and former YouthREX team member!) Sané Dube. ❤
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December 1st is World AIDS Day.
Last month, YouthREX’s Princess Asiedu examined the effects of stigma on the mental health of youth living with and affected by HIV. She also explored themes shared by activist Mercy Shibemba during her keynote at our youth work teach-in on Black youth mental health; Mercy is an award-winning youth activist from the UK who uses her story of growing up with HIV to educate, challenge stigma, and inspire.
Read Princess’s reflections on REX Blog and be sure to watch Mercy’s presentation on our Knowledge Hub.
I also encourage you to revisit our webinar from February 2019, Supporting Youth Living With & Affected by HIV, and the practices we shared in our Research to Practice Report of the same name, in partnership with The Teresa Group.
We honour the work of young people living with HIV and those who work alongside them, today and everyday. ❤
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Yesterday I had the privilege of attending a Youth Rex presentation <strong style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Hacking Deficit Thinking
<strong style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Reframing Strength-Based <strong style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Practices and Equity in Schools
A Youth Work Teach-In Hacking Deficit Thinking
Reframing Strength-Based
Practices and Equity in Schools and it was AMAZING!! It might have been in part that I had just had a long conversation with colleagues about the tone and mood in schools right now but it hit the mark for reframing the issues and put a fresh, positive and realistic take to approaching and supporting our students.One of the quotes that resonated with me from one of the presenter’s Dr. Bryon McClure was how the assumptions we hold create barriers for understanding our students. I can’t quite quote it directly and would sincerely encourage others to look for the opportunity to hear him speak.
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Hi, Sheila! This is a great question to ask. I’ll share one barrier that I’ve encountered as someone who helps sports organizations with their evaluations. Some of the groups I’ve worked with have specific outcomes they want to measure through their programs, but there is no sport-specific evaluation tool (e.g., survey) available for them to use. They often have to take validated tools from other fields (e.g., education) and try to change some of the questions to be sport-focused. Or, they create their own! This can be a barrier at times because they don’t always know if the tools they edited/created are measuring what they think are measuring. As we know, validity is important for evaluation!
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Denial that anti-black racism exists remains a problem. It must be acknowledged to lead to meaningful change.
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I agree! the beginning to solving any problem, is first acknowledging that there is a problem.
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Given program evaluation is an on-going, dynamic process, it allows us to pause and rework on evaluation methods as we go. For example, a qualitative analysis of a focus group might inform us that there are certain questions that might not have worked as we had anticipated. Consequently, measures can be taken to reformulate/rewrite the evaluation questions for the next rounds of feedback sessions in order to better improve the programming of the given youth program.
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Absolutely, Lulu! And you bring up an excellent point here- evaluating our programs can simultaneously allow us to “evaluate our evaluations”. Are we asking the right questions? Are we using the right methods? Sometimes an unexpected learning curve can happen that enables us to rework evaluation components for the future!
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Thank you for sharing!
There are many systemic and systematic barriers to the development of Black youth in Ontario. These barriers will not be solved overnight, but below is a link to the Doing Right Together for Black Youth Report, which summarizes the experiences and knowledge of over 1500 community members and guided the creation of the Ontario Black Youth Action Plan.
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In addition to the structural oppression that has been intentional built to maintain white privilege, I also feel that the onus has been placed on Black folx to be the ones to address anti-Black racism in Ontario. Until as a community we acknowledge and commit to addressing this, the systems will maintain the outcomes they were designed to achieve.
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I really appreciated Dr. Wade’s presentation on critical self-reflection especially the focus on the action portion of ongoing reflection. That is something I am going to be mindful of as I move forward with serving Black youth. Not just making time for reflection and examining my practice but also identifying what repairs, learnings and changes I need to make in response to those inevitable missteps.
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Vanessa and Michaelene, I 100% agree. This information wasn’t shared in elementary or high school, outside of highlighting the positives of the underground railroad. Even as an adult, without this course, I would continue to be ignorant of important historical and current information that every Canadian NEEDS to be aware of. My eyes have been opened wider to ABR in our education system (specifically) as a result of this information. I work in the education system supporting the MH of students and I am so grateful to now have this lens to work from. I recognize and own my gaps in understanding and know that this learning is ongoing.
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The point about the right to withdraw is so important
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Fantastic point about creating a safe, trusting environment. This is foundational not only for boosting incentive to participate, but for youth to feel comfortable sharing open, honest feedback as well.
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Agreed! Denial and lack of action are great contributors to this problem.
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Yes! While we’d love all of our youth to participate in evaluation, we want to make it clear that participation is not mandatory.
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Good point, Daniel. I’d argue that a lot of adults feel this around sharing feedback too!
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All excellent points, Marco!
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This is also a great one. Thanks, TP! You’re absolutely right- evaluation plans give us an idea of the outcomes we want to see from a program, but there is no guarantee that those outcomes will be achieved.
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Love this analogy, Stephanie. I like your inclusion of roadblocks- it shows that you understand how evaluation is not always “perfect”. Roadblocks are a natural part of the evaluation process and don’t deter us from getting to our destination!
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This is a “sweet”metaphor, Andrew! Thanks for sharing. If only all evaluations actually included cake!
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That’s such a great point, Khadijah!
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I agree, listening is critical. As a mental health professional I think I am in a position to help others within the organization understand the need to do this as well. Sometimes people within the organization jump to being solution focused before truly understanding what is happening.
