An empowerment evaluation model for sexual assault programs: empirical evidence of effectiveness.
Using an empowerment evaluation approach, the Sexual Assault and Rape Prevention (SARP) Evaluation Project brought together university researchers, public health evaluators, state funders, and program staff to provide evaluation training and consultation to all state-funded rape prevention and victim services programs in Michigan. In this paper, the specific activities of the SARP project are described, and process and outcome data are presented that address the effectiveness of this empowerment evaluation approach. Based on subjective reports from program staff and objective data obtained from state funders, results suggest that this evaluation model was successful in helping 90% of the prevention programs and 75% of the victim services programs successfully develop and launch program evaluations. One-year follow-up data indicate that 90% of the programs had sustained their evaluation efforts after the formal work of the SARP project had ended.
Campbell
Rebecca
R
Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1116, USA. rmc@msu.edu
Dorey
Heather
H
Naegeli
Monika
M
Grubstein
Lori K
LK
Bennett
Kelly K
KK
Bonter
Freya
F
Smith
Patricia K
PK
Grzywacz
Jessica
J
Baker
Patsy K
PK
Davidson
William S
WS
D019548:Crime Victims; D036262:Empirical Research; D006801:Humans; D008824:Michigan; D011209:Power, Psychological; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011902:Rape / Q000517:prevention & control; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012944:Social Support; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control*