The opportunities and challenges of multi-site evaluations: lessons from the jail diversion and trauma recovery national cross-site evaluation.
Multi-site evaluations, particularly of federally funded service programs, pose a special set of challenges for program evaluation. Not only are there contextual differences related to project location, there are often relatively few programmatic requirements, which results in variations in program models, target populations and services. The Jail Diversion and Trauma Recovery-Priority to Veterans (JDTR) National Cross-Site Evaluation was tasked with conducting a multi-site evaluation of thirteen grantee programs that varied along multiple domains. This article describes the use of a mixed methods evaluation design to understand the jail diversion programs and client outcomes for veterans with trauma, mental health and/or substance use problems. We discuss the challenges encountered in evaluating diverse programs, the benefits of the evaluation in the face of these challenges, and offer lessons learned for other evaluators undertaking this type of evaluation.
Advocates for Human Potential, Inc, 41 State Street, Suite 500, Albany, NY 12207, USA. Electronic address: kstainbrook@ahpnet.com.
Kristin
K
Stainbrook
Advocates for Human Potential, Inc, 41 State Street, Suite 500, Albany, NY 12207, USA. Electronic address: dpenney@ahpnet.com.
Darby
D
Penney
Advocates for Human Potential, Inc, 41 State Street, Suite 500, Albany, NY 12207, USA. Electronic address: lelwyn@ahpnet.com.
Laura
L
Elwyn
D000328:Adult; D003416:Criminal Law; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group; D011330:Prisons; D016730:Program Development; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
Federal grants; Jail diversion; Multi-method evaluations; Multi-site evaluations; Veterans