Program Evaluation Design - Essay Example

Program Evaluation Design Introduction of the Organization: This evaluative design study intends to focus on the non profit organization, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PANCAN). It was founded in 1999 as a patient based advocacy organization, 501(c) (3) to fight pancreatic cancer (www.pancan.org). The mission of this organization is to create a network of dedicated people who can involve in advance research so as to support and provide hope for pancreatic cancer patients. The vision of the pancreatic cancer action network is to double the pancreatic cancer survival rate by 2020. This organization plans to convert it’s mission and vision into reality by increasing the awareness about pancreatic cancer, concentrating on advanced research, obtaining sustained support from government, supporting the patients with pancreatic cancers and their families. The organization propagates the feel that everyone should fight and end pancreatic cancer. This program evaluation design follows a descriptive study design. According to an article Project Star (2006), descriptive study design enables to find out whether the chosen program is operating as planned, it provides feedback about the program implementation and progress, find out whether the program is producing the desired output, find out whether the goals and objectives have been achieved. Hence this report intends to adopt descriptive evaluation design to evaluate the community outreach program of the chosen non profit organization. Stakeholders: The stakeholders responsible for the success of this organization are the volunteers, healthcare professionals, researchers, survivors and donors. By their active involvement, these people are creating a difference in the community of pancreatic cancer. According to the official website of this organization, “the majority of cancer research is paid for by the federal government and that … U.S. Senators and Representatives get to decide how much is spent each year” (www.pancan.org). The major corporate stakeholders are Z Gallerie, Tempur Pedic and Hockey. Apart from these there are 75 other affiliates who assist in the initiatives of the organization and it’s community outreach program. The organization also undertakes efforts to increase federal research funding through advocacy efforts in National Cancer Institute and in Washington. Program for Evaluation: The community outreach program has been the most active program of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network organization. According to an article in the official website, “The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network started as a small volunteer effort to increase awareness and move people to take action against pancreatic cancer. In fact, it remains our driving force today. We support an army of volunteers across the country who host local events, attend health fairs, distribute patient information to hospitals and doctors’ offices, contact the media, and alert their elected officials about the urgent need for scientific progress in the area of pancreatic cancer research.” (http://www.pancan.org/section_get_involved/index.php). Thus the goals and mission of the organization are more fulfilled by this community outreach program. Data collection tool: This program evaluation has been designed as a descriptive evaluative study and has collected data mainly from the electronic sources like journals and article from the official website of the organization, the Annual Report of the organization, the press releases of the organization and related web articles. The data collection tool concentrates on the qualitative and quantitative data of the chosen program and it follows the “7 measures of success” pattern. Evaluation design: As this evaluation follows a descriptive design, the organization’s key strengths, weaknesses and challenges are to be described based on the Seven Measures of Success” (http://www.asaecenter.org/Resources/7measures.cfm ). 1.Customer Service Culture : The community outreach program and the Patient and Liaison Services (PALS) program of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network are comprehensive services that provide free information to the patients of pancreatic cancer and their families. It also guides the health care personnel in their service. The individuals who contact PANCAN are directed to committed and trained PALS associates who give information about symptoms, treatment options, diagnosis, clinical trials and specific diet. Based on the official information in the annual report, “Nearly 5,000 individuals and families called or emailed the PALS program for pancreatic cancer education, resources, information and support. Additionally, more than 3,000 educational packets were ordered online by individuals seeking information about the disease.” (Annual Report, 2011). 2. Alignment of Products and Services with mission: As said earlier, the mission of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is to double the pancreatic cancer survival rate by 2020. To accomplish this, the organization has started a community for pancreatic cancer research. This community is provided with tools to share resources and the latest research discoveries in the field of pancreatic cancer. The organization supports this community by funded research programs that encourage young brilliant scientists to study pancreatic cancer, attract innovative ideas in clinical aspects. These research investigators are also encouraged to collaborate in knowledge sharing, mentorship, participating in Pancreatic Cancer Advocacy day, professional development activities in the organization and attend conferences and scientific reviews. 3. Data-Driven Strategies: The major challenges in the mission of pancreatic cancer fighting seem to be the lack of awareness among people, raising funds for research, providing proper information to patients and healthcare givers. The PANCAN accomplishes these challenges “in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach and advocacy for a cure.” (http://www.pancan.org/section_about/mission_goals/index.php). The organization “raises money for direct private funding of research—and advocates for more aggressive federal research funding of medical breakthroughs in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.” (http://www.pancan.org/section_about/mission_goals/index.php) . Moreover the organization provides a sense of hope through community initiatives so that no one feels lonely in fighting pancreatic cancer. 4. Dialogue and Engagement: The Pancreatic Cancer Action network achieves it’s goals with help of it’s volunteers. The volunteer group is the main strength of the PANCAN organization. Though the major activity of the volunteers is Community outreach, where they communicate with the patients and their families, they also involve in various other activities that include arranging fund raising events, become an advocate to canvas for corporate funding, participate in a local event to promote the ideas of Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, communicate locally to propagate the ideas of PANCAN, be a part of the press to communicate to the media. Under community outreach, “The organization is powered by 64 volunteer affiliates, many of which have hundreds of members. In every affiliate, five of the members serve in these core volunteer leadership roles: Affiliate Coordinator, Event Coordinator, Media Representative, Education and Outreach Coordinator, Advocacy Coordinator.” (Annual Report, 2011). 5. CEO as a Broker of Ideas: The President and CEO Julie Freshman, JD, MBA, of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PANCAN), has diversified the activities of the organization into Community outreach, Research, Government Affairs & Advocacy, Patient and Liaisons services, donor and corporate relations. (http://www.pancan.org/section_about/programs_services/index.php). The CEO directs the PANCAN through the National Board of Directors, a Medical Advisory Board, a Scientific Advisory Board and the staff members and volunteers. The CEO has initiated the Purple Stride walk at various cities with the notion towards Pancreatic cancer – know it, fight it , end it. (www.purplestride.org) 6. Organizational Adaptability: This non profit organization has adapted itself self reliantly with a huge number of volunteers, scientific researchers, survivor turned volunteers, corporate and government funding agencies. The structuring of the organization into research group, medical advisory group, national board of directors, volunteers group has enabled the systematic functioning of the organization. 7. Alliance Building: According to information from the official website of the organization, “The federal government is the largest funder of cancer research through the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).”http://www.pancan.org/section_research/government_affairs/index.php). Apart from this, the PANCAN also has alliance with corporate like Tempur Pedic, Z Gallerie. Moreover the organization has open alliance with any committed donors who are acknowledged in the annual report of the organization. Evidence in support of the organization’s strengths and weaknesses: The major evidence for the strength of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the Pancreatic Action Research & Education Act (S. 362/ H.R. 733). The Annual report says that the financial income of the organization has been increasing and has been quoted as 13.0 Millions USD during the year 2011. The success stories of survivors act as qualitative evidence for the success of the organization. The community outreach program has been organizing the TEAMHOPE, awareness campaigns, outreach to healthcare professionals, advocacy. The main weakness of the organization is that the lack of international relationship. The organization has little evidence that it is known internationally. Strategy for consensus among stakeholders: As the major stakeholders are the volunteers in the organization, they need to be more active in diverse programs that create more international awareness of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. An international board of directors can be framed to coordinate and propagate the ideas to other countries too. Also the major hindrance in fighting cancer has been the little knowledge among people about the disease and lack of sufficient funding for research. With the present day technological advancement, these hindrances can be overcome by campaigning and advertising through Internet. Though there is official website, an advertising strategy could be adopted for international renounce of this organization. This strategy would also improve the fund raising process and more resource or knowledge sharing about pancreatic cancer. Cover letter: This descriptive program evaluation study has been designed for the community outreach program of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network organization. It is based on the 7 measures of success for an organization. The data collection is from official websites and other electronic journals. After evaluation the evidences for the strength and weakness for the organization have been identified and based on these, a strategy for consensus among stakeholders has been derived. References “7 Measures of Success Implementation Guide and Assessment Tool”, ASAE, The Centre for Association Leadership, http://www.asaecenter.org/Resources/7measures.cfm, retrieved 28th June 2012. “Annual Report”, (2011), Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Advance Research. Support Patients. Create Hope, http://www.pancan.org/section_about/news_press_center/publications.php , retrieved 28th June 2012. Get Involved - Community Outreach, http://www.pancan.org/section_get_involved/index.php retrieved 28th June 2012 Government Affairs, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Advance Research. Support Patients. Create Hope, http://www.pancan.org/section_research/government_affairs/index.php , retrieved 28th June 2012. “Overview”, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Advance Research. Support Patients. Create Hope. www.pancan.org retrieved 28th June 2012. Project STAR , (2006), “Study Designs for Program Evaluation”, JBS International, Inc. www.nationalserviceresources.org REV 6/13/2006 A- EV037 retrieved 28th June 2012. Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Advance Research. Support Patients. Create Hope http://www.pancan.org/section_about/mission_goals/index.php , retrieved 28th June 2012. “ Pancreatic Cancer: know it, fight it , end it.”, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Advance Research. Support Patients. Create Hope www.purplestride.org , retrieved 28th June 2012. Read More