Non-Profit Projects
Active Projects
Goodwill Denver Career Development and Community Employment
Evaluation Dates: January 2010 – On-going
The Evaluation Center is currently in the planning phase for these two additional departments within the Goodwill Denver organization. We are identifying key stakeholders, developing program and department logic models to identify measurable outcomes, crafting evaluation questions, and reviewing all current data collection.
Goodwill Denver Career Development provides individuals with opportunities to develop and sustain their employment potential. Through case management and advocacy, they connect individuals to community resources and educational opportunities. They also develop work and life skills by providing targeted educational experiences.
Goodwill Denver Community Employment serves adults with qualifying intellectual and development differences. They provide supported work activities aligned with individual development, training, and holistic case management. They develop career and life skills, self-understanding and confidence, and expressive and communication skills.
Goodwill Denver Youth Services
Evaluation Dates: January 2008 – On-going
Goodwill Denver Youth Services provides students with classroom instruction, one-to-one mentoring, and case management to support their ability to achieve their career goals, develop workforce readiness skills, and experience school success.
The evaluation of Goodwill Denver Youth Services seeks to address three questions:
- How does Goodwill participation impact students’ school success?
- How does Goodwill participation impact students’ career success attitudes and knowledge?
- What do key stakeholders think about the quality of Goodwill Youth Services?
- Under what circumstances are Youth Services programs most effective?
Evaluation methods utilized for the Goodwill Denver Youth Services evaluation include: Annual student pre and post-tests of attitudes and knowledge, analyses of student school outcomes, surveys and focus groups with school staff, volunteers, and mentors/mentees, surveys of post-secondary students of college student efficacy, and surveys of students and employers participating in summer programs. Also, as part of the evaluation of Goodwill Denver Youth Services, logic models were collaboratively developed with staff to describe the activities and outcomes of eleven specific programs as well as comprehensive logic model for the department.
Junior Achievement – Igniting the American Spirit (JA – Ignite)
Evaluation Dates: September 2010 – August 2013
The JA Igniting the American Spirit project will help teach low-income students in about financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurial education. JA curriculum will be provided to students in select schools in 5 districts. By the end of this 3-year project, 100% of K-12 students in Ignite schools will receive JA programming each year with the goal of increasing proficiencies in financial literacy and economics, improving graduation rates, and fostering positive attitudes toward education and work.
The evaluation of Ignite focuses on measuring program outcomes in 3 areas.
- Student attitudes – value placed on school, academic efficacy, academic and career aspirations, and knowledge of career options.
- Content knowledge – financial literacy and economics.
- Academic progression – attendance, school dropout and graduation rates.
Evaluation methods utilized for the evaluation of JA Ignite include surveys administered to a sample of Ignite classrooms every semester, as well as to comparison classrooms from other schools in the district. Additionally, academic achievement and behavioral data (attendance, graduation) are collected and analyzed at the end of each academic year.
Past Projects
Colorado Children’s Campaign – Colorado Small Schools Initiative (CSSI)
Evaluation Dates: 2009 – 2009
Summative evaluation of the Colorado Small School Initiative funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that was implemented by the Colorado Children’s Campaign 2001-2006.
Passage Works
Evaluation Dates: 2008 – 2008
Evaluation of a 9th grade transition program in Denver Public Schools
