Part One
Wednesday, October 20, 2004

An Evaluation Primer for Managers

Gail Barrington, PhD
Barrington Research Group, Inc.

This interactive one-day workshop is designed for managers in government and in the non-profit sector who need to understand program evaluation and plan evaluation projects. Key evaluation topics will be discussed and opportunities will be provided to strengthen your understanding, skills and practical application of program evaluation. Useful evaluation strategies, types, models, frameworks and standards will be discussed in your own context. Tips on working with an evaluation consultant will be provided. You will leave the workshop with a wealth of information and resources, as well as a renewed sense of the benefits evaluation can provide.

Topics will include:

• Purposes and Benefits of Evaluation
• Matching Program Stages and Evaluation Types
• Simplifying Logic Models
• Stakeholder Identification
• Ethics and Standards
• Working with an Evaluation Consultant
• Reflection and Application

Part Two
Thursday, October 21, 2004

Getting the Most Out of the RFP Process!

Marylee Stephenson, PhD
CS/RESORS Consulting, Ltd.

Join Marylee in analyzing real-life proposals that exemplify the good, the bad, and the ugly. Work in small groups to create RFPs that will work for your organization. Learn from the mini-lectures, the case studies, and from interacting with your fellow workshop participants. You will leave the workshop with the tools to put together effective RFPs that will ensure that your organization or department's evaluation needs are met - effectively, efficiently, and with a minimum of stress. If you are an evaluator, you too might find this workshop useful, for honing your skills in assessing and responding to RFPs. All levels of experience, from either side of the evaluation coin, are welcome!

Topics will include:

• The function and value of RFPs
• The GIGO principle (Garbage In/Garbage Out)
• Review of the evaluation function
• Basics of a range of evaluation methodologies
• What makes an RFP that will really work for you
• Critique and develop sample RFPs with your group
• Discuss challenges, successes and solutions of RFP development

Registrants will have a chance before the workshop to offer their own examples of program evaluation needs for possible selection as case studies.

Part Three
Friday, October 22, 2004

Consulting Skills for Evaluators

Gail Barrington, PhD
Barrington Research Group, Inc.

Back by popular demand, this interactive one-day workshop is designed for evaluators who are thinking about becoming independent consultants or who have recently begun their consulting practice. Participants will be encouraged to explore some critical consulting topics and learn if they have the skills and characteristics required to be a successful consultant. Marketing, proposal writing, and building client relations will be discussed. Important management topics such as setting fees, ethical practice, and legal structures will be discussed and many practical examples will be shared. Opportunities will be provided to work both independently and with colleagues to problem solve and to develop an agenda for action. At the end of the workshop, a round-up session will address other participant issues as time permits.

Please note, managers whose responsibilities include engaging independent consultants may find this workshop of value in their own work. The better you understand how your potential suppliers work, the better you can utilize their services effectively and efficiently.

Topics will include:

• Is consulting is an appropriate career choice for you?
• Breaking into the consulting market
• Writing proposals
• Setting fees
• Building and maintaining client relations
• Ethics and standards
• Managing your professional practice
• Planning for action

Gail Barrington, Ph.D. has conducted or managed over 100 program evaluation studies since she established her Calgary-based research and consulting company, Barrington Research Group, Inc., in 1985. She has conducted evaluation projects in such program areas as health promotion, post-secondary and adult education, professional education, knowledge transfer, and community development. She has designed evaluation frameworks, conducted qualitative and quantitative research, and managed projects from case studies to sector reviews. Her popular workshops on consulting and program evaluation skills have been presented to a wide variety of audiences from Yellowknife to Honolulu. She is a certified teacher and an adult educator and has taught at Grant MacEwan Community College and the University of Calgary. She currently instructs Health Systems and Services Evaluation, an online course in the Master of Health Studies program at Athabasca University. Gail is also a Certified Management Consultant.

Marylee Stephenson, Ph.D. is the founder and president of CS/RESORS Consulting, Ltd. in Vancouver. Marylee has completed over 200 program evaluations and is very experienced with the process of responding to RFPs. Her firm's evaluation projects have ranged from a few weeks to three years. They have been conducted for local, regional and national programs and for clients from government to the not-for-profit sectors. Program areas included employability enhancement, community health, corrections, justice, children and families, countering abuse and violence. Marylee has also led numerous other projects, including labour market analysis, organizational reviews, feasibility studies and needs assessments - most involving the RFP process. She has delivered training in program evaluation for many years including the Essential Skills Series for the Canadian Evaluation Society. Marylee's avocation as a standup comic ensures that her training has a light touch, helping to bring participants together in a creative, upbeat working environment.