Improving Parent Center Outcomes
and Showing Our Impact
Gregory Knollman, OSEP
Courtney Salzer, WI FACETS
Carmen Sánchez, OSEP
Debi Tucker, GA P2P
Scaffold Your Knowledge
EXAMPLE: Facilitation
KNOW
THINK I KNOW
WANT TO KNOW
It is hard work
Paraphrasing is important
What some of the essential
facilitations skills are?
There is a skill set needed
Some people are more
natural at it
How do I better develop
these skills?
You have to know when to
talk and when to listen
Groups won’t function
without effective
facilitation
How can I evaluate my
effectiveness as a
facilitator?
Scaffold Your Knowledge
TOPIC: Measuring Parent Center Outcomes
KNOW
THINK I KNOW
WANT TO KNOW
Session Outcomes
Participants will learn about
– OSEP expectations about outcomes
– How parent centers can realistically show
outcomes
– Tips and strategies to measure outcomes
Truth or Myth?
OSEP has always expected proof that services
led to outcomes.
Outcome Defined
According to Merriam Webster…
An outcome is something that happens as
a result of an activity or process.
Truth or Myth?
You need to prove “causation” between your
services and outcomes.
Proxy Data and Outcomes
Can you tie one thing to another?
Example 1:
Service – Providing self advocacy training
for transition age youth with disabilities.
Desired Outcome – Improved
postsecondary outcomes for students.
Proxy Data and Outcomes
Consider what things can you measure that are
a reasonable proxy for your outcome?
Example 2:
Desired Outcome – Parents are more
confident participants in the IEP process?
What factors increase confidence?
Truth or Myth?
Outputs and activities don’t matter much
anymore.
Logic Models and Outcomes
What would a logic model for one service only
look like?
For each “category” of services, what is the
reason you do those services OR what is the
result you are hoping for?
Logic Model Outline
Truth or Myth?
Evaluation is a one-time event done for
reporting purposes.
Truth or Myth?
Meaningful evaluation methods are expensive
and elaborate.
Resources
• Center to Improve Project Performance
– www.cippsite.org
– All parent centers should have a password to
access resources
Let’s Traffic Light the Session
• Red Light: I’m going to STOP doing…
• Yellow Light: I’m going to CONTINUE doing…
• Green Light: I’m going to START doing…
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Thank You!