Program Evaluation

TRX provides academic-level program evaluation, community-based research, and strategic planning for community organizations in primary care, behavioral health, HIV/AIDS services, LGBTQ+ programs, anti-violence programs, legal access, and services for persons experiencing homelessness. Our evaluation practice is committed to principles of “utilization-focused evaluation”[1] and “community-based participatory research (CBPR),[2] which together bring into our work the lived experience of those we serve, with an emphasis on helping providers and consumers alike address issues they identify as important.

TRX’s evaluation services cover the continuum of evaluation activities, including tracking and monitoring, process evaluation, outcomes evaluation, impact, cost analysis, sustainability, and quality improvement. We use mixed-methods approaches that include observation, individual interviews, focus groups, surveys, and analysis program and financial data.

Notes

[1] Patton, MQ. Utilization-Focused Evaluation, 2nd ed. Beverly Hills: Sage, 1986.

[2] Minkler M, Garcia AP, Rubin V, Wallerstein N. Community-Based Participatory Research: A Strategy for Building Healthy Communities and Promoting Health through Policy Change. University of California, 2012.

Health Informatics and Data Solutions

Our clients use data for multiple purposes, including to track program effectiveness, monitor deliverables, manage grants, control billing, administer programs, implement quality assurance and improvement, develop funding prospects, and make decisions about the strategic direction of the agency. TRX has the capacity to step in at any point in this process to help our clients build and implement effective data solutions for their needs.

TRX helps our clients identify their data needs and match them with effective electronic health record platforms (EHRs) and data base solutions. We can implement EHRs and build data collection tools that can be stand-alone platforms or integrated databases that serve multiple functions.

TRX builds these systems for clients and trains their staff so that evaluation becomes a sustainable and self-reinforcing part of agency work.

Community-based Research

TRX has extensive experience with community-based research. We provide academic-level rigor with a history of community engagement and advocacy. Our research projects typically use designs rooted in “community-based participatory research” (CBPR), and participatory- and utilization-focused evaluation. Our goal is not only to develop data that can inform communities but also to develop sustainable processes that empower community-based organizations. Our work places the lived experiences of communities into public discourse and policy advocacy.

We work on specific projects for organizations or jurisdictions that have internal, strategic purposes, as well as public-facing projects meant for dissemination at multiple levels, including peer-reviewed publication and conference presentation. We prepare our reports for dissemination by our clients.

Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study

TRX can perform needs assessments and feasibility studies for organizations and jurisdictions. Our experience includes small and large community-based organizations, state-level population health assessment, and national programming. We are adept at small scale processes based on observation, document review, financial analysis, interviews, and focus groups, as well as large-scale application of these methods along with survey development and implementation. TRX utilizes a Qualtrics-powered data platform for survey data collection and have a full-time dedicated staff member managing the platform and the analysis of data we collect. For quantitative analysis, we utilize Stata SE v17 and R Statistical Package. For qualitative and mixed-methods analysis, we utilize Dedoose.com, a mixed-methods platform created by researchers with the University of California, Los Angeles.  

Strategic Development and Grant Writing

TRX helps our clients grow their capacities and programs through strategic development and grant writing. When we write grants, it is part of a larger process of work with our clients that seeks to enhance their ability to fulfill their missions. When we write grants, we develop programs. When we evaluate programs, we support the implementation of a broader vision.

TRX provides strategic development services that can be tailored to an organization’s needs and include elements of agency evaluation, cost evaluation, program assessment, SWOT exercises, mission assessment and development, and deep planning.

Survey Implementation

TRX can implement large- and small-scale survey projects, including: internal organizational research, consumer feedback surveys, program evaluation and implementation surveys, community needs assessment, and public surveys. TRX works at every level of the survey process: development, formative research, testing, piloting, implementing, analyzing, and reporting the results in appropriate venues. We draw upon our own library of survey questions, utilize validated scales and indexes when possible, and develop home-grown and/or customized scales and questions as needed.

TRX utilizes a Qualtrics-powered data platform for survey data collection and have a full-time dedicated staff member managing the platform and the analysis of data we collect. For quantitative analysis, we utilize Stata SE v17 and R Statistical Package. For qualitative and mixed-methods analysis, we utilize Dedoose.com, a mixed-methods platform created by researchers with the University of California, Los Angeles.