Living Well participants complete surveys before starting the workshop, immediately following the workshop, and three months after the program ends. These data reflect the program’s cost-effectiveness in terms of participants’ health care expenses, and its efficacy in reducing the prevalence of participants’ secondary conditions and improving their overall health status.
Survey questions include demographic information, disability information, prevalence of secondary conditions, health care utilization, health care expenses, general income data, health status, perceived limitations, and lifestyle traits. Over 600 Living Well participants have completed the Living Well workshop surveys. They report a 10% decline in spending for medical services and a statistically significant reduction in the prevalence and/or severity of secondary conditions. Systematic evaluation is a vital program component often required by funding agencies. Evaluation helps determine a program’s effectiveness in terms of its stated outcomes, and provides a framework for the project’s future support. Many grant-funded programs require formal evaluation as a component of project implementation. If your program lacks the expertise and resources to conduct program evaluation, we can provide several evaluation options.
Standard Living Well Program Evaluation uses established survey questions to measure the program’s effectiveness. We can use either true experimental of quasi-experimental designs to collect these measures.
Custom Program Evaluation allows your program to evaluate specific workshop goals. Your staff will collaborate with research staff of the Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities at The University of Montana to develop experimental design and outcome measures. Custom Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation can help you evaluate program cost outcomes.
We offer a variety of evaluation tools and resources to help you decide what your program needs. Use these resources as–is or to help customize your program evaluations.
If you are interested in contracting for Program Evaluation services, please contact Craig Ravesloot at cravesloot@ruralinstitute.umt.edu or call (406) 243-2992.