A study of outcomes determination strategy in non-profit health and welfare programs evaluation

This article considers the findings of a survey of evaluators practising in Australian health and welfare organisations to learn about strategy in outcomes evaluation design. Outcomes evaluation is identified as an opportunity for health and welfare programs to learn if and how different practice interventions are contributing to the achievement of desired outcomes, for the purpose of building an evidence base for advancing the wellbeing of people. Results indicate that current strategy to determine client outcomes in these sectors is typified by reliance on program logic models and funding specifications, with limited translation of best practice evidence or client wellbeing preferences. We suggest that clarity of purpose is an important consideration for non-profit programs embarking on evaluation design, bringing attention to the need for skill development and better resourcing of non-profit organisations to support the production of evaluations capable of contributing to best practice evidence.