Health Canada First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care (FNI HCC) Program - Evaluation Guide

The Definition of Evaluation

This section discusses what an evaluation is and what it is not.        

Program Evaluations

A program evaluation involves gathering information about a program in order to make decisions about the program.

You may hear references to "goal-based evaluations", "process-based evaluations", "outcomes-based evaluations" or "other type of evaluations". The name or type of evaluation is less important. What is important is that you get the information needed in order to determine what is working well and what areas could be changed for improvement.

What a Program Evaluation SHOULD BE

• A chance to find out what is working and what is not;
• A chance to make changes to a program;
• Useful, practical, and relevant.

What a Program Evaluation SHOULD NOT BE

• An opportunity to point fingers or lay blame;
• An activity that produces fear that a program will be reduced or eliminated;
• A one time activity