Scenario Three

At Ruth's first meeting with Grandview personnel, she noted that not all the staff were in attendance, but there were representatives from each departmentproject coordinator, program staff, nursing staff, and administrative staff. The administrator who had organized the meeting, Mike Ramirez, opened the proceedings and explained that although almost everyone would have a role to play in the gardening program, not all staff could attend each meeting during the work day. Still, each of the stakeholder groups would be represented. Someone would take notes and report to personnel who had not attended. One staff member immediately asked whether a resident might be a logical addition as another stakeholder representative. After a brief discussion, the group decided to ask two residents to join them. This discussion made other staff members consider whether the program would affect the grounds crew and maintenance personnel, and if so, how. Again, the organizing committee realized that they needed to include another stakeholder group. These were, after all, people who would inherit a considerable amount of work. In addition, they would be able to contribute their knowledge of realistic costs gained from their steady ordering and maintenance of garden supplies. Once the makeup of the committee was set, the group could begin to address the grant: mission, goals, staff involvement, activities, cost, and evaluation plan. At this point, a nursing staff person said, "Well, at least we don't have to worry about the evaluation question right now. That comes last." Luis, of program staff, answered that he wanted to suggest they look at the evaluation piece immediately. He had just been through the evaluation process with the program staff, and the one thing they all agreed on was that they would never plan a program again without giving thoughtearly onto evaluation. It seems that when the administration asked just how effective their program had been, staff had no really substantive answer. Now the committee wanted to know how the new program could be handled differently. Much discussion ensued, to the point that the meeting began to run long. Mike finally said, "What do you think about inviting an evaluation specialist from the university to advise us at our next meeting?" The committee quickly agreed and the meeting adjourned.

After reading Chapter 3, reflect on Scenario 3 and apply the term "levels of evaluation" to the scenario.