Program Evaluation

Counselors have shared commitment and responsibility to the clients they work with, the agencies they work for, and the general public. Modern demands for accountability and evidence-informed practice means that counselors will increasingly be expected to participate in program evaluation as a regular part of their professional practice. Program evaluation is a systematic investigation conducted to gather the information that can be used to help inform an organization’s decision making or continuous improvement. The evaluation process involves a sequence of steps or cycles meant to provide feedback on the performance of groups, services, interventions, and programs within a certain context. This chapter uncovers the purpose and meaning of program evaluation within counseling settings, describing common models, steps in the process, influencing factors, values-based principles, and additional training resources. Real-world examples are included to illustrate concepts, and brief activities are offered to stimulate self-reflection or group processing. The authors encourage readers to view program evaluation through a critical lens concerning inclusiveness, equity, and social justice principles.