Program Evaluation

CBRI collaborates with community organizations to conduct rigorous, comprehensive process and outcome evaluations. Grass roots community programs often have excellent potential to impact communities in creative and enriching ways, but too often lack the resources and expertise to formalize and evaluate their services, which in turn detrimentally impacts their sustainability and ability to expand. By leveraging our skills and infrastructure, CBRI has been able to bring to bear extensive university-level resources to community programs. Having access to innovative and financially stable programs that are responsive to community needs is critical for the well-being of underserved communities.

Our process is one of mutual engagement in a serious effort to improve community outcomes and advance knowledge. We meet with our community partners from all levels of the organization and conduct a thorough needs assessment. We work in tandem with the organizations to develop a comprehensive strategic plan including identifying funding opportunities, finding recruitment avenues, documenting a standardized protocol, and developing a comprehensive evaluation plan. We also conduct formative research (i.e., solicit feedback from community stakeholders through in-depth interviews and focus groups) and use an iterative approach to revise our evaluation plan based on stakeholder feedback. Lastly, we work with the community organization on how best to disseminate key findings. Below are some examples of program evaluation research studies.

 

For more information about each study, please click on the logos below.

 

The Florida Department of Health’s Closing the Gap grant program aimed to improve health outcomes of racial and ethnic health populations. FIU-CBRI served as the evaluation partner for this program.

Principal Investigators:
• Sofia Fernandez, PhD, MSW • Hui Huang, Ph.D., MSW, MS, MA

Co-Investigators:
• Melissa Howard, Ph.D., MPH • Eric Wagner, Ph.D. • Michelle Hospital, Ph.D.
• Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
• Michael Anastario, Ph.D. • Gladys Ibañez, Ph.D.
• Zoran Bursac, Ph.D.
• Nana “Aisha” Garba, M.D., Ph.D., MPH

Project Coordinator:
• Katherine Perez, MSW, MPH

 

This project, offered by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO), addresses reentry barriers with the goal of reducing recidivism of former State of Florida prisoners returning to Broward County after release. The Broward Reentry Center (BREC) offers support services through a one stop portal initiative. FIU-CBRI served as the evaluation partner for this study.

Program POC:
• Michelle Mumaw

Financial POC:
• Leslie Cedeno

Research POC:
• Paula Smith

Principal Investigator (Evaluation Team):
• Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.

Co-Investigators (Evaluation Team):
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D. • Zoran Bursac, Ph.D.

In partnership with the Florida State University (FSU) Center for Indigenous Nursing Research for Health Equity (INRHE), this project provided a solid foundation for delivering sustainable, high quality, accessible, state of the science substance abuse (SA), HIV/AIDS, and viral hepatitis (VH) prevention services to urban American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) young adults at Pow-Wows throughout Florida. FIU-CBRI served as the evaluation partner for this study.

Principal Investigator:
• John Lowe, RN, Ph.D., FAAN, (University of Texas Austin)

Co-Investigators/Evaluation Team: 
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.

Evaluation Coordinator:
• Katherine Perez, MSW, MPH

Gang Alternative

Focusing on two high schools in the larger Miami-Dade County area, this study, funded by the Office of Minority Health, aimed to evaluate dissemination of evidence-based practices to reduce violence, aggression, and substance abuse/use among racial/ethnic minority youth. These services, as well as Youth Service Plans, were implemented by the Minority Violence Prevention Project 88 (MVP 88). FIU-CBRI served as the Evaluation Partner for this study.

Principal Investigator:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D.

Co-Investigators:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.

Project Coordinator:
• Michael Vasconez, MSW

Piano Slam

Together with the Murray Dranoff 2 Piano foundation, FIU-CBRI was awarded funds from the Ware Foundation to evaluate a multi-faceted arts integration program (Piano Slam) that worked with Miami-Dade County Public Schools middle and high schools students and teachers.

Principal Investigator:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D.

Co-Investigators:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.

Project Coordinator:
• Ana Maria Rodriguez, Ph.D.

Project Horses

This Ware Foundation funded project offered Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) to foster youth in residential treatment facilities (SOS Children’s Village and His House). The goal was to evaluate the effects of participation in EFP, particularly on mental health related outcomes and overall quality of life. Stable Place and Nova Southeastern University were the clinical partners in this study.

Principal Investigator:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D.

Co-Investigators:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.
• Shelley Green, Ph.D. (Nova Southeastern University)

Project Treble

This Ware Foundation funded study evaluated the impact of participation in the Miami Music Project (MMP) on youth ages 8-17 years old and their parents. MMP offers free ensemble-based music education programing.  The primary aim of the study involved evaluating the effect of participation on positive youth development factors.

Principal Investigator:
• Michelle Hospital, Ph.D.

Co-Investigators:
• Eric Wagner, Ph.D. • Staci Leon Morris, Psy.D.

Project Coordinator:
• Eva Wales, M.S.