Beyond Dissemination: Strategies for Data Use

Schedule:
8:00-8:30am: Light Breakfast and Coffee + Networking
8:30-11:00am: Workshop

Workshop Description:
Every evaluator hopes that their evaluation data will be used in some meaningful way, but often the evaluator role ends at the submission of the report.  This hands-on workshop will explore the intersection of evaluation and quality improvement in order to move beyond dissemination products and into rooms with people who have the ability to use the data. This is where the magic happens—bringing together people and data! The session will provide some foundational best practices around engaging stakeholders with data findings, as well as a framework for the many different ways and purposes in which this can be done, including both participatory analysis and planning practices. With a train-the-trainer model, this session will enable participants to leave with practical strategies to build their evaluator toolbox. Throughout the session, there will be many application opportunities to practice with the strategies, as well as group sharing to build on the collective knowledge of how to effectively support data use.

Presenter:
Amanda Sutter is an evaluation manager at the Evaluation Center and an adjunct professor of social work at the Brown School. Amanda supports project management across the evaluation life cycle from initial design to translation of findings to help organizations generate and use data to improve practice and impact. Her work centers on building systems and capacity to ensure that the best of evaluation is used at all levels of stakeholders, implementing collaborative and responsive evaluations that always have the end goals in mind. Ultimately, she’s in it for the magic that happens when you bring people and data together to discover insights and make meaningful improvements to support our communities to thrive. Amanda has over 10 years’ experience as both an external and internal evaluator across diverse sectors including youth development, education, health, and homelessness. She has taught evaluation at multiple universities and helped to establish the Boston affiliate of the American Evaluation Association. A native of Michigan, Amanda obtained her master’s degrees in social work and educational studies from the University of Michigan. In her spare time, she can be found exploring sites near and far, cooking healthy foods, and learning something new whenever possible.

Location:
The event will be held in the Hope Classroom at Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being. The address is 1000 N. Vandeventer Ave. St. Louis, MO 63113. Parking is available in the lot off Bell Ave. east of the building.