Evaluating Systems Change: An Inquiry Framework for Uncertain Times

A nurturing environment promotes resilience, reduces toxic stress, supports healing and is the foundation of child, family, and community well-being. The COVID-19 crisis has presented our communities with unprecedented health and economic challenges, while also accelerating pre-existing disparities.  Tools for evaluating system change efforts in an uncertainty context can be a critical tool to inform strategy and direction. Developmental Evaluation combines the rigor of evaluation, being evidence-based and objective, with the creative and adaptive thinking needed to support innovative and rapidly evolving strategies that are typical in systems change efforts.

The Institute for Child and Family Well-Being was proud to host the webinar “Evaluating Systems Change: An Inquiry Framework ” with Mark Cabaj, President of Here 2 There Consulting. Mark is an evaluation innovator, one of North America’s leading developmental evaluation experts who has been supporting system change efforts in eastern Europe, the Untied States, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada.

In this webinar, Mark and ICFW Co-Director Gabe McGaughey discussed:

  • Evaluation principles and purpose
  • Why systems change
  • System change outcomes
  • The importance of strategic learning to inform adaptive strategies in uncertain times
  • And different frameworks for navigating learning.

View the recorded webinar here.

Systems make people vulnerable. The COVID-19 crisis has amplified the disparities and inequities in our community, but also represents an opportunity to address these wicked problems.

“A revolutionary moment in the world’s history is a time for revolutions, not for patching.”
– The Beveridge Report


Related Resources

From the ICFW:

From Mark Cabaj:

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