Technical assistance includes the transfer of knowledge and/or skills to help organizations develop or improve their programs, services, and internal operations. A focus group was held with members of various community-based organizations (CBOs) to assess their need for data-related technical assistance. Based on the Stage Theory of Organizational Change and the results of the focus group, an innovative data-related technical assistance curriculum was developed and delivered to non-profit CBOs within San Diego County. The goal of the technical assistance is to train and educate CBOs in the effective collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of data to meet the increasing challenge of demonstrating organization and program outcomes. The original curriculum is tailored to each CBO based on the CBO's input and an in-depth organizational needs assessment. Technical assistance is provided through training, individualized consultation, networking opportunities, and intensive follow-up procedures. Each participant also receives a toolkit of data sources, data collection procedures, and other references. An evaluation of the structure, process, and outcomes of the technical assistance is conducted with each CBO. This presentation will focus on the results of the evaluations and pre-/post-tests completed by each CBO. An overview of the technical assistance curriculum will be given and the implications of the technical assistance on the CBOs will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to: 1) recognize how technical assistance fosters capacity-building within an organization, and 2) discuss the role of data-related technical assistance in improving community-based organizations' programs, processes, and outcomes.
Keywords: Organizational Change,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.