Evaluation
Mt. Auburn views evaluations as learning exercises. Our goal is to help clients identify and assess anticipated program outcomes, determine the effectiveness of various program
elements, and refine activities to better meet intended outcomes.
Our approach emphasizes:
- Clear articulation of the development program or model being evaluated
- Design of performance measures that are consistent with the program model
- Use of both quantitative and qualitative methods
- Measurement of developmental and institutional impacts
- Close collaboration between the consultants and the client,
involving learning and teaching on both sides
To act on the knowledge gained from an evaluation, a consensus view must be built among varied constituencies. Mt. Auburn Associates works closely with a wide range of actors -
including community-based organizations, individual businesses, local and state governments, chambers of commerce and other business-led organizations, public/private partnerships,
and academic institutions - to assist clients in turning an evaluation into a viable plan of action.
Our skills span workforce development and economic development and our experience includes both formative and outcome evaluations. We have completed several community-level evaluations
in addition to numerous multi-site state and national evaluations.
Workforce Development
Evaluation of SkillWorks Phase I and Phase II
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Mt. Auburn was part of a team engaged in a multi-year evaluation of SkillWorks Phase I, a comprehensive initiative to promote workforce development systems reform in Boston.
The initiative, considered a national model, is led by the Boston Foundation and includes the participation of a number of philanthropic funders, the city of Boston, and
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It involves funding innovative, community-based workforce development programs and promoting policy reforms to facilitate more effective
services. After completing Phase I of the SkillWorks evaluation, Mt. Auburn was selected to lead the evaluation of Phase II, which is currently in process.
Evaluation of The Heinz Endowments' Economic Opportunity Program
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Over a five-year period, Mt. Auburn worked with The Heinz Endowments to evaluate its Economic Opportunity Program. The first phase of the evaluation involved the articulation
of a clear "theory of change" and the development of an evaluation work plan. The second phase focused on the workforce development system as a whole, with particular
emphases on the workforce intermediaries that Heinz has helped to build and on critical labor market information. The evaluation included facilitating learning activities
with grantees to address issues identified in the evaluation. The third phase examined EOP's effort to build a more effective network of regional learning providers through
the region's community colleges.
Economic Development
World Trade Center Economic Recovery: Rebuilding the Economy of Lower Manhattan
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Mt. Auburn Associates was hired by the Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) to assess New York State Economic Recovery Programs designed to respond to the September
11th attacks. Our recently released report found that ESD exhibited early, strong, well-informed, and decisive management of the recovery process. Loans, grants, and technical
assistance reached a large proportion of impacted businesses in Lower Manhattan in a timely fashion. We recommended that federal laws and policies be reviewed and revised
to address the economic recovery needs of a large-scale disaster, and that state and local governments, with the help of the Department of Homeland Security, should be
better prepared for economic emergencies. After hurricane Katrina, ESD officials shared lessons learned from the World Trade Center disaster recovery in meetings Mt. Auburn
facilitated with our clients in Louisiana.
Living Cities
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Living Cities, a philanthropic collaborative of 22 of the world's largest foundations and financial institutions, implemented an innovative effort in Cleveland, Ohio,
aimed at helping policymakers and public officials address urban issues. The American City Agenda, involving the state of Ohio, the city of Cleveland, and Living Cities,
sought to identify policies that were blocking needed reform and to design innovative solutions to some of the major urban challenges faced by cities today. Mt. Auburn
Associates evaluated the progress of this effort over its initial two years and provided real time learning and feedback for Living Cities staff.
U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)
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Over the past 20 years Mt. Auburn has been involved in a number of evaluations of programs of the U.S. Economic Development Administration, including the University Center
Program, the Revolving Loan Fund Program, the Public Works Program, and the Local Technical Assistance Program.
