Measuring the Role of Faith in Program Outcomes
April 2008,
University of Wisconsin–Madison
This working conference will bring together faith-based service providers,
policymakers and evaluators interested in faith-based services for hard-to-serve
populations. A key question to be addressed is whether the provision of services
such as education and training, alcohol and other drug abuse counseling, and
youth mentoring services by FBOs has a differential effect on outcomes for
children and families specifically as a result of leveraging the religiosity
and spirituality of participants. The working conference's overall goal will
be to outline issues important to the evaluation of these programs.
This working conference is being organized by Jennifer
Noyes and Maria
Cancian, Institute for Research on Poverty, with support from the Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, and the Bradley Foundation.
Agenda
Thursday, April 24 |
Conference Framework and Goals Overview
Maria Cancian, Institute for Research on Poverty, UW–Madison
Jennifer Noyes, Institute for Research on Poverty, UW–Madison
The white paper by Jennifer Noyes (April 2008) “Measuring
the Role of Faith in Program Outcomes: Key Conceptual and Methodological
Challenges” outlines the conference framework and goals |
Friday, April 25 |
Welcome and Introductions
Maria Cancian, Institute for Research on Poverty, UW–Madison |
| Panel Discussion: What do we know
about the extent to which service delivery by faith-based organizations
leads to outcomes that may be attributable to the “faith factor”? |
| |
Facilitator: Scott Allard, Brown University |
| |
Panelists: Mark G. Harden, Bethel University,
Bethel Seminary; Joe Soss, University of Minnesota; and Steven R. Smith,
University of Washington |
| Panel Discussion: What is the intersection
between faith and service delivery from the provider perspective? |
| |
Facilitator: Jennifer Noyes, UW–Madison |
| |
Panelists: Shawn Green-Smith,
Faith Partnership Network, Milwaukee; Michael Mata, Claremont School of
Theology and Capacity Development Director-U.S. Programs, World Vision;
and Linda Ketcham, Madison Area Urban Ministries |
| Panel Discussion: How could the contributions
of faith be measured? |
| |
Facilitator: Maria Cancian, UW–Madison |
| |
Panelists: Byron Johnson, Baylor Institute
for Studies of Religion; Sandra Danziger, University of Michigan; and
Tom Gais, Rockefeller Institute |
| Panel Discussion: Can a framework
for measuring the role of faith in program outcomes—designed
to inform future policy and evaluation strategies—be developed? |
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Facilitator: Dan Meyer, UW–Madison |
| |
Panelists: Jodi Sandfort, University
of Minnesota; Howard Rolston, Abt and Associates; and Heidi Unruh, Congregations,
Community Outreach and Leadership Development Project |
| Closing Comments |
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