Evaluation

Evaluation Overview

First 5 Santa Barbara County is dedicated to giving every child in Santa Barbara County the best possible start in life. For the past four years, we have served to fund local services, bring diverse organizations and community groups together, and facilitate systems change-all with the goal of improving the lives of young children and their families. An integral component of this work is evaluating the impacts of our policies and funded programs on the community.

The Commission has identified the following guiding principles that are particularly relevant to the evaluation process. We are dedicated to:

• Defining desired results for children and families and documenting the progress towards achieving them to ensure accountability and effectiveness; and
• Engaging in an ongoing dynamic and evolving strategic planning process to meet the changing needs of our communities.

The Commission supports an evaluation framework that (a) focuses on results for children and families from diverse backgrounds with diverse abilities, (b) provides information about recipients of services, the services they receive, and the outcomes they achieve, and (c) minimizes the burden placed on agencies. Through this process, the Commission is committed to ensuring positive outcomes for children and their families by evaluating program impacts.

First 5 Results Fair Display Boards