Military and Veteran Evaluation
Spencer Barr, MA
Senior Research Analyst
ICF, Utah, United States
Location: Room 206
Abstract Information: Military Chaplains have a unique perspective on the stories that knit together both the military community and the service providers that assist servicemembers and veterans. Being so close to some of the most difficult as well as some of the most rewarding and memorable moments in the lives of those who serve, chaplains see and participate in these stories first hand. But what can we do with these stories? And how can we leverage them in our work to continue to improve services related to military service? This collection of stories and expert insights into the evaluative process will shed additional light on the value of lived experience and its importance in program evaluation.
Relevance Statement: In most cases, especially in government contracts, there tends to be an expectation of aggregated, representative, sanitized data that does not directly address the context and lived experiences of those targeted by the program in question. If we can foster an appreciation for these lived experiences, and connect them to our understanding of rigorous evaluation methods, we will be better able to address the needs of many communities through the programs designed to serve them.