Evaluation

The REACH Foundation has identified two significant goals that provide focus for our grant making, capacity building and technical assistance efforts:  1.) Increase the number of people in the Foundation’s service area who have access to quality, affordable health care services and health coverage; and 2.) Advance integrated approaches to oral health, mental health and physical health care.

In making grant decisions, the Foundation considers how a program or initiative aligns with these goals and the potential to achieve lasting impact. For each goal, the Foundation has identified strategies to increase access to health care services and health coverage and improve the quality of health services. The goals and strategies reflect a theory of change that outlines how the Foundation will seek to improve health care, and ultimately health outcomes, for our target population.

The theory of change is a proposed “roadmap” for connecting strategies and the indicators (or milestones) the Foundation seeks to achieve on the way toward reaching our long-term goals. In measuring changes in a set of indicators, we will be able to determine progress toward long-term goals.

Why is this important to grant seekers?

The theory of change describes the Foundation’s priorities and the pathways we have identified for improving health outcomes for poor and medically underserved people in our geographic service area. This information guides grant making and other resource allocation decisions.

How will the REACH Foundation measure success?

The theory of change identifies indicators REACH will use to measure progress. In preparing a grant application, organizations will be asked to describe how their planned program or activities will support the Foundation’s goals, and the indicators the organization will monitor and measure.

What are the indicators the Foundation has selected?

Outcome 1: Increased access to health care services and health coverage

• Increase number of poor and medically underserved people receiving health care services.
• Increase enrollment of eligible persons in Medicaid, CHIP and other health coverage options.
• Reduction of Medically Underserved Areas in our six-county service area.
• Increase participation of providers in Medicaid.
• Adoption of payment reforms.

Outcome 2:  Improved quality of health care services

• Increase in the number of uninsured and medically underserved people who receive integrated health services.
• Increase in the number of uninsured and medically underserved people who receive evidence-based care for chronic disease.
• Increase in number of clinics that achieve national or state standards for medical home or health home recognition.
• Increase in culturally competent provision of health care services.
• Increase in patient satisfaction and engagement in health care decisions.

Will the Foundation only measure these indicators?

These indicators serve as a starting point for assessing progress and determining if the strategies in which we are investing can support the desired outcomes and longer-term change. Many nonprofit organizations will have indicators they are seeking to measure beyond those the Foundation has identified. Those organizational outcomes are equally important to inform program and other internal operational decisions.

What are good resources for learning more about theory of change?

Theory of Change, a collaborative project of ActKnowledge and the Aspen Institute Roundtable on Community Change.

Theory of Change:  A Practical Tool for Action, Results and Learning, Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2004