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Planning and Evaluating Information Outreach Among Minority Communities: Model Development Based on Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest Quarterly Report, October - December, 1997

Progress to Date

Seven consultants submitted first drafts of commissioned white papers reviewing best practices in planning and evaluation within their respective fields. Academic areas of discipline represented in the white papers include: community development, educational technology, health communications, health librarianship/informatics, Native American cultures, technical communications, and technology diffusion.

Project staff planned, facilitated, and participated in the first meeting of the 23 member Project Advisory Panel, held at the University of Washington on November 10, 1997. Panel members discussed key variables, models, and strategies that could inform a more theoretically based approach to planning and evaluating medical library outreach to minority communities. As a result of the discussion, planning for the project may be reconsidered, including the timing of the next meeting, and content planning for the evaluation resource.

Catherine Burroughs wrote and distributed a Meeting Summary of the November 10 discussion.

Advisors: Per request by the project advisory panel, project staff created a listserv (evalproj@u.washington.edu) to establish ongoing contact with advisors.

Literature review and analysis: Consultants conducted literature reviews as background material for white papers and panelists also recommended other resources for further information. Catherine Burroughs continues to compile and analyze recommended resources that may be useful project material.

Evaluation methods and outreach evaluation: Project staff created charts of input, process, and output variables, as well as evaluation methodologies identified in consultant white papers. Catherine Burroughs developed and distributed a short questionnaire to the Medical Libary Association Outreach SIG listserv, asking about outreach evaluation strategies currently used. Results were tabulated and presented at the November 10 panel meeting.

Outreach to minority communities: RML staff continued to carry out outreach to Native American communities. In the past quarter, classes and exhibits were offered to the American Indian Nursing Summit, Pablo, MT; the Red Talon Project (Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board AIDS Prevention Project), Seattle, WA; and the Spokane Tribe, Wellpinit, WA. Ted Mala, a member of the project advisory panel, contacted Nancy Press after the November panel meeting to invite her critique and consultation about the official website of the Association of American Indian Physicians.

Development of the planning and evaluation resource and the continuing education syllabus: As a result of panel feedback, project staff began revising plans for the scope, content, and format of the the evaluation "guide," now termed an evaluation "resource." Nancy Press began developing a list of library outreach decisions that are based on input, process, and output variables for planning, conducting, and assessing outreach. Project advisor Kim Witte provided feedback on ideas for the structure of the evaluation resource. Catherine Burroughs began organizing the variables and outreach decisions identified in Nancy's list and in the consultant white papers into a flow chart/outline that maps the conceptual flow of the resource.

Development and testing of outreach and evaluation models: At the project advisory panel meeting, Project Staff recommended testing selected planning and evaluation strategies in two outreach settings of the Tribal Connections Project. A proposed tribe to start working with is the Spokanes in Wellpinit (in Eastern Washington). Project staff met with the Department of Health and Human Services staff of the Spokane Tribe to discuss their possible participation as our first connection site, planning a more detailed discussion in January 1998.

Problems Encountered:

No problems encountered at quarters end.