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EPA's - Program Evaluation Network
Routine communication between program evaluation contacts throughout the Agency can be a key component in developing a strategy to help build the Agency's evaluation capabilities. The Program Evaluation Network (PEN) was formed in 1999 as a means to increase and support EPA's internal capacity to conduct program evaluations.
The PEN is co-sponsored by the Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation (OPEI) and OCFO's Office of Planning, Analysis, and Accountability (OPAA). The PEN establishes collaborative relationships through building program evaluation capacity, advocates program evaluation and serves as a forum for exchanging information and discussing evaluation concepts and strategies. The PEN meets quarterly and is open to all EPA employees. Participants in the PEN include staff from Regional Offices, and all major Agency Programs.
Program Evaluation Network Activities
The PEN provides a forum for EPA staff to develop and enhance evaluation skills through program evaluation training, discuss topic-specific sessions of interest on environmental program evaluation and the latest program evaluation activities throughout the Agency. More specifically, the PEN:- Sponsors presentations about efforts to build program evaluation capacity within individual offices.
- Provides a forum to leverage and share collective resources in the form of ideas, concepts, techniques, and evaluation approaches successfully used in other Regions and offices.
- Provides information on opportunities for training.
- Spot lights reports and briefings on completed program evaluations in order to share lessons learned.
Program Evaluation Network Resources
- At the PEN meeting in May 2002, Michael Mason from the Office of Water presented "Things to Consider When Undertaking a Program Evaluation (PDF 2 pages, 8K)." Mike prepared this brief paper for the PEN based upon his many years of program evaluation experience here at EPA. His topics included: Key Questions to Ask Before Undertaking an Evaluation, and Evaluation Projects to Avoid.
- Bruce Pumphrey lead for
the Office of Solid Waste's Program Evaluation Network prepared a primer
on Planning and Implementing Program Evaluations
within the Office of Solid Waste (PDF 8 pages; 100K).