Abstract
In 1998, The Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies, Inc. (CCFSA) embarked on a process to plan and develop a program that would result in member organizations becoming proficient in evaluating outcomes for their services and programs. CCFSA is a private nonprofit human service provider network and association in Connecticut. It has 28 nonprofit member organizations, both sectarian and nonsectarian, that are licensed by the state and accredited nationally. Collectively, they annually serve over 100,000 families in Connecticut. After several focus groups and planning sessions, we determined that a comprehensive and longer-term approach to developing knowledge and skills, and in supporting organizations to manage their institutional limitations, resistance, and skepticism was necessary to achieve optimal results. A program called Excellence 2000 was designed incorporating multiple learning formats including didactic presentations, discussion groups, on-site technical assistance, and follow-up consultation. This program, its results, and lessons learned are described by the author, the former president and chief executive officer of CCFSA, who was the principal staff to this project.
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