A CULTURALLY SUSTAINING APPROACH TO PROGRAM EVALUATION FOR SCHOOL AND CLINICAL COUNSELING PROGRAMS

Program evaluation is key in mental health counseling program success. Though it is typically presented as part of research methods, they are separate in that evaluation is inherently a part of school and clinical mental health counseling. Evaluation holds counselors accountable, provides credibility, and promotes advocacy by asking counselors to plan, implement, and evaluate programs through an antiracist lens. This chapter presents the five principles of program evaluation: needs assessment, theory of change, process evaluation, outcome evaluation, and sharing results. It provides an outline of each principle and as well as questions to reflect on at each step of evaluation. Culturally sustaining strategies are given to implement for each principle in order to ensure adequacy, accessibility, and cultural competency. Case examples present real-life examples of evaluation principles. These insights are applicable to all school-based mental health professionals.