Research and evaluation takes a new direction at CYF
The Research and Evaluation (R&E) team at the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services (CYF) is about to undergo change.
In April 2004, the Policy and Development Group within CYF commissioned a review focused on the research and evaluation function within the Department in response to the key findings from the Baseline Review.
The review's objective was to review the purpose, structure, processes and funding of research and evaluation activities within CYF; consider alternatives and make recommendations that would better align CYF's research and evaluation capacity and capability with its organisational goals and priorities; and identify an implementation strategy for any proposed changes.
Research and Evaluation Acting Manager, Ingrid van Aalst, says the review's preliminary findings are exciting. "The vision that is emerging is that the research and evaluation function will play a fundamental role in the development of a culture of informed decision-making and it will be integral to the success of the new learning culture being fostered in CYF."
Ingrid has more than 20 years' experience in R&E, and has worked for a range of government and private sector organisations, both in a research and evaluation capacity and as a manager. Her work has included monitoring and evaluation of organisations' strategic direction and the overall performance of organisations and acting as a contract transition manager in times of organisational change.
CYF's R&E team has about 25 research and evaluation projects on its books, with the majority focusing on evaluation of new initiatives and pilot programmes. However, the new direction will see greater emphasis placed on aligning research and evaluation activities with the Department's core business.
"R&E will inform CYF's strategic and operational management decision-making. We will be focusing on projects that will deliver information to help CYF improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our services and practices," Ingrid says. "The first step is to develop a R&E strategy for the Department along with an agreed work plan that will be able to deliver credible and powerful information."
This will mean the R&E team will undertake a wider range of research and evaluation projects than it does now and it will mean shaping a team which can deliver the Department's research and evaluation needs. "It's an exciting challenge as we are rebuilding the capacity and capability of a research and evaluation function in CYF," Ingrid says.
