DRUNK DRIVING PREVENTION ORGANIZATION-PROGRAM MISSION STATEMENT
The association is a non-profit making body shaped by a gathering of group upright business associations whose interest is to make the streets more secure in the world. Individuals are developers of beverage driving prevention frameworks and offer data and assets for such advancement. (DDPO, 2016)
Evaluation planning
Monitoring and evaluation of any program is an essential stage in determining the effectiveness and impact of the program. It helps determine whether the program is justified and whether it has an impact on its intended audience. It also helps resolve any problems within the program operations or structure. The evaluation of a program involves various steps; engagement with stakeholders, description of the program, the determination of the evaluation design, the collection of relevant data, the justifications of the conclusions made using various methods of data analysis and the dissemination of the results to relevant stakeholders.
The mission of this program is to reduce accidents and deaths caused by drunken driving. The central objectives of the program are to create awareness about the legislations and to enforce the provisions made in the law.
Importance of stating the mission, goals and objectives
Stating the goals, objectives and the mission of a program determines the type of evaluation method used depends on the aims and goals of the program itself. Understanding the purpose and goals of the program forms the basis for the assessment of the effectiveness of the program. The aims of the program also determine the components of the implementation process of the program. Statement of objectives also defines the target population of the program as well as the stakeholders who will use the evaluation results. In the drinking and driving program aims at reducing drunk driving among citizens, it is funded by the government and other nonprofit organizations who have an interest in ensuring road safety (Drinking and driving, 2007). The target population is the working force that has a tendency to drive drunk after their work day and over the holidays, and the stakeholders are the government, the nonprofit donors and university research teams that may base their research on the results of the data collected. The evaluation of this program is aimed at determining the rate at which the number of accidents has reduced since the inception of the program, determining the impact of the program among the target population. The evaluation of this program is also aimed at determining whether the enforcement of drinking laws has increased as a result of the program and whether officer education on the matter has been effective. The evaluation is also aimed at determining whether its objectives are in line with the intentions of the stakeholders and whether the stakeholders are receptive to the proposed methods of implementation.
Performance indicators
Performance indicators are a significant part of the evaluation, planning of any program or initiative; when well-designed they help identify any obstacles that may occur during the implementation of the program and thus guide the adjustment of the program. When formulating performance indicators, the first step is to state the change theory that the program is based on. The theory has two parts, one that explains the number of inputs and the other that shows which outputs are expected. By formulating a theory complete with how and when you hope to achieve the intended results the one has a basis to evaluate the various stages of the program effectively. This stage helps in the identification of the important elements in every segment of the theory of change. Effective performance indicators should evaluate every stage and component of the program implementation stage rather than just the impact ("Chapter 36. Introduction to Evaluation | Section 5. Developing an Evaluation Plan | Main Section | Community Tool Box", 2016). This ensures the adjustment of ineffective components at an early stage rather than waiting until the end of the program. It also means that programs that do not show promise can be eliminated before they consume their entire budget thus, giving way to the planning of new programs. Another performance indicator is the collection of data on the number of motorists who consume alcohol by ensuring that everyone is breathalyzed and a record made of their blood alcohol levels.
After the formulation and statement of the theory of changing the next stage is the formulation of a project management tool which tracks the steps involved, the time and resources required and is adjustable where some stages have over or underestimations of time. The evaluators set the questions that will be used to determine the level of success of the implementation of the program, determining the targets of the questions as well as the method that will be used to determine the performance at every level.
Developing evaluation questions
There are different types of evaluation questions based on the component of the program, and the method of valuation one wishes to use. When evaluating the implementation process, the main goal is to determine the effectiveness of the action plan, the level of acceptance by the members of the community, the effectiveness of the program in reaching its intended population. It is also important to formulate questions that evaluate the availability of alternative methods of implementation. The questions are intended to answer questions that will help determine to participate and stakeholder satisfaction with the implementation stage. When evaluating the achievement of the objectives the questions are aimed at determining the number of participants in the program, the time they have spent with the program. The impact of the program is evaluated by basing the questions on how the participants have altered their behavior since they became familiar with the program (“. Introduction to Evaluation | Section 5. Developing an Evaluation Plan | Main Section | Community Tool Box", 2016 Chapter 36). To determine the impact of the program in the community the questions will be addressed to non- participating members of the community, people in positions of authority or research groups with data particularly focused on making this determination.
A research-based rationale
Upon the completion of the evaluation process, it is important that the information is disseminated to stakeholder as well as the public to create awareness for the program. It is also important that the evaluators indicate their recommendations on areas that need improvement, components that need to be changed entirely and sections that need to be completely overhauled. One of the main predictors of the success or failure of a program is the implementation of its action plan. The most basic approach to determine the fidelity of a program, is to ask the practitioners the extent to which they apply the program design. The program evaluation questions, and the plan is formulated with the aim of not only evaluating its performance, but also identifying the future obstacles to the program. There is a need to upgrade the breathalyzers to detect other forms of drugs that impair motor skills of users. There is also a probability of the enforcers becoming demotivated in performing their duties due to the routine and the rigorous nature of their tasks. There will also be a need to expand the reach of the program to underage children; to create awareness among them on the dangers of drinking and driving as well as the effect of habitual drinking to their health. Coordinating awareness in schools will help curb the problem before it develops in the children, thus eliminating the highest number of drunken drivers. The initial studies that led to the formation of the program determined that the habit developed in teenage years (Drinking and driving, 2007). There will also be a future need for the increase its affiliate agencies to increase its reach within the population, especially to include college going young adults since they are also affected by this bad culture. There is the need to create chapters of the program within every institution as part of the sensitization campaign.
Evaluation planning is an essential part of any program implementation. It contributes greatly to the effectiveness of the program by highlighting the areas that need adjustment or areas that require special attention.
References
Chapter 36. Introduction to Evaluation | Section 5. Developing an Evaluation Plan | Main Section | Community Tool Box. (2016). Ctb.ku.edu. Retrieved 14 April 2016, from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/evaluate/evaluation/evaluation-plan/main
DDPO. (2016). Ddpo.org. Retrieved 14 April 2016, from http://www.ddpo.org/index.html
Drinking and driving. (2007). Geneva.
