PRAXIS - Building Knowledge for Action - facilitates exciting and transformative learning processes to sustain vibrant organizations and communities. We achieve this mission using the following tools: program evaluation, community-based research, strategic planning, organizational assessment, educational workshops, and other specialized services.

PRAXIS was able to quickly synthesize an extraordinary amount of information on a very complex project and their effort helped put the process evaluation on track. The work that PRAXIS does embodies the concept of translating and applying academic thinking to community realities.

Daphne Herling, Director Montana KIDS COUNT, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, University of Montana

Program Evaluation

Evaluation calls on participants to see gains, growth, and successes in organized efforts and to use these as a springboard into formalizing what to do next. It calls attention to program challenges and provides a process to address these and build new knowledge to inform action.

PRAXIS works with groups, organizations and communities to:

  • Develop evaluation or assessment plans
  • Create data collection tools and processes
  • Apply findings to improve practices, policies, and programs
  • Build organizational capacity for ongoing learning and development
  • Communicate results and use these as a springboard for action

PRAXIS can help in the development of the following evaluation methods and tools:

  • Program/project change or impact theory
  • Logic modeling
  • Paper/pencil or web-based surveys
  • Secondary data sources
  • Focus groups
  • Town hall meetings
  • Telephone or face-to-face individual interviews and protocols
  • Photovoice and other creative approaches to data collection, analysis, and documentation
 

IN THE SPOT LIGHT

Women's Opportunity and Resource Development, Inc. (WORD), founded in 1986, is one of Missoula, Montana’s most established and experienced nonprofit organizations. WORD has received national awards and recognition for their work.

WORD's programs provide support, education, and training to enable women to access stable housing, secure adequate income, focus on personal/career development, increase family and school involvement and contribute toward the development of policies to address social change.

In collaboration with PRAXIS, WORD is engaged in an organization-wide evaluation to ensure alignment with its mission, to maintain adaptability to the emerging needs of women and their families, and to REINVIGORATE, ENHANCE, AND SUSTAIN. To learn more about WORD www.wordinc.org