New & Noteworthy
5 Lessons We’ve Learned About Community Engagement in the CHNA Process
Community engagement is one of the most important components of the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) process. Federal requirements mandate that nonprofit hospitals solicit input from specific stakeholder groups—but over the years, we’ve come to see that the most meaningful CHNAs are built in the space between meeting the minimum standard and conducting engagement that…
The $50B Rural Health Transformation Program: What States Need to Know
The federal government is allocating $50 billion in rural health care funding to all states that apply. With half of funding tied to demonstrated performance year-over-year, states that invest early in planning, evaluation, and reporting will be best positioned to maximize their funding potential. What Is the Rural Health Transformation Program? On September 15, 2025,…
Asking Good Evaluation Questions
Evaluation questions are an excellent focal point around which to design an evaluation, but asking these questions the right way is harder than it seems. A sophisticated analysis cannot rescue a poorly formed evaluation question. Yet evaluators, program managers, and funders routinely find themselves deep into an evaluation before realizing that the questions guiding their…
Rooted in Connection: EVALCORP’s Spring Picnic
At EVALCORP’s Spring Picnic, employees from near and far gathered to connect and recharge together. We stepped away from our desks and into the open air, trading screens for sunshine and schedules for shared moments in nature. Set against the backdrop of vibrant green trees, Irvine Regional Park—the oldest regional park in California—provided the perfect…
Insights from the 2026 National Rx and Illicit Drug Summit
Each year, the National Rx and Illicit Drug Summit brings together some of the most dedicated and forward-thinking professionals in the substance use field — clinicians, researchers, policymakers, advocates, and community leaders — all united by a shared mission to reduce the harms of drug use and improve lives. For the fourth consecutive year, our…
Spring into Service: Caring for People, Pets, and the Planet
For EVALCORP’s Spring Service with Purpose event, our team from coast to coast and beyond spent the morning giving back in meaningful ways. Together, we embraced the spirit of service by supporting our neighbors, strengthening local partnerships, and building deeper connections with one another. It was a powerful reminder that when we come together with…
A Decade of Data-Driven Progress: Ventura County’s Public Safety Realignment Efforts
When California’s Public Safety Realignment Act (AB 109) shifted responsibility of custody and supervision for certain offenders from the state to local counties, counties faced a significant challenge: how do you measure success when implementing a major policy shift? Ventura County’s Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) answered this question by investing early in evaluation capacity—and the…
What Does a Program Evaluation Consultant Do?
Community organizations, foundations, nonprofits, government programs and other mission-driven agencies exist to create meaningful change. As these organizations deliver programs and services, a critical question emerges: are we actually making the difference we set out to make? That’s where program evaluation comes in—a program evaluation consulting team can help organizations demonstrate their impact and make…