Parenting Evaluation Decision Framework:
Reflecting on Your Personal Perspectives

Good program planning leads to good evaluation and vice versa. Agents and Specialists must examine their own values and perspectives. They must consider where these perspectives came from so that they can consciously use these to make program planning decisions.

To begin the journey, take time to reflect on your personal history, values, and traits. This provides an added dimension that gives you a lens with which to view each step. Your past experiences flavor how you plan, teach, and interact with others. Some questions to guide the reflection may include:

Am I more comfortable in groups of parents who think like I do and have similar families to mine? Am I challenging myself to teach to parents with the greatest need? Do I offer programs broadly then claim that the ones that "need" it won't come? DO I make an effort to really explore what parents need or do I determine that because I am the professional? Do I plan programs to deliver without asking parents what their greatest needs are? Do I accept speaking engagements before parents without asking questions about the audience to refine planning? How can I make the greatest impact? Do people really change after a 2-hour workshop? How can I be sure I am teaching the right things to parents?

After you have taken time to truly think through your personal contributions, strengths and limitations, consider:

- What is it that you want to accomplish in your community, county, or state?

- What are your unique strengths and limitations? What is your perspective?

- Through what lens do you see the world?

Knowing your own values and beliefs can help you know with whom you work best and in which areas you may need to invite a colleague with other strengths that complement your work. If you want to work with limited resource families, for example, and this is not currently a strength you hold, you may want to recruit a number of volunteers indigenous to the community to make direct contacts. Think about how you can complement the strengths of your co-workers with the strengths you bring and the strengths that others bring to the program planning and evaluation process.

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