Amplifying Resilience: Evaluating Programs that Involve Participants Experiencing Disaster and Trauma

Abstract Information: This paper describes implications for evaluators who study programs serving individuals who have experienced recent acute trauma. While many programs serve beneficiaries who have faced obstacles, we argue that gathering data from individuals who have recently experienced acute traumas, such as natural disasters, requires specific attention and care. We describe how evaluators can adapt our data collection methods, interview techniques, and report writing to accurately and respectfully evaluate programs that involve participants who have recently experienced traumatic events. This presentation is inspired by our recent evaluations of an AmeriCorps grantee focused on disaster relief and recovery. This organization serves low-income homeowners who have recently been affected by a natural disaster, and many suffer from loss of income, housing instability, and mental and health problems from the stress and trauma of the disruption. We will be reflecting on what we have learned as external evaluators for this program over the past six years. Topics presented will include how to design a client survey that tracks feelings of mental and emotional wellbeing, tips for conducting a focus group with victims of recent traumatic events, and more generally how we as evaluators can navigate complex power dynamics that arise in disaster recovery programs.