TIER's Community Evaluators Project
TIER's Community Evaluators Project
Recognizing the importance of the community input to the process of research, TIER’s Community Evaluators (CEs) project brings together program participants, local residents, service providers, community leaders, and researchers to share their knowledge, skills, and resources, with the common goal of shaping the development, implementation, and dissemination of research aimed at improving the lives of families and children.
The TIER Community Evaluators will:
- Inform researchers about community priorities, and the experiences of the families and children “on the ground;”
- Provide input and guidance on the study design, findings, and dissemination practices;
- Share ideas and guidance on how to approach and engage community members on particular studies;
- Work to ensure the research is ethical, culturally responsive, and beneficial to the communities that it is focused on; and
- Foster collaboration among those populations of interests and researchers.
Our first project will be to work together on a statewide needs assessment, funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Together with TIER staff, the Community Evaluators will help with data collection from members in their communities, and as well as data analysis and dissemination.
To learn more, please check out the program requirements below.
Who are the Community Evaluators (CE)?
The CEs are community members, parents, youth, policy leaders, service providers, and other stakeholders who care deeply about the lives of children, youth, and families. The CEs also have a shared interest in ensuring that evaluation research is responsive to the lived experiences of participants, and of community needs.
To be eligible to become a CE you must:
- Live or work anywhere in Massachusetts
- Have an interest in helping children, youth, and families in Massachusetts
- Complete an online application
No research experience is necessary!
Program Requirements
Becoming a CE requires a nine-month commitment. We will begin our training in September 2019 and complete our work for the needs assessment in May of 2020.
All CEs will be required to commit to the following:
- Attend an all-day training at Tufts University which will take place in September 2019. We will help with the costs of travel and lodging (if necessary).
- Participate in up to three in-person evening meetings (between October 2019 and March 2020). The time and location will be determined by the Community Evaluators.
- With support from TIER staff, organize a meeting (focus group) with members of your community. This is one of the evening meetings.
- Respond to emails and participate in periodic phone conferences (four total).
- Review project materials and assist with writing and disseminating the results of our collective work
- For their participation each CE will be eligible to receive a stipend of $3,000. They will also receive ongoing mentoring and support, as well as a certificate of completion.
It is our hope that the CE will want to continue to be involved in the work of TIER, as members of a TIER Community Advisory Board.
How can I become a CE?
- The first step to becoming a CE is to complete an short online application.
- After you application is complete, a member of the TIER will contact you with next steps.
- We will select 10 CEs.
- Our work together will begin September 2019!
Contact Info
For more information, please contact:
- Melissa Colón
Tufts Interdisciplinary Evaluation Research (TIER)
Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development
Tufts University
617.627.6803
About TIER
Composed of a team of researchers from the departments of Child Study and Human Development and Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University, Tufts Interdisciplinary Evaluation Research (TIER) is a research center that is committed to conducting high-quality, collaborative evaluations that contribute to improving social policies and programs that designed to serve children, families, and communities. To learn more about TIER, visit: http://ase.tufts.edu/tier