Evaluation Lab
Our collaborative approach brings program evaluation, survey development and administration, grant writing and more to community partners and other local and government agencies.
The VCU School of Social Work (SSW) Evaluation Lab provides research and evaluation services to our field agencies and community partners as well as nonprofit organizations, government agencies and other behavioral health-related organizations.
Our mission is to work collaboratively with our partners to address their needs; we offer our research expertise while depending on knowledge, guidance and feedback from our partners throughout the research process. Our services include:
- Program evaluation
- Survey development and administration
- Grant writing
- Data analysis
- Research dissemination
We are staffed with social work faculty and staff across a range of expertise alongside graduate and undergraduate research assistants.
If you are interested in learning more, please email sswevalhub@vcu.edu.
Our values
We meet each project with curiosity, enthusiasm and gratitude. We prioritize relationship building through transparency, respect for all persons and a commitment to service.
Our capabilities
The Evaluation Lab aims to be a one-stop shop for partners in need of research and evaluation services. Our services include:
- Program evaluation services – consultation on program evaluation design, sampling strategies, measurement, data collection and data analysis for agency programs and practices;
- Agency and community survey services – consultation on survey design, sampling, survey construction, data collection and data analysis for surveys of staff, consumers, and/or community stakeholders;
- Data analysis and dissemination services – assistance with analysis, interpretation, and summary and/or presentation of agency data;
- Grant writing services – assistance with grant writing, particularly evaluation, research and data collection sections, in response to foundation, federal, state and other funding opportunities; and
- Institutional Review Board (IRB) and human subjects consultation and assistance
Our approach
Our approach is centered around community engagement/participation and serving our community partners. Standard practices include in-depth consultations, incorporating feedback, exploring non-academic dissemination pathways, and meeting partners’ scheduling/timeline needs.
When a partner would like deeper involvement in the research process, we welcome a community-based participatory research framework. In these cases, we offer options including:
- Working intentionally with partners to co-develop a formal research agenda approved by the partner before any additional work commences. Inspired by Guidelines for Community Based Research (from University Neighborhood Partners), this research agenda includes goals and shared values, data sharing and ownership, feedback mechanisms and timing, data collection, analyses, interpretation of results, and reporting findings (i.e. dissemination plans beyond our standard report such as community data presentations).
- Seeking informal, regular feedback throughout the process from the partner and any interest holders they identify.
- Working with the partner to develop an advisory committee to guide/approve the research agenda, data collection, project findings, and/or results dissemination.
- Engagement with the partner and their interest holders outside of the research partnerships (e.g., a service project).
Our team
Principal members
Gary Cuddeback, Ph.D., M.S.W., M.P.H.
Director of partnerships & methodology & design
Dr. Cuddeback is the dean and a professor at the VCU School of Social Work.
Rebecca Smith, Ph.D., M.S.W.
Director of analysis & evaluation
Dr. Smith is a research instructor with the VCU School of Social Work and director of undergraduate research for VCU's Institute for Research on Behavioral and Emotional Health.
Amy Adkins, Ph.D.
Director of communications & training
Dr. Adkins is a scientific writer with the VCU School of Social Work and assistant director of undergraduate research for VCU's Institute for Research on Behavioral and Emotional Health.
Research assistants
The SSW Evaluation Lab prioritizes workforce development and has a vertically integrated pipeline of undergraduate and graduate trainees. Undergraduate and graduate research assistants are solicited through a variety of mechanisms, including Federal Work Study, internships, etc.
SSW students, particularly those interested in macro social practice, will have the option to work with the Evaluation Lab as their field placement. Research assistants will be embedded in the Evaluation Lab to share current knowledge and gain deeper understanding in an interdisciplinary training environment.
Current assistants
- Kayla Ralston, B.S.W. Program
- Emma Adcook, M.S.W. Program
Our partnerships
Current and previous partners include social service agencies, nonprofit organizations and government agencies in the metro Richmond area, across Virginia and beyond.
