Select List of Clients and Evaluations
Oxfam America, The Gulf Coast Recovery Program
This evaluation was an assessment of two program components: housing needs of low-income families and the right to fair employment by immigrant workers, at the national, state and local levels. The evaluative domains included:
- Enhancing Voice and Participation
- Building Local Capacity and Sustainability
- Influencing Resource Flow for Housing
- Protecting Worker and Immigrant Rights
- Creating and Disseminating Key Information
Kellogg Foundation, MidSouth Delta Initiative (MSDI)
In 2007-08, Professional Associates, Inc. served as the initiative-level evaluator for this tri-state community change program, including the coordination of site-level evaluations. PAI designed and implemented a participatory evaluation model that focused on transformative community change. A special feature of this model was the use of PhotoVoice as a participatory methodology for capturing the authentic voices of the participants in identifying, defining and measuring outcomes. Capacity building was also an integral part of the MSDI evaluation.
Bernard van Leer Foundation—Socialization and Early Childhood Development in the Mississippi Delta
Professional Associates, Inc. was retained by the Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF) in 2002 to coordinate the conceptualization and design of a funding initiative in the Mississippi Delta focused on early childhood development. In this role, PAI held exploratory meetings and Talking Circles, conducted an extensive literature review, and convened a conceptual team composed of researchers, theoreticians, and practitioners. The expected impact of this multiple year initiative, with varied projects, is improved family and child well-being in the Mississippi Delta. The expected program impact is reflected in child, family and community outcomes.
Children’s Defense Fund, Kellogg Foundation’s Mississippi SPARK Project
Professional Associates, Inc. served as the evaluator for Mississippi SPARK, a five-year early childhood project, focused on improved academic performance at the K-3 grade. Two cohorts of children were tracked for five years. The areas of assessment included child, school and community readiness.
Entergy Mississippi Corporation—Community Needs Assessment of the Low Income Energy Assistance Program
Professional Associates was retained by this utility company to provide research in the area of energy assistance and weatherization. PAI conducted a comprehensive county-by-county analysis of the energy assistance needs of low-income Mississippians. The firm was subsequently retained to conduct a county-by-county analysis of the saving-to- benefit ratio of weatherization in Mississippi.
Early Childhood Institute, Mississippi State University-Leaders in Literacy
Professional Associates, Inc served as the evaluator for the Jackson site of the Leaders in Literacy Program. The underlying premise of this program was that adequate training and preparation of early childhood teachers will make a significant difference in the literacy and language development of children attending childcare centers. As the evaluator for this project, PAI used two measurement domains, child and environment, to determine program outcomes. The Preschool Language Scale was used to assess student outcomes, and the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale was used to assess the learning environment.
Mississippi Office of Highway Safety Planning- This State agency contracted with PAI to provide grant writing state-wide to train their grantees on proposal development to improve program outcomes and accountability.
Mississippi Hospital Association and Mississippi Library Commission – Grants Development and Training
Professional Associates’ engagement with these clients has been in two primary areas. Development of major proposals focused on statewide funding initiatives and training in the area of grant writing, program and fiscal management and outcomes evaluation.
Foundation for Education and Economic Development (FEED) – Strategic Planning and Fund Development
Professional Associates guided FEED through an organizational strategic planning process and developed a funding plan for the organization.
Foundation for the MidSouth (FMS)
Professional Associates has conducted several projects for FMS:
- An evaluation of the MidSouth Family and Children Alliance
- An evaluation of the National Office of Philanthropy and the Black Church
- An evaluation of the MidSouth Faith Based Initiative
- A planning session for the MidSouth – Extension Service Project
- Developed the instruments and analyzed the data for the Communities of Opportunity Initiative