REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: HOUSING EVALUATOR
Jake’s House is requesting proposals for a program evaluator to conduct a formative evaluation of our housing program in Lucan Ontario.
background
Founded in 2004, Jake’s House is a national registered charity both Provincially and Federally funded.
Jake’s House mission is to provide meaningful support to families living with autism across the country. Recognizing that more than any other single issue, families dealing with autism need a community, Jake’s House is committed to growing a strong network of people who understand and care - a family, determined to provide tangible solutions at every stage of life.
In addition to growing a caring, committed community, Jake’s House offers a continuum of structured services to provide practical help today and lasting hope for tomorrow. Through four strategic offerings – social events for the whole family; mentoring programs for youth; employment opportunities for young adults; and housing for the aging population – Jake’s House supports individuals on the spectrum throughout their entire lifespans.
Through these events and services, as well as other strategic initiatives, Jake’s House strives to empower individuals with autism; offer their caregivers support and respite; raise awareness; share resources; and build a caring community. Jake’s House is dedicated to delivering assistance to those who need it right now, while also determined to establish a support system for future generations.
Jakes’ House has engaged multiple sectors and community partners to develop an innovative model to address the current housing gap by providing a blended home, welcoming individuals on the spectrum into traditional senior’s residences. Jake’s House Community Residences is located in Lucan, ON, providing accessible housing for individuals with autism and the DS community for 30 residents. This pilot, offers a customized, inclusive community, offering a range of supports ensuring every individual’s unique needs are met - while always maintaining their familial connection.
PROGRAM EVALUATION
Those within the ASD community face several unique challenges because autism characteristics encompass a very broad spectrum. This one aspect alone brings with it the single greatest determinant in building a healthy resident mix while creating a supportive independent living environment that is safe and encourages growth and development. A critical element of this evaluation would be the identification and prioritizing of those indicators critical to ensuring a collaborative living environment is created from the sourcing of the resident waitlist.
The objectives of the housing program are:
- To provide a safe environment and supportive independent living accommodations (SIL) to the ASD and DS community.
- To transition individuals to a SIL environment where they increase their independence and social skills.
- To provide individuals with integrated supports that increase their positive behaviours, mental health, and overall wellbeing.
The housing program serviced through Jake’s House will be evaluated using a mixed methods approach with:
- A qualitative dimension (narrative) to gather the observations and lived experiences of individuals, caregivers, and program staff. This includes identifying the realities associated with the program, best practices, successes, challenges, and lessons learned.
- A quantitative dimension (statistics) to quantify and demonstrate outputs and outcomes that have credibility for community members, corporate partners, service providers, funders and scholars.
We are seeking to conduct an outcome-based formative program evaluation to measure the success of the current Jake’s House inclusive housing program, the evaluation plan should be comprised of the following elements but not limited to:
- Pre and post survey questionnaires to all residents / participants of the program to assess gains in knowledge and skills, and changes in behaviours and conditions.
- Statistical data collection including number of residents / participants and families served, length of placements, participating community partners, number of volunteers/ mentors/ staff, number of applicants approved, number of residents / participants referred, number of trainings, number of residents / participant sin respite services etc.
- Observations by caregivers, program staff and others to gather accurate information about how the program operates, particularly about processes to gather best practices, lessons learned, etc.
- Ongoing monitoring and engaging possible data collection strategies that might include participant socio-demographic profiles; individual assessments / case management plans; psychometric scales and questionnaires; attendance records; satisfaction surveys; focus groups, interactive group activities, games; 1-1 interviews; and systems service data.
The coordination and delivery of this program will be:
Evidence based
The inclusive housing program will ensure quality program delivery by integrating research within the standard operating procedures. All support offered will be evidence-based, with quality assurance methods ensuring data-driven delivery.
Collaborative
The inclusive housing program is collaborating with professionals in the field, including family-based autism organizations, academia, and government organizations to build a program that is sustainable and that integrate each stakeholders respective strengths. They will be a part of the advisory committee.
Inclusive
The overarching objective of the inclusive housing program is to provide a social solution that makes a real difference in families’ daily lives and developing a long-term support system for a better future. Jake’s House is opening doors for the autism and DS community and giving families a place to call home through Jake’s House Community Residences.
KEY DATES
Phase 1 – Progress Report (September 2021 - March 2022)
- Creation of project advisory committee
- Literature review and database development
- Design of evaluation plan
- Progress report due April 2022
Phase 2 – Final Report (April 2022 - March 2023)
- Evaluation plan implemented
- Ongoing monitoring and assessment
- Co-Chairing of advisory committee meetings
- Data collection
- Final evaluation report due April 2023
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
All submissions should include the following components: Cover Letter, Contact Information, Information about Consultant and/or Company, Proposed Work Plan, Relevant Experience, Customer Reference, and Detailed Quote. Proposals must be received no later than 5:00 pm on September 20th, 2021 and should be sent via email to soniaupadhya@jakeshouse.ca. If you have any questions, please contact:
If you have any questions, please contact:
Sonia Upadhya
Human Resource Project Manager
Jake’s House
P: 416-247-5253
E: soniaupadhya@jakeshouse.ca
