Using Digital Dashboards to Implement and Evaluate Programs

 Centralizing access to online portals Creating the dashboard allows the team to centralize the

workflow process, so that the entire team can access the suite of digital platforms via a single

dashboard. This centralization allows all team members to efficiently access the tools necessary for

event planning and reporting, digital marketing and distribution, as well as online instruction and

collaboration.

BEST PRACTICES

The program evaluation team quickly identified the need to centralize information so that all team members

could easily access the tools needed for delivering mental health services. The evaluation team felt it was

extremely important to provide rapid and responsive data reporting to support the larger team, resulting in

the creation of a digital platform developed, designed, and deployed by the evaluation team, so as to not

depend on the time and talent of information technology

The Dashboard delivers these best practices for program evaluation

professionals.

The digital platform ultimately generated complete

Increased transparency

transparency for the project, which was a welcomed and

Visualization of workflow process

unintended benefit of the tool. The most beneficial aspect

of the digital dashboard approach was the ability to

Flexibility

visualize the workflow of multiple teams working

Centralized access to information

simultaneously across the suite of mental health programs.

Standardized scheduling and data collection (improves efficiency)

Ultimately, this process accomplished the primary goal to

standardize program evaluation and data collection using a

Real time data

field-tested evaluation model and standardizing data

Centralized access to online portals

collection.

The digital dashboard is a responsive tool allowing the program to centralize access to information, data, and

platforms. Another advantage is that dashboards are easily adapted to the needs of the program team and

are easily customized to the specific needs of other projects. Dashboard features were strategically designed

to address evaluation objectives. The scheduling feature and registration process helps the team track

outreach to target audiences and ensure financial accountability. Improving program outcome and impact

measures ensures the target audience's needs are being met. Centralizing program information allows the

team to communicate outcomes to stakeholders and deliver a suite of mental health products that are cost

effective, equitable, and accessible in rural communities.

24

Powered by