Who the Consultant is: 

Vijaya Vinita Channahsorah, Ph.D. is an Independent Management & Evaluation Consultant and a Ministry Consultant with over two decades of experience in Results Management (performance measurement, program evaluation, strategic planning, and logic modeling).  She designs and conducts interactive workshops and seminars to help grantees, program managers, and government agencies improve their ability to measure and track results and to gauge program success using various tools and methods.  Dr. Channahsorah works closely with program directors and teams on various aspects of program evaluation and management with a focus on translating findings into understandable, usable results and action steps for ministries and programs.

Her seminars and teaching materials include practical ways to manage by results and to use program evaluation and logic models to increase effectiveness and achieve goals.  She has also developed publications on performance management, such as Lessons Learned in Strategic Planning, and contributed articles to various performance management publications.  

From 1989 through 2004, she served in three agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and at the Department level itself as HHS Strategic Planning Director.  She represented the Department of Health and Human Services and the United States Government nationally and internationally, presenting aspects of Results Management at conferences and symposia.  Recent Results Management projects include:

• Serves as the link between "art and science" in Program Evaluation for ministries and several Community Based Abstinence Education Program grantees across the nation.  Provide program evaluation training, translating evaluation findings into practical, applicable steps for grantees, etc.
• Developing on-site review protocols for Runaway and Homeless Youth programs.
• Technical Assistance and Training in Measuring Program Results (outcomes measurement, program evaluation, and logic modeling) for Abstinence Education grantees (also wrote a Training Module book on these topics - see Pal-Tech link below).
• Program Evaluation and PART (Program Assessment Rating Tool) consultations for Administration for Children and Families.
• Logic Modeling and integrating/communications workshop for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Child Care Development Fund projects to coordinate in common areas of service.
• Logic Model consultations for Illinois/DuPage County's Wait4YourMate Abstinence Education program, California's Await and Find program, and several other grantees.

Program evaluation and governmental performance management for human services programs are Vinita's primary areas of focus.  She has interdisciplinary Doctorate and Master’s degrees in Policy Sciences, Qualitative and Quantitative focus, specializing in human services, family & youth ministries, and government program management. 

Highlights of International Consulting

In Seoul, South Korea – participation in government forums (discussion and consideration of options for formulation of Policy) and formal presentations to the Government Ministry and representatives from other countries) on methods in the United States concerning the field of performance management & measurement.  Her areas of discussion focused on program evaluation, planning, and logic modeling (in general, with human services as an example, and as it applies to transportation-related and other Korean programs).  Submitted written articles and other material, which was translated and published in Korean.  (Fall 2003)

In Seoul and Jechin, Korea –  South Korea’s “International Seminar of Evaluation System of Social Services.”  Presentations and participating in joint sessions with University School of Social Work and Government Ministry on program evaluation and methods to assess human services and social work programs (in the United States, as benchmarking, and how that relate to methods and social work programs in Korea).  Was the sole representative from the United States.  Formal and informal presentations and discussions included the Program Assessment Rating Tool; definition of process, output, and outcome indicators; and the role and importance of program evaluation.  All written materials were translated into Korean for a published book in both Korean and English.  (October 2004)

For China, Russia/the Ukraine, Canada, Great Britain, etc.:  Shared extensively the methods in the United States in presentations and responses to questions of government officials regarding program evaluation, outcomes/results definition and development, and the Program Assessment Rating Tool and how it was developed, is applied, and how it affects (and might affect) program funding and policy decisions.