Most funders require some kind of data collection and reporting. However, there are many more reasons to collect and report data about peer respites. Evaluations provide information about a program’s impact and potential. Gathering information about program impact can help peer respite leadership demonstrate that their programs are really making a difference in peoples’ lives.
Sharing information with the community can be a powerful way to educate the public about peer respites and encourage community buy-in. This information supports the community to make decisions about the program.
The information you gather in a self-evaluation can also be used for quality improvement purposes: Understanding what works well and what doesn’t is a first step in ensuring the peer respite is reaching its goals and objectives.
Finally, by documenting the impact of your peer respite, you have a chance to contribute to the evidence base – research and results that show peer respites have a positive impact on peoples’ lives and on the communities in which they operate. As peer respites continue to expand throughout the country, there is an increasing need to demonstrate their impact. Information that shows the effectiveness of peer respites can help ensure that programs like this receive ongoing funding. This information also helps to make a case for opening new peer respites.