Process Evaluation of OJJDP''s CSEC Program in Atlanta

Georgia State University plans to conduct a formative evaluation of OJJDP's Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Demonstration Project in Fulton County/Atlanta. The applicant plans to use an empowerment evaluation strategy to achieve four objectives. First, this project will gather data (using interviews, field observation, and focus groups with CSE victims and members of the Collaborative) on the nature and extent of CSEC, in order to better assess the needs of CSEC victims, as well as the operational capacity and needs of the Collaborative. Second, this project will review, refine, and update the Collaborative's original goals and objectives, and using a logic model, will identify measurable outcomes to evaluate ongoing progress. Third, this evaluation will review the Collaborative's current data management system to assess its provision of performance measures and identify mechanisms to improve the quality of data collection to enhance sharing of information across agencies. As well, on-going technical assistance will be provided to enhance data collection to ensure that it informs the Collaborative of its progress. Finally, this project will coordinate with the evaluation of New York's demonstration project to identify model strategies and practices to address the problem of CSEC and to disseminate information for use by practitioners, policy makers, researchers and the public. CA/NCF