EXTERNALLY FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS
Men Sustaining Change pilot and evaluation
Background
The UnitingCare Men’s Sustaining Change (MSC) program has been developed in response to some men's need for ongoing support after they have completed the 16-week core men's behaviour change program, Men Choosing Change (MCC). The MSC program is being piloted at Maroochydore, Sunshine Coast over a two-year period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2023. MSC aims to support Queensland families to be violence-free by embedding a changed culture where male peers role-model respectful relationships and support each other to sustain change. To understand the effectiveness of MSC, UnitingCare has commissioned a two-year evaluation led by QCDFVR.
Aim
The MSC evaluation aims to evidence the effectiveness of this program to inform policy and practice recommendations. UnitingCare wishes to understand the success of implementation (process evaluation) and outcomes for participants (outcomes evaluation) to provide lessons and insights, informing and strengthening processes and procedures for all men’s behaviour change programs.
Methods
The project uses a mixed-methods, phased and participatory approach.
Phase 1 involves a co-design workshop with UnitingCare and external stakeholders to review the evaluation framework. Drawing on comprehensive program monitoring data (ongoing) the evaluation will initially examine the establishment of the pilot to identify what worked well. Phase 2 will further examine the implementation of the pilot (staff and stakeholder interviews) to identify what is working well and areas to refine. In addition, the immediate and medium-term outcomes for the MSC participants and their partners, former partners and children will be explored (through feedback surveys, outcomes measurement tools and interviews).