ABSTRACT
Evaluation procedures can become very technical and require expertise far beyond the average trainer. As a result, when those procedures are used by unskilled peer program professionals, the evaluations frequently lack the quality needed to make valid judgments concerning the effectiveness of the program. In spite of several possible pitfalls, evaluation needs to be an integral part of the peer resource program. Evaluation should take place on two levels: overall program evaluation and constant evaluation of each trainee’s progress in each learned step of the program. Evaluating the effectiveness of the needs assessment procedures is best completed before the final program assessment, and evaluation of the assessment procedure’s effectiveness and accuracy can decidedly change the goals and purposes of a program. Effective evaluation, however, depends upon the rater being able to identify discrepant helpee behaviors before the rater can rate the helper’s ability to confront. In order to produce growth and confrontation should enhance the relationship.
