Evaluation Resources & Results

Highlighting the Role of Peers in the Overdose Crisis: A Participatory Evaluation of Phase Three of OPEN

The most recent OPEN phase, known as "OPEN Phase 3", included a robust participatory evaluation process. This process was led by an Evaluation Steering Committee (ESC) comprised of peers and service providers representing OPEN-funded communities, and CAI staff. The ESC's task was to identify and summarize the scope of work peers are leading in reducing harm and preventing overdoses, OPEN's successes and community impact, and community-identified gaps in peer support. The results are shared below, including the evaluation full results, the executive summary and a four page infographic summary:

CESBC Webinar: Nothing About Us Without Us: Using a Participatory and Equitable Approach to Evaluating an Overdose Prevention Project

There’s a lot of interest in equitable evaluation these days, but what does it actually look like on the ground? The Community Action Initiatives’s Overdose Prevention and Education Network Project actively involved peer harm reduction workers, as people with lived and living experience, in the design and implementation of its evaluation. Check out the webinar and Q&A above where we share some of the benefits and challenges experienced using this approach as well as lessons learned.