IBC Local Evaluation
Your hub for Iowa Blueprint for Change evaluation updates. Here, you will meet the evaluation team, learn about the evaluation purpose and goals, and discover the latest updates and products from our team.
IBC Program Purpose
The Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) under the Iowa Workforce Development supports efforts by Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) to continue building upon the Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment (SWTCIE) program through the Iowa Blueprint for Change (IBC) project. IBC continues to promote and facilitate the transition into Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE). There were six main project objective aims driving the IBC project during federal fiscal year (FFY) 2024: 1) engage stakeholders, 2) use Direct Support Professional Registered Apprenticeship (RA) and pre-apprenticeship (PA) programs as project models, 3) support competitive integrated employment (CIE) for youth; 4) increase CIE attainment for Iowans with disabilities, 5) increase expectations of and demand for CIE, and 6) develop CIE supports as the preferred outcome for people with disabilities.
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IBC Evaluation Objectives
The local evaluation of the IBC project is led by the University of Iowa (UI) Center for Evaluation and Assessment (CEA). This evaluation follows a formative approach, gathering data to inform decision-making that supports the attainment of project outcomes, as well as a summative approach, collecting and monitoring data throughout project implementation to assess project outcomes in the final project year. The local evaluation workplan for the five-year project duration is comprised of local evaluation objectives that aim to provide formative project feedback and an assessment of project effectiveness for broader impact. In FFY 2024, progress was made towards five evaluation objectives. These objectives cover evaluation expectations for meeting attendance and facilitation, stakeholder surveys, data monitoring and technical support for propensity score matching, and the annual performance report (APR) and end-of-year annual performance report (EOYAPR).
Meet The Team
Dedication. Expertise. Impact.
Welcome to the Center for Evaluation and Assessment (CEA), the evaluation partner for the Iowa Blueprint for Change Project. Our team specializes in program evaluation and assessment, working collaboratively to enhance program effectiveness and support data-driven decision-making.​ With over 150 successful evaluations and more than $50 million in funding from organizations like the National Science Foundation, we bring extensive expertise in areas such as STEM education and K-12 policy impact.​ Committed to advancing best practices, we also provide professional training and publish research to empower organizations in effective evaluation design. At CEA, we strive to ensure the Iowa Blueprint for Change Project achieves its goals and creates meaningful statewide impacts.
