Empowerment evaluation involves a program’s stakeholders in designing and implementing
an evaluation of their own program, thus contributing to the program’s improvement and
self-determination (Fetterman, 1994, 1996). It appeared to be an appropriate approach for
evaluating a mental health drop-in center, which had congruent goals of collaboration and
self-sufficiency. However, encouraging ongoing participation among the stakeholders was challenging.
The evaluation process was adapted, with the evaluator designing and conducting
most of the evaluation but incorporating substantial input from the stakeholders throughout
the process. This involved careful attention to the evaluator’s roles, and decisions concerning
the depths of stakeholder versus evaluator participation at each step of the evaluation. Adaptations
to empowerment evaluation must consider the values of the program, as well as balance
the stakeholders’ needs for resources with their rights for autonomy.