Final answer:
The best description of participatory evaluation of a community program is that it engages beneficiaries to actively participate as "copilots" to ensure their needs are effectively met, exemplified by the transformative participatory evaluation approach used in the Housing First program on O'ahu. The correct option is c.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best description of participatory evaluation of a community program is that it involves beneficiaries of the project to be "copilots" so their needs are addressed.
This method, known as transformative participatory evaluation (T-PE), aims to empower individuals who often have little access to power, enabling them to have a hand in shaping the programs designed to assist them. Participatory evaluation aligns with the Housing First program principle of "consumer choice."
It ensures that feedback is integral to the program model and allows clients, who are the direct beneficiaries, to provide input and engage with community psychologist evaluators to ensure that services meet their needs effectively.
Using the Housing First program on O'ahu as an example, this approach fostered a cooperative relationship where program clients, staff, and evaluators worked together to tackle issues like social support, structure, and meaningful engagement, ultimately aiming to enhance participants' quality of life.
Thus, participatory evaluation is not merely about following examples or observational outside assessment; it actively involves stakeholders, especially the recipients of services, in the evaluation process to strengthen the program outcomes and relationships between all partners. The correct option is c.