Evaluation of community-based programs must proceed through methods different from those of traditional science. Several features of community-based interventions make experimental and traditional observational techniques unproductive. Principle among the limiting factors is the time required for programs to achieve results, the difficulty of measuring complex and highly variable goals, and the necessity of close cooperation of program operators and community members. Appropriate techniques emphasize case studies, focus on intermediate outcomes, and eliminating traditional boundaries betweem evaluation researchers and people with operational responsibilities. Examples of successful evaluation activities are available through current work with TCWF's Health Improvement Initiative (HII) and the California Endowment's Partnership for Public Health (PPH). In evaluation of both programs, a logic model-based case study approach is used, which captures the diversity of intervention focus and outcomes.
Learning Objectives: 1. To understand the special requirements of community-based program evaluation 2. To learn about key key techniques in evaluation of community-based partnerships
Keywords: Partnerships, Evaluation
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