The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69668

Mia Luluquisen, DrPH, MPH, RN¹, Elizabeth S. Maker, MPH¹, Kelly Nicole Nanney, MPH², and Sandra M Witt, DrPH¹. (1) Community Assessment Planning and Education Unit, Alameda County Public Health Department, 1000 Broadway, Suite 500, Oakland, CA 94607, 510-267-3224, miluluq@co.alameda.ca.us, (2) Office of the Director, Alameda County Public Health Department, 1000 Broadway, Suite 500, Oakland, CA 94607

Program evaluation of public health programs is a necessary function and set of activities towards achieving population health goals and desired programmatic outcomes. In many situations, however, evaluation is an after-thought to program planning and implementation, particularly when evaluation is not mandated. Moreover, public health staff in charge of programs may not have the requisite skills, resources, familiarity, and desire to conduct program evaluation. Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) has taken steps towards building capacity of program staff to plan, conduct and participate in evaluations. Over the past ten years, the ACPHD has worked with staff to plan and implement departmental-wide program evaluations, an internal evaluation of the Community Health Teams and an evaluation of an externally funded health disparities project. This paper examines ACPHD’s evaluation capacity building strategies and subsequent lessons learned from these efforts. Capacity building for program evaluation involves processes, strategies and provision of resources that enhance the knowledge, skills, problem-solving and decision-making abilities. Public health department program managers and staff have been provided with a series of trainings and ongoing technical assistance on writing measurable objectives and related outcomes, how to collect and analyze data and how to use evaluation results. Lessons learned from these efforts include understanding of the interrelatedness between staff readiness and their perception of the usefulness of evaluation; the importance of the role of the evaluator as coach and facilitator; and what processes and activities such as trainings, individual mentorship and technical assistance contribute to building capacity.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to:
• 1) Identify methods and activities with public health staff that increases their knowledge and skills in program planning and implementation and evaluation
• 2) Describe evaluators’ roles and strategies to build capacity in program evaluation for public health staff
• 3) Determine how to apply capacity building strategies for program evaluation in their own organizations.

Keywords: Evaluation, Professional Training

Related Web page: www.co.alameda.ca.us/publichealth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Alameda County Public Health Department
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employee of Alameda County Public Health Department