Program Evaluation:
Program evaluation is a process of assessing the
effectiveness of a program/intervention. Through my experiences, I have found
evaluation beneficial in helping identify the strengths and weaknesses of a
program. Evaluation occurs at various stages of a health program’s “life
cycle”. We as health educators evaluate the amenability of program objectives,
integrity of program plans, success of program implementation, and level of
program impact. Careful examination of each program component allows us to
recognize programmatic gaps that can later be adjusted to improve the program’s
success at generating healthy outcomes for the target population.
Throughout my time in this MPH program, I have gained a profound appreciation for community engagement; thus, I feel that the best program evaluations consider the opinions of all stakeholders and incorporate their feedback as part of the data findings within the final evaluation report. Those stakeholders are individuals who have either been involved with or affected by the implementation of the program. Often included are community leaders, local business owners, and community residents.
Those evaluation reports are ultimately used as guidance in revision of the program that was evaluated or to provide evidence as to why new programs should be developed and implemented.
Throughout my time in this MPH program, I have gained a profound appreciation for community engagement; thus, I feel that the best program evaluations consider the opinions of all stakeholders and incorporate their feedback as part of the data findings within the final evaluation report. Those stakeholders are individuals who have either been involved with or affected by the implementation of the program. Often included are community leaders, local business owners, and community residents.
Those evaluation reports are ultimately used as guidance in revision of the program that was evaluated or to provide evidence as to why new programs should be developed and implemented.
Not ON Tobacco (NOT) Program Evaluation Proposal
As part of my Program Evaluation course, I developed an evaluation proposal
that could be used to assess the Not On Tobacco (NOT) program of West Virginia,
which is aimed at reducing teen smoking rates. The proposal provides a
description of the program and objectives that it seeks to achieve.
I completed a logic model that outlines the methodology of the NOT program, pointing out the program inputs, outputs, and their corresponding outcomes. I chose to incorporate four methods of data collection into the evaluation plan (surveys, structured interviews, self-report logs, and direct observations), an evaluation crosswalk, reporting plan, detailed budget, and Gnatt chart timeline. The compiled program evaluation proposal is provided below.
I completed a logic model that outlines the methodology of the NOT program, pointing out the program inputs, outputs, and their corresponding outcomes. I chose to incorporate four methods of data collection into the evaluation plan (surveys, structured interviews, self-report logs, and direct observations), an evaluation crosswalk, reporting plan, detailed budget, and Gnatt chart timeline. The compiled program evaluation proposal is provided below.