Infrastructure Development Tools

Activity 7: Evaluation

Evaluation looks at what a program is about, including its goals and objectives, and seeks to learn whether these goals and objectives are being met. Effective program evaluation is a systematic way to improve and account for public health actions by using procedures that are useful, feasible, ethical, and accurate. It is important to integrate evaluation from the very beginning of program development to assess whether the state oral health program is meeting its goals and to identify ways to improve the program.

In day-to-day program evaluation, evaluators do the following:

• Consult stakeholders
• Define program goals
• State guiding questions
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data
• Form judgments
• Share lessons

An oral health program should seek expert assistance in planning and conducting its evaluation activities. When assembling an evaluation team, it is advisable for organizations, even those that have access to evaluation expertise within their own staff, to collaborate with partners and take advantage of expertise in the community and local universities. A state oral health program also can benefit from using a logic model for developing its evaluation plan. See the Performance-based Oral Health Infrastructure Development Logic Model (Word–48K) and Sample Work Plan (PDF–120K).

The state oral health program can benefit greatly by seeking opportunities to share the results of program accomplishments, best practices, and lessons learned. This can be accomplished through participating in forums for exchanging ideas and identifying methods and avenues for dissemination through national conferences such as the National Oral Health Conference, as well as local- and state-supported forums (e.g., state summits or state dental and dental hygiene association meetings).

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Success Stories Workbook – This workbook titled Impact and Value: Telling Your Program's Story offers public health program managers practical steps for creating success stories that highlight their achievements.

Tips for Writing an Effective Success Story – Success stories are an opportunity to share a program’s achievements. Here are some tips for developing success stories.

Steps for Developing Logic Models (PDF–1.8M) – This PDF outlines different steps and approaches for constructing a logic model.

American Evaluation Association*– This international association’s members assess the strengths and weaknesses of programs, policies, personnel, products, and organizations to improve their effectiveness.

CDC's Framework for Program Evaluation  – This page summarizes and organizes the steps and standards for effective program evaluation, a systematic way to improve and account for public health actions.

CDC's Evaluation Efforts – Learn about how regular evaluation improves program effectiveness and supports CDC priorities.

W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Resource Page* – These resources provide a framework for thinking about evaluation as a relevant and useful program tool. It includes an evaluation toolkit and logic model development guide.

Workplans: A Program Management Tool (PDF–737K)  – This Division of Oral Health resource for grantees serves as a planning/management tool and as an important communication tool with CDC. It includes a tip sheet, case study, and oral health infrastructure development logic model.

Selected Bibliography on Logic Models (PDF–217K) – View a list of sources used to develop the program evaluation logic model.

One or more documents on this Web page are available in Microsoft® Word Format (DOC). You will need Word Viewer to view and print these documents.

One or more documents on this Web page is available in Portable Document Format (PDF). You will need Acrobat Reader to view and print these documents.

* Links to non-Federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at this link.

Page last reviewed: April 9, 2013
Page last modified: April 9, 2013
Content source: Division of Oral Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion