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Governor’s Prevention Initiative for Youth: Evaluation. Jane A. Ungemack, Dr.P.H. Evaluator University of Connecticut Health Center. Evaluation. Systematic efforts to collect and use information: Document program implementation Describe target populations/participants
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Governor’s Prevention Initiative for Youth: Evaluation Jane A. Ungemack, Dr.P.H. Evaluator University of Connecticut Health Center
Evaluation • Systematic efforts to collect and use information: • Document program implementation • Describe target populations/participants • Inform and improve program performance • Access program effectiveness • Increase accountability • Increase understanding
Governor’s Prevention Initiative for Youth Long-term Goal: Reduce substance use among adolescents Intermediate Goal: Reduce risk factors and increase protective factors for substance use in the individual, peer, family, school and community domains Target Group: 12-17 year old youth
Evaluation Approach Process evaluation: • documents program implementation and activities Outcome evaluation: • assesses program effects or impacts
Capacity-Building for Evaluation Science-basedapproach Evaluation and assessment as integral parts of the program design • Community-level • Program-level
Evaluation Team Relationship with Grantees • Training and technical assistance • Instruments and administration protocols • Consultation and collaboration • Statewide coordination
Grantee Responsibilities • Develop a program plan based on the logic model • Specify measurable program objectives • Cooperate and collaborate with UConn Evaluation Team • Coordinate community survey • Collect and submit process data • Collect and submit outcome data • Commit time and effort to evaluation activities
Assessing Community-Level Outcomes: CSAP Requirements School survey Use of core substance use, risk and protective factor measures
Community-Level Assessment: School Survey • Mandated • 7th-10th grade students • Representative sample (minimum n=500; 125/grade level) • Year 1 and Year 3 • First administration: February-April, 2000
School Survey • Self-administered during a classroom period • Anonymous and confidential • Parental consents • Sampling, instrument and administration protocols provided by UConn Evaluation Team
School Survey Measures • Demographic characteristics • Lifetime and current use of ATOD • Risk and protective factors • Limited community-specific items
School Survey Grantee responsibilities: • Planning/coordination with UConn Evaluation Team • Planning/coordination with school personnel • Instrument duplication • Data cleaning • Data entry • Analysis
Assessing Program-Level Outcomes: CSAP Requirements • Select a minimum of three programs (for each of three domains) • Measure program outcomes using core measures • Include a sufficient sample size for analysis • Collect pre- and post-test data
Program-Level Evaluation Process evaluation: • Document program implementation and activities Outcome evaluation: • Assess program outcomes
Program-Level Evaluation: Process Evaluation Each program will be responsible for reporting: • Prevention strategies • Types of activities • Dosage • Number served • Participant characteristics (age, gender, race/ethnicity, etc.).
Process Evaluation • Minimum Data Set (MDS) • Instruments, protocols, and training provided by the UConn Evaluation Team
Program-Level Evaluation:Outcome Evaluation • Based on the logic model, identify measurable objectives that you will address in your program • Program objectives should be selected from one or more of the risk/protective factors included in the RFP list of Connecticut Intermediate Outcomes
Outcome Evaluation • UConn Evaluation Team staff will work with each grantee to finalize program-specific objectives and measures • All grantees will be asked to participate in a pre/post-test assessment of age-eligible participants as appropriate
Outcome Evaluation Pre- and Post-Test Assessments • Youth participation will be voluntary • Confidential • Informed consents • Standardized instrument plus optional program-specific items • Minimum sample size = 50
Considerations for Estimating Evaluation Costs • Personnel (.25 FTE minimum recommended) • Computer equipment • Photocopying • Office supplies • Data collection and cleaning • Data entry
Evaluation Themes for the Governor’s Prevention Initiative • Evaluation at all levels • Science-based • Capacity-building • Collaboration • Coordination • Sustainability