Toolkit
  1. INTRODUCTION TO THE TOOLKIT

  2. INTRODUCTION TO EVALUATION

  3. PLAN YOUR EVALUATION

  4. IMPLEMENT YOUR EVALUATION

Framework Components

The CDC's Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health is an excellent guide for designing and conducting evaluations across a wide range of health-related activities and programs. The diagram below illustrates the framework's six components:

  • Engage stakeholders: Involve people who are connected to or have an interest (a "stake") in your program.
  • Describe the program: Organize and write down information about your program.
  • Focus the evaluation design: Choose aspects of the program to evaluate and formulate the questions the evaluation will answer.
  • Gather evidence: Gather data about the program that will answer your evaluation questions.
  • Justify conclusions: Compare the results to the goals and expectations for what the program was to accomplish.
  • Use and share findings: Tell stakeholders what you found in your evaluation and use that information to make more effective decisions about your program.

CDC Framework for Program Evaluation

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Office of the Associate Director for Program—Program Evaluation (2011, Aug. 3). A framework for program evaluation. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/eval/framework/

As you may have noticed, the CDC diagram illustrates the six components as a cyclical process. Some components may happen simultaneously or continuously. For example, you engage stakeholders at the start of the process, but they should also be involved continuously throughout your evaluation.

(Modified from NWC Program Evaluation in Environmental Health Module) Northwest Center for Public Health Practice (2011). Program evaluation in environmental health.