Three Years of Evaluating Community Tobacco Prevention Coalitions: Lessons Learned
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2006
School
Health Professions
Abstract
Though challenging, evaluation is essential for successful coalitions. In three years of annual evaluations of 30 tobacco prevention coalitions, lessons learned involve contracts, people (leaders, board members, oversight staff), and entire coalitions. Contracts should adjust within limits, include all work requirements, promote networking, and link directly to evaluation. Leaders need quarterly meetings and no numbers assigned to their performance. Board members, even youth, must be involved. Program monitors need practical or public health experience to provide encouragement with firmness. Fiscal monitors need financial acuity, fair-mindedness, communication skills, and a firm contract foundation. Program evaluators need people skills, program evaluation experience, and a coalition history. Coalitions improve nonlinearly, with awareness activities diminishing and programmatic activiites increasing, so evaluation should evolve also. Oversight agencies are influential, so should restrain from introducing many new requirements and avoid blinsiding leaders. Best evaluations are cooperative, collegial dialogs between evaluator(s) and the entire coalition.
Publication Title
International Quarterly of Community Health Education
Volume
24
Issue
4
First Page
331
Last Page
345
Recommended Citation
Reinert, B.,
Carver, V.,
Range, L. M.,
Pike, C.
(2006). Three Years of Evaluating Community Tobacco Prevention Coalitions: Lessons Learned. International Quarterly of Community Health Education, 24(4), 331-345.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/21109