Key Terms

accuracy standards

benchmarks that substantiate that program evaluation methods, data, and documentation are appropriate and contain accurate information

effectiveness

ability of a community program to achieve the desired outcome in real-life settings

efficacy

maximum potential effect under ideal conditions

efficiency

occurs when the effect of program interventions, or outputs, are greater than the resources, or inputs, used to provide the interventions

facilitator

person or thing that makes implementation of program interventions and activities easier

feasibility standards

benchmarks involving the consideration of resources, which include money, time, and effort, that are available to conduct program evaluation

formative evaluation

an assessment that occurs during program development to confirm that program interventions are feasible and appropriate

impact evaluation

an assessment to determine the degree to which the community health program has achieved its primary goal

outcome evaluation

an assessment of the extent to which the program achieves its objectives within the target population and the effect the program has on the target populations’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors

plain language

communication that is visually appealing, logically organized, appropriate for the intended audience, and understandable at the first reading

process evaluation

an assessment focused on program implementation processes in order to determine if the program has been implemented as planned and in the most efficient way

program evaluation

ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, and use of data to examine program efficacy, effectiveness, and efficiency to make decisions about current and future health programs

propriety standards

criteria used to confirm that program evaluation is fair and ethical

recruitment

finding community members from the target population to participate in a community health program

retention

continued participation in a community health program until completion

sustainability

continuation of community health programs by decreasing dependence on one source of funding and shifting to a new funding stream because the program is valued, cost and resource efficient, effective, and supported by the community

utility standards

specifications for determining who needs evaluation information, what information is needed, the purpose of evaluation, and how the information will be used