Program Evaluation in Public Health

Catalog description

There are many public health programs developed to promote change. The question most funders, participants, and organizations have for public health programs is: Did it work? And how do we know? This course is designed to review the principles of identifying short-term, mid-term, and long-term outcomes and methods of measurement, with a focus on equity in evaluation. Students learn about the application of data collection skills to all phases of developing a public health program or service innovation, from stakeholder engagement to analysis of findings to implementation of changes based on results. Students learn to appreciate how these skills can be used as practical tools for identifying public health problems, program development, program implementation, including taking a reflective practice approach, ensuring equity and fairness in program delivery (i.e. combating disparities), and generally promoting public health through effective and efficient programmatic efforts. Students will participate in a field exercise by developing an evaluation plan for a local nonprofit program.