A systematic approach for program evaluation: National evaluation of the National Cancer Institute Community Networks Program

In 2005, the National Cancer Institute Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities launched the Community Networks Program to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities through Education, Research, and Training (CNP). The goals of the 5-year CNP are to significantly increase access to and utilization of beneficial cancer interventions in communities with cancer health disparities and to provide a cadre of well-trained researchers who will continue to reduce disparities in communities. Framed by the community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, 25 awardee institutions across the U.S. have implemented a variety of strategies to help reduce disparities in cancer awareness, prevention and screening. The CNP is implemented in three overlapping phases, with each phase continuing through the end of the program once initiated. The national evaluation of the CNP employs a multi-step process to assess the implementation and effectiveness of the program across its three phases. Participatory techniques are utilized to obtain input from the CNP grantees into the conceptualization and development of data collection strategies. A separate logic model developed for each program phase serves as the basis for development of the data collection tools. Each model links the phase-specific program objectives to activities, outputs and outcomes. Antecedent and contextual variables are also accounted for. This presentation will examine the process of developing and implementing the CNP national evaluation, with a focus on describing the collaborative process and the evaluation feedback loop to inform program improvement. Findings from Phase I and II data collection to date also will briefly be presented.