Evaluability assessments of 25 interventions to prevent childhood obesity: What we did and how we did it

Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Evaluability assessments (EAs) provide a systematic way to determine if a program or policy is ready for rigorous evaluation and identifies what refinements may be needed prior to formal evaluation. This method gauges whether an initiative is plausible and feasible by identifying issues related to implementation of program components, assessing data systems and capacity to collect data, and determining whether key elements are consistent with theory to address childhood obesity. In 2007, the Early Assessment of Programs and Policies to Prevent Childhood Obesity project conducted EAs on selected interventions that demonstrate the potential to improve the eating habits and physical activity levels of children. Evaluators conducted EAs on 25 programs and policies that addressed the physical, economic, or social environment in preventing childhood obesity. These programs/policies fell under three focus areas: school district local wellness policies, after school/daycare programs or policies, and access to healthier foods in urban, low-income communities. We describe our methodology in implementing the EA process across the three focus areas and demonstrate the value of using a systematic process to conduct rapid assessments of multiple programs/policies. Investment in EAs can be a cost effective strategy to assess noteworthy practices, improve program implementation, and identify programs most suited to full-scale evaluation. Other public health professionals may consider utilizing EAs to further inform program planning, evaluation, and policy development.