CONTENTS

Table of Contents
Introduction

1. Evaluation and the Program Planning Process
2. Data Analysis, or "What Do You Mean by That?"
3. Special Challenges in Evaluating Prevention Programs

Supplements
Resources

Evaluation for the Unevaluated:
Program Evaluation 102

Final Reports

Yes, those things in 3-inch ring binders that double as bookends! However, properly prepared evaluation reports should only serve as bookends in a well-deserved retirement. To get the most out of your evaluation report, you must make two key decisions up front:

1. Who is your audience? Is there more than one audience? For Cool After School, there were three different stakeholders who needed to understand the results of the evaluation: CSAP, Jack and his staff, and the local community.
2. What report format best suits your audience? For Cool After School, Jack found that a written report best met the City's needs, and the community was best served by an oral presentation of the key findings. Jack and his staff needed both the oral briefing and question-and-answer time with the evaluators and the written report for later study.

CSAP has extensive guidance on developing a three-part report:

1. Executive Summary is a brief description of all important aspects of your project and its outcomes.
2. Research Report summarizes what you have learned from this grant project.
3. Replication Manual is an "off the shelf" guide for replicating your project.

Another option is the outline below which is a useful starting point.

Or you can take a look at a more detailed sample outline.

In addition to the formal report, other good ways to get the information out are:

• Staff retreats
• Community meetings
• Press releases
• Fact sheets