MSW 513 POWERPOINT module 7

Introduction to Policy Evaluation in Public Health

Lesson 1 Summary Page 1

LESSON 1: OVERVIEW OF POLICY EVALUATION

This lesson introduced you to evaluation as it applies to policy. It provided a review of policy, the policy process, and the CDC Evaluation Framework, before presenting some considerations for policy evaluation.

The objectives for this lesson were

• Describe CDC’s definition of “policy”. • Identify elements of the policy process. • Define policy evaluation. • Describe considerations that distinguish

policy evaluation from program evaluation.

KEY POINTS

• At CDC, “policy” is defined as a law, regulation, procedure, administrative action, incentive, or voluntary practice of governments and other institutions.

• The CDC policy process can assist you in policy development and evaluation.

• A public health practitioner’s role in policy includes delivering evidence- based science to inform decision- making.

• Policy evaluation is the systematic collection and analysis of information to make judgments about contexts, activities, characteristics, or outcomes of one or more domain(s) of the policy process.

• Evaluation may inform and improve policy development, adoption, implementation, and effectiveness, and builds the evidence base for policy interventions.

• The CDC Evaluation Framework is a nonprescriptive tool for organizing the ongoing and iterative process of evaluation.

• Policy evaluation may be distinct from program evaluation in several ways:

o Identifying impacts

o Collecting data

o Working with stakeholders

o Complying with regulations

o Dealing with uncertainty