title: Using a participatory evaluation design to create an online data collection and monitoring system for New Mexico's Community Health Councils.
abstract: We present the collaborative development of a web-based data collection and monitoring plan for thirty-two county councils within New Mexico's health council system. The monitoring plan, a key component in our multiyear participatory statewide evaluation process, was co-developed with the end users: representatives of the health councils. Guided by the Institute of Medicine's Community, Health Improvement Process framework, we first developed a logic model that delineated processes and intermediate systems-level outcomes in council development, planning, and community action. Through the online system, health councils reported data on intermediate outcomes, including policy changes and funds leveraged. The system captured data that were common across the health council system, yet was also flexible so that councils could report their unique accomplishments at the county level. A main benefit of the online system was that it provided the ability to assess intermediate, outcomes across the health council system. Developing the system was not without challenges, including creating processes to ensure participation across a large rural state; creating shared understanding of intermediate outcomes and indicators; and overcoming technological issues. Even through the challenges, however, the benefits of committing to using participatory processes far outweighed the challenges.
authors.affiliation: Family & Community Medicine, Public Health Program, MSC 09_5060, 1 University of New Mexico 87131, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Allen-Ananins
authors.forename: Y B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Cruz
mesh_terms: D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000458:organization & administration; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D006265:Health Care Coalitions / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006286:Health Planning Councils / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009516:New Mexico; D016730:Program Development
keywords: Community coalitions; Intermediate outcomes; Logic model; Participatory evaluation; Program evaluation; Web-based reporting