title: New Mexico Community Health Councils: Documenting Contributions to Systems Changes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Coalition research has shifted from delineating structures and processes to identifying intermediate, systems changes (e.g., changes in policies) that contribute to longterm community health improvement.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The University of New Mexico, the New Mexico Department of Health, and community health councils entered a multiyear participatory evaluation process to answer: What actions did health councils take that led to improving health through intermediate, systems changes?
  
  
  METHODS
  The evaluation system was created over several phases through an iterative, participatory process. Data were collected for councils' health priority areas (e.g., substance abuse) from 2009 to 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three community health councils participated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intermediate systems changes were measured: 1) networking and partnering, 2) joint planning of strategies, programs, and services, 3) leveraging resources, and 4) policy initiatives.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Health councils reported data for each intermediate outcome by health priority area. Data showed councils identified local public health priorities and addressed those priorities through strengthening networks and partnerships, which lead to the creation and enhancement of strategies, services, and programs. Data also showed councils influenced policies in several ways (e.g., developing policy, identifying new policy, or sponsoring informational forums). Additionally, data showed councils leveraged $1.10 for every dollar invested by the state. When funding was suspended in July 2010, data showed dramatic decreases in activity levels from 2010 to 2011.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data demonstrate the feasibility and utility of an Internet-based system designed to gather intermediate systems changes evaluation data. This process is a model for similar efforts to capture common outcomes across diverse coalitions and partnerships.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hale
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006285:Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006291:Health Policy; D006292:Health Priorities; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D009516:New Mexico; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control; D011635:Public Health Administration; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy