Steps to a Healthier WA - Evaluation Assessment - Washington State Dept of Health

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The evaluation of the Steps to a Healthier WA program uses a participatory model. This means that community members work together with the funded community agencies and the State Department of Health to design and implement the evaluation, and to use this information to improve the project results. Although collaborative approaches require more time from a larger number of people, the end product is more accurately reflective of a variety of perspectives, useful to those who need it and supported by a wider group of constituents because they took part in it.

Evaluation of the Steps to Healthier WA program includes measuring 3 key types of outcomes.

	Long-term outcomes in prevalence of diseases and related risk behaviors.
	Intermediate and short-term outcomes which identify knowledge and attitude changes among individuals and policy makers.
	Changes in the way disease prevention and risk reduction programs operate relative to each other within the state Department of Health and in funded communities.

These data are tracked through established surveillance systems where possible.

	The Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a telephone survey that collects information to describe a variety of health indicators among adults.
	The Washington State Healthy Youth Survey is a school-based survey of youth that measures a variety of risk and protective factors, including Steps to a Healthier WA-related indicators.

Relying on existing data collection systems is an efficient use of resources, and minimizes the burden of data collection on Washington citizens.

New data collection systems will be established when necessary.

We are working to enhance or establish surveillance systems to capture changes in rules and practices that affect health in communities, schools, worksites and healthcare systems. These data systems may include:

	Surveys of system administrators (principals, human resource managers),
	Key informant interviews with leaders (public policymakers, health clinic managers),
	Observational studies ('walking assessments" of built environments in communities).

Steps to a Healthier WA will continually track the degree of integration among programs related to the Steps to a Healthier WA objectives and programs that focus on chronic disease prevention typically operating within our schools, communities, worksites, and healthcare systems. Historically, isolated funding and management structures have been a barrier to collaboration among staff and programs. The Steps to a Healthier WA initiative will enhance integration of programs and assess the extent to which planning and implementation of activities may become more collaborative