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Implementation Measurement for Evidence-Based Violence Prevention Programs in Communities

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Abstract

Increasing attention to the evaluation, dissemination, and implementation of evidence-based programs (EBPs) has led to significant advancements in the science of community-based violence prevention. One of the prevailing challenges in moving from science to community involves implementing EBPs and strategies with quality. The CDC-funded National Centers of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention (YVPCs) partner with communities to implement a comprehensive community-based strategy to prevent violence and to evaluate that strategy for impact on community-wide rates of violence. As part of their implementation approach, YVPCs document implementation of and fidelity to the components of the comprehensive youth violence prevention strategy. We describe the strategies and methods used by the six YVPCs to assess implementation and to use implementation data to inform program improvement efforts. The information presented describes the approach and measurement strategies employed by each center and for each program implemented in the partner communities. YVPCs employ both established and innovative strategies for measurement and tracking of implementation across a broad range of programs, practices, and strategies. The work of the YVPCs highlights the need to use data to understand the relationship between implementation of EBPs and youth violence outcomes.

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Funding

The activities described were supported by the National Centers of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention Program funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under Funding Opportunity Announcement CE10-004, Cooperative Agreement Program for the National Academic Centers of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA

    Greta M. Massetti & Kristin M. Holland

  2. University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Deborah Gorman-Smith

Authors
  1. Greta M. Massetti
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  2. Kristin M. Holland
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  3. Deborah Gorman-Smith
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Correspondence to Greta M. Massetti.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Massetti, G.M., Holland, K.M. & Gorman-Smith, D. Implementation Measurement for Evidence-Based Violence Prevention Programs in Communities. J Community Health 41, 881–894 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-016-0156-z

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