Building TEAMS for Evaluation: The Tobacco Evaluation and Management System

Audience:

 Health departments, policymakers, evaluators, funders, program managers

 

Key Points:

Tracking the efforts and outcomes of comprehensive state tobacco prevention programs is paramount to overcoming the epidemic and documenting program impact, particularly in tight financial times.  We discuss lessons learned in streamlining program evaluation and program management reporting systems, using a real-world example from a North Carolina Tobacco Program.  The web-based Tobacco Evaluation and Management System (TEAMS) is used to evaluate the North Carolina Teen Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Initiative, a key component of youth-focused tobacco prevention initiative since 2003. This innovative database is structured around best practices from CDC comprehensive logic models.  Evaluators and program managers use TEAMS to monitor programmatic changes, evaluate program processes, collect outcome data, and make rapid program improvements.  This dual evaluation and management focus facilitates the monitoring of efforts and outcomes from 43 grantees, the services provided by 12 technical assistance providers, and reduces reporting burden for both.  We demonstrate the database and provide lessons learned for other state efforts to monitor and evaluate statewide programs.

 

Educational Experience:

Participants will have the opportunity to view a demonstration of the database and learn about components that may be valuable for their data collection and analysis needs.

 

Benefits:

Policymakers, funders, and program managers rely heavily on accurate and comprehensive data to make informed decisions. Accountability of programmatic activities and outcomes are paramount to a program’s longevity and success. We discuss TEAMS as a potential program evaluation tool for a comprehensive statewide public health prevention program.