Evaluating partnerships to prevent and manage chronic disease (2009)

To be effective and sustain themselves over time, public-private partnerships must make evaluation a priority.

Specifically, partnerships should evaluate

1. their infrastructure, function, and processes;
2. programs designed to achieve their mission, goals, and objectives; and
3. changes in health and social status, organizations, systems, and the broader community.

This article describes how to 

1. develop a comprehensive evaluation strategy based on partnership theory; 
2. select short-term, intermediate, and long-term indicators to measure outcomes; 
3. choose appropriate methods and tools; and 
4. use evaluation results to provide accountability to stakeholders and improve partnership function and program implementation.