Prevention Strategies: Strengthening Evidence-Informed Community Programs

Our Work

The E2A team, in partnership with Public Health Institute (CA), designed the evaluation of two sexual violence prevention programs in California and Ohio. The Ohio sexual violence prevention program focuses on changing social norms that support gender-based violence prevention. The program aims to engage men and increase their role in the promotion of non-violent relationships. The California program focuses on changing social norms through high school-based clubs for adolescent boys. Its curriculum is organized into three content areas: 1. Culture of violence, 2. Gender and media, and 3. Healthy relationships. Both programs also involve women and girls as fully engaged participants.

The mixed methods evaluation funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adopted a participatory approach with program staff from each site. The evaluation design included secondary analysis of program data, staff and participant interviews and focus groups, and primary survey data collection. The team used the CDC Essential Elements Framework to guide methods, instrument design, and recommendations. The elements reflect five core areas that inform an effective community mobilization strategy for sexual violence prevention programs. These elements include considerations regarding the program’s ability to increase awareness, call to action, guiding principles, program processes, and required technical expertise and leaders.

Our Impact

The evaluation resulted in revised program and process maps, key quantitative and qualitative findings per site, and recommendations to increase the effectiveness of sexual violence prevention strategies. Recommendations reflect community of practice, communications, and programmatic opportunities in California and Ohio.

Contributors

Lordi, N.¹, Freire, K.², Edwards, J.³, Vo, L.², Alford, A.³, Induni, M.¹, Cline, R.,Ortega, S.⁴, White, M.^4
1Public Health Institute (CA), ²National Network of Public Health Institutes, ³Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ⁴Community Partner

Contact Us

Questions about recommendations for advancing community programs and evidence-informed implementation? Contact us at evaluation@nnphi.org.

This project is funded by U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support FOA OT13‐1302.