Evaluation results are used to improve programs, sustain
positive outcomes, and improve the community’s overall plan for
addressing substance abuse and promoting wellness. But they can
be used for other reasons as well, such as to help obtain
funding and to build community awareness and support for
prevention. So evaluation results need to get into the hands of
the people who can use them. Keep in mind that organizations
don’t use evaluation results; people do. The Department of
Health, for example, isn’t going to use the results of an
evaluation, but “Cathy Smith” in the Department of Health may.
So, unless you get the results of the program evaluation into
her hands and explain how she can use the results, they will sit
on a shelf somewhere in the Department of Health. Follow these
general guidelines for reporting your results: - Brief
stakeholders throughout the process — Try to avoid surprising
your stakeholders with the results of your evaluation. Brief
them along the way, rather than waiting until the e