Evaluation Research Program

The evaluation research program of the UW Population Health Institute conducts program evaluations and evaluation research studies related to population health policies and programs. We work with a broad range of partners at the state, tribal and community levels across many sectors of relevance to population health. The program is a continuation of the work of the former Center for Health Policy and Program Evaluation (CHPPE).

The Center for Health Policy and Program Evaluation

The Center for Health Policy and Program Evaluation (CHPPE) became an officially designated Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1984. The Center was founded by then Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences David Kindig, MD, PhD, his Associate Vice Chancellor Jay Noren, MD, MPH, and a core group of multi-disciplinary faculty. Originally emphasizing health policy research, CHPPE evolved into a unique group of professionals providing program planning and evaluation, applied research, and rigorous evaluation research studies for a wide range of community and governmental organizations.

During 20 years of independent operation, CHPPE conducted evaluation and applied research of public health, behavioral health, and human service programs, with particular emphasis on Wisconsin-specific issues. CHPPE worked with a wide variety of community, state, and tribal partners to improve and evaluate programs, services and delivery systems, and to increase knowledge of evaluation techniques. CHPPE developed strong relationships with state agencies, tribal organizations, and local programs. The results of these collaborations have benefited children, families, senior citizens, human service and medical professionals, and individuals involved in the criminal justice system. Through an approach that stresses collaboration, formative feedback, and program improvement many interventions have been strengthened and many models of service provision have been refined. We also conducted a number of rigorous randomized trials of promising preventive interventions for children and families, adolescents, and the elderly.

In 2004, CHPPE merged with the Wisconsin Public Health and Health Policy Institute; the integrated organization was subsequently renamed the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (UWPHI). CHPPE staff brought program evaluation expertise to the Institute by providing a much expanded program planning, evaluation and evaluation research component. Thus CHPPE's work continues as we provide the same high quality applied research expertise to our partners under our new organizational structure as the Evaluation Research Program of the UWPHI.

Current and Recent Activities

Wisconsin Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS)

• Diabetes Quality Improvement Project
• Evidence-Based Practices and Monitoring for Healthiest Wisconsin 2010
• Surveillance and Evaluation Program, Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Control Program (Collaboratively with the UW Comprehensive Cancer Center)
• Report: Healthiest Wisconsin 2010: A Partnership Plan to Improve the Health of the Public - A mid-term assessment of Transformation
• Report: Healthiest Wisconsin 2010: A Partnership Plan to Improve the Health of the Public - Mid-Term Key Informant Interviews

Wisconsin Bureau of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS)

• State Epidemiologic Outcomes Workgroup project
• Report: Impact of Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use in Wisconsin
• Report: Wisconsin's Epidemiological Profile on Alcohol and Other Drug Use 2006

Wisconsin Department of Corrections

• Evaluation of MICA Program
• Evaluation of Earned Release Program

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

• Evaluation for Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Data Project
• Evaluation of HIV/AIDS/STI Programs
• Evaluation of Movin' Schools Program

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention and Surveillance Program (Joint program with Department of Family Medicine)

Great Lakes InterTribal Council (GLITC)

• Honoring Our Children (Healthy Start)
• HIV/AIDS Prevention Program Evaluation

U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance

• Evaluation of Sawyer County Drug Court
• Report: Sawyer County First Step Initial Evaluation Report - Executive Summary
• Report: Sawyer County First Step Initial Evaluation Report - Full Report

National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• Recovery Schools as Continuing Care for Adolescent Substance Abuse
• Randomized Trial of Families and Schools Together

MCW Blue Cross/Blue Shield Partnership Funds

• Wisconsin Injury Prevention Coalitions - subcontract from Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW)

United Way of Dane County

• Healthcare Access Pilot (HAP) - Evaluation Component