Module 5: Evaluation of Community Health Worker Programs
Evaluation is an important tool to determine how and why a program is effective. Evaluation can help diagnose challenges, determine where changes can be made, and inform decisions to improve a program. Many community health worker (CHW) programs are collecting some qualitative and/or quantitative data that can be used for evaluation purposes.
Even with limited data, it may be possible for rural programs to evaluate the following:
- Achievement of program objectives
- Effects of the CHW program on outcomes such as healthcare access and quality
- Effectiveness of processes and activities
- Opportunities for quality improvement
- Potential for program sustainability
For a detailed overview of program evaluation, see Evaluating Rural Programs in the Rural Community Health Toolkit.