55 - Reporting evaluation findings and ensuring use of results: Applying a multimodal approach to build the writing capacity of evaluators at state and local levels to disseminate evaluation findings

Abstract Information: Disseminating evaluation findings effectively is essential for ensuring use of results and replication of programmatic approaches and interventions. Evaluators are uniquely positioned to generate valuable practice-based evidence from evaluations of public health interventions. However, evaluators may face various challenges with dissemination, including time constraints and resource limitations, or may lack the scientific writing skills needed to share their evaluation findings with the broader public health field. Evaluators from government funded programs face similar challenges with disseminating their evaluation findings. To address these challenges, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP) partnered with the National Network of Public Health Institute (NNPHI) in 2020 to enhance the writing capacity of DHDSP-funded recipients to effectively translate and disseminate their evaluation findings. The project team and NNPHI consulted with DHDSP evaluation technical assistance (TA) providers, subject matter experts, and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) to develop tailored multimodal capacity-building activities. These activities included writing workshops, resource documents, one-to-one writing coaching sessions, online peer-to-peer discussions, an online toolkit, and two supplemental issues in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice (JPHMP). This collaborative approach, with the incorporation of recipient feedback, helped with tailoring content, gathering feedback on DHDSP’s efforts, and understanding recipient evaluation TA needs.  We assessed recipient engagement and satisfaction with the activities, perceived writing knowledge, confidence, and recipient benefits to disseminating evaluation findings. Data sources included workshop Zoom polls, the NACDD Evaluation Peer Network recipient survey, and testimonials from recipients and evaluation TA providers. Most participants were engaged in and satisfied with the multimodal activities. Across eight workshops, participants reported increased knowledge (≥ 94%) and enhanced confidence in writing (≥ 98%). Most participants (83%) reported that disseminating evaluation findings improved program implementation. This presentation discusses the paper entitled, “Increasing the writing capacity and dissemination of evaluation findings among US public health practitioners funded to improve cardiovascular health” that will be published in JPHMP. The presentation will highlight how DHDSP partnered with NNPHI to launch a comprehensive writing support project, as well as the project’s process, findings, and tangible outputs that helped to amplify recipients’ voices in shaping and tailoring the multimodal activities. Attendees will also learn about DHDSP's unique approach to extending technical assistance and providing evaluation support that enhances recipients' writing capacity to effectively disseminate their evaluation findings and ensure use of results.