Program Evaluation – Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center

Evaluation of the National Opioid Settlement in Arkansas

Rodney Wambeam — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 17:15:55 +0000

The evaluation of the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership (ARORP) involves the collection and analysis of process and outcome data related to the national opioid litigation settlement. Communities are funded to implement prevention, treatment, and recovery services across the state in an effort to abate the opioid crisis in Arkansas. WYSAC researchers are also conducting an evaluation of the transparency of the project to ensure settlement funding is used to directly impact the opioid crisis.

Evaluation of the Arkansas Federal Prevention Block Grant

Rodney Wambeam — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 17:14:36 +0000

The evaluation of the prevention block grant in Arkansas involves working thirteen regional prevention providers to gather process and outcome data at regional and county levels, as well as providing technical assistance and training across the state. In the upcoming year, WYSAC researchers are conducting a large study of youth mental health across the state of Arkansas.

South Carolina SWIFT Evaluation

Muneyuki Kato — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 17:12:52 +0000

The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services (SCDPPPS) is implementing the Specialized Caseloads’ Sanctions and Incentives Pilot Program (SWIFT) to enhance the supervision of domestic violence and sex offenders (https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/awards/15pbja-22-gk-01136-prjh). The SWIFT program uses Swift, Certain, and Fair (SCF) supervision principles to reduce recidivism and improve supervision outcomes. Our role as external evaluators involves conducting a process and outcome evaluation of the program.

Tualatin Together Partnerships for Success Evaluation

Emily A. Grant — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 17:20:53 +0000

This five-year project supports the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) process for coalitions in Tigard and Tualatin. The project focuses on enhancing community capacity, evaluating outcomes, and ensuring sustainable prevention strategies.
Key tasks include gathering and summarizing data, customizing tools for the SPF process, and tracking both process and outcome data to assess program success. Data collection includes stakeholder meetings, participant numbers, 30-day use surveys, and federally required evaluation measures. A comprehensive capacity assessment of coalitions will be conducted at key intervals.
Annual reports will be produced to detail progress, outcomes, and coalition capacity, with a final evaluation report at the project’s end. Regular presentations to coalitions and tailored training and technical assistance will help strengthen evaluation practices, sustain effective policies, and improve coalition performance.
This comprehensive approach ensures ongoing evaluation, capacity building, and the development of evidence-based prevention strategies in these communities.

iMPRoVE Pilot Project

Emily A. Grant — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 17:14:14 +0000

The goal of this project is four-fold: (1) to increase partnership among WYSAC, the Wyoming VOCA assistance and compensation administrator, and the Victim Service Providers to improve the collection, understanding, and reporting of data; (2) to pilot the use of iMPRoVE with 9 Victim Service Providers in Wyoming; (3) to explore the potential for local programs to use iMPRoVE dashboards to tell their data stories; and (4) to explore potential uses of iMPRoVE at the state
level, including how it can inform and support strategic planning and grant administration.

Wyoming Homeless Services Gap Analysis

Emily A. Grant — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 17:38:31 +0000

This project, in partnership with the Wyoming Continuum of Care (WYCoC), aims to review and improve homelessness services in Wyoming. We will assess the current state of services, identify unmet needs, and conduct a gap analysis to determine where improvements are needed. Insights will be gathered from service providers and individuals with lived experience, while national best practices and peer community successes will inform the process.

Through virtual workshops with stakeholders, we will co-create strategies to address critical service gaps, prioritize actions, and establish benchmarks for ongoing evaluation. The final strategy report will provide evidence-based recommendations to enhance Wyoming’s homelessness service system and align it with community values and needs.

Arkansas 2024 State Opioid Response Grant

Rodney Wambeam — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 21:27:27 +0000

WYSAC is the evaluator of the 2024 State Opioid Response (SOR) program for the state of Arkansas. This 3-year program, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), supports prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services for opioid and other substance use disorders. Arkansas will seek to develop comprehensive strategies to reduce overdose deaths and improve care for opioid and stimulant misuse across the state.

Wyoming State Opioid Response Grant Evaluation and Quality Improvement Analysis

Matthew Wagner — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 21:25:46 +0000

WYSAC has been chosen to assess the implementation and outcomes of the 2024 State Opioid Response (SOR) Grant for the State of Wyoming. Included in this evaluation is a comprehensive analysis of past data related to opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment and prevention programs.

Evaluation of New Mexico’s Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program

Humphrey Costello — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 21:21:25 +0000

WYSAC provides evaluation services to the New Mexico Department of Health’s Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program (HDSPP). HDSPP and its partners work with communities, health systems, health care providers and other organizations across the state to implement activities that improve quality of care as it relates to blood pressure and cholesterol control. . WYSAC supports HDSPP by providing technical assistance and evaluation services, including: support in identifying populations that suffer a disproportionate burden of disease or that face challenges accessing care; providing technical assistance in developing workplans that align with CDC goals and guidance; assuring continuous quality improvement; and supporting the Program in meeting CDC reporting requirements.

Evaluation of New Mexico’s Diabetes Prevention and Control Program

Ahad Zwooqar — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 21:19:01 +0000

WYSAC provides evaluation services to the New Mexico Department of Health’s Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (DPCP). DPCP seeks to reduce the burden of type 2 diabetes and its complications among New Mexicans through proven prevention and self-management education services, community-based and health system partnerships, and training for health care professionals. WYSAC supports DPCP by providing technical assistance and evaluation services, including: support in identifying populations that suffer a disproportionate burden of disease or that face challenges accessing care; providing technical assistance in developing workplans that align with CDC goals and guidance; assuring continuous quality improvement; and supporting the Program in meeting CDC reporting requirements.

Comprehensive Evaluation of the New Mexico Nicotine Use Prevention and Control Program

Humphrey Costello — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 21:14:59 +0000

The New Mexico Department of Health’s Nicotine Use Prevention and Control Program (NUPAC) aims to reduce the harmful effects of commercial nicotine and tobacco use across the state. This program focuses on preventing youth initiation of nicotine products, promoting cessation among users, and reducing exposure to secondhand smoke. It uses a comprehensive approach involving education, policy advising, and community outreach. NUPAC supports initiatives such as Quit Now/Dejelo YA, a free resource offering counseling in English and Spanish along with nicotine replacement therapies to help residents quit smoking or vaping. Additionally, the program partners with schools, healthcare providers, and local governments to create smoke-free environments and promote healthier lifestyles.
The Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center (WYSAC) supports NUPAC by using guidelines provided by the CDC to help establish and track the progress toward the program’s goals. WYSAC provides comprehensive evaluation of New Mexico’s Nicotine Use Prevention and Control Program and plays a critical role in supporting NUPAC leadership by providing technical assistance and updates on the Tobacco Program Evaluation Framework and helping guide workplan development and implementation. WYSAC also provides broad technical assistance and professional development support. Our contributions include analyzing quitline follow-up survey and administrative data, producing reports on the ever-changing landscape of nicotine use in New Mexico, delivering presentations to stakeholders, and developing surveys and reports for contractor organizations to ensure continuous quality improvement.

Evaluation of the 2023 North Dakota Strategic Prevention Framework Partnerships for Success

Eric Canen — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 21:03:34 +0000

The 2023 North Dakota Strategic Prevention Framework Partnerships for Success (SPF-PFS) Evaluation and Data Technical Assistance Project is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and administered in collaboration with the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. The Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center (WYSAC) at the University of Wyoming serves as the independent evaluator and data analyst for the project, tasked with assessing performance and providing technical assistance around data to the state and funded communities.
This initiative aims to reduce alcohol misuse and its consequences among underserved populations, including college students, active-duty military personnel, and children of parents with mental illness (COPMI). Using SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), the project builds prevention capacity supporting up to five subrecipient communities that will implement evidence-based strategies tailored to local needs.
WYSAC’s evaluation plan includes both process and outcome assessments, focusing on the effectiveness of the implemented strategies and their impact on substance use behaviors and health outcomes. Data collection efforts will utilize surveys such as the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and National College Health Assessment (NCHA), along with administrative data sources like alcohol-related crime and vehicle crash reports. The evaluation results will guide ongoing prevention efforts and ensure alignment with state objectives and SAMHSA’s national prevention goals.