Serving Children With Special Social and Emotional Needs: A Practical Approach to Evaluating Prevention Programs in Schools and Community Settings

Prevention programs for young children are becoming more prevalent in schools and community centers. Practical evaluation methods are needed that can inform program design and implementation as well as assess a program's overall success. An evaluation model is presented that provides both program process and outcome information. The institutional and program conditions supportive of this type of evaluation and the limitations of this approach are discussed. A case example illustrates practical issues related to designing and implementing evaluations for prevention group projects for young children at risk for child abuse and neglect. Implications for educational and psychological consultation are discussed.