Disparities in HIV disease continue to adversely affect Black and Hispanic populations in the United States. Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) 2010 in Broward County, Florida, used strategic communications to alert Black and Hispanic young adults of the serious threat and the choices they could make to prevent HIV infection. This study assessed the channels through which 18-39 year-old African American, Haitian, Afro-Caribbean, and Hispanic residents of 12 high AIDS-incidence ZIP-code areas obtained information about HIV/AIDS and which sources they found most helpful. In addition, this study examined how obtaining HIV/AIDS information was associated with histories of HIV testing and perceptions of risk. A secondary analysis of computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) data sets was conducted for first-time respondents (N=7,843) in 2001-2003, 2005, and 2007. All ethnicities identified obtaining HIV/AIDS information most frequently from television public service announcements, talk shows, and programs and considered this source “most helpful.” Radio was mentioned second most frequently by Haitian respondents, but African Americans and Caribbean Islanders preferred print media: newspapers and magazines. Use of the Internet increased by 22.4% from 2001 to 2007, but very few respondents regarded the Internet as “most helpful.” African Americans, Hispanics, and Caribbean Islanders who obtained HIV information from family or friends were more likely to believe that they might become infected with HIV. Caribbean Islanders who obtained information from a church were less likely to believe they were at risk. Among African American, Caribbean, and Hispanic young adults, obtaining information from a doctor or health provider was the best predictor for reporting ever being tested for HIV. African Americans who heard about AIDS on radio stations “HOT 105” and “99 Jamz” were more likely to have been tested for HIV, as were Haitians who saw something about AIDS on a billboard or bus. Comprehensive HIV-prevention programs should incorporate culturally competent communications components to inform Black and Hispanic young adults of scientific advances in prevention, treatment, and medical care. Further research should examine how diverse ethnic groups in south Florida and elsewhere are accessing and responding to health-related information in the digital age.

The thesis "Methodological context of evaluating the impact of the soft interventions from the EU Structural Funds: the application on the Operational Programme Human Resources and Employment" deals with the public expenditure programs as a tool for economic and regional policy. In connection with objective of this thesis, which is to evaluate the impact of soft interventions from OP HRE on the selected target groups, the thesis is focused on issues and experience with the evaluation of public expenditure programs in the Czech Republic. The actual evaluation of the impacts of the soft interventions from the OP HRE is made from two viewpoints microeconomic and macroeconomic. Based on the analysis there are identified the problems of evaluating the impact of the intervention on the target groups as well as their possible solutions.

O objeto deste estudo é a prevenção relacionada ao uso de drogas e dirigida aos adolescentes. Seu objetivo é avaliar políticas públicas na área. Particularmente, analisa-se um projeto de prevenção realizado nas escolas públicas do Estado de São Paulo de 91 a 94 - o Projeto Escola é Vida. Essa análise foi desenvolvida a partir de considerações sobre: a diversidade e complexidade das relações dos indivíduos com as drogas no mundo contemporâneo; e os processos de socialização dos adolescentes, sempre historicamente determinados. As considerações teóricas propõem que, para que a prevenção seja adequada, ela deve considerar a complementaridade entre duas abordagens sociológicas. Uma que se aproxima do problema da relação dos indivíduos com as drogas a partir das interações sociais que acontecem no âmbito microssocial. E outra, que coloca em evidência o peso dos fatores econômicos ou macrossociais na determinação de uma relação prejudicial dos indivíduos com as drogas. As categorias analisadas por referência à prevenção são: objetivos da prevenção; concepções sobre drogas e adolescentes; AIDS como um possível prejuízo ao nível do processo saúde?doença. A análise dessas categorias foi feita a partir dos depoimentos de: supervisores do projeto, professores treinados pelo projeto; escolares que participaram de atividades do projeto e escolares de escolas que não participaram do projeto. No sentido de trazer para o campo da prevenção, alguns elementos da realidade concreta, levantou-se as características dos adolescentes que adquiriram AIDS pelo uso de drogas injetáveis com objetivo de apreender: elementos sócio-culturais referentes à prática do uso de drogas; situações de transmissão do HIV; e suas propostas em relação à prevenção. Por fim, apresenta-se conclusões que têm implicações para as políticas públicas de prevenção na área de drogas e AIDS junto ao grupo de adolescentes. / The object of this study is the prevention related to drug use and focused on adolescents. Its objective is to evaluate the public policy in this field. Particularly, a public school prevention project is analyzed. The Escola é Vida project took place between 1991 and 1994 in the public schools of the São Paulo state. The analysis was developed from considerations: about the diversity and complexity related o contemporary drug use; and about the socialization processes of adolescents, always historically determined. The theoretical considerations propose that, for prevention to be adequate, it has to consider the complementarity of two sociological approaches. One that approaches the relation between individuals and drugs from social interactions which happen in a microssocial domain. And another one that puts in evidence the weight of economic and macrossocial factors determining a harming relation between individuals and drugs. The categories analyzed related to prevention are: prevention objectives; conceptions about drugs; conceptions about adolescents; Aids as a possible consequence to the health-illness process. The analysis was based on the statements of: program supervisors; teachers trained by the program; students who participated in program activities and finally students from schools which had not participated in the state program. A case study was developed to bring to the prevention field a few elements from the concrete reality. The objective was to perceive, through the statements of adolescents who had aids mainly due to injected drug use: socio-cultural factors related to drug use; HIV transmission situations; and their propositions to prevention. Finally, conclusions are presented that have implications for public policies related to drugs and aids prevention focused on adolescents.

Despite the growing importance of information and communication technologies (ICTs), their use in the field of program evaluation has been, to date, understudied. Using a mixed-method approach and a conceptual framework informed by social interdependence theory, this thesis sought to contribute to this area of research by exploring how evaluation practitioners engage with ICTs, and if and how this influences evaluation use. The comprised two parts are in a cascade design: a qualitative study relied on interviews with practitioners, followed by a quantitative study utilizing a survey instrument to obtain findings from a larger cohort of practitioner respondents. The findings from both studies revealed that ICTs’ value is greater for the use of evaluative results (findings use) than for benefits arising from evaluation processes (process use), and that these tools support evaluation activities by aiding background and foreground processes. When used in the background, ICTs can help evaluators by offering flexibility, improving speed, and efficiency. In contrast, ICTs used for foreground processes help foster communication with and engagement of stakeholders. Together, this makes the use of ICTs a valuable extension to existing evaluator skillsets, especially when the tools are mindfully incorporated to fit a project’s contextual complexity. The findings also point to a number of barriers – at both the individual and organizational levels - that inhibit further integration of technology into evaluation practice. A conceptual framework developed as a result of the findings visually depicts this process, and it represents a significant contribution of the thesis. Given the growing proliferation of ICTs in all aspects of life, further insight through systematic inquiry is much needed to keep abreast of these rapidly changing trends. The provision of such has implications not only for evaluation practitioners, client organizations and professional evaluation associations, but for the ongoing development of empirical inquiry in the area.

Resumo: O Programa de Alimentação Escolar (PNAE) tem como objetivos principais melhorar as condições nutricionais do aluno e sua capacidade de aprendizagem, procurando formar hábitos alimentares saudáveis com dinamização da economia local. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi propor inovações no cardápio do Programa de Alimentação do Escolar do Município de Piracicaba-SP, a partir da avaliação do abastecimento alimentar e das condições de produção das refeições. A pesquisa foi realizada em três etapas: na primeira foi realizado um diagnóstico geral do abastecimento alimentar do município, da Divisão de Alimentação e Nutrição da Prefeitura Municipal e dos hábitos alimentares das crianças da rede de ensino; a segunda etapa consistiu de um diagnóstico específico onde foram avaliadas a adesão e aceitabilidade de uma amostra dos cardápios atuais, utilizando-se de três metodologias tradicionais: Percentagem de Adesão, Estimativa Visual dos Restos em cada Prato e Escala Hedônica Estruturada Facial; na terceira etapa foi formulada uma proposta de inovação do cardápio para a alimentação escolar, a partir do desenvolvimento, padronização e avaliação das preparações. O levantamento de dados referentes à disponibilidade de produtos alimentícios indicou uma autosuficiência de produção apenas de verduras, milho, mandioca e banana, sendo que o abastecimento alimentar do PMAE é parcialmente regionalizado e não conta com fornecedor local. A avaliação da adesão da alimentação apontou para uma baixa adesão ao Programa, 39,32% na média geral. Nas escolas municipais (região norte e oeste) a adesão foi maior (55,88%) que nas estaduais (22,77%). Na escola da região norte onde as crianças pertencem a famílias com menores rendimentos a adesão foi mais expressiva (63,39%). A menor adesão (19,77) foi na escola estadual região sul... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The Brazilian National School Meals Program has as main goals to improve student’s nutritional conditions and his/her learning capacity, through developing healthy eating habits and stimulating local economy.. The aims of this study was to propose changes in the Municipal School Meal Program’s menu, from an elementary study in four Piracicaba’s public schools and valuation of food supplay and the conditions of production the meals. The research was developed in three stages: in the first one three general diagnosis were carried out: (a) in the Municipal Food Supply, (b) within the Piracicaba Municipal of Food and Nutrition Division, and (c) the children eating habits from municipal public schools. The second stage constituted of a specific diagnosis evaluating the adhesion and acceptability of a food sample of the actual school menu. For this were used three traditional methodologies – Adhesion Percentages, Estimated Visual Leftovers and Facial Hedonic Scale. In the third stage it was developed, standardized and evaluated new preparations and formulated a new menu for the school meals. The data collected from the available food products indicated a self-sufficiency production only for vegetables, corn, cassava and bananas. The evaluation on eating adhesion showed a low adhesion to the program on average of 39.32%. The adhesion of the Municipal’s Schools located in the north and northeast of Piracicaba was higher (55.88%) than the State’s Schools (22.77%). The schools located in the north where the kids belonged to the lowest income families, the adhesion was higher (63.39%). Lower adhesion (19.77%) was found in State’s School located in the south where the children belonged to higher income families. When analyzing the acceptance using Visual Estimative of Leftovers (consumption) methodology it was observed a better acceptance (88.43%)... (Complete abstract, click electronic address below) / Orientador: João Bosco Faria / Coorientador: Maria Rita M. de Oliveira / Banca: Marina Vieira da Silva / Banca: Vera Mariza Henriques de Miranda Costa / Banca: Gilma Lucazechi Sturion / Banca: Maria Alice Rosa Ribeiro / Mestre

Community-based youth non-profit organizations (NPOs) have become increasingly popular for the provision of youth prevention and intervention services, yet many youth NPOs lack the resources to undergo formal evaluation. Further, most existing program evaluations do not consider individual characteristics of the child or the child’s exposure to stressors. The current pilot study sought to evaluate the extent to which boys participated in 1:1 mentoring and other program activities at the Son of a Saint (SOAS) NPO, an organization seeking to provide positive male role models for fatherless young boys. In addition, the current study examined the effects of program involvement on both prosocial (i.e., academic performance) and antisocial (i.e., aggression and delinquency) outcomes, as well as the moderating role of callous-unemotional (CU) traits and exposure to trauma/stressors on study outcomes. Data were collected from mothers (N = 37) and boys (N = 27) at the first assessment point, and from mothers (N = 21) one year later. Results of bivariate correlational and regression analyses at T1 indicated that boys who have been part of SOAS for shorter durations had higher levels of participation overall, and that behavioral/academic problems were associated with more program participation. Results at T2 indicated that participation in a greater variety of activities was related to lower levels of antisocial behavior. No significant interactions were detected for either CU traits or trauma exposure in the current sample. Implications of findings are discussed with regard to future program evaluation at SOAS. Detailed recommendations for overcoming the study limitations, particularly regarding the small sample size, are provided.

Developmental mathematics is a problem for many college students due to high failure rate. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the redesigned course, Math 24. The evaluation examined success, retention, and persistence outcomes of the redesigned course compared to the previous developmental math course. The course's academic and environmental strengths and weaknesses were assessed from the students' and instructors' perspectives. The study utilized the theoretical and conceptual frameworks of Tinto's retention model, Astin's I-E-O model, and Wlodkowski's culturally responsive teaching. A mixed methods program evaluation was employed for the case study using an ex post facto analysis of quantitative data from the college's student database and interviews from 16 students, 4 faculty members, and 1 program director administrator. Quantitative data on persistence, retention and student success rates were analyzed using descriptive statistics to evaluate the outcomes of the redesigned course. Qualitative data from student focus groups and faculty interviews were analyzed using constant comparison analysis to evaluate redesign effect on students. The findings suggested that the redesigned math course's curriculum, resources, assignments, assessments, and the physical classroom setting had many advantages, and assignments and assessments posed major challenges. Online resources, peer collaboration, indirect instruction were strengths; word problems, and the final exam posed the biggest challenges for most students. Retention, persistence and success rates fluctuated over the years and the expected outcomes were not achieved. The social change implication of the redesigned developmental math project study is that faculty should seek students' feedback to help faculty with effective decision making.

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Evaluation of a Middle School Positive Behavior Intervention Support Program by Tracie Grogan EdS, Mercer University MA, Fort Valley State University BS, University of Georgia Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education Curriculum Instruction and Assessment Walden University July 2016 School leaders at a middle school in a rural school district in Georgia were looking for ways to reduce poor student behavior, which has a negative impact on school climate. Judicious Discipline, a program based on Kohlberg's 6 stages of moral development, Bandura's social learning theory, and the 3 constitutional rights of freedom, justice, and equality, were implemented at the school by a group of 8th grade teachers. Since no evaluation had been conducted to examine the efficacy of this program, the purpose of this doctoral study was to examine the program's strengths, weaknesses, and impact on student behavior, as well as to recommend any needed changes. A mixed methods design, was used including a formative and a summative evaluation component. Data for the formative component were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics for teacher surveys (n = 9) and open coding for teacher interviews (n = 3). Data for the summative component were collected and analyzed using a Chi-Square Test of Independence to examine the change in the distribution (pre to post program), of students participating in JD (n= 148) along the Kohlberg levels of social development scale. This instrument consists of forced-choice items designed to measure the extent to which the student has reached a level of full autonomy so that they are intrinsically motivated to abide by the rules without the guidance of a teacher. Findings revealed that the intervention had a positive impact on student behavior, both from the teacher perspective and from evidence of student growth on the social development scale. Implications for positive social change included: (a) improved student behaviors, and (b) fewer behavioral referrals. The findings along with recommendations for change were presented to school leaders in the form of an executive summary.

As there continues to be a nursing shortage and a lack of diversity in the nursing profession, it is important to retain at-risk students who have been admitted to nursing programs. The purpose of this program evaluation was to compare at-risk students who had not received retention services to at-risk students who had received retention services at a Midwestern college. A formative evaluation was conducted using information from three sources: the college, the students, and the community. Guided by a constructivist theory defined by Ponticell, this study examined the effectiveness of the retention program in terms of its impact on course completion rates, semester, and cumulative GPAs, and number of students on probation and dismissed from the college. Using a retrospective quasi-experimental design, data from 72 students in 2 groups were compared using chi-square, t tests, and one-way repeated-measures ANOVA. Although the results were not significant, students who received retention services were less frequently on probation and dismissed, had higher course completion rates, and had higher GPAs. In addition, 54 graduating students were surveyed, and their perceptions of the retention services were positive, with an overall mean score of 4.02 out of 5.0. Themes identified through a community key informant interview included student/personal responsibility, family responsibility, and community responsibility. The program evaluation was summarized in an evaluation report that included the results and recommendations for continuation or the addition of retention services. This study may impact social change as the retention services are reviewed and adjusted in order to produce an increased number of qualified, diverse registered nurses.