Qualitative process evaluation of urban community work: a preliminary view

Community-based and participatory research have become significant activities during the past 15 years as public health practitioners and researchers have sought new ways to provide effective disease prevention and health promotion programs. It is also important that more examples of evaluation schemes be contributed for field testing. The process evaluation model offered here was based on an eclectic literature search because the evaluators did not know what directions this Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-funded Urban Research Center would take and wanted to be thorough. Participatory action research using predominantly qualitative methods provided a research approach congruent with the capacity-building and power-sharing principles of the center. Seattle Partners for Healthy Communities is not a traditional community project, acting primarily as a broker for expertise and community needs. However, it has been successful in supporting and evaluating community health projects.