Key points
- CDC is conducting an ongoing evaluation of the Preventive Health and Health Services (PHHS) Block Grant.
- Overall, findings show that the PHHS Block Grant helped state, tribal, local, and territorial agencies strengthen the public health system.
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Overview
The PHHS Block Grant evaluation assesses the grant's value (i.e., benefits and contributions).
- The aim is to strengthen performance and accountability.
- The evaluation describes and measures outputs and outcomes.
- The evaluation assesses the grant as a whole—not individual recipient activities or outcomes.
Evaluation
The evaluation seeks to answer two overarching questions:
- How does the PHHS Block Grant support recipients addressing their jurisdictions' prioritized public health needs related to Healthy People 2030 objectives?
- How does Block Grant contribute toward achieving organizational-, systems-, and health-related outcomes?
The evaluation consists of several key activities, including:
- Implementing a measurement framework to determine recipient achievements
- Analyzing recipient allocation of funding to Healthy People 2030 objectives
- Exploring the relationship between PHHS Block Grant funding and health outcomes
Measurement Framework
A key evaluation component is the PHHS Block Grant Measurement Framework [PDF – 727 KB].
The framework is an innovative measurement approach that allows for:
- More standardized collection of information
- Aggregation of health department outputs, outcomes, and achievements
- Tracking of grant funds
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PHHS Block Grant Evaluation Framework
The framework consists of four key measures:
- Improvement of information systems to collect public health information
- Improvement in efficiency of operations, programs, or services
- Emerging public health needs addressed
- Evidence-based public health interventions implemented
About the findings
Key Findings Report-2022
- In fall 2022, 50 out of 61 PHHS Block Grant recipients (82%) completed surveys.
- The survey assessed select outputs and outcomes achieved.
- The survey evaluated recipient, tribal, and local health departments, and local organizations.
- Findings show that PHHS Block Grant helped strengthen public health systems.
Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant Evaluation: 2022 Executive Summary
Note: Evaluations are conducted every two years. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, there was a delay with the 2021 evaluation. It was performed in 2022.
Previous Evaluation Reports & Executive Summaries
- Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant Evaluation Report: 2019 Framework Measures Assessment—Key Findings
- Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant Evaluation: 2019 Executive Summary
- Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant Evaluation Report: 2017 Framework Measures Assessment—Key Findings
Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant Evaluation Report: Exploring how PHHS Block Grant recipients use funds to address social determinants of health and advance health equity. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2023.
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. Flexible Funding to Support Public Health Innovation. 2022 Aug 15. Retrieved from https://www.astho.org/globalassets/report/flexible-funding-to-support-ph-innovation.pdf.
Lamia TL, Lowry GF, McLees AW, Frazier CM, Young CF. Improving Outcome Accountability of Block Grants: Lessons Learned from the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant Evaluation. Am J Eval. 2020 Oct 14; 42(2): 185-200.