The Center for Evaluation Research (TCER, formerly Iowa Center for Evaluation Research in the College of Public Health), has conducted public health research and evaluation projects within the School of Social Work, NRCFCP since 2006.  Evaluation and research has been conducted on many topics related to community and behavioral health including cancer prevention, improving nutrition and increasing physical activity, reducing teen pregnancy and improving maternal and child health to name a few. Much of our success has relied on our existing ties to communities and our ability to develop strong relationships in communities in addition to our strong research and evaluation capacity.

Examples of current work include the Iowa School Health Profiles Report; Needs and Financial Assessment of Critical Access Hospitals; and evaluations of Iowa's "1305" Chronic Disease Partnership, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Center, Iowa's project to increase Colorectal Cancer screenings and the Iowa Comprehensive Cancer Control Program. Our cancer prevention work will take on more national visibility in November when NRC Research Director Richardson becomes chair of the Cancer Forum of the American Public Health Association in Atlanta at the 145th meeting of APHA November 4th through the 8th.

Featured Project:

Chronic Disease Partnership Evaluation

Chronic disease is an enormous strain on public, personal and community health. Lost productivity, reduced quality of life and cost result from chronic disease. The CDC supports Iowa's work to reduce the burden of chronic diseases by strengthening public health infrastructure and promoting healthy behaviors. The five-year evaluation measures process and outcomes related to physical activity and nutrition, breastfeeding, diabetes, and heart disease.

The NRC is conducting an ongoing evaluation of this five-year grant program which analyzes both process and outcome measures in of physical activity and nutrition, breastfeeding, diabetes prevention, and heart disease and stroke prevention. The NRC also provides technical assistance and evaluation capacity building to staff throughout the duration of the grant. Results from the yearly evaluation will be used for continuous quality improvement. The NRC is currently completing the second year of 1305 evaluation work.