Health Start Analysis Plan and Data Collection Instruments for Second Program Year. Working Paper: 964-2.

The purpose of this paper is to specify the design for evaluating the second year Health Start Program. This design is used as the basis for the determination of the data to be collected and the comparisons that will be made using these data to provide information to answer the policy questions asked by the Office of Child Development (OCD). For OCD, the basic purpose of the evaluation is to identify successful procedures, strategies, and methods of operation that could be transfered and applied to Head Start or other types of local health service delivery programs. In addition, rapid feedback was to be provided about: (a) whether local projects are complying with program guidelines and grant conditions; (b) the managerial efficiency of projects; and (c) the need for technical assistance either in management or substantive areas. This form of feedback is called project management in this paper, distinguishing it from the evaluation of the program which is the main purpose of this effort. For this analysis, two kinds of comparisons are made: (1) comparisons between particular procedures and strategies within the Health Start program; and (2) comparisons between Health Start and the health component of a sample of Head Start programs. Appendices contain the data collection instruments. (RC)