What question should be asked at the HIGHEST level of prevention evaluation?

The highest level of prevention evaluation focuses on assessing the broader impacts of a program on the entire community, rather than just individual participants. Asking whether community-wide behaviors changed allows practitioners to measure the overall effectiveness of prevention strategies in influencing behaviors at a population level. This level of evaluation is critical because it reflects the success of interventions in altering social norms, cultural practices, and collective behaviors that contribute to the reduction of substance abuse or other targeted issues.

While evaluating individual participants' attendance, behavior changes, and attitude shifts are also important for understanding the effectiveness of a program, they primarily provide insights into the immediate effects on those directly involved rather than on the community as a whole. Therefore, assessing community-wide behavioral changes offers a more comprehensive understanding of the program’s impact, highlighting whether the initiative has achieved its ultimate goals of fostering a healthier environment for all.