The Evaluation Oversight and Coordinating Unit (EOCU) was initially established in 2001 with a grant from the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health (WVBPH). WVBPH funding continues to provide major support for the EOCU each year. Primarily, the EOCU serves as an independent evaluator for WVBPH's Division of Tobacco Prevention (DTP). The unit ensures that every WV tobacco prevention activity funded by the DTP is evaluated to (1) determine the extent to which program and activities meet their goals, (2) establish what approaches work best, and (3) understand how to make program improvements. It also provides consistent standards for assessment and criteria for success. With a specialty in program and systems evaluation, the EOCU also works with other state and academic partners to evaluate various health-related prevention, intervention, and education activities.
In brief, the Evaluation Oversight and Coordinating Unit:
Develops state-level RFPs related to tobacco prevention and reduction
Establishes funding criteria
Reviews submitted proposals
Provides funding recommendations to the WVBPH DTP
Provides evaluation oversight for all the DTP-funded programs
Provides ongoing technical assistance to the DTP and its subcontractors
Administers evaluation and dissemination training to the DTP staff and its subcontractors
For evaluation services, please contact Valerie Frey-McClung at 304-293-1081 or email at vfreymcclung@hsc.wvu.edu
