Assessment, program planning, and evaluation in population-based public health practice.

Public health practitioners in Minnesota developed and implemented a population-based public health practice model for community assessment, program planning, and evaluation. The ultimate goal of this process is improvement in population health. Major challenges to the implementation of a population-based model are addressed through the use of a theory of action; interventions at community, systems, and individual levels; and intermediate evaluation indicators. Examples of resulting changes in public health practice are described.