The principles and problems of evaluation.

A multilevel, multifocus approach to evaluation is proposed, using a complex community mental health center as a model. Goal attainment can be evaluated simultaneously from multiple perspectives at several points on the health care continuum, allowing for identification of relationships among diverse goals and for the involvement of varied people who have legitimate contributions to make toward the establishment of these goals. Allowing more people to participate in planning the programs they will ultimately implement, reduces certain barriers to initiating evaluation. The place of evaluation in the program and special skills of evaluators are also considered.