ABSTRACT
The implementation of any program must include an evaluation component so that the effort may be monitored to ensure it yields desired outcomes. It is important at the outset to review briefly some of what we know from the research about the outcomes associated with the provision of early care and family support services, since this knowledge in part forms the conceptual underpinnings of the program being implemented. In the area of child care people can draw upon studies of quality preschool interventions that have proven to be effective in promoting the optimal development of children. Potential benefits are also associated with the school-age child care component. Findings from an evaluation provide educators with the information they need to disseminate to the district leadership, the community, and funders. Often, a distinction is made between implementation and evaluation, with the thought that those who implement the program should not be involved in its evaluation.
