COST BENEFIT/EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS OF ARMY COMMUNITY SERVICES

Based on our work with the Army over the last three years, we understand that increasing evidencebased practice among its social service providers is a priority; specifically, the selection, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability of evidence-based programs/practices. Moreover, continuous program improvement requires on-going evaluations, including cost-benefit/costeffectiveness(CB/CE) evaluations.Therefore, this project's primary goal is to conduct a CB/CE analysis of ACS. Over the year, the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State will conduct a full or partial CB/CE evaluation. Our objectives are to: (1) build a strong, functioning partnership with Army stakeholders; (2) conduct a rapid evaluability review of each ACS program components and assess the type of data available; (3) develop a comprehensive theory of change for the overall ACS system; and (4) determine and conduct the most appropriate methodological and analytic approach for a CB/CE evaluation.