Write an Impact Statement for Your Family and Community Health Program Linda J. Brewer, Department of Horticulture

Impact Statements Justify the investment of public dollars. Are the consequences of what we do; Follows evaluation – data collection; Environmental, social, economic; Can be planned or unintended; positive or negative. Attribution vs. impact.

Parts of an Impact Statement Part 1: Issue; Part 2: Goal or Mission Statement Part 2: Outputs = What you did; Part 3: Outcomes = What changed; Part 4: Impact = Interpretation of outcomes.

The Issue: First Sentence General fact – generally accepted. Example: Adults over 65 are 12-13% of the population. This group is projected to increase in the next quarter century, growing to 21% of the population.

The Issue: Second Sentence Local fact - generally agreed upon about your state, region, or county. Example: Eighty percent of OSU Extension volunteers aged 60-69 report being regularly online; 70% do so "to get health information.”

The Issue: Third Sentence Focus of Concern for your program. Example: Mastery of Aging Well, an online series geared to the over-60 adult, is in response to a burgeoning older population with limited access to health and age-related educational programs in rural communities. February 22, 2019

Program Mission or Goal Mastery of Aging Well, an online series geared to the over-60 adult, is in response to a burgeoning older population with limited access to health and age-related educational programs in rural communities.  Write this first? Complete this sentence: Our mission was to . . . My goal in creating this program was to. . .

Outputs: What You Did Oregon State University Extension Services developed and implemented Mastery of Aging Well, an online series of five educational modules geared to the over-60 adult. February 22, 2019

What You Did: Specific Outputs The current program series has two delivery options: Option 1 provides access to five online modules at no cost. Modules are found at the site surfaces immediately in most search engines. Option 2 is a five-disc DVD with an accompanying Facilitator's Guide. Field testing prior to launch indicated the materials were "very understandable and" "convenient to use." 

Outcomes Number of downloads Number of DVD sales Embedded evaluations within the materials.

Statement of Impact Follow-up three years later with the original field test group found continued use of the materials, primarily in DVD format, with over 70% indicating they had initiated behavior-based changes, particularly in the areas of medication management and physical activity.

Interpretation of Outcomes Mobility; Medication management; Keeping seniors in their homes.

Check Your Work Review the Top Tips Handout Glossary CRIS Database Handout Critically analyze what you put in the fields in the SOARS template, keeping in mind the definitions of output, outcome, and impact.