This book offers a progress report on work accomplished over the last few years in comprehensive community initiatives (CCIs), a relatively new approach to community revitalization. Connell and Kubisch define a theory of change approach to CCI evaluation and describe steps stakeholders can follow to carry one out. Several practitioners share their experiences with the theory of change approach, together providing an up-to-date portrait of the field. The book provides an overview for understanding how to apply the approach and examples of its benefits and challenges. It offers new insights and information which can help CCI stakeholders approach the evaluation enterprise with greater confidence that the result will meet their various needs.
Karen Fulbright-Anderson is a senior associate at the Aspen Institute. Anne C. Kubisch is the director of The Aspen Institute Roundtable on Comprehensive Community Initiatives. James P. Connell is president and cofounder of the Institute for Research and Reform in Education.