TB PROGRAM EVALUATION NETWORK UPDATE

TB Notes Newsletter
(PDF - 928K)
No. 1, 2010
TB PROGRAM EVALUATION NETWORK UPDATES


Introduction to the TB Program Evaluation Network New TB PEN Steering Committee Announced Introduction to the TB Program Evaluation Network
The TB Program Evaluation Network (TB PEN) is composed of individuals and organizations that share the common vision of tuberculosis (TB) elimination. The mission of TB PEN is to develop and strengthen the capacity of state and local TB programs to monitor and evaluate their programs and use findings to enhance the effectiveness of prevention and control activities.

The goal of the TB PEN is to build capacity for TB program evaluation activities in state and local TB programs and increase the number of programs that are evaluating their program activities through monitoring and evaluation of TB control activities, providing expertise and technical assistance for conducting TB program evaluation, and identifying and communicating effective program evaluations.

TB PEN membership is open to anyone who has an interest in TB program evaluation issues. There are four types of membership status: organizational membership, voting membership, active membership, and information-only membership. Organizational membership provides a means of communication across organizational lines through the TB PEN mission and vision. Voting membership is for individuals who are the designated Evaluation Focal Point person of their state or CDC-funded local, county, or city TB program. Active membership is for non-voting individuals who desire to be fully involved in all TB PEN activities. Information-only membership is for individuals who do not have a lead role in TB program evaluation in their agency, or do not wish to actively participate in TB PEN activities. Members may join or change their status anytime by contacting TB PEN at tbpen@cdc.gov.

TB PEN has a Steering Committee that includes a diverse group of TB evaluation professionals representative of the TB PEN membership. Newly elected officers include Steve Hughes from the New York State TB Program, representing a high-incidence state, Phil Griffin from the Kansas TB Program, representing a medium-incidence state, Jill Fournier from the New Hampshire TB Program, representing a low-incidence state, and Juan Elias from the Chicago TB Program representing a big city. The eight appointed positions representing various organizations and a working chair from one of the TB PEN Teams are announced in the article below.

There are five TB PEN teams including a technical assistance team, tools team, communication team, training team, and implementation (evaluation findings) team. Each team is composed of individuals who want to focus on a particular evaluation area of interest. The objectives of each team are described in the bylaws. Each team has two co-chairs, and at least one of those co-chairs attends each Steering Committee conference call.

TB PEN will hold an annual conference that includes committee meetings as well as workshops with lectures and skill-building sessions. The lectures provide opportunities for discussion and learning topical issues within TB program evaluation and other TB PEN issues, while the skills-building workshops focus on the application of TB program evaluation methods. The last issue of TB Notes included an article on the first TB ETN/TB PEN joint conference held in 2009. This conference was a huge success, and plans are in place to hold another joint conference August 10–12, 2010.

Please consider becoming a member of TB PEN today.

—Reported by Jill Fournier, RN, BSN
Program Manager
NH TB Program

New TB PEN Steering Committee Announced
TB Program Evaluation (TB PEN) Steering Committee, 2010–2012

The Interim Steering Committee is pleased to introduce its new Steering Committee as listed below. Per TB PEN by-laws, it is comprised of representation from state and local programs, organizational memberships, and TB PEN teams.

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