Confusion regarding the definition and use of community empowerment can significantly affect program evaluation. This paper illustrates the issue with highlights from a three-year process and outcome evaluation of a community-based program designed to prevent child abuse. Lessons learned from this evaluation suggest ways to improve future research. These suggestions include: (1) researching how a project defines community empowerment; (2) using a theory-based framework to connect program definitions, components and measures; and (3) understanding the relationship of time to the use of the program outcome.

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