Lessons from the Field: Evaluating with Accountability in Mind
What happens when we treat evaluation as a team effort?
One framework helped our team do just that. The EPIS framework – short for Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment – gave us the structure to plan thoughtfully, adapt as needed, and stay focused on systems change.
Whether you’re launching a new initiative or trying to improve an existing one, EPIS offers a simple roadmap to strengthen your work and implement evidence-based practices (EBPs). Here’s how it breaks down.
Put it into Practice: What is EPIS?
(Check it out at episframework.com)
Exploration: Figure out the need. What’s the problem you’re trying to solve? What kind of program or idea might help? Who needs to be involved? Think about what might need to be adjusted to make it work for your community or organization.
Preparation: Get ready. This means identifying what might get in the way and what could help. Make a plan that includes who will do what, how you’ll support staff, and how you’ll create a work environment that encourages people to try the new approach.
Implementation: Put your plan into action. Start using the program or strategy and keep checking how it’s going. Be ready to adjust things as needed to keep improving.
Sustainment: Keep it going. Once the program is running, make sure there’s enough support—like funding, staffing, and leadership—to keep it going over time. Even if some parts change, the goal is to keep the benefits going strong.
Source: What is EPIS? — EPIS Framework
How we used it: FoodRx in Aitkin County
When our partners in rural Aitkin County set out to implement a produce prescription program (FoodRx), we used the EPIS framework to guide our steps.
Together with partners at Riverwood Healthcare Center, a local food hub, MDH, and local farmers, public health practitioners Hannah Colby (Aitkin County Public Health) and Taylour Blakeman (Northeast Regional SHIP Coordinator) mapped out each phase, from early exploration to figuring out how to sustain the program long-term.
This wasn’t just about counting produce boxes our health outcomes. It was about asking important process questions like:
Did we have the right people in the right roles?
Did we build on what we already had, or try to start from scratch?
How can we keep this going when the funding ends?
The result? A peer-reviewed article published in the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development this July, showcasing what strong planning, local leadership, and community partnership can accomplish.
Bonus! This project also met a key requirement in our Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) work. Each SHIP grantee must complete at least one locally led evaluation during the grant cycle. This project fulfilled the requirement for our 7-county regional partnership. Learn more at northeastship.org.
What this means for Foundational Public Health Responsibilities (FPHR) work:
Accountability means learning. EPIS helped our team reflect on what worked and why. Capacity for deep reflection is needed for real progress to begin.
Locally led evaluation is possible. With the right tools, support, and regional reach-back ability, small teams can lead evaluations that build insight and improve programs.
Better planning leads to better programs. EPIS helped us prepare, not just react. It gave structure to our planning, communication, and improvement.
You don’t need to be an expert to use EPIS. It’s just a way to pause and ask the right questions—like what’s needed, what’s working, and how to keep it going. Those early conversations can lead to stronger, longer-lasting programs.
Want to learn more?
Read the full journal article here or view it directly on the journal site at foodsystemsjournal.org
Stay tuned for a regional one-pager and success story.
Questions or interest in bringing this framework to your own work? Let us know in the comments!