Long-term outcomes/impacts are improvements to societal conditions experienced by a group, population, or area. These types of changes take time to be realized because they occur after program participants have first gained knowledge and skills and then adopted or changed behaviors or practices as a result of their participation in educational programs.
Three categories of condition change outcomes describe how UC ANR research and extension project/programs can make a difference in people's lives:
Economic improvements:
Households, businesses/industries and/or communities enjoy greater opportunities and control over the production, development and management of their resources:
money, labor, materials
Examples:
- reduced operating costs
- average reduction of in monthly spending on food
- savings through prevention
- better decision making
- economic policy development or improvements
Social improvements (includes health status and civic progress):
Families, groups and communities experience improved nutrition and health and decreased incidence of food-related sickness and disease. Families, schools, work settings, and/or communities experience enhanced wellbeing.
Citizens, communities, government work more effectively and efficiently for the public good.
Examples:
- decrease in incidence of food-borne illness
- reduction in cases of back injury
- increase in voluntary compliance with regulations
- increase in participation in local government and civic organizations
- increase in youth engagement in civic activities
Environmental improvements:
Land, water, air, soil, plant and animal resources will be protected, clean and safe.
Examples:
- pollution prevention or reduction
- decreased incidence of exotic or invasive pests
- new and/or improved environmental policies and management
- acres of agricultural land protected in land trusts
- restoration of riparian habitats