Incorporating research-based knowledge into the program design process will help public, private and non-profit program managers to:

• Identify the barriers to specific behaviors;
• Utilize tools known to be effective in overcoming barriers and promoting action;
• Test initiatives on a small scale to determine their effectiveness before making a large-scale commitment; and
• Evaluate the results of community or organization-wide implementation.

The benefits of employing this systematic approach to behavior change and program evaluation include:

• A greater feeling of effectiveness on the part of program managers;
• Increased likelihood that the level of participation will achieve programmatic goals;
• Better utilization of scarce resources by avoiding the delivery of ineffective programs; and
• Improved ability to justify sustained or increased funding, based on demonstrated program success.