The Sustainment Measurement System Scale (SMSS) is a validated instrument for assessing how well a funded prevention program or initiative is positioned to continue once initial funding ends. It captures the conditions that research has linked to long-term sustainment — from stable financing and community partnerships to leadership, infrastructure, and evidence of positive outcomes.
This tool presents all 35 SMSS items across their eight sustainment domains. Rate each statement about your project from 1 (little or no extent) to 5 (a great extent), or mark it N/A when it does not apply. The report then summarizes a mean score for each domain and flags the areas most likely to need attention. Your responses stay in your browser — they are not stored or transmitted — and you can save a copy of the report as a PDF.
35 items
8
Items grouped into eight sustainment domains, from sustainment indicators through evaluation, feedback, and evidence of positive outcomes.
~10 minutes
5+N/A
Single-page form with 5-point Likert responses and an N/A option for items that are not relevant to the project being assessed.
Domain reporting
3+1
Color-coded bands: green (≥4.00), yellow (3.00–3.99), red (1.00–2.99), and N/R when all items in a domain are N/A.
Source: Palinkas, L.A., Chou, C.P., Spear, S.E., Mendon, S.J., Villamar, J., & Brown, C.H. (2020). Measurement of sustainment of prevention programs and initiatives: The Sustainment Measurement System Scale. Implementation Science, 15, Article 71.
