A report is given of the problems and successes of an evaluation team engaged in examining a 9-year community research demonstration project. The project, the Stanford Heart Disease Prevention Program, was designed to develop effective health education programs and to institutionalize these programs through community organizations so that they are maintained within existing systems over a long period of time. The evaluation team consisted of four individuals with different disciplinary perspectives, coming from the fields of: health and medicine, developmental psychology, community and youth education, and communications and media. In addition to identifying developmental trends in health behavior, the team was committed to conducting ongoing research with every project they introduced into the schools. A detailed description is given of the team's activities. Because the team was composed of four individuals with multiple roles, simultaneously involved in promoting research and development goals, the collaboration frequently involved conflicting goals and compromises as well as creative development. Nevertheless, their experience spoke to the importance of involving an interdisciplinary evaluation team if schools are to develop, implement, and institutionalize cost-effective health promotion programs. (JD)