Outcome Measurement Reporting: 
A Brief Overview

Purpose:  The purpose of Outcome Measurement is threefold:  1) To improve the human services delivery system  2) To provide a management tool for local not-for profit human services organizations to be used to improve program effectiveness; and 3) To provide an additional information source for internal use by The Reuter Foundation as part of its fund distribution process.

Definition of Outcome Measurement:  Outcome measurement is a methodology used to quantify, or measure, the benefit of a program to the client (an individual, group or community) during or after the delivery of service.  It is designed to answer the questions: 

1. “What is the specific intent of this program?”
2. To what extent has the program met this goal?”

Process:  The heart of the outcome measurement process is the creation of a logic model of program effects which specifies the inputs, or resources, consumed by a program to achieve its intended goal; the specific activities conducted by the program; the outputs, or direct products of program activities, usually expressed in terms of the volume of work accomplished; and the outcomes of a program, which address the question of whether, and how much a program’s participants have changed as a result of the intervention.

How Are Outcomes Measured?  Each outcome has one or more specific, measurable indicator of the program’s intent.  Indicators are logical, observable characteristics of change that represent the achievement of a program outcome.  Outcome indicators are specific to a particular program’s goals.  They are not to be confused with social indicators of the general status of a population.

Example:  The following is an example of outcomes and indicators for a Teen Mother Parenting Education Program:

Outcome:  Teens are knowledgeable of prenatal nutrition and health guidelines.

Indicator:  Number and percent of program participants able to identify food items that are good sources of major dietary requirements.

Outcome:  Teens deliver healthy babies

Indicator:  Number and percent of newborns weighing 5.5 pounds or above and scoring 7 or above on Apgar scale.

How is Data Collected on Outcome Indicators?  Each outcome indicator has a specific data source as well as a defined, consistent data collection method.  Agencies are trained to determine appropriate sources of data for their indicators, as well as in the creation of a pertinent data collection strategy that can be implemented given the constraints of staff time, financial resources, and capacity.

What Mechanism is Used for Data Analysis?  There are several software suppliers who have Outcome Measurement programs for sale and training.

What is the Role of Benchmarks in Outcome Measurement?  Benchmarks for program improvement can be established once a baseline of outcome measurement data has been set.  Benchmarking against previous measures of program outcomes can be very useful to agencies for tracking the relative improvement of service delivery goals.  It can also be useful in encouraging agencies to access reasons, both internal and external, for not reaching intended program targets.

 

More information about Outcome Measurement information can be obtained from the Internet.

.

 

Thank you for visiting The Reuter Foundation website.

23-May-2007