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Outcome Measurement Resource Network Frequently Asked Questions - How did United Way of America's outcome measurement program get started?
Prior to 1995, a number of United Ways across the country had recognized the value of outcome measurement and its long-range importance for United Ways and the agencies they fund. These organizations had begun outcome measurement programs and encouraged United Way of America to provide resources and national leadership on the issue. In April 1995, UWA established an internal team charged to help United Ways document and improve their impact on community problems by developing and supporting approaches to measuring the outcomes of United Ways' investment in health and human services. Development of UWA's outcome measurement program is advised by a 30-member national task force whose membership includes representatives of United Ways, human service organizations, foundations, corporations, public agencies, and research institutions. In August 1996, with The Urban Institute as its technical consultant, UWA published Measuring Program Outcomes: A Practical Approach. This step-by-step manual is designed to help health, human service, and youth- and family-serving agencies identify and measure their outcomes and use the results. The manual is in its 16th printing, with 170,000 copies in distribution in the U.S. and several other countries. A related publication, the Measuring Program Outcomes Training Kit, provides presentation notes, activities, handouts, and other resources for delivering hands-on training based on the manual. Both the manual and training kit have been very well received by local United Ways and agencies implementing a focus on program outcomes. The Outcome Measurement Resource Network provides additional information and sources of assistance, and provides a way to communicate new insights in a more timely way than print publication allows.
- Where can I get copies of UWA outcome measurement publications?
You can download many outcome measurement resources directly from the Resources section and from the Online Resource Library. Others can be ordered through Sales Service/America, United Way of America's distributor. Ordering information is located in the Resources section.
- How many United Ways are asking agencies they fund to identify and measure their outcomes?
As of 2005, nearly 434 United Ways--at least one in every state in the U.S.--report being involved in or planning to implement program outcome measurement. It is important to note that United Ways are independent organizations, incorporated and governed locally. Not all United Ways that are implementing outcome measurement are using the resources or approach developed by United Way of America.
- Does outcome measurement really provide benefits for programs?
This question merits serious research that explores not only whether there are benefits, but also under what circumstances, for what types of programs, and other issues of applicability and generalizability. A 1999 confidential, exploratory survey of the programs involved in outcome measurement that are funded by six United Ways, conducted by an independent contractor for United Way of America, examined both positive and negative aspects of measuring program outcomes and using the results. Among 298 responding programs (76% of those surveyed), program executives agree or strongly agree that implementing program outcome measurement has helped their program:
- Focus staff effort on common goals/shared purposes (88%)
- Communicate program results to stakeholders (88%)
- Clarify the intended purpose of the program (86%)
- Identify effective practices within the program (84%)
- Successfully compete for resources/funding (83%)
For a complete report of survey findings, click here - Why doesn" t resource network contain an inventory or logic models for the types of programs United Ways typically fund?
Programs that appear from the outside to be similar--similar clients, similar missions, similar service delivery strategies--may in fact have very different outcomes. United Ways and others who have worked in outcome measurement have learned that, for outcome measurement to be successful, programs must identify outcomes and indicators for themselves. This assures that they are relevant to the program's design and useful to program managers. In addition, programs report that the process of identifying their outcomes is in itself a valuable benefit of outcome measurement, providing greater clarity and focus for staff, volunteers, and clients. And, of course, we all are more committed to an effort if we have helped shape it and thus know its results will be useful to us. The purpose of the Resource Network and other United Way of America outcome measurement resources is to assist United Ways and agencies in making informed decisions about how to implement program outcome measurement. Many issue-focused web sites are devoted to exploring possible outcomes and indicators for related programs. Some of these sites are listed as annotated links in the Online Resource Library and Current Initiative areas. -
- How do you decide what web sites to link from the Outcome Measurement Resource Network?
As the Resource Network expands, the criteria we use when considering a web site or pages for linkage from the Resource Network evolve continually. Some of the criteria we use in considering new links are: - Content. The site should contain:
- substantial content related to outcome or performance measurement approaches, methods, or initiatives. Many sites consist primarily of an exhaustive list of links to other sites. While these sites can be very useful in conducting research or compiling bibliographies, they aren't closely aligned with the purpose of the Resource Network.
- relevant content relating to approaches or initiatives that either are useful to United Ways and agencies, or are significant influences in the environment in which United Ways and agencies operate.
- reliable content. While UWA does not endorse any of the resources linked by the Resource Network, we do consider the source.
- "Live" links. We perform regular "maintenance" on the Resource Network to check for "dead" or slow links. These link checks help ensure that you don't find any frustrating error messages during your visit here.
- Accessibility. We try to ensure that the Outcome Measurement Resource Network is accessible to persons with lower-speed modems, older browsers, sight impairment, and other concerns. Go to www.w3.org/ for guidelines on web page accessibility.
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