white paper on performance management for community ... - FACA

NASCSP 2013
disabilities, and children. Self-sufficiency might look different for these
populations than for some others. Finding employment, for instance, is not
always an appropriate indicator of success for every individual.
4. Use scales to show progress toward self-sufficiency
a. We need to measure progress toward self-sufficiency from the initial contact
with a client through delivery of services and follow up. This acknowledges that
many clients start out well below the poverty level and recognizes the outcomes
they are able to achieve. It also represents the comprehensive services of
Community Action and that CAAs use CSBG funds to provide services only to
people who are below 125% of the poverty level, but may have additional
resources to assist families beyond this level. The figure titled Age of CAA
Participants, in Appendix C, provides further details about the program
participants served by CAAs.
5. Focus on a shorter list of outcomes that gives the information needed at each level of
the Network about core programs
a. For clients who receive only emergency services, a count of people served may
be sufficient.
b. For clients who receive multiple services, it is critical to track both services
received and progress toward outcomes over time. This will require significant
additional data collection at the local level.
c. The outcome list must include both family- and community-level indicators.
6. Make changes to the data collection system
a. If local agencies are going to meet the higher bar of ROMA Next Generation,
they must have a performance management process and data system that can
integrate information for the organization as a whole. Right now, agencies run
multiple data systems for different funding streams, which will continue to be a
challenge. But some processes must be implemented to enable agencies to
determine all of the services provided to each family in order to understand the
outcomes (or lack of outcomes) achieved by agency and program participants.
b. Federal leadership is needed to align federal funding sources’ data sharing
policies.
7. Enhance ability of State CSBG Offices to monitor and train on ROMA
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