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

NASCSP 2013
scan of the performance management and measurement processes of comparable Federal
block grants and programs. Their work will be complemented by recommended Information
Memorandum language for OCS as well as tools and protocols for the Network.
Together with UI, the COEs are developing and piloting an enhanced performance management
system that will establish Organizational Performance Standards, improve the way agencies
gather and analyze results to measure success and improve programs and services, and
establish standards and performance measures for state and Federal partners to support these
local efforts. Additionally, the COE’s will develop protocols to help all levels of the Network
(local, state, and federal) analyze their data and share what they learn with their peers around
the country.
The Administration and some members of Congress are focusing on the value of Federallyfunded
services, underscoring the urgency of this task. In his FY 2013 budget announcement,
President Obama said, “the Administration proposes to establish a system of performance
standards and competition for CSBG funds, which will promote innovation and target funds to
high performing entities in areas with greatest need.” In the FY 2014 budget announcement,
President Obama stated “the program’s current structure does too little to hold Community
Action Agencies accountable for outcomes.” Existing performance information, like the CSBG
Information Systems (IS) Survey, is important and valued; however, program evaluation
determines whether programs produce outcomes that are superior to alternative policy
choices. Compounding this data challenge are the following challenges and concerns:
In contrast to services with narrowly defined targets and outcomes, Community Action
service strategies are often broad and multifaceted, as they address the complexity of the
issues related to anti-poverty work. This makes it more difficult to apply the same level of
statistical rigor and evidence-based evaluation that is used for more narrowly targeted
programs. What’s more, the CSBG Statute does not include dedicated funding for rigorous
evaluation.
There is a tension between the need to cover all of the nation with some level of basic
services and the need to provide more in-depth services to those most in need.
As an almost 50 year-old strategy, there’s a perception that Community Action is no longer
innovative.
These factors make it difficult to compare Community Action to other nonprofit social service
networks and to describe "what Community Action does” and "what works".
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