Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Government and nongovernment human service providers are under increasing pressure to demonstrate that their programs work. As stakeholders demand accountability, providers are turning to performance measurement as a way of demonstrating the efficiency, quality, and effectiveness of their programs. Measuring the Performance of Human Service Programs examines the reasons why performance measurement is rapidly becoming an essential component of human service management today. The authors explain in detail how to measure and assess programs with special emphasis on the various types of outcome measures including numeric accounts, standardized measures, level of functioning scales, and client satisfaction. As a special feature, the authors include a detailed case study with exercises to illustrate the book's concepts. Offering guidance on how to assess client outcomes, this comprehensive volume will be ideal for social work researchers and administrators.
Synopsis
Social service providers are under increasing pressure to demonstrate that their programmes work. Faced with this demand for greater accountability, providers are turning to performance measurement as a way of illustrating programme efficiency, quality and effectiveness.
The authors of this comprehensive volume discuss why and how performance measures have become an integral part of managing programmes in the social services. They explain the various types of performance measures - including numeric counts, standardized measures and client satisfaction - and assess their advantages and disadvantages. A case study and exercises are a special feature of the book.
Table of Contents
Performance measurement : the new accountability -- Performance measurement : an idea whose time has come -- Social problems, human service programs & performance measurement -- Output performance measures -- Quality performance measures -- Outcome performance measures -- Numeric counts -- Standardized measures -- Level of functioning scales -- Client satisfaction -- Issues in selecting, collecting, reporting, & using performance measures.