An overview of the National Performance Measures 118 NOVEMBER 2011 THE CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL & COMMUNITY SERVICE

Description of Focus Area Priority and Pilot Measures Evidence Basis for Intervention Aligned Performance Measures Examples of Programs Resources It will be helpful to have the 2012 National Performance Measures Instructions for Economic Opportunity open as you review this presentation. It can be found here: nofa_detail.asp?tbl_nofa_id=91 nofa_detail.asp?tbl_nofa_id=91 2

Provide, support and/or facilitate access to services and resources that contribute to the improved economic well-being and security of economically disadvantaged people. 3

Grant activities will help economically disadvantaged people to: have improved access to services and benefits aimed at contributing to their enhanced financial literacy, transition into or remain in safe, healthy, affordable housing, and have improved employability leading to increased success in becoming employed. 4

National Performance Measures are organized into five Tiers Priority Measures (Tiers 1 & 2) roll up into the CNCS strategic plan Pilot Measures (Tier 3) are additional national performance measures in the Focus Areas Tiers 4 and 5 are for applicants not using national measures Economic Opportunity measures fall into Tier 2 (Priority Measures) and Tier 3 (Pilot Measures) 5

Priority Measures (Tier 2) Provision of Housing Services: O5 (output): Number of economically disadvantaged individuals, including homeless individuals, receiving housing services O11(outcome): Number of economically disadvantaged individuals, including homeless individuals, transitioned into safe, healthy, affordable housing If O5 is selected, then O11 is required 6

If an applicant has a program model focused on providing housing services to economically disadvantaged and homeless families and individuals, they MUST select the priority measures provided. 7

Individuals: Each unique person who will be occupying the unit legally including adults and children but not unborn children. Housing services: Helps qualifying individuals find appropriate housing, find the resources to support use of appropriate housing, and assists individuals in accessing the appropriate housing. May or may not result in an actual placement. May also include hands-on housing development and repair activities. Economically disadvantaged: Must be receiving or meet the income eligibility requirements to receive: TANF, Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, SCHIP, Section 8 housing assistance OR have a poor credit score OR are at least 60 days behind on one or more personal/family accounts. 8

Financial Literacy O1(output): Number of economically disadvantaged individuals receiving financial literacy services O9 (outcome): Number of economically disadvantaged individuals with improved financial knowledge If O1 is selected, then O9 is required Job Placement O3 (output): Number of economically disadvantaged individuals receiving job placement services O10: Number of economically disadvantaged individuals placed in jobs If O3 is selected, then O10 is required 9

Job Training O2 (output): Number of economically disadvantaged individuals receiving job training and other skill development services Housing Development O4 (output): Number of housing units developed, repaired, or otherwise made available for low-income individuals, families or people with disabilities Note: If a program can measure the number of individuals who were placed in the housing that was made available, then Priority Measure O5 might be more appropriate 10

Employment O12 (output) Number of economically disadvantaged National Service Participants who are unemployed prior to their term of service O15 (outcome): Number of economically disadvantaged National Service Participants that secure employment during their term of service or within one year after finishing a CNCS- supported If O12 is selected, then O15 is required 11

High School Diploma/GED Attainment O13: Number of economically disadvantaged National Service Participants who have not obtained their high school diploma or equivalent prior to the start of their term of service O16: Number of National Service Participants that obtain a GED/diploma while serving in CNCS- supported programs or within one year after finishing serving in CNCS-supported programs If O13 is selected, then O16 is required. 12

College Access O14: Number of National Service Participants who have their high school diploma or equivalent but have not completed a college degree prior to their term of service O17: Number of National Service Participants that complete a college course within one year after finishing a CNCS-supported program If O14 is selected, then O17 is required. 13

In addition to documenting that the need exists, programs must describe how the interventions the AmeriCorps members and volunteers are engaged in are both evidence-based and will have a measureable impact. The term evidence-based refers to data that supports the presence of a cause and effect relationship between the intervention and the outcome. The evidence provided must support the programs theory of change, which articulates why the intervention (member and volunteer activities) will lead to the outcomes identified by the program. 14

Sources of Evidence May Include: Past performance measurement data Results from an impact evaluation of the program Research studies documenting the outcomes of similar programs Evaluations documenting the outcomes of similar programs 15

Programs must have at least one aligned performance measure that captures the measurable impact of their primary service activity. Aligned measures have two key components: Output and Outcome Alignment refers to whether: The outcome is likely to result from the intervention and output, and Whether the output and outcome measure the same population. 16

Outputs are counts of the amount of service that members or volunteers have completed. For example: The number of individuals receiving housing placement services They do not provide information on benefits to or other changes in the lives of members and/or beneficiaries. 17

Outcomes specify changes that have occurred in the lives of members and/or beneficiaries. For example: Individuals transitioning to safe, healthy, and affordable housing after receiving housing placement services Outcomes should be: Realistic Measurable during grant period Relevant to theory of change 18

Outcomes measure changes in: Attitude Behavior Condition Most programs should aim to measure a quantifiable change in behavior or condition 19

Two of the Economic Opportunity national outputs (O2 and O4) do not have national outcomes. For these outputs, programs will be required to develop their own outcome that is aligned with the selected national output. 20

Intermediate Outcome Output Member Activities Communities suffering from the economic collapse have seen increases in foreclosures resulting in increased homelessness since 2008 Community Need 30AmeriCorps Members will outreach to homeless individuals and refer them to housing services O5: 300 economically disadvantaged individuals, including homeless individuals, will receive housing services O11: 150 individuals, including homeless individuals will transition to safe, healthy, and affordable housing 21

Local Government Housing Board Activity: Up to 7 ACMs will provide housing placement and accessibility services to economically disadvantaged individuals, including homeless and near-homeless. Services will include housing identification, applications assistance, referrals, back rent and security deposit disbursements, home sharing coordination, repairs and weatherization Output: 3,000 economically disadvantaged individuals, including homeless and near-homeless will receive housing placement and accessibility services provided by ACMs. Outcome: 275 economically disadvantaged individuals will transition into safe, affordable housing. 22

2012 National Performance Measures Instructions ding/nofa_detail.asp?tbl_nofa_id=91 ding/nofa_detail.asp?tbl_nofa_id=91 Other Performance Measurement Resources, including Webinars and Sample Instruments Information on the AmeriCorps Grant Competitions or