* Material for this Presentation Borrowed from United Way

What are Outcomes?

Outcomes are results or effects. They are benefits or changes for individuals or populations during or after participating in program activities. They are influenced by a programs outputs. Outcomes may relate to behavior, skills, knowledge, attitudes, values, condition, or other points.

What are Outcomes?

Outcomes are the overall results of your program. They describe how the population you work with is influenced by your work.

Three Types of Outcomes

Initial/Short-Term - outcomes we can see immediately after the program ends Intermediate - outcomes we can see around 3-6 months after the program ends Longer-term - outcomes we can see 1 year or more after the program ends.

Differences in Types of Outcomes

Short-Term
Change in: Knowledge Skills Attitude Motivation Awareness

Intermediate
Change in: Behavior Practices Policies Procedures

Long-Term
Change in: Environment Social Conditions Economic Conditions Political Conditions

What are NOT Outcomes?

Recruiting and training staff, purchasing new equipment, or any other support or maintenance activities. Number of people who participate Participant satisfaction

Outcomes should be...

Always connected to your target population/group Mostly a result of your program and its goals A good measure of your programs success

Outcome Examples
Type of Program Education and support for orphans Outcomes Children show good physical, mental, and language skills for their age Children are prepared for further school Participants get their GED certificate Within 1 year after getting their GED, participants are accepted into university

GED Preparation

What can help you know what your outcomes are?

Review program materials Talk with program staff and volunteers who work directly with participants Meet with key volunteers from your advisory board and relevant groups Talk with current and past participants

What can help you know what your outcomes are?

Review any complaints Talk with organizations that participants go to after they finish your program Collect information from organizations that provide similar services

Measuring Outcomes
We need to decide what information we need to tell us how successful our program is We call the information that measures outcomes an outcome indicator.

Indicators
Indicators are specific, observable (you can see them), and measurable changes that show us the achievement of our outcome Indicators are also the specific statistics (for example, the number and percent attaining the outcome) that the program will find to show its success

Examples
By the end of the training, 75% of participants will increase their knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention by 80%. At the end of six months following the workshop, 80% of participants will have contacted each other at least once for help with their homework. At the end of one year after the program, 40% of the students will have jobs working with a computer.

Any Questions?