ABSTRACT
Most funding sources are now requiring agencies to produce results that are outcome based. In other words, agencies must show that what they do is effective in producing changes in the clients and/or offenders that they serve. One of the most significant landmarks in this relatively new position is the passing of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) legislation in 1993. With this legislation, the U.S. federal government began holding all agencies that receive federal funding responsible for producing results, not just for meeting certain process goals. Specifically, GPRA requires that agencies develop long-term strategic plans, that agencies identify measurable goals and objectives, and that links between program activities are geared toward reaching those goals and budgets (GPRA 1993). While GPRA was the federal government’s ambitious effort to increase outcome-based accountability among all of its agencies, its effects have been more widespread. Many organizations and agencies are taking the initiative, even if not required by specific funding sources, to demonstrate effectiveness through evaluations and outcome monitoring. In this chapter, evaluations and outcome monitoring will be jointly referred to as outcome-based evidence.
