IMPROVE OUTCOMESSM
Measuring what matters most in child and youth services.
ImProve Outcomes is a system designed to help agencies set realistic expectations with clients, identify and organize relevant information, and measure the degree to which their program fosters participant achievement. ImProve Outcomes has three components: training; agency implementation; and a free downloadable toolkit. The toolkit is most effective when used in conjunction with training.
The ImProve Outcomes
system measures observable changes in participant attitudes, knowledge, behaviors, skills, status, or level of functioning. It measures incremental change by tracking participant achievements in order to gain a more accurate understanding of the ways participants benefit from services. Because most programs work with participants during a narrow window of time, one seldom sees participants achieve long-term goals (such as self-sufficiency, obtaining a college degree, etc.). Nevertheless, programs do see participants make incremental, often daily, progress towards long-term goals. The ImProve Outcomes system captures forward movement wherever and whenever it occurs, and thus puts our professional work and our participants' accomplishments in a more relevant, meaningful, and realistic context.
Participants in ImProve Outcomes trainings tell us that they find the method useful not only as a program evaluation tool, but as a case-management and life-skill education tool. The method can also easily be learned and used by youth as they create their individual plans for independence or self-sufficiency.
NEN has also created and piloted an exclusive, low-cost database product to accompany our ImProve Outcomes methodology. The ImProve Outcomes Tracker is designed for agencies seeking an efficient and effective way to track and report client outcomes electronically.
To find out more, view our
Webinar presentation
(you will be asked for your name and email address, but don't have to register)
For more information,
contact:
Doug Tanner
NEN Technical Assistance Coordinator
(978) 544-2067
dtanner@nenetwork.org