Evaluating Human Services
A Heinz School Systems Synthesis Project, advised by Professor Michael
Johnson, has released a report recommending the Department of Human
Services (DHS) survey homeless men and women throughout their time in four
"Continuum of Care" programs that account for more than $10 million in
taxpayer-funded programs.
The team designed an outcomes-measurement framework, by enlisting DHS staff and service providers in discussions regarding outcomes, researching best practices in outcomes measurement, analyzing existing data resources, and conducting a gap analysis in order to define the indicators that DHS could use for future outcomes measurement.
Their study focused on DHS permanent housing, transitional housing, safe haven services for the "chronically homeless," and simple supportive services programs. Collectively, the four programs served more than 3,200 homeless people in 2004.
The project was recently cited in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Additional information can be found here.