Measuring the Performance of Human Service Programs (SAGE Human Services Guides)

Government and nongovernment human service providers are under increasing pressure to demonstrate that their programs work. As stakeholders demand accountability, providers are turning to performance measurement as a way of demonstrating the efficiency, quality, and effectiveness of their programs. Measuring the Performance of Human Service Programs examines the reasons why performance measurement is rapidly becoming an essential component of human service management today. The authors explain in detail how to measure and assess programs with special emphasis on the various types of outcome measures including numeric accounts, standardized measures, level of functioning scales, and client satisfaction. As a special feature, the authors include a detailed case study with exercises to illustrate the book′s concepts. Offering guidance on how to assess client outcomes, this comprehensive volume will be ideal for social work researchers and administrators.

Lawrence L. Martin is Professor of Public Affairs, Social Work and Public Administration at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. He was previously on the faculty of the Columbia University School of Social Work in New York City where he directed the program in social work administration. He is the author of 20 books and major monographs and over 100 articles and book chapters.

Peter M. Kettner was a professor at the Arizona State University School of Social Work. He authored six books, 50 articles, monographs, and book chapters on the topics of purchase-of-service contracting, privatization, macro practice in social work, human services planning, and social work administration. Over his 30 year career in academia he served as a consultant to five different state human service agencies and dozens of local nonprofit agencies on their purchase of service contracting practices and in the design and implementation of effectiveness-based planning systems.