Outcome Measurement Resource Network Resources for Community-Level Initiatives These resources are divided into two sections:
The key distinctions between targeted community interventions and community status reports are summarized in the table below.
| Distinguishing Characteristics | Community Status Reports | Targeted Community Interventions |
| Purpose | Provide information about community conditions | Change selected community conditions |
| Focus of Accountability | Organization/collaborative takes responsibility for reporting the conditions of importance to the community and for reporting the indicators accurately | Organization/collaborative holds itself accountable for changing the selected conditions |
| Starting Point | Selection of conditions of interest | Selection of outcomes the organization/collaboration intends to hold itself accountable for helping to achieve |
| Other Key Tasks | - Determine exactly what will be measured (indicators) to represent each condition of interest
- Determine what indicator data are already available
- Develop a strategy for acquiring data through primary data collection and/or establishing relationships with organizations that have the data
- Compile and synthesize data into the final product
| - Develop a comprehensive action strategy for achieving outcomes
- Develop a detailed action plan describing how to implement the strategy: what, by whom, with whom, and when
- Decide what information (indicators) will show the extent to which the outcomes and milestones are being achieved
- Develop and implement a plan for measuring those outcome indicators
|
| Uses of Results | - Identify and monitor trends
- Raise community awareness, foster vision
- Improve the report card
- Set priorities
- Benchmark with other communities
- Select intended outcomes and initiate targeted community intervention
- Identify where additional effort or resources may be needed
| - Determine extent to which intended outcomes have been achieved
- Adjust intended outcomes, intervention strategies, action plans, and/or indicators tracked to achieve and/or measure outcomes more effectively
- Select additional intended outcomes and plan for their achievement
- Identify where additional effort or resources may be needed
|
Source: Community Status Reports and Targeted Community Interventions: Drawing a Distinction. 1999. United Way of America, Alexandria, Va. back to Resource Library]
