What is Outcome Accountability in CBCAP?
Outcome Accountability is necessary for all family support program stakeholders including funders, participants, community members and for the program itself. All programs need periodic self-assessment in order to know whether they are fulfilling their overall purpose of supporting families. In the simplest terms, accountability involves telling stakeholders what you are going to do, doing what you said you would do, and providing evidence that you lived up to your promises. The language of CAPTA makes clear that evaluation is critical and expected of CBCAP funded programs. Program evaluation—the systematic process of collecting information and providing answers to important questions about program outcomes—is an obligation, not an option.

What are some of the key components of outcome accountability?
Programs can begin measuring outcomes by starting small. For instance, creating a strategic plan or establishing a peer review process are steps in evaluation. For more information about how to get started, read our information on the FRIENDS Outcome Accountability Initiative and the resources it provides.