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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Kevin P. Mulvey, PhD, CSAP, SAMHSA, 1 Choke Cherry Road, Rockville, MD 20857, 240-276-2971, kevin.mulvey@samhsa.hhs.gov

The health field has recently seen a big move toward accountability and program monitoring. In an era of accountability, it is of great significance to understand the importance of measuring program performance. This paper will explore that issue as it relates to both those who receive federal grants and those who must measure grantee performance. Techniques of measuring program performance accurately and ways in which to enhance program performance will be addressed. The use of five core measures to determine substance abuse prevention performance, i.e., Abstinence, the percent showing reduced or no past month substance use, the percent involved in the criminal justice system, the percent of people employed and the percent exhibiting no social/behavioral or health consequences as a result of drug use along with the number of clients served will also be addressed as they relate to performance measurement and the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993. Congressional accountability has filtered down from the department level to the grant program and client levels. Federal departments are required to report to Congress on their activities and grant programs are required to report to their departments on what they have accomplished. Grantees are under a great deal of pressure to report on client outcomes. The grant programs, their projects, and clients of Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Grant Programs have contended with how to comply with these requirements.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Identify SAMHSA’s required performance measures
• 2. Describe how performance measures are used at National and State levels to inform program and policy directions.
• 3. Describe the factors that contribute to program costs and how substance abuse prevention cost bands can be used to meet efficiency requirements.

Keywords: Performance Measurement,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No