QUESTION
What kinds of analysis did the department conduct to determine whether programs with overlapping services are redundant? Were cost/benefit analyses involved?
0:42:24
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98 sec
Commissioner Juanita Holmes reveals that no cost benefit analysis is conducted for evaluating programs; the decision to cancel the Next Steps program was based on lack of performance indicators, not funding.
- The department cancels the Next Steps program after finding no significant performance indicators, rather than due to funding issues.
- Commissioner Holmes extends the program to assess vendors' evaluations and support, ultimately retaining most vendors for the Department of Probation's programs.
- Emphasis is placed on identifying key performance indicators, successful outcomes, and actual impacts on clients, leading to adjustments in program management.
- A total of 210 clients were involved in the program, with substantial outcomes reported, including re-engagement in education and participation in other vendor programs.
- The approach focuses on the practical impact and utilization of programs rather than solely on cost, ensuring funding is effectively used and not lost due to underutilization.
Sandy Nurse
0:42:24
And then one last question on impact.
0:42:26
What kinds of analysis did the department conduct to determine whether programs with overlapping services are redundant.
0:42:33
And is there a cost benefit analysis involved?
Juanita Holmes
0:42:37
Right.
0:42:37
So no cost benefit analysis involved.
0:42:40
I know originally when we looked at a program, next steps that I had canceled.
0:42:45
Looking at that program, the reason it was canceled wasn't funding.
0:42:49
It was the fact that there were no real key performance indicators.
0:42:53
Even though it was scheduled to be canceled and it was canceled, I extended it.
0:42:57
I met with all the vendors.
0:42:58
I spoke with them.
0:42:59
I asked for the evaluations, the support.
0:43:03
Even some of them personally stated that they didn't put anyone in place, that should have been in place, that they, you know, to evaluate the program, Moving forward, the majority of those vendors with the exception of 1 is still part of Department of Probations programs.
0:43:19
So what I did was I made sure that with the changes that were put in, we met with all the providers.
0:43:26
We spoke about what key performance indicators look like, successful outcomes, not just having 16 people attend, 20 people attend.
0:43:36
It was a total, I think, of about 210 clients that they had.
0:43:40
40 something have went back to school.
0:43:42
The remaining clients.
0:43:44
Some actually are part of programs that some of the vendors had in place, so they're part of that, and the remainers went to the arches.
0:43:52
Because it was underutilized.
0:43:54
I didn't wanna lose any funding for it looking, you know, as though it's not used.
0:43:58
Right.
0:43:58
So we ended up plugging them into our artist program.
Sandy Nurse
0:44:01
Cool.