Diversifying the Pipeline of Social Work Students Prepared to Implement Performance Measurement

Abstract

Equitable opportunities for performance measurement learning among social work graduate students can create a diverse professional pipeline toward higher performing organizations. A Foundation-University partnership was developed to “expand the bench” of students, primarily of color, trained in performance measurement with the Results-Based Accountability (RBA) framework. Through an RBA designed course, 140 (50% of color, and 80% women) students engaged in team-based application of learning in “real-time” projects with partner organizations. Mixed-methods data collection showed that 90% of students performed successfully in graded content learning and project application of performance measurement. Students were empowered to apply RBA in current and future work. These skills can enable students as professionals to make data-driven decisions and achieve a results-oriented, learning-focused culture within agencies to benefit consumers and communities.