Outcomes
Our programs are designed to address the compelling needs of individuals and to influence the systemic assumptions that so often limit women and girls. Accordingly, we measure our impact in a variety of ways. We know if our programs respond to an important community need if our programs consistently attract and retain participants. We know that we are having a positive impact on individuals if we receive positive feedback from varied stakeholders: participants, family members, caseworkers, and funders. The achievements and example of individual program participants has tremendous power in shaping community expectations and assumptions. When a woman dons a hardhat or police uniform she visibly challenges us to reconsider what women can do. When police departments hire more women, they see a reduction in the use of force to resolve criminal activity. Finally, we know that we are having an impact if we are regularly approached by others – employers, nonprofits, state agencies, and funders – to be their partner, ally, or champion.
The indicators we use to assess whether our programs are effective are both quantitative (i.e., enrollment, employment, retention, or recidivism statistics, per participant costs in relation to similar training opportunities) and qualitative (for example, a mother’s perspective on the impact of Rosie’s Girls on her daughter). These are tracked through ResultsOnline, a web-based database.
We use a number of measurement tools, including participant and parent surveys, follow-up interviews, program de-briefing sessions, and feedback we solicit from our partners – employers, case managers, corrections officers, and instructors. And we collect stories. Many of the women with whom we work have faced enormous challenges as they move from chronic unemployment to work. Often when their stories are boiled down to a series of numbers (i.e., how much they are making per hour) the true measure of their achievement – i.e., receiving custody of their children, being approved for an apartment, or landing their first full-time job at 35 — can be lost.
- 75% of our Step Up to Law Enforcement students from the May 2010 graduating class found jobs in the law enforcement field.
- Our programs for women consistently reduce recidivism rates to one-fifth the state average.
