Author discusses lessons learned and recommendations to help governments and nonprofits improve their social service programming.
HARTFORD, CT (Sept 12, 2016) – Accountability in Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families is the focus of a new book by Anne McIntyre-Lahner, the agency’s director of performance management. The book, Stop Spinning Your Wheels: Using Results-Based Accountability to Steer Your Agency to Success, is now available for purchase at ClearImpact.com and Amazon.com.
In the book, McIntyre-Lahner argues that governments and provider agencies should change their perspective from “process-oriented” to “outcomes-oriented” to achieve real, measurable change. She discusses a management framework and shares practical recommendations on how to implement this complex culture change, tying in her experience with Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families.
“I have seen what Results-Based Accountability can do to transform a statewide agency for the better,” says McIntyre-Lahner. “Becoming an RBA practitioner has helped me to think and approach my work differently and more effectively by assessing whether our practices and programs lead to children and families being better off. In this book, I share how we refocused the Connecticut Department of Children and Families by working from ‘ends to means’ and utilizing data to accelerate progress toward results.”
In her book, McIntyre-Lahner demonstrates how Results-Based Accountability was used to create the Connecticut Kids Report Card – a policy tool that helps legislators, service providers, and the public track the state of the Connecticut’s children and inform budget, management, and planning decisions. It also tells the continuing story of how leadership in the Department of Children and Families is infusing performance accountability into the culture of the organization.
“This is an inspiring book about what it takes to create change in a large government organization,” says Mark Friedman, Director of the Fiscal Policy Studies Institute and developer of Results-Based Accountability. “The book is filled with practical lessons and advice about what it takes to make changes at this scale. I have worked with Anne and her colleagues and can testify to the energy and commitment they bring to the work.”
Anne’s portion of any profits earned through book sales will be donated to not-for-profit agencies that serve children and families.
About the author
Anne is the Director of Performance Management for Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families (DCF), the state’s child welfare agency responsible for child protection, behavioral health, juvenile justice, and prevention services. Anne has worked in the human services field for over thirty years. Throughout her career, she has focused on systems change by developing and overseeing accountability practices for providers, programs, and service systems, and leading strategic planning and performance management work.
About the Publisher
Clear Impact provides performance management software, training and services to help government agencies, non-profits, communities, and foundations track the performance of their programs, measure the impact of their funding, and report on the progress of their missions to improve the lives of children, families and communities worldwide.
Contact
Kayleigh Weaver, Communications Manager
Clear Impact
Kayleigh@clearimpact.com
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