Project Status: In Pilot
- We are currently piloting the software with six programs.
- Full Launch: October 2010
Performance Management System
National CASA has teamed with Social Solutions to provide a customized Web-based performance management system for CASA programs called Efforts to Outcomes.
Apply for a CASA ETO Grant
National CASA has covered the costs related to the customization and implementation of the ETO software. We are now providing grants to state and local programs to cover the annual licensing fee. Please note: Before applying for a grant, member programs must first contact Social Solutions and execute a licensing agreement. Contact Account Manager Katelyn Bradley at kbradley@socialsolutions.com or phone toll-free to 866-732-3560, extension 3416. She will help identify your program's needs and will develop a licensing agreement for you.
Applications are provided in a PDF format requiring Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.1. Download and complete this application form using the most recent version of Adobe Acrobat Reader 9. A free download of this software is available from the Adobe website: http://get.adobe.com/reader/. After completing the application, print and mail it to National CASA. We recommend that you save a copy of your application for your records and allow additional time to download and familiarize yourself with the Acrobat program if you are a first-time user.
Summary of Application Process
1. Execute an ETO annual licensing agreement with Social Solutions. They will identify your annual licensing fee in the agreement created between your program and Social Solutions.
2. Download and complete a National CASA grant agreement for reimbursement of the funds you pay to Social Solutions. Download the CASA ETO grant agreement (140 KB PDF) and submit a completed form to National CASA.
3 Submit grant application to National CASA Grants Department.
Attention: National CASA Grants Department
100 W Harrison, North Tower, Suite 500
Seattle, WA 98119
All applicants must be in members in good standing with National CASA.
About Efforts to Outcomes (ETO)
In addition to tracking the metrics covered in COMET (participant demographics, interactions, case history, etc.), ETO will allow programs to focus on efforts, outcomes, and participant progress as part of a performance management approach to CASA work. The base product was designed and developed by former case managers and this hosted solution (no software to install) is supported by human service professionals. National CASA and Social Solutions are working with a project task force with staff and volunteer representatives from multiple state and local programs to design this customized version of the ETO offering.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, along with thousands of others, are already employing this performance management philosophy to reinforce what's working, adjust what isn't, and easily report their quantified successes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is National CASA moving in this direction?
State and local CASA program are increasingly being asked by funders for more information about the impact of their efforts. We need more than the simple aggregate numbers of children served and anecdotal stories on the impact of CASA if we are to continue to deliver on our mission. COMET cannot provide the kind of outcomes measurement required. We are excited to be working with Social Solutions, a company that has pioneered this field and provides performance management data to a number of nonprofits, state and federal agencies. National CASA alone does not have the resources to develop the tool and provide a level of training and assistance that is called for by hundreds of programs around the country.
What does this mean for the future of COMET?
We have released COMET version 5 (in MS Access). National CASA will not develop any further releases of COMET. We will continue to provide technical support and training on using the COMET until the end of 2010. In January 2011, we plan to end our support for COMET. No program will be forced to adopt the new ETO software (although we hope that most will).
The upgrade of COMET software (version 5) has been released by National CASA.
Will my case data from COMET transfer into this system?
Yes, we are working with Social Solutions to develop a migration tool for COMET users that will assist in the migration of data from COMET into ETO.
Does Social Solutions offer tech support?
Social Solutions offers a much more comprehensive tech support system for ETO than the one currently offered by National CASA for COMET. Customer service is available Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST and Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. Social Solutions also offers services beyond just technical assistance and training on the software. Social Solutions provides an online community for sharing best practices among customers, performance evaluation consulting and a performance management team that analyzes your data and suggestions on improvement.
Is ETO secure?
Yes, much more secure than COMET. Social Solutions uses a data center that meets federal government security standards. It is HIPPA-compliant, password-protected, and all interactions are date/time-stamped. One of the many benefits of ETO is the state-of-the-art online security that will allow staff and volunteers to interact with the system from virtually anywhere, at any time, as long as they have access to a computer with a web browser.
Will there be an ETO software licensing fee for local programs?
Yes, there is a sliding-scale fee based on the number of administrative users. National CASA is investing thousands of dollars in the customization of ETO to meet the common needs of CASA/GAL programs across the US. In order for Social Solutions to provide ongoing technical support, training and technology upgrades, a licensing fee is necessary for each program. We vigorously negotiated with Social Solutions to make the sliding-scale pricing structure affordable. In addition, National CASA will be aiding in reducing costs to programs by paying annual fees to keep the costs to programs even lower. And we will provide grants to cover licensing costs (see below).
Will National CASA offer grants to help with licensing costs?
Yes. We are convinced that moving to ETO will be more secure, less problematic and, on balance, more cost-effective for state and local programs. For example, the costs that many CASA programs incur in maintaining COMET on a local area network (upgrading computers and MS Office software) will be reduced with the adoption of ETO. In addition, the ability for CASA volunteers to enter case information directly into ETO via the web will reduce the staff hours required to enter data manually. We are backing up our confidence in this new solution by offering annual grants to help cover the licensing fees for local programs. We expect to offer these grants for at least the first two years of our partnership with ETO.
Will my CASA program be able to further customize ETO?
Yes...with a caveat. We are creating a core ETO solution customized to meet the goals of most CASA/GAL programs. That is what the licensing fee will pay for. A local program may, however, contract with Social Solutions to add further customizations and additional interfaces to track information outside of the core solution we are providing. The costs of those additional modifications would be borne by the program.
If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact Katelyn Bradley at Social Solutions: email kbradley@socialsolutions.com or phone toll-free to 866-732-3560, extension 3416.
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