Vol. 11, No. 3
June 2006

Speaking the Language of Outcomes
We work in a system where, at the national, state, and local levels, the emphasis is increasingly on accountability and outcomes. This emphasis is often communicated using terms such as “indicator,” “goal,” “baseline,” and of course, “outcome.” Unfortunately, not everyone working in North Carolina’s county departments of social services have been formally introduced to these terms. Even for those who have, it can still be a struggle to connect these words to the work you do every day. We hope the following will make the language of outcomes a little more accessible and useful to you.