Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council

Why Outcome Measurement Matters
Centers for Independent Living provide a wide range of services that support independence, self-determination, advocacy, and community participation.

Traditional reporting helps document how many people receive services, what types of assistance are provided, and whether individual goals are achieved.

However, these measures do not always fully demonstrate the changes that result from Independent Living services.
For example, receiving advocacy assistance is an important service. But understanding whether that assistance increased someone’s knowledge of their rights, confidence in speaking up, or ability to make informed choices provides a more meaningful picture of its impact.

The purpose of this project was to strengthen that connection between services and outcomes while maintaining alignment with federal reporting requirements.

What the Project Accomplished
Working with OSILC and representatives of Ohio’s Centers for Independent Living, MRC completed three major activities.

Updated the Independent Living Network Logic Model
The existing network logic model was reviewed and refined to establish a shared framework for understanding how resources and services contribute to short-term outcomes, medium-term changes, and long-term impact.
The updated model identifies outcomes such as increased independence, greater knowledge of rights, stronger self-advocacy, improved access to needed supports, and increased community participation.

Evaluated Existing Reporting Practices
MRC reviewed existing reporting requirements and previously submitted data to identify opportunities to improve consistency, completeness, and alignment with the updated logic model.

The review also examined potential reporting gaps, unnecessary duplication, and opportunities to better demonstrate the results of Independent Living services.

Developed Refined Outcome Reporting Approaches
Through collaboration with the network’s data committee, the project developed recommendations for improving outcome measurement in three reporting areas: consumer goals, information and referral services, and community activities.

The recommendations include connecting activities and services to intended short-term outcomes, improving documentation of consumer goal progress, and strengthening the information collected about community-level activities.

The project also identified database modifications and staff training considerations needed for implementation.

Designed With CIL Staff
A central priority of the project was ensuring that improved reporting would be practical for the people responsible for collecting and maintaining data.

MRC worked with the network’s data committee through three meetings to review proposed measures, refine templates, and identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary reporting burden.
This collaborative approach helped ensure that recommendations reflected existing workflows, preserved required reporting information, and focused on collecting data that can contribute to meaningful evaluation and continuous improvement.

Connecting the Work to the State Plan for Independent Living
The updated logic model and outcome measurement recommendations provide important resources for statewide planning and evaluation.

As Ohio develops its 2028–2030 State Plan for Independent Living, consistent outcome measures can help the network establish measurable objectives, monitor progress, identify service gaps, and better understand whether statewide efforts are contributing to meaningful change.

The goal is not simply to collect more data. It is to collect and use information that helps organizations improve services, demonstrate impact, and remain accountable to the people and communities they serve.

Looking Ahead
Completion of the Outcomes Evaluation and Alignment Project establishes a foundation for future improvements to data collection, reporting systems, staff training, and statewide outcome measurement.

OSILC will use the project’s findings and recommendations to inform future reporting improvements and efforts to strengthen performance measurement across Ohio’s Independent Living Network.