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Scaling Evidence-Based Models (SEBM)

AmeriCorps’ emphasis on evidence is meant to support innovation, 

improvement, and learning. Our agency’s intent is to integrate the use of 

evidence and opportunities for further learning into all activities. Where 

an evidence base is lacking, our goal is for evidence to be developed 

through systematic analysis. Where evidence of positive impact exists, it 

will be used to encourage replication, expansion and adaptation of 

effective national service models to reach more people in underserved 

communities. 

With a focus on the use and expansion of effective 

solutions, AmeriCorps’ Office of Research and 

Evaluation initiated a multi-year research project 

called Scaling Evidence-Based Models (SEBM) to:

• Discover the AmeriCorps-funded program 

models with the strongest base of evidence, 

• Illuminate the processes that grantees use to scale an evidence-based 

intervention, and 

• Develop recommendations that support the scale up and replication of 

models and interventions that work. This Evaluation project not only 

researched, but translated that work into applied assistance guides, 

checklists and an interactive virtual SCALER Tool for AmeriCorps staff, 

grantees, sponsors, State Service Commissions and other community 

based organizations.

The SCALER Tool (https://americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/evaluationresources/scaler) is an interactive learning resource that utilizes technology 

to provide state of the field guidance that helps not only our AmeriCorps 

awarded sponsors and grantees, but all community based organizations 

AmeriCorps, a federal agency, 

brings people together to 

tackle the country’s most 

pressing challenges, through 

national service and 

volunteering. AmeriCorps 

members and AmeriCorps 

Seniors volunteers serve with 

organizations dedicated to the 

improvement of communities. 

AmeriCorps helps make 

service to others a cornerstone 

of our national culture. Learn 

more at AmeriCorps.gov.

EVIDENCE SNAPSHOT

Scaling Evidence-Based Models

Office of Research and Evaluation | Americorps.gov

Scaling Approaches

Expansion: Extends the 

intervention to more 

people in the same target 

population in the same 

location

Replication: Extends the 

intervention to the same 

target population in a 

different location

Adaptation: Extends the 

intervention to a different 

target population in either 

the same or different 

location or modifies the 

intervention for the same 

population in either the 

same or different location
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For more information, please contact evaluation@cns.gov

(CBOs) and practitioners in understanding their readiness to scale their program models and 

ultimately increase their impact in local communities. 

Using the SCALER Tool, a CBO can examine the existing evidence for their program’s 

effectiveness, self-assess their evaluation capacity to build such evidence if it is needed, and 

determine if they have the procedures and processes in place to prepare their program model 

for potential scaling and replication. Funders such as State Service Commissions, other federal, 

state, and local government agencies and Philanthropic grantmaking organizations can also 

utilize this tool to guide and support their grantees to prepare them for successful scaling of 

interventions that work. 

When working with the SCALER Tool, an organization can self-assess eight elements researched 

and identified as contributing to the readiness for scaling an evidence-based intervention and 

the program. Through interactive checklists as well as a provided discussion worksheet, staff can 

individually complete the information and then come together to discuss and develop 

operational, programmatic or strategic plans. The eight checklist elements included in the 

report and the SCALER Tool include:

• Identifying an effective intervention

• Building evidence of effectiveness

• Specifying the intervention

• Defining the target population

• Establishing implementation supports

• Having an enabling context

• Establishing an implementation infrastructure

• Summary of scaling readiness

“Scaling an Intervention: Recommendations and Resources” is the overarching resource for this 

suite of research, guides and products, and disseminates the knowledge gained from the SEBM 

project to include five key recommendations that will help funders like AmeriCorps, other 

government agencies, and philanthropic organizations identify which funded interventions are 

effective, enhance their knowledge base on scaling them, and pursue scaling.

How the Findings Will Inform AmeriCorps 

For decades, AmeriCorps has worked to make service to others an indispensable part of the 

American experience. One of the agency’s strategic goals is a more equitable AmeriCorps

where opportunity and access to resources stimulates future individual and community wellbeing. Investing in awards that are evidence-informed is only part of the service and 

grantmaking equation; understanding the evidence behind what works and then scaling and 

replicating it to benefit the citizens of more communities and for more service opportunities is the 

next step. The SEBM project, the findings, the tools and the additional resources will be 

developed into a “Replicating What Works” scaling/replication technical

assistance grantmaking strategy informed by evidence. The approach will develop curriculum, 

one-on-one assistance, and utilize the interactive SCALER Tool, to increase learning and applied 

understanding of scaling readiness and scaling success to achieve the Agency goal of equity.
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For more information, please contact evaluation@cns.gov

The Scaling Evidence-Based Models Initiative

Phases, Activities and Knowledge Products
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For more information, please contact evaluation@cns.gov

Resources in the Scaling Evidence-Based Models Suite

Identify interventions with the strongest evidence of effectiveness

Name of Guide/Tool/Report URL

Evidence of Effectiveness in AmeriCorpsFunded Organizationshttps://americorps.gov/evidence-exchange/scaling-programs-researchevidence-effectiveness

Baseline Equivalence: What it is and Why it is 

Needed 

https://americorps.gov/evidence-exchange/baseline-equivalence-whatit-why-it-needed

How to Fully Describe an Intervention https://americorps.gov/evidence-exchange/how-fully-describeintervention

What Makes for a Well-Designed, WellImplemented Impact Study https://americorps.gov/evidence-exchange/what-makes-well-designedwell-implemented-study

Examine grantees' scaling practices

Name of Guide/Tool/Report URL

Planned Scaling Activities of AmeriCorpsFunded Organizationshttps://americorps.gov/evidence-exchange/planned-scaling-activitiesamericorps-funded-organizations

Making the Most of Data https://americorps.gov/evidence-exchange/making-most-data

How to Structure Implementation Supports https://americorps.gov/evidence-exchange/how-structureimplementation-supports

Build Organizational Capacity to Implement an 

Intervention

https://americorps.gov/evidence-exchange/build-organizationalcapacity-implement-intervention

Scaling Checklists: Assessing Your Level of 

Evidence and Readiness (SCALER)

https://americorps.gov/evidence-exchange/scaling-checklists-assessingyour-level-evidence-readiness-scaler

Scaling an Intervention: Recommendations and 

Resources

https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/AmeriCorps_ScalingR

ecsAndResources_ORE_9Apr2021.pdf

Scaling Checklists: Assessing Your Level of 

Evidence and Readiness (SCALER) Tool https://americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/evaluation-resources/scaler

Scaling Evidence-Based Models: Document 

Review Rubrics Forthcoming Publication

Conduct study of intervention scaling

Name of Guide/Tool/Report URL

Scaling Evidence-Based Interventions: Insights 

from the Experiences of Three Grantees 

https://americorps.gov/evidence-exchange/Scaling-Evidence-BasedInterventions:-Insights-from-the-Experiences-of-Three-Grantees

Scaling the Home Instruction for Parents of 

Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) Intervention: 

Insights from the Experiences of Parent Possible 

https://americorps.gov/evidence-exchange/Scaling-the-Home-Instructionfor-Parents-of-Preschool-Youngsters-%28HIPPY%29-Intervention%3A-Insightsfrom-the-Experiences-of-Parent-Possible

Scaling the Reading Corps Intervention: Insights 

from the Experiences of the United Way of Iowa 

https://americorps.gov/evidence-exchange/Scaling-the-Reading-CorpsIntervention%3A-Insights-from-the-Experiences-of-the-United-Way-of-Iowa

Scaling the Birth and Beyond (B&B) Intervention: 

Insights from the Experiences of the Child Abuse 

Prevention Council (CAPC)

https://americorps.gov/evidence-exchange/Scaling-the-Birth-andBeyond-%28B%26B%29-Intervention%3A-Insights-from-the-Experiences-ofthe-Child-Abuse-Prevention-Council-%28CAPC%29