A program uses inputs to support activities . Examples are sheltering homeless families, educating the public about signs of child abuse, and providing adult mentors for youth. Program activities result in outputs . Outputs are products of a program's activities, such as the number of meals provided, classes taught, brochures distributed, or participants served. A program's outputs should produce desired outcomes for the program's participants.
Outcomes are benefits for participants during or after their involvement with a program.
Outcomes may relate to knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, behavior, condition, or status. Examples of outcomes include greater knowledge of nutritional needs, improved reading skills, more effective responses to conflict, getting a job, and having greater financial stability. Outcome indicators are the specific items of information that track a program's success on outcomes. They describe observable, measurable characteristics or changes that represent achievement of an outcome. The number and percent of program participants who demonstrate these behaviors then is an indicator of how well the program is doing with respect to the outcome.