Tracking Outcomes and Equity of Government-funded Social Service Programmes and Impacts on Policy Modifications
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Ms Elysa Chen’s inquiry into the evaluation frameworks for Government-funded social service programmes and their influence on policy modifications. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that outcomes are monitored at macro and programme levels using key performance indicators and rigorous research. He cited the KidSTART evaluation, where positive findings on child development supported the policy decision to scale the programme nationwide and refine its implementation. The Minister also highlighted the National Council of Social Service’s 2021 Sector Evaluation Framework, which provides a common language for measuring progress across the sector. Finally, he noted the Youth Development Outcomes Report, which underscores the importance of programme fidelity in achieving results across various youth initiatives.
Transcript
35 Ms Elysa Chen asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what monitoring and evaluation frameworks are used to track the outcomes and equity of Government-funded social service programmes; and (b) whether findings from these assessments have informed recent policy modifications.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) monitors outcomes at both the macro and programme level. At the macro level, we analyse key population outcomes, such as social mobility trends, marriage and cohort dissolution rates, and preschool cohort enrolment rate, to ensure progress in our social outcomes.
At the programme level, we monitor various key performance indicators, ranging from process, output, to outcome indicators, to ensure that programme objectives are met. This also includes reviewing if our programmes effectively reach clients who require the support. Certain programmes are also subject to more rigorous evaluation, using appropriate research methodologies.
For example, MSF had partnered the Centre for Evidence and Implementation to conduct an evaluation study of KidSTART. The study found that parents and caregivers who received KidSTART home visitation had more positive, quality parent-child interactions and were more confident to support their children's development. KidSTART children also showed improved child development outcomes and more prosocial behaviours by three years old. These findings, which were made public at the 2024 Asian Family Conference organised by MSF, contributed to the policy decision to scale KidSTART nationwide, as well as programme refinements.
To enhance outcome measurement and reporting in the social service sector, the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) launched the Sector Evaluation Framework in 2021. The framework provides a common language for different stakeholders in the sector to measure programme outcomes, track progress of service users and articulate impact. NCSS recently published the first Youth Development Outcomes Report that compared the efficacy of nine different youth programmes, which demonstrated the importance of programme fidelity in achieving outcomes.