FY 2021 Annual Performance Plan and Report - Goal 3 Objective 3

Topics on this page: Goal 3. Objective 3 | Objective 3.3 Table of Related Performance Measures

Goal 3. Objective 3: Support strong families and healthy marriage, and prepare children and youth for healthy, productive lives

Families are the cornerstone of America's social fabric. People live longer, have less stress, and are more financially stable in a healthy family environment where both parents are present, share the responsibility of the household, and raise the children. Additionally, in these households, children tend to be healthier, both mentally and physically, and are better able to have their fundamental needs met. The Department supports healthy families and youth development through collaborations across the Federal Government and with states, territories, community partners, tribal governments, and faith-based organizations.

The Office of the Secretary leads this objective. The following divisions are responsible for implementing programs under this strategic objective: ACF, ACL, CDC, HRSA, IHS, OASH, and SAMHSA. In consultation with OMB, HHS has determined that performance toward this objective is progressing. The narrative below provides a brief summary of progress made and achievements or challenges, as well as plans to improve or maintain performance.

Objective 3.3 Table of Related Performance Measures

Reduce the proportion of Head Start preschool grantees receiving a score in the low range on any of the three domains on the basis of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS: Pre-K) (Lead Agency - ACF; Measure ID - 3A)

The ACF Office of Head Start (OHS) strives to increase the percentage of Head Start children in high-quality classrooms. ACF measures progress by reducing the proportion of Head Start grantees scoring in the low range (below 2.5) in any domain of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS: Pre-K). This research-based tool measures teacher-child interaction on a seven-point scale in three broad domains: Emotional Support, Classroom Organization, and Instructional Support. Research findings underscore the importance of teacher-child interactions as a demonstrated measure of classroom quality. OHS assesses each Head Start grantee using the CLASS instrument during onsite monitoring reviews. The most recent data from FY 2019 CLASS reviews indicate that 16 percent of grantees scored in the low range. In FY 2020 and FY 2021, ACF plans to reduce the proportion of grantees scoring in the low range by at least one percentage-point, year over year.

Reduce the proportion of children and adolescents ages 2 through 19 who are obese (Lead Agency - CDC; Measure ID - 4.11.10b) ^{34, 35}

CDC funds a number of interventions that target obesity as well as related chronic diseases. The percentage of all children and adolescents (ages 2 to 19 years) that have obesity increased from 16.8 percent in FY 2008 to 18.5 percent in FY 2016. In children ages 2 to 5, the prevalence of obesity has fluctuated over time. Research shows behaviors that influence excess weight gain include eating high-calorie, low-nutrient foods and beverages and not getting enough physical activity. Public health practitioners can educate individuals about healthy lifestyle choices and ways to improve their diet and increase physical activity. Places such as child care centers, schools, or communities can affect diet and activity through the foods and drinks offered and the opportunities provided for physical activity. In FY 2020 and FY 2021, CDC will continue promoting good nutrition and physical activity in children and adolescents to help prevent childhood obesity.

Maintain the proportion of youth living in safe and appropriate settings after exiting ACF-funded Transitional Living Program (TLP) services. (Lead Agency - ACF; Measure ID - 4A)

The Transitional Living Program (TLP) supports community-based, adult-supervised residences for youth ages 16 to under 22 who cannot safely live with their own families, or for whom living with their families provides undue hardships. This long-term shelter program offers otherwise homeless youth housing for up to 18 months and provides the educational, employment, health care and life skills necessary for youth to transition into self-sufficient living. The TLP safe and appropriate exit rate is the percentage of TLP youth discharged during the year who find immediate living situations that are consistent with independent living. The vast majority of youth (70 percent) were between the ages of 18 and 20 when they entered the program. Approximately 25 percent of these youth had been in the child welfare system and almost 11 percent had been involved in the juvenile justice system.

Because safe and stable housing is one of the core outcomes for the TLP program, ACF proposes to keep this performance standard and increase the annual target to 90 percent. In FY 2020 and FY 2021, ACF will continue to work with grantees to ensure that appropriate service delivery and technical assistance systems are in place to provide increased support to at-risk youth.

(For adult-serving programs) Increase the proportion of participants who, at program exit, express positive attitudes towards marriage (Lead Agency – ACF; Measure ID – 22G) ³⁶

(For adult-serving programs) Increase the proportion of married couples who, at program exit, view their marriage as lifelong (Lead Agency – ACF; Measure ID – 22H) ³⁷

(For youth-serving programs) Increase the proportion of youth who express attitudes supportive of the success sequence (Lead Agency – ACF; Measure ID – 22I) ³⁸

The Healthy Marriage Relationship Education Grant Program (HMRE) is part of HHS's community-based efforts to promote strong, healthy relationships; family formation; and maintenance of economically secure, two-parent, married families. ACF HMRE grants fund 46 organizations that provide comprehensive healthy relationship and marriage education services and job and career advancement activities.

These are new measures for the Healthy Marriage program that better address the core goals of the program. ACF will establish future performance targets once trend data are established.