Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§5056 Evaluation of programs and projects

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 66— - DOMESTIC VOLUNTEER SERVICES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION › § 5056

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Check how well every program under this chapter works. The Director must test each program at least once every three years. Independent people who are not running the program must do the evaluations. The checks must look at results, costs, effects on other programs, how services are delivered, and whether the program follows the equitable distribution rule in section 5054. The Director must make rules for how to do evaluations and must try to get participants’ opinions. Reports filed under section 5047 must say what was changed because of the evaluations. Short summaries of each evaluation must be published within 60 days after the evaluation finishes. All studies, data, and reports paid for with Federal money become the property of the United States. By December 31, 1988, the Director had to do special reviews of programs that help families caring for frail or disabled adults and of volunteers who work without a stipend. Those reviews had to cover needs and services, volunteer traits and training, administrative costs, service quality (including absenteeism and turnover), effects on program management, and any other relevant issues, and a detailed report had to be sent to the authorizing committees. The Director may use up to 1% of the chapter’s appropriated funds to pay for evaluations (directly or by grants or contracts); allotments are reduced accordingly.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §5056

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Director shall measure and evaluate the impact of all programs authorized by this chapter, their effectiveness in achieving stated goals, in general, and in relation to their cost, their impact on related programs, and their structure and mechanism for delivery of services. Each program shall be evaluated at least once every three years. Evaluations shall be conducted by persons not immediately involved in the administration of the program or project evaluated. Such evaluation shall also measure and evaluate compliance with the equitable distribution requirement of section 5054 of this title.
(b)The Director shall develop and publish general standards for evaluation of program and project effectiveness in achieving the objectives of this chapter. Reports submitted pursuant to section 5047 11 See References in Text note below. of this title shall describe the actions taken as a result of evaluations carried out under this section.
(c)In carrying out evaluations under this subchapter, the Director shall, whenever possible, arrange to obtain the opinions of program and project participants about the strengths and weaknesses of such programs and projects.
(d)The Director shall publish summaries of the results of evaluations of program and project impact and effectiveness no later than sixty days after the completion thereof.
(e)The Director shall take the necessary action to assure that all studies, evaluations, proposals, and data produced or developed with Federal funds shall become the property of the United States.
(f)Not later than December 31, 1988, the Director shall—
(1)evaluate the impact of Corporation programs carried out under subchapter II that relate to services that assist families caring for frail and disabled adult family members and shall include in such evaluation information on—
(A)the range and extent of service needs of, and the services provided to, family caregivers assisted by volunteers;
(B)the characteristics of volunteers and the skills, training, and supervision necessary to provide various types of volunteer assistance to family caregivers;
(C)administrative costs, including recruitment, training, and supervision costs, associated with volunteer assistance to family caregivers; and
(D)such other issues as may be relevant to provide services to assist family caregivers;
(2)evaluate the impact that volunteers who participate in programs under parts B and C of subchapter II without receiving a stipend have on such programs and shall include in such evaluation—
(A)information on adminstrative 22 So in original. Probably should be “administrative”. costs associated with such volunteers;
(B)a comparison of the quality of services provided by such volunteers and the quality of services provided by volunteers who receive a stipend under such parts, including the rate of absenteeism and turnover; and
(C)a review of the effect that participation by volunteers who do not receive such stipend have on the administration of such programs; and
(3)submit to the authorizing committees a report summarizing in detail the results of the evaluations made under paragraphs (1) and (2).
(g)The Director is authorized to use such sums as are required, but not to exceed 1 per centum of the funds appropriated under this chapter, to conduct program and project evaluations (directly, or by grants or contracts) as required by this chapter. In the case of allotments from such an appropriation, the amount available for such allotments (and the amount deemed appropriate therefor) shall be reduced accordingly.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a), (b), and (g), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 93–113, Oct. 1, 1973, 87 Stat. 394, known as the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 4950 of this title and Tables. section 5047 of this title, referred to in subsec. (b), was repealed by Pub. L. 103–82, title III, § 365, Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 908.

Amendments

2009—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–13, § 2153(1), struck out “(including the VISTA Literacy Corps which shall be evaluated as a separate program at least once every 3 years)” after “authorized by this chapter”. Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 111–13, § 2153(2), substituted “authorizing committees” for “Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate”. 1993—Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 103–82 substituted “Corporation” for “ACTION Agency” in introductory provisions. 1989—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–204 inserted “(including the VISTA Literacy Corps which shall be evaluated as a separate program at least once every 3 years)” after “this chapter” in first sentence. 1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–551, § 8(a), amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “The Director shall biennially measure and evaluate the impact of all programs authorized by this chapter, their effectiveness in achieving stated goals in general, and in relation to their cost, their impact on related programs, and their structure and mechanisms for delivery of services. Evaluations shall be conducted by persons not immediately involved in the administration of the program or any project of such program being evaluated. Such evaluation shall also measure and evaluate compliance with the equitable distribution requirement of section 5054 of this title.” Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 99–551, § 8(b), added subsec. (f) and redesignated former subsec. (f) as (g). 1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–288 substituted “biennially” for “periodically” in first sentence, and substituted “or any project of such program being evaluated. Such evaluation shall also measure and evaluate compliance with the equitable distribution requirement of section 5054 of this title” for “or project evaluated”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2009 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–13 effective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 6101(a) of Pub. L. 111–13, set out as a note under section 4950 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1993 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–82 effective Apr. 4, 1994, see section 406(b) of Pub. L. 103–82, set out as a note under section 8332 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Effective Date

of 1986 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 99–551 effective Oct. 1, 1986, except as otherwise provided, see section 11 of Pub. L. 99–551, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 4950 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 5056

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73