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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§5056 Evaluation of Programs and Projects

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

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Director must measure and evaluate every program under this chapter at least once every three years. Evaluations must look at the program’s effects, whether it meets its goals, how it compares to its cost, how it affects related programs, how services are delivered, and whether it follows the equitable distribution rule in section 5054. People who are not directly running the program must do the evaluations. The Director must make and publish general rules for how to evaluate programs. Reports sent under section 5047 must say what was done because of these evaluations. The Director should get participants’ opinions when possible and must publish a summary of each evaluation no later than sixty days after it ends. Any studies, evaluations, proposals, or data paid for with federal money become the property of the United States. By December 31, 1988, the Director had to evaluate programs under subchapter II that help families caring for frail or disabled adults and study how volunteers affect those services. That evaluation had to cover caregiver needs and services, volunteer traits and training, administrative costs for volunteer help, and other relevant issues. It also had to compare volunteers who do not get stipends with those who do, looking at costs, service quality (including absenteeism and turnover), and effects on program management, and report the results to the authorizing congressional committees. The Director may use up to 1 percent of the funds appropriated under this chapter for evaluations, and allotments are reduced by that amount.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §5056

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

(a)General objectives; persons conducting the evaluation
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)General standards; publication; reports of ensuing actions
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 of this title shall describe the actions taken as a result of evaluations carried out under this section.
(c)Opinions of participants
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)Summaries of results; publication
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)Federal property
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)Evaluation of programs that relate to services that assist families caring for frail and disabled adult family members; evaluation of impact by volunteers on such programs; report to committees of Congress
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 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)Funds limitation; reduction of allotments
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 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110