Technical Area
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
Project: Action Youth Media Programming Evaluation and Capacity Building via the Development of Evaluation Framework, Plan, and Tools
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Client: Action Youth Media (AYM)
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Description: Contracted by Action Youth Media, a nonprofit entity that provides courses to middle and high school aged youth to help them learn how to engage in their community via media arts. Youth are taught media arts skills, research and analysis, and are provided with opportunities to find their voice and build their confidence. Arcstratta conducted an impact evaluation of their programming; developed a data & evaluation framework, plan, and evaluation tools; and strengthened their program narrative/pitch to support their sustainability. Findings, tools, and recommendations were presented to staff for their immediate application.
Project: Analysis of NeighborWorks America’s Network Members (Community Development Corporations and Community
Development Financial Institutions)
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Client: NeighborWorks America
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Description: Analyzed NeighborWorks America’s Community Development Corporation (CDC), Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Network members’, with up to $785M in assets, business model changes, opportunities, partnerships, and racial equity, diversity, and inclusion capacity building efforts. Analysis included review of members’ small business development, lending (mortgage and small business), workforce development, affordable housing, shared equity, climate resilience and adaptation, and social programming throughout the United States. Compiled key findings and informed existing data collection and previously used analysis strategies.
Project: Baltimore New American Access Coalition
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Client: Baltimore Mayor's Office of Immigration Affairs
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Description: Oversaw implementation of program and pertinent infrastructure, including the development of grant agreements, capacity building and evaluation framework for a coalition of providers tasked with accessing and connecting the city's immigrant and refugee families with benefits (food, housing, health, utilities, etc) via case management to facilitate their integration and financial stability.
Project: Development of Data Framework and Evaluation Plan for Restaurant & Hospitality Apprenticeship Management Pathways Program
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Client: NRAEF
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Description: Developed a data framework for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s innovative Restaurant & Hospitality Apprenticeship pathways program to assess participant needs, program processes, and impact. The program provides employees with the necessary certifications and training to advance to management level positions in the industry. Developed a logic model, data framework and data collection plan, and recommendations for implementation of processes and tools to assess program, its impact, and continued learning.
Project: Development of Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Framework and Analysis of Small and Midsized City (SMC) Hub Program
Client: New Growth Innovation Network (NGIN)
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Description: A national nonprofit tasked with advancing inclusive economies in cities and regions across the United States. Developed a monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) framework, analyzed program data, and produced MEL guidance and recommendations for national entity’s Small and Midsized City (SMC) Hub program, which shares knowledge, insights, and innovation in economic development among practitioners in the small business development, lending, workforce development, housing, and financial capability space across the country to drive inclusive economic development, advance equity, and reduce health disparities. Analyzed quantitative and qualitative data to assess existing participant base, needs, engagement, and impact; gaps in existing data collection and analysis; and identify next steps to advance the assessment of impact, learning processes, and program design.
Project: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Foodservice and Hospitality Webinar Series
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Client: Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance (MFHA), National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF)
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Description: Training partner in the design and delivery of a webinar series for restaurant apprenticeship managers to increase knowledge and skills related to integrating diversity, equity and inclusion strategies in the workplace culture to improve communication, belonging, job satisfaction, effectiveness, and retention. Support included online marketing and registration information, interactive training presentations and supporting materials, post-training educational resources, and evaluation forms.
Project: National Women’s Law Center’s Participatory Grantmaking and Community Impact Fund Evaluation and Technical Assistance
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Client: National Women's Law Center (NWLC)
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Description: A national nonprofit entity responsible for securing key legal protections and supports for women in the United States over the last half-century. Contracted to provide technical assistance and evaluate the organization’s participatory grantmaking making process related to their Community Impact Fund Initiative focused on building partnerships between national and local level community-based organizations focused on strengthening childcare sector policies that impact the financial security of Black and Brown female workers and parents.
The evaluation is focused on the participatory grantmaking process and the impact of grantees’ childcare sector advocacy in southern and southwestern states by woman of color led entities and entails the design, data collection, analysis, and drafting of findings to facilitate learning within NWLC and the larger field. Technical assistance is focused on program design and grantee capacity building.
Project: Need and Impact Assessment of Benefit Access Programming for Youth with Disabilities Transitioning to Adulthood
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Client: The Arc Prince George’s County
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Description: A 70+ year-old nonprofit tasked with advancing the well-being of individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families. Provide research and evaluation services to engage with students with developmental and intellectual disabilities and families, through the Families Involved in Transition intervention, to understand their needs, access, and experiences securing federal benefits to support their well-being as they transition into adulthood. Services include interviews and focus groups with parents/caregivers, quantitative survey analysis and design, evaluation and learning framework development and planning, and presentation of research findings for advocacy of needed investments.
Project: Prevention Community Needs Assessment and Evaluation
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Client: Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services
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Description: Designing and implementing a preventive community intervention process and outcome evaluation for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)- and Maryland Department Health Office of Population Health Improvement-funded youth substance use prevention grants that focus on substances including alcohol and prescription opioids. Services include designing and conducting a needs assessment to assess the local landscape and identify local to national trends related to adolescent substance use and mental health; evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of substance use interventions, policies, and prevention resources that include stigma-free social media campaigns, educational programming, advocacy training, and safe disposal events to change attitudes, access, and behaviors; engaging with the Montgomery County Prevention Alliance of providers, community members, and County leaders; reporting key findings and considerations to refine prevention strategies; and presenting findings to County prevention groups.
Project: Program Evaluation & Consultation for Black Sage Collective Underground Railroad Community Project
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Client: Black Sage Collective
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Description: Developing and implementing a mixed-method evaluation of the Underground Railroad Community Project (URCP), funded by the U.S. Administration on Children, Youth, and Families Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services. URCP is a multi-year initiative designed to effectively serve and support Black children, adults, and families in Detroit, MI, experiencing domestic and sexual violence and risk of child welfare system contact and to reduce health and system disparities by building the capacity of a consortium of culturally specific community-based organizations and partners with lived expertise to provide evidence-based culturally responsive, trauma-informed, healing-centered, and equity focused interventions and advocacy strategies and educate Black families and communities about their rights and strategies to promote safety and accountability. Arcstratta’s support includes designing a logic model and evaluation plan; collecting and analyzing data on program activities and processes; preparing reports of findings, progress, lessons learned, and recommendations; and assisting Black Sage Collective with infrastructure development including preparation of equity plans and organizational documents.
Project: Theory of Change Assessment
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Client: NeighborWorks America
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Description: Provided consulting to the NeighborWorks America strategy and impact senior leadership staff in the advancement of the organization’s evaluation and learning. Assessed their Theory of Change through document review and interviews with leadership involved in the development and provided a summary of recommendations to refine the Theory of Change and its use to advance organizational strategies, impact, and sustainability.