#USA #Frederick #City Youth Matrix #evaluation plan #logic model

City Youth Matrix Enhances Impact

Over the past year, City Youth Matrix (CYM) has significantly improved its approach to community service by creating an extensive logic model and evaluation plan. These tools will enable CYM to accurately measure their efforts and showcase the meaningful changes they foster in the lives of children and families they assist. This progressive initiative was made possible through generous funding from the Ausherman Family Foundation and collaboration with Sharp Insight, LLC, a firm specializing in program evaluation for organizations focused on community service.

Leigh Adams from the Ausherman Family Foundation remarked, “Our commitment to enhancing nonprofit capabilities aligns with supporting CYM in their evaluation efforts. This partnership ensures they can adopt a targeted, data-driven approach to reach more children effectively.” The investment made by the foundation not only empowers CYM but also guarantees the longevity of its impactful mission in the community.

The newly established logic model and evaluation framework provide CYM with a structure to track essential success indicators. These indicators include social-emotional well-being, academic achievements, high school graduation rates, and access to post-secondary education. By utilizing both qualitative feedback and quantitative measurements, CYM aims to reinforce its credibility and illustrate its vital role in the community accurately.

Jana Sharp, the founder and principal of Sharp Insight, commented on the importance of the project: “We were honored to collaborate with City Youth Matrix. The documentation we developed will lay down the groundwork necessary for their strategic progress in the coming years. With this data-centric approach, they can report significant indicators of success and hopefully widen their impact.”

The evaluation plan prioritizes key performance indicators that often remain unmeasured by other social service programs, setting CYM apart in its commitment to transparency and accountability. With six years of existing data collection, these new measurement systems will highlight the significance of CYM’s contributions and enhance its outreach efforts.

Aaron Vetter, Executive Director of City Youth Matrix, stated, “Completing the evaluation plan and the accompanying logic model marks a critical milestone for our organization. They not only sharpen our mission focus but also provide internal benchmarks that can effectively demonstrate the positive influence of our services on at-risk youth, their families, and the broader community.”

By establishing these quantifiable benchmarks, CYM correlates its services with vital outcomes that measure the organization's effectiveness. This innovative approach will facilitate better service refinement, program strengthening, and enhanced community outreach.

City Youth Matrix encourages the participation of community members, partners, and stakeholders in exploring this new initiative and supporting its mission. For further information, CYM invites interested individuals to visit www.cityyouthmatrix.com or contact Executive Director Aaron Vetter via email at [email protected].

About City Youth Matrix

City Youth Matrix is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Frederick, Maryland, dedicated to dismantling the barriers that low-income families face in accessing enrichment opportunities. By offering family support services, transportation assistance, and program funding, CYM strives to empower children and their families to thrive within their community.