#United States #Atlanta #Community Programs #ImpactMS #Shawna Chase

Innovative Atlanta Consultancy Tackles Community Program Engagement Barriers

In the bustling city of Atlanta, a new consultancy called ImpactMS has emerged to address a longstanding issue faced by many community programs: the challenges of connecting effectively with the populations they aim to serve. Founded by Shawna Chase, a seasoned product leader with over two decades of experience in technology and systems design, ImpactMS is on a mission to fix what Chase describes as the “broken pathways” that hinder participation in essential community services.

Understanding the Challenge

Despite the significant investment made by organizations in community programs, participation rates often fall drastically short of expectations. "Organizations spend millions on developing these programs only to find that community engagement is a fraction of what they anticipated," Chase pointed out. The underlying issue, as she explains, is not the quality of the programs themselves, but rather the pathways that connect these programs to the people they intend to help. Many individuals struggle to locate these resources, trust them, or understand how to navigate the complexities involved in accessing them.

A Unique Diagnostic Approach

To combat these issues, ImpactMS has developed a structured consulting practice that operates on a three-tier service model designed for organizations at varying stages of readiness. These services include:

• - Access Audit: In a 30- to 60-day period, the consultancy maps out where and why participation falters, focusing on four critical dimensions: discovery, trust, context, and friction.
• - Pathway Design Sprint: This 60- to 90-day initiative transforms findings from the Access Audit into a cohesive access strategy, which aligns stakeholders and outlines a clear implementation roadmap.
• - Ecosystem Connector Retainer: For ongoing challenges, this monthly service offers organizations sustained support in coordinating partnerships, tracking access metrics, and adjusting strategies as conditions evolve.

Chase’s extensive background in product management, along with her expertise in Six Sigma process improvement and Agile methodologies, allows her to apply these principles to civic infrastructure, offering fresh solutions to age-old problems.

Tackling a National Issue

Research indicates that community programs across the country often fail to achieve their potential reach. A study from the University of California, San Francisco, revealed alarmingly low adoption rates—averaging just 7% among social needs referral platforms. "Such patterns are pervasive," Chase noted. "While technology is available and funding exists, the gaps in the connective infrastructure between institutions and communities present substantial workflow hurdles."

Atlanta: A City of Contrasts

Situated in a city that leads the nation in income inequality, despite its economic vigor, ImpactMS emphasizes Atlanta's unique position. The city hosts numerous influential institutions such as Emory University and Georgia Tech, but still faces significant challenges in creating equitable access to resources. Through its efforts, ImpactMS aims to build stronger connections in the community and help bridge these divides.

Chase also contributes to the dialogue on civic engagement through her newsletter, Livin'inWeekly, which covers a variety of topics from arts to technology, enriching the conversation about community wealth building in her city.

About ImpactMS

Founded by industry veteran Shawna Chase, ImpactMS stands at the forefront of addressing disparities in community program engagement. With a comprehensive approach informed by years of experience, the consultancy is dedicated to diagnosing and repairing the structural barriers that impede access to vital community services. For more information, visit www.impactms.org.

By addressing the systemic issues that plague community engagement, ImpactMS is not just offering a service; they are pioneering a movement to ensure that community programs can truly serve their intended populations effectively and efficiently.