Concepts to Practice: Life Imitates Art

Abstract Information: This insightful panel explores the intersection of theory and practice in addressing the urgent mental health crisis among children and youth. We'll uncover innovative approaches to navigating the complex evaluation process, all while highlighting the importance of theory-driven evaluation. Discover how coupling intervention modeling with evaluation practices empowered our team to pivot and respond to diverse voices, making the process more inclusive and effective. The current mental health crisis among children and youth is multifaceted, stemming from systemic inequities, academic pressures, social dynamics, and impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. While clinical mental health services play a vital role, there is a growing recognition that a broader, community-driven approach is needed to address the full spectrum of needs. The YMCA of San Diego County believes in the transformative potential of Positive Youth Development (PYD) in addressing this crisis. PYD is an evidence-based approach focused on changing and guiding the behavior of adults who interact with children and youth, and providing young people with essential opportunities for connection, relationship building, and social-emotional learning. Panelist Kristina Halmai-Gillan, Director of Service Innovation, will offer her perspective on PYD, emphasizing that it's not merely a program but a profound paradigm shift towards community-driven approaches rooted in PYD principles. Kristina will share how the YMCA is translating this theory into practice by piloting and evaluating a PYD approach across various sites. Through data collection and ongoing staff training, the YMCA is measuring fidelity to implementing PYD and its potential for preventive, healing, and strengthening outcomes. Panelist Ariana Steck, Regional Director of Research & Evaluation, will share the YMCA's evaluation journey, which evolved into a transformative process of organizational change management. Recognizing that adult behavior change is paramount to transforming programming through PYD, the evaluation team ensured that evaluation process mirrored PYD principles not only theoretically but also culturally. This cultural change management perspective was crucial in ensuring that evaluation practices, tools, and human interactions were aligned with the overarching PYD theory, fostering a cohesive approach towards organizational transformation. Panelist Genevieve Schoenherr, Program Evaluation Analyst, will highlight the YMCA's commitment to the democratization of data collection, ensuring transparency and accessibility for both leadership and staff. Through the establishment of a learning collaborative, the YMCA facilitates the sharing of data and insights among pilot branches, fostering continuous quality improvement and the delivery of high-quality programs for the children and youth they serve. Don't miss this enriching opportunity to engage in a profound dialogue on theory-driven evaluation and its transformative potential in addressing the mental health crisis among children and youth.