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All organizations have targets to meet and outcomes to demonstrate but what do you do when you find yourself falling short? Quality improvement begins with good data; business intelligence (BI) tools help non-profit organizations turn data into actionable information....

By Akie Yanagi, PhD, Evaluator When you walk into a restaurant and see a couple frowning at each other, with the eyebrows brought together and corners of the mouth fallen downward on their faces, what do you suspect is going on between these two people? Are they...

Why is CCNY’s mission important to you? There’s always room to become better, always! Tell us about a project with CCNY you are proud of. Coaching and consulting Erie County's "Children's System of Care" on program development activities and the use of data in quality...

Root cause analysis (RCA) is a useful process for understanding and solving a problem. Using an array of approaches, tools, and techniques, you can identify what events—both negative and positive—are occurring, then look at the complex systems around those issues and...

By Ernesto Mercado Irizarry, Evaluator No person, or evaluation process, exists in a vacuum. It is this understanding of the socio-ecological model that allows evaluators to begin creating equitable practices in their day-to-day work, which can go on to impact the...

Why is CCNY’s mission important to you? CCNY using sophisticated tools and processes that helps nonprofits in ways they probably couldn’t afford to learn or pay for.  Tell us about a project with CCNY you are proud of and why. I’m proud of the work we’ve done...

What inspires you?On a professional sense, I genuinely enjoy the work that I get to do with CCNY. As someone who comes from a more clinical background, the contributions we make to systems change is awe-inspiring. Why are you in nonprofit work?I never make a point to...

The availability and volume of data can be staggering. Many non-profits find themselves overwhelmed when trying to make sense of the data they’ve collected and underwhelmed with the resources they have to do so. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of...

By Jessica Tufte, MPH Assistant Director of Evaluation & Analytics Source: Wikimedia Does this example match one of your least favorite formats to read at work? Ours too! There is light at the end of the tunnel because the age of text-heavy reporting continues to...

March is National Social Work Month— the ideal time to spotlight CCNY’s current interns! Samaa Aiad and Megan Krebs are students in the University at Buffalo Master of Social Work program. They are working in CCNY’s Evaluation & Analytics department on different...

by Christa Foschio-Bebak Driver diagrams are a simple but powerful tool for non-profit organizations that are implementing Quality Improvement (QI) projects. Used in the planning phase of QI projects, a driver diagram allows your team to better understand and...

Measuring Fidelity to Improve Health and Human Services Outcomes In human services and behavioral health research, policy makers and stakeholders are oftentimes focused on outcome evaluations.  Is this therapy improving the safety of this person by reducing the...

Transitioning from childhood to adulthood is a tough process even in the most supportive environments. Ironically, our nation’s capital is one of the most difficult places in our country for youth to succeed. A recent report ranked Washington, DC youth as the second...

By Christa Foschio-Bebak Starting a Quality Improvement (QI) project begins with understanding and clearly identifying what it is you're trying to improve upon. In other words, what are you trying to accomplish? By answering this question, you and your team come to a...

Team Composition is Key to QI Success  In order to thrive —not just survive— nonprofit organizations must be adept at quality improvement (QI). Much like championship sports teams, the key to an effective QI program is making sure that the right people are on the...

What inspires you? Good, ethical, and passionate people inspire me.   I am energized by working with people (within CCNY and our partners and clients) who are creative, compassionate, and smart that give back to the community in meaningful ways.  To be...

An evaluation is an evidence-based snapshot in time of what’s happening based on a program or intervention’s theory of change.  There are different types of evaluations including formative evaluations (also known as “needs assessments”), process evaluations (what...

Coordinating the work of multiple nonprofit agencies, government agencies, regulatory bodies, and funders towards a common goal and agenda can be a lot like herding cats—unwieldy and difficult to manage. This presents a challenge for the many projects that require the...

CCNY evaluator, Dr. Sandra Sheppard, shares her thoughts on CASACII renewal: Why bother with renewing and/or upgrading a New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) certificate? ...

Scientists studying coronavirus. Team of experts doing medical research flat vector illustration. Virus, pandemic, science concept for banner, website design or landing web page If you are not an epidemiologist, you may be overwhelmed by all of the data being...

We hear this a lot from our colleagues working in the non-profit world: "I know managing data is important, but I have so many questions."  To get you started, CCNY evaluators and data analysts compiled the most Frequently...

What do you like to do in your spare time? Paint on canvas, watch sunsets, and spend time with my puppy. What inspires you? Music with positive messages (lyrics), watching people succeed with a skill I was able to teach them, and reading messages/ quotes that people...

What do you like to do in your spare time? I love cooking, trying new recipes, and spending time with my family. Homemade chicken chow mein and fish fry. What inspires you? The ability to help others and bring forth positive change. Why are you in non-profit work? It...

CCNY, Inc. is recruiting for our newest Evaluation Associate.  We are looking for you if you enjoy collecting, analyzing, and reporting data that drive organizational improvement. We are a non-profit in Buffalo NY that supports organizations to seamlessly...

This week's feature was co-written by Meghan Harris and Sherry Conlan. Working remotely… for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Who could have seen this coming?! On March 17, 2020, all non-essential staff were instructed by our county administration to work from home. This...

The Wellness Society has created a free resource for those struggling with anxiety during the pandemic. You can download it below. Coronavirus-Anxiety-WorkbookDownload

The United States Department of Health and Human Services announced a new application portal for Medicaid providers that have not yet received funding to access the COVID-19 Provider Relief Funds. The NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) is encouraging all...

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The Western New York COVID-19 Community Response Fund, a collaborative philanthropic effort launched in mid-March to address the COVID-19 crisis in our community, released a Request for Ideas (RFI) to seek out collaborative solutions from nonprofit leaders to...

In celebration of the Summer Solstice and International Yoga Day, we are sharing a conversation with one of our evaluators, Dr. Sandra Sheppard, who decided to take up yoga instructor training during quarantine. 1. How long have you been practicing yoga? Turns out,...

We at CCNY, Inc. are committed to racial equity and social justice.  This is reflected in our core values of information, inclusion, and integrity and applies to both our internal community and the community in which we live, work, and play.  Through...

Ordinarily, during the first week of a new job, you wouldn’t expect to be walking out of the office with a box filled with your belongings and still be getting a paycheck… read on to learn about how three of our most recent hires have been coping with #quarantinelife....

Following a successful remote workaround implemented by everybody's favorite trainers, Sherry, Katie, and Alana, CCNY is gearing up for our second round of High-Fidelity Wraparound trainings!   As an alternative to our usual in-person 3-day course, CCNY is offering a...