For 25 years, HealthMPowers has been a data-driven organization. Our evidence-informed approach has been a value that has guided what we do, how we do it and with whom we partner and serve. Over the last three years, we amped up our attention to and use of data to a completely new level with a single goal – drive impact. In fact, we’ve transformed the way we approach data—making it a core pillar of our strategic goals to champion youth voice, advance health equity, and drive meaningful behavior change. This journey has reshaped not only how we collect and analyze data, but also how we apply it to inspire healthier communities.
From Fragmented to Unified: Redefining Our Data Strategy
In the past, our data practices lacked cohesion across the organization. We collected so much data that its potential to inform strategy often went untapped. Essentially, we were drowning in information but starving for knowledge. And so, we embraced a new, unified approach—one rooted in collaboration, equity, and intentionality.
Key elements of our updated data strategy inlcude:
- Mixed-Methods Design: We combine numbers and stories—quantitative and qualitative data—for a fuller picture of our impact.
- Participatory Evaluation: We engage youth leaders and community members in the evaluation process itself, not just the data collection, ensuring their voices guide how we interpret findings and shared ownership is achieved.
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Rubric: A custom tool designed by our staff that prioritizes equitable evaluation to continuously identify and address systemic barriers within our programs. (Example, this tool was responsible for ensuring we developed and trained our team on new cordless jump rope kits so children and youth of all abilities could participate)
This new strategy ensures that data doesn’t just sit in spreadsheets—it drives actionable insights that create meaningful change.
Data-Driven Insights: How We Measure Impact
At the heart of our data efforts are three guiding goals:
- Empowering Youth Leaders: By capturing the voices of young leaders through surveys and participatory evaluation methods, we measure their growth in advocacy and leadership. We also create the conditions for Youth Leaders to understand how to use data and evaluation to improve their health, and the health of their peers.
- Driving Program Effectiveness: We use disaggregated data to analyze how programs perform across different demographics, identifying areas for improvement.
- Building Health Equity: Data helps us pinpoint systemic inequities and direct resources where they’re needed most, ensuring all children have the opportunity to thrive.
In addition to health behavior data, our Standard Youth Behavior Survey tracks changes in habits, attitudes, and leadership development—showing us how our programs are helping youth adopt healthier behaviors while becoming stronger leaders.
2024 Results: The Power of Evidence-Based Impact
This year, our story came to life in ways that energized our entire team. An organization-wide analysis confirmed that centering youth in program design doesn’t just promote healthier habits—it builds a culture of leadership, purpose, and advocacy.
Here’s what the data revealed:
- Ripple Effects: Students inspired their classmates, engaged their families, and even influenced entire school ecosystems to adopt healthier behaviors.
- Leadership Development: Students emerged as skilled, confident leaders, ready to advocate on behalf of themselves and their communities.
- Organizational Growth: Data-driven insights have helped us design more effective, equitable programs that better serve our communities.
And most exciting of all, the data shows that our approach and programs work! Across all the health behaviors we measure—drinking water, eating fruits and veggies, staying active, and improving mental well-being—children and youth participating in HealthMPowers programs are improving in every area.
To celebrate this incredible milestone and our 25th anniversary, we held an internal, music festival-inspired event: DataPalooza. During the event, we shared a fun, unconventional video to highlight just how transformative our data journey has been. You don’t want to miss this—check it out below!
What’s Next for Our Data Journey?
At HealthMPowers, we’re committed to continuous improvement. Looking ahead, we’re focused on:
- Short-Term Goals: Expanding participatory evaluation across all programs, validating new metrics, and refining how we assess impact.
- Long-Term Goals: Strengthening connections between programs, enhancing our analysis capabilities, and deepening our evaluation culture.
These steps will help us build on our successes and continue using evidence to shape a healthier, more equitable future.
Lessons Learned: The Transformative Power of Data
Our journey has taught us an important truth: data becomes a powerful tool when it’s intentional and understood. By embracing participatory evaluation and youth-centered design, we’ve moved from “clunky” data collection to a seamless process that validates our vision and strengthens our impact. At HealthMPowers, we’re proving that nonprofits can use data as more than an afterthought—it can be the driving force behind real change.
Join Us in Championing Health Equity
Real change happens when we empower youth and let data guide every step. At HealthMPowers, we’re building a future where all children have the opportunity to be nourished, active, and thriving leaders. Together, we can create healthier, more equitable communities.
