Evaluation of the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth 

Local municipalities are increasingly investing taxpayer dollars into programs for children and youth. Communities expect these investments to deliver results, and they want to see evidence of how these programs are helping children and youth. Place-based, tailored evaluations are important for assessing the implementation and outcomes of these efforts. 

Purpose

The Richmond Fund for Children and Youth (RFCY), a grant program funded by the Richmond Department of Children and Youth in Richmond, California, has invested millions of dollars in programs supporting Richmond’s children, youth, and families since 2021. WestEd is conducting the evaluation of the RFCY grant program, including a comprehensive assessment of the reach, quality, outcomes, and challenges of RFCY-funded programs to inform improvements; support capacity building; enhance program quality; and guide future investments aimed at benefiting Richmond’s children, youth, and families. 

Audiences Served

WestEd provides evaluation planning and implementation services tailored to clients’ local contexts and evaluation requirements established by legislation.  

This evaluation serves the RDCY RFCY grantees, Richmond youth and families, community partners, and interest holders involved in funding and delivering programs for children and youth in Richmond.

Project Activities

Year 1 focused on evaluation planning and included holding listening sessions, conducting document reviews, developing a logic model, and designing quantitative and qualitative data collection instruments.  

Years 2–5 focus on evaluation implementation, including working with youth co-evaluators; hosting reflection sessions; and collecting and analyzing data through annual participant surveys, a grantee survey, and focus groups.  

Throughout the project, WestEd provides evaluation-related technical assistance for grantees through quarterly webinars and tools and templates that support evaluation activities. 

Project Director

Nicole Tirado-Strayer

Nicole Tirado-Strayer is a senior research associate and an applied developmental psychologist with over 15 years of experience in participatory program and policy evaluation. Tirado-Strayer conducts evaluations of systems change initiatives in the education and mental/behavioral health fields.

Funder

This project is funded in full by the Richmond Department of Children and Youth. 

Project Duration

5 years (7/1/2023–06/30/2028)