Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

Case Study

 
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Strategic System Assessment to Improve Youth Services in Mecklenburg County

Recognizing the rise in youth-related crime and gun violence, Alliance Health partnered with EBA to conduct a comprehensive assessment of Mecklenburg County’s service network. The goal: uncover strengths, gaps, and opportunities to improve access and outcomes for high-risk youth and their families through better application of evidence-based practices.

Problem

Rising Youth Violence & Fragmented Service Delivery

Mecklenburg County has experienced an increase in youth crime, particularly involving gun-related injuries and fatalities. Despite existing services, system fragmentation, gaps in program availability, and limited application of evidence-based practices have hindered effective outcomes for high-risk, court-involved youth and their families.

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Solution

Countywide Assessment Led by Subject Matter Experts

To address these challenges, Alliance Health engaged EBA to conduct a strategic assessment of the county’s current youth service network. EBA assembled a team of experts in juvenile justice, systems assessments, and evidence-based programming to:

  • Analyze local data from multiple agencies and sources
  • Conduct focus groups, interviews, and surveys with youth, families, providers, and stakeholders
  • Identify strengths and service gaps
  • Evaluate the reach, quality, and utilization of current programs
  • Collaborate with county leaders to align resources with best practices

Outcome

Data-Driven Recommendations for System Improvement (Pending 2025)

EBA is on track to deliver findings and recommendations by September 2025. The assessment will provide:

  • A clearer picture of current strengths and weaknesses in youth services
  • Identification of underutilized or missing programs
  • Strategic guidance to improve the application of evidence-based policies and practices
  • Actionable recommendations to enhance coordination, access, and impact for Mecklenburg County’s youth and families
The ultimate goal is to build a more effective, equitable, and responsive system for justice-involved youth.
115 +
Years of combined experience
20 +
Evidence-based models supported
30 +
States and counties served

Solutions EBA Provided

Needs Assessment & Program Alignment

Identify ideal evidence-based programs and determine when and where they are most needed across the District to meet community needs effectively.

Implementation & Provider Support

Provide direct support to community-based agencies to help them successfully adopt and deliver evidence-based practices, including coaching and guidance throughout implementation.

Workforce & Provider Oversight

Monitor compliance with the EBP Hiring Manual and assist agencies in creating policies that support effective staff recruitment, training, and long-term retention.

Training & Capacity Coordination

Identify certified training partners and coordinate session schedules to ensure staff receive timely, relevant training while maintaining adequate service coverage.

Utilization & Referral Management

Manage referral processes to ensure appropriate, timely access to services, aligning client needs with the most suitable evidence-based programs.

Quality, Evaluation & Stakeholder Engagement

Collaborate with partners to track fidelity and outcomes, use dashboards and monitoring tools to evaluate performance, and keep stakeholders informed to guide ongoing improvements and sustain success.

NYC - Administration for Children’s Services

Since 2013, EBA has supported NYC ACS in expanding evidence-based services, including BSFT and MST-CAN, for families.

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Additional Mecklenburg County Information

Dan Edwards

Senior Project Director, Empower Community Care
dedwards@ebanetwork.com

Holly Duggan

Director of Special Projects
hduggan@ebanetwork.com

David Robinson

Consultant, Orbis Partners
drobinson@orbispartners.com

Susan Burke

Consultant, The Carey Group
susan@thecareygroup.com

Nicole Janer

Senior Director – Operations
njaner@ebanetwork.com

Danielle Politi

Chief Growth Officer, Empower Community Care
danielle.politi@empowercommunitycare.com

Click here to see our full team
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