Data Pilot Project Will Measure Community-Based Organizations Impact on Teen Mental Health

Over the past five years, JHF has learned about approaches to engage teens and families, promote mental health, and involve a community-based workforce in responding to teen mental health needs from the more than 20 community-based organizations (CBOs) in Allegheny County participating in the Teen Mental Health Collaborative. These organizations have demonstrated trusting relationships with teens and families, often represent the communities they serve, and offer mental health education and prevention, peer support, low-level interventions, resources and referrals with health systems.

With support from Senator Jay Costa, it has launched a data pilot study to help community-based organizations use shared data to strengthen their services, elevate youth voices, and drive real impact using data to advocate for the important prevention and early intervention services offered by CBOs across the Commonwealth for teens across Allegheny County.

The pilot builds on the partnerships and approach of the Collaborative, which has facilitated peer learning, shared resources, and collective advocacy to bolster the safety net for teen mental health since 2020.

Prior to the launch of the pilot, the Foundation surveyed Collaborative members, conducted stakeholder interviews, and convened a workshop that revealed broad alignment among participating organizations and a strong interest in shared data practices. Discussions showed that many organizations already collect useful information but lack common measures and consistent processes that would allow aggregating the data for collective analysis to demonstrate regional impact around teen mental health.

The pilot includes stakeholder workshops and trainings, organizational technical assistance on data collection and use, compilation and analysis of data handling all data securely and confidentially, and collective review of data. Participating organizations include: Center of Life, UpStreet, The Beacon, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwestern PA, Brookline Teen Outreach, and Hugh Lane Wellness Center. Each organization will receive a small grant to offset the costs of engagement in the pilot, which is being completed under the direction of Anthony Levin-Decanini of Critical Studio together with JHF’s teen mental health team.

"Teen mental health has long been a core focus for us, and we are so glad to bring teens' voice to this project. By letting CBOs learn from each other’s data and work in concert, the JHF Data Pilot creates a shared view across organizations, which strengthens collaboration and unlocks resources for teen mental health,” said Center of Life Data and Evaluation Associate Yilin Lyu, MS.

Initiated in 2025, the pilot includes three phases with the planning phase identifying organizational input on data best practices, inviting youth to participate through four teen engagement sessions to enhance youth data-capacity‑building, producing a shared data dictionary, and providing a one‑hour training for participating staff who will help design standardized measures for assessing the scope and impact of CBOs working with adolescents. Currently underway is the Data Collection and Reporting phase, which will continue through March 2026, during which organizations will submit monthly measures via a secure web‑based form. The project’s final Reflections and Next Steps phase, slated to take place between April and June 2026, will review collective results and surface lessons learned to guide future investments in data and services.

JHF expects the unique pilot to deepen understanding of reach, demand, and outcomes for teen mental health services offered by community organizations, strengthen organizational capacity around data use, and create evidence to support advocacy for sustained investments in prevention and early intervention. By demonstrating collective impact and outcomes, the pilot aims to clarify the critical role community-based organizations play in the continuum of care for teen mental health in the region.

“This pilot represents a major step forward in understanding and strengthening the impact of community-based organizations on teen mental health,” said Danny Rosen, Executive VP of JHF. “We are deeply grateful for Senator Costa’s leadership and the Commonwealth’s commitment to this work. By investing in shared data and centering teen voices, we’re not only improving how services are measured — we’re elevating the people they’re meant to serve. This collaboration gives us a clearer picture of what works and the collective power of local organizations to create lasting change for young people in Allegheny County.”