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Impact Stories

Dignity Health

Evaluating Mental Health Outcomes

The Context

Dignity Health of Southern California (DHSC) sought an expert in program evaluation to assess and report on a new three-year project that invests in mental health training for communities in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties facing high levels of health disparities, trauma, and systemic racism. In its second year, the Cultural Trauma & Mental Health Resiliency (CTMHR) Project’s coalition of six DHSC hospitals and 11 community-based organizations have prepared 278 instructors. These instructors have trained and equipped nearly 7,500 community members to intervene and help those experiencing a mental health crisis.

The Engagement

CNM worked closely with DHSC’s leadership to create a powerful and collaborative evaluation process designed to engage at each point of the CTMHR Project. Guiding the collection and leading the evaluation of the project’s data, CNM has helped DHSC uncover the story of the project’s impact and identify opportunities for improvement. In addition to our reporting on the project’s outcomes, CNM’s staff has produced promotional materials customized for each hospital and organization to share with stakeholders and supporters, illustrating the community impact of their work.

Services Provided

The Results

  • DHSC has actionable, in-depth data on the CTMHR project supporting six hospitals, 11 community-based organizations, and nearly 7,500 community members.
  • CNM continues to support DHSC’s evaluation of the project, now in its third year.
  • The CTMHR data provides a valuable insight into the benefits that mental health awareness training programs bring to communities facing high rates of trauma.

Speak With an Expert

Need expert advice? We're only an email or phone call away. Use this form to get in touch or call the Nonprofit Answer Hotline at the number listed below. You can also schedule a free, 15-minute appointment and we’ll match you with an in-house expert.








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CNM Nonprofit Hotline

Need expert advice? We’re only an email or phone call away. Use this form to get in touch or call the Nonprofit Answer Hotline at the number listed below.

You can also schedule a free, 15-minute appointment and we’ll match you with an in-house expert.








To select more than one item, hold Command on Mac or Control on PC.




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Maura Harrington Ph.D., MBA

Executive Vice President
Center for Nonprofit Management

Maura is known for her expertise in organizational development and strategy and in all aspects of organizational development with a focus on strategic planning, assessment, and evaluation. At CNM, she oversees the client services team and provides consulting, training, and coaching services to a broad range of organizations. Much of her consulting and capacity-building work has been with community-based organizations and public health departments related to effective organizational operations, evaluation practices, and the use of logic models and other assessment tools to support planning, evaluation, and management. A BoardSource Trainer, a certified Advanced Associate, and a Trainer for the Connective Leadership Institute; Maura has completed certification as an executive coach under the International Coaching Federation. She holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from the Claremont Graduate School, an MBA from the Peter Drucker Graduate Management Center, a BS in Psychology from Georgetown University, and serves as an adjunct professor at USC’s School of Social Work and Department of Psychology.