WithinReach Theory of Change, Performance Metrics, and Evaluation Plan

Washington State / 2025

WithinReach is the Washington State affiliate and lead implementer of the national Help Me Grow (HMG) resource and referral system, making it easier for families to navigate complex health and social service systems. HMG adopted a Targeted Universalism framework to prioritize investments and efforts in a way that closes disparities. The first step of implementing a Targeted Universalism framework requires collection and analysis of data by subgroup to understand differences in outcomes and to set universal goals. Seva Workshop helped compile and analyze relevant data to support this initial step in 2023.

Seva is now supporting WithinReach advance their Targeted Universalism process through working with a Project Committee to develop a Theory of Change, refine and adopt sub-goals and metrics that contribute to the overarching universal goal, develop an associated evaluation plan, and prioritize sub-populations and strategies based on the data.

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What is Targeted Universalism?

Targeted Universalism is a theoretical framework gaining much traction among policy-makers and service providers concerned with equitable outcomes. However, as with many theories, the greatest challenges lie in the details of application and operationalization. WithinReach and the Help Me Grow are at the vanguard of applying the concepts in Targeted Universalism in the complex systems of early childhood development where there are multiple outcomes and implicated policies. There were few precedents to work from and our clients comprise part of the first national cohort of Targeted Universalism practitioners hosted by the Othering & Belonging Institute. Bringing data, analysis, and measurement expertise together with strategic thinking, Seva Workshop was able to highlight a practical path to bringing Targeted Universalism to real-life decision making.

Source: powell, john, Stephen Menendian and Wendy Ake, “Targeted universalism: Policy & Practice.” Othering & Belonging Institute, University of California, Berkeley, 2019. belonging.berkeley.edu/targeteduniversalism.