How do we know the HOPE Framework is working?
In my last blog post, I shared how teams can move from insight to action, building plans that do not just sit on paper but grow and change as the work unfolds.
This next step is about what happens once you start.
One of the most common questions we hear from organizations implementing the HOPE framework and funders who are supporting the work is: How do we know if what we are doing is working?
That’s exactly why we created the HOPE Implementation Evaluation Toolkit.
Where did this toolkit come from
This toolkit was shaped by the real-world work of the 2025 HOPE Innovation Network (HIN). These organizations were actively implementing the HOPE framework in different settings, with different populations, and different constraints. They helped us test what is realistic:
- What feels doable (and what doesn’t)
- Where teams get stuck
- What kinds of data are useful
- How to keep evaluation from becoming overwhelming or performative
Then we put it together into an evaluation strategy that is intentionally practical, flexible, and relevant for organizations implementing the HOPE framework.
Now, in 2026, the next HIN cohort is using the toolkit in real time, applying it and continuing to refine what effective HOPE implementation looks like across settings.
What this toolkit is (and isn’t)
This toolkit is not a course, and it’s not something you will need to sit down and complete in one sitting. Instead, it’s a set of steps grounded in a quality improvement (QI) approach to evaluation, and it is designed so you can jump in wherever it makes the most sense for your work right now.
You don’t have to start at the beginning.
You don’t have to do every step in order.
At the start of each section, you’ll see a few simple questions to help you decide, is this the right step for where we are right now?
Every section follows the same structure, so it feels familiar and usable:
- “Is this the right section for me?”: Quick prompts to help you orient.
- Short introduction: Background information about what each step is and how it connects to the larger QI process.
- Guidance and questions: Questions to help you think through the work in your own context.
- Optional tools and templates: Worksheets to use if you want more structure (but not required).
- Reflection questions: Questions to help you pause and make sense of what you are learning.
- A case example: An example to show what this step can look like in practice.
The goal is to support real-world implementation in a way that’s flexible, practical, and fits into the work you are already doing.
What’s inside
The toolkit begins with an introduction section and then walks through nine connected (but flexible) steps:
- Assess readiness
- Review your data (before collecting more)
- Choose an implementation project
- Develop a clear Aim Statement
- Select measurable data sources
- Build an implementation plan
- Plan for data collection
- Test and adapt using Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles
- Use and share what you’re learning
Each section is designed to stand on its own, so teams can start where it makes sense while still connecting to a larger process of learning and improvement.
Who this is for
If you’re:
- Implementing the HOPE framework within your organization
- Acting as a HOPE Champion supporting others
- Leading or participating in systems change work
- Trying to move from “we believe in this” to “we are doing this in practice”
…this toolkit is for you! It’s especially useful if you’ve ever felt stuck between:
- Wanting to measure impact
- Not wanting to create a burden
- And needing something that fits your context
In practice
Here are a couple of examples of how teams are already using this approach:
San Diego State University
A pilot project is integrating HOPE-Informed activities and materials into a first-year student program, with a focus on reducing self-reported loneliness.
Instead of launching a large-scale overhaul, they’re starting small, testing specific strategies, gathering student feedback, and adjusting in real time based on what’s resonating.
Southridge High School
A HOPE-Informed check-in system and mentoring program is being implemented to address chronic absenteeism among high-risk youth. The team is tracking both quantitative data (attendance patterns) and qualitative insights (student connection, sense of belonging) to understand what is working (or not).
In both cases, the goal is not just to implement something, but to measure the impact of the implementation on outcomes that matter.
What’s next
We encourage you to explore the toolkit and see what stands out for your work. Whether you are just getting started or already implementing HOPE, this is meant to be something you can return to, adapt, and use over time. You do not need to read it cover to cover – start with the section that feels most relevant right now.
We will also be diving deeper into the HOPE Evaluation Toolkit on the second day of the upcoming 2026 HOPE Summit; Building HOPE That Lasts!. If you’re interested in seeing how this looks in real time (and connecting with others doing this work), register today.
