In 2023, the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance (MACA) embarked on a transformative strategic planning journey in partnership with The Bridgespan Group through its “Achieving Strategic Clarity” Accelerator. This multi-month engagement was driven by a shared commitment to strengthen MACA’s operational foundation, support the 12 Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) across Massachusetts, and advance equitable access to high-quality services for all children impacted by abuse. Working closely with Bridgespan’s consulting team, MACA clarified its intended impact—ensuring all children, particularly those historically more vulnerable to being victimized, due to their race, immigration status, LGBTQ+ identity or physical disability, can access best-practice services through CACs—and developed a simple, powerful theory of change to guide its efforts.
MACA’s strategic planning process identified three core priorities to drive its work forward: equipping CACs to deliver evidence-based services; supporting the sustainability and success of CAC leadership; and advancing data-informed policy and legislative advocacy. With guidance from Bridgespan, MACA mapped out how these priorities would be realized through strengthened accreditation supports, enhanced leadership development, and a statewide data infrastructure built to assess equitable impact. Importantly, the process underscored MACA’s unique role as a statewide convener and advocate—leveraging its relationships, expertise, and influence to catalyze systemic change.
Following the planning phase, MACA transitioned to a robust implementation effort grounded in organizational health and sustainability. The Implementation Team, comprised of MACA staff and external consultants, focused on five critical organizational priorities: improving organizational structure and design, building executive and operational capacity, reallocating the Executive Director’s time to expand development efforts, stewarding a statewide data infrastructure, and resourcing CAC supports to ensure compliance with national accreditation standards. This work positions MACA to more effectively allocate its resources—time, talent, and dollars—and confidently make strategic decisions aligned with its mission.
As MACA moves into the next phase of its work, the organization is committed to operationalizing this strategy across all facets of its programs, partnerships, and advocacy efforts. With renewed clarity, purpose, and capacity, MACA is well-positioned to lead Massachusetts’ statewide response to child abuse with a bold vision for equity, access, and impact. This strategic roadmap ensures that MACA’s mission is not only aspirational but fully actionable—laying a foundation for meaningful progress on behalf of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable children and families.