A Decade of Impact: Longitudinal Program Evaluation of a Children Services Fund
At Partner for Better, we believe that strong data leads to stronger communities. That’s why we were honored to work alongside Central Missouri Community Action to lead a comprehensive program evaluation review and assessment of the Boone County Children’s Services Fund (BCCSF)—a community investment effort that has, over the last decade, directed millions of local sales tax dollars toward improving the wellbeing of children and families in Boone County, Missouri.
What is Boone County Children’s Services Fund?
Established by voters in 2012, the BCCSF began distributing funds in 2013 to support a wide range of services—from mental health treatment to early childhood programs and youth development initiatives. With ten years of investment behind them, the Boone County Community Services Department commissioned our team to conduct a thorough evaluation of the fund’s performance and impact. The goal was clear: understand what’s working, where the gaps are, and how the fund can evolve to meet changing community needs.
Our evaluation combined both numbers and narratives. We analyzed administrative and financial records covering the full ten-year period, with a special focus on 2019 to 2023. We also reviewed community-level indicators, collected insights from nearly 400 people through surveys and interviews, and ran return-on-investment (ROI) models to estimate the long-term economic benefit of each dollar spent. This mixed-methods approach allowed us to provide not just a snapshot of BCCSF’s work, but a detailed picture of its progress, challenges, and opportunities for the future.
So, what did we learn?
Since its inception, BCCSF has invested nearly $70 million into local organizations. That includes funding for school-based interventions, outpatient treatment, early childhood supports, family services, and programs addressing basic needs. In the last five years alone, more than $41 million has been distributed to 55 providers across 87 different contracts. In 2023, the fund was bolstered by new use tax revenue, and annual revenue has grown from $6.4 million in 2014 to over $10 million in recent years.
We found that these dollars are generating a powerful return. Using a nationally validated ROI model, we estimated that each dollar invested from 2019 to 2023 resulted in $9.51 in long-term economic benefit. That translates to more than $390 million in projected value over time. Some investments, like school-based services, yielded particularly high returns—up to $42 for every $1 spent—while mental health and early childhood programs also generated strong outcomes.
But we didn’t stop at the numbers. We also listened to what people had to say.
In focus groups and interviews, providers and community members shared a range of perspectives. Many praised the fund for improving collaboration, stability, and access to services. One provider noted, “Passing this tax changed how we work together,” highlighting how the funding infrastructure has helped local organizations build stronger networks. At the same time, survey data revealed room for improvement. Fewer community members reported satisfaction with BCCSF’s overall impact compared to a similar survey conducted in 2019. This may reflect growing expectations, increased awareness, or the challenges of reaching more diverse and rural populations.
Using all this data, we offered three key recommendations. First, we encouraged the County to make more targeted investments, particularly in areas like mental health, youth and family supports, and rural access. Second, we suggested enhancing communication and transparency, so families better understand what services are available and how to access them. Finally, we advocated for strengthening the nonprofit ecosystem—including more technical assistance for applicants, increased funding for administrative capacity, and initiatives to support the behavioral health workforce.
Ultimately, what we saw was a fund that has made meaningful impact—but also has the potential to go even further. Boone County has built something powerful: a public investment strategy rooted in equity, prevention, and community voice. And the willingness to pause, reflect, and course-correct is a sign of real leadership.
If you love to nerd out like us, you can read the full report here.
What’s Next?
At Partner for Better, this is the kind of work we love. Not just collecting data, but helping it tell a story. Not just measuring outputs, but connecting them to outcomes. And not just making recommendations, but ensuring they’re informed by the people closest to the work.
If your organization or local government is ready to take a deeper look at your impact—whether it’s a fund, a program, or a cross-sector initiative—we’d love to partner with you. Let us help you turn data into direction, and stories into strategy.
Contact us today to explore how we can build something amazing, together.