Youth Catalytics has extensive experience in the child and youth services sector at all levels—local to national, in direct services, organizational development, research, and training. We have worked with hundreds of organizations in almost every state over the past 40+ years and have produced numerous white papers, tools, and tip sheets. Our many larger research publications maintain their relevance, and we continue to lead planning processes with multiple public and private agencies.

We maintain our long-standing collaboration with UMASS Donahue Institute and in 2021, entered into a robust partnership with the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE).  So, in addition to training child and youth care practitioners, we help NCSSLE train thousands of educators each year and create resources for Working Well, an initiative aimed at improving the well-being of the educator workforce.

Our top notch grant writing team secured another $31+ million in multi-year funding for several youth serving programs in 2023, and will help several more compete this year.

Throughout our long tenure, we have built a large professional network of collaborators, and achieved a reputation for creating practical resources for immediate use in the field. This network enables us to see what’s happening on the frontlines in multiple settings simultaneously, illuminate the bigger picture, and bring forward new and game-changing insights, models, and trainings to advance the field. This was the driving force behind our Foresight Initiative in 2021-2023, and we remain committed to highlighting the incredible work of experts and innovators in our monthly Views & News.

Our Values and Attributes

• Collaborative in our approach

• Centered around lived experience

• Curious and open-minded

• Creative in problem-solving

• Nimble in our response

• Generous with our time

Norman Buck, IT Fixer

Cindy Carraway-Wilson, Training Director

Kellen Diamanti, Research Specialist

Deborah Fisher, Research Specialist

Barbara Floersch, Grant Writer

Kim Frierson, Training Specialist

Melanie Goodman, Executive Director

Nancy Jackson, Leadership Specialist, Thresholds Facilitator

Peter Maunsell, Accountant

Julieann Rapoport, Grant Writer

Doris Roach, Thresholds Facilitator

Sharon Vardatira, Grant Writer

Karen Vincelette, Administrative Coordinator

Sally Walker, Grant Writer

Melanie Wilson, Evaluation Specialist

Mindi Wisman, Research & Communications Manager

Sherry Allen
Founder and Director, Allen Heritage Foundation

Gary M. Blau
Consultant, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute

Rosemarie Burton, Youth Catalytics Treasurer
President and CEO, By Your Side
Coaching & Consulting

Sheila Celata, Youth Catalytics Chair
Deloitte & Touche LLP (retired)

Tim Duffey
Founder, Bolster Collaborative, Inc.

Abigail Lipson
Harvard University (retired)

Dismas Lorcaria
Attorney, Venable, LLP

Albert Maggio
Attorney, CRGO Law

George McCully
Philanthropy Consultant

David Newman
Founder, Do It! Marketing

Andy Pond
Justice Resource Institute (retired)

Catherine Simonson
Howard Center (retired)

Julie Sweeney Springwater

New England Association of Child Welfare Commissioners and Directors (retired)

Harry Wilson
Senior Consultant, National University