Client Story
A Game Changer for Our Agency
A partnership unifying 8 programs across 3 divisions under one framework
who
East Bay Agency for Children (EBAC)
Transformational programs that help children, youth, and families recover from trauma, build on existing resilience, and — when possible — prevent exposure to adverse childhood experiences.
The Goal
One clear framework for a complex, multi-program agency
Bring the many parts of EBAC's programming under one clear focus — strengthening coherence and making the agency's overall impact measurable.
The Challenge
Other consultants couldn't grasp the full picture
Sandra spoke with several firms. Most didn't fully grasp her vision. Heartwise was the only consultancy that really got the idea and could deliver on it.
"I brought Heartwise in because I knew Kendra and her abilities. We'd worked together before and just clicked. She immediately understood what I was looking for."
Sandra Portasio — Chief Program Officer, EBAC
The Plan
What We Offered
EBAC turned to Heartwise for help making sense of many moving parts. Kendra brought a deep understanding of the organization's complexity and offered steady, strategic support to guide the process. Together, she and Sandra ensured the work stayed rooted in EBAC's mission and ownership, so that the project would strengthen the agency rather than sit on a shelf.
Heartwise helped staff clarify their programs and align them within a clear framework that reflected EBAC's impact and values — working alongside the team to think through each program and organize them in a way that fit the agency's logic models.
"I don't know where we would be now if we weren't able to bring her in, because none of the other consultants we spoke to were able to offer this big picture thinking."
Sandra Portasio · Chief Program Officer, EBAC
The Work
Working Together
Heartwise partnered closely with Sandra and her team to create tools and processes that made sense for EBAC's real-world needs. Rather than taking over, Kendra worked side-by-side with staff to organize existing models, build shared language, and engage senior directors in reflective, practical planning.
Her approach brought clarity and buy-in across the organization, turning what could have felt like a heavy lift into an energizing opportunity for collaboration.
"Kendra was able to understand the complexities and the different forces that we had trying to move us in different directions, and she was able to pace it out and offer her support in areas that really helped move the project forward."
Sandra Portasio · Chief Program Officer, EBAC
The Impact
What Changed at EBAC
An agency-wide theory of change
Eight programs across three divisions now connected under one unifying vision — the EBAC way.
Impact made visible
Staff can articulate how their programs create impact, and leadership has the tools to tell that story clearly to the board and funders.
Energy and ownership
The process sparked new alignment across the organization. Staff feel ownership of the work — even EBAC's CEO, skeptical at the start, ended the year excited about the theory of change.
"I really wanted to put our entire agency into a framework that would make sense for everybody, and that would help us articulate our impact in a higher-level way. Heartwise was the only consultancy that really grasped that idea and was able to deliver."
Sandra Portasio · Chief Program Officer, EBAC