Hetrick-Martin Institute

Advancing Mental Health Equity for LGBTQIA+ Youth of Color

The Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI), a national leader in serving LGBTQIA+ youth - particularly youth of color - sought to reposition itself at the forefront of youth mental health services. Facing a pivotal moment of organizational transformation, HMI needed a bold, cohesive, and actionable strategic plan that would clarify priorities, foster internal alignment, and set a long-term vision for excellence, innovation, and equity. The stakes were high: ensuring that its services and systems could match the urgency of its mission.

Challenge

Cora Group led a collaborative, equity-centered strategic planning process that catalyzed HMI’s evolution from a trusted service provider into a visionary leader in youth mental health.

Key activities and deliverables included:

  • Discovery & Strategic Alignment: Facilitated a rigorous discovery process that surfaced core strategic themes and shaped a shared long-term vision aligned with HMI’s mission.

  • Thematic Development: Identified three transformative focus areas:

    • Member Experience & Impact – Elevating service quality and centering youth voices

    • Research & Evaluation – Driving innovation through data-informed decision-making

    • Advocacy & Partnerships – Expanding influence through community engagement and coalition-building

  • Strategic Roadmap Design: Delivered a detailed, multi-year strategic plan through FY28 that outlined measurable goals, operational priorities, and milestones across financial sustainability, program innovation, and workforce development.

Throughout the engagement, Cora Group emphasized inclusive stakeholder engagement conducting workshops, interviews, and iterative planning sessions that empowered staff, leadership, and community voices to shape the strategy collaboratively.

Solution

The strategic plan positioned HMI to redefine service standards in youth mental health care, especially for LGBTQIA+ youth of color. Outcomes included:

  • Strategic Clarity and Confidence: A unified vision that empowered leadership and staff to act with purpose and cohesion

  • Operational Readiness: Actionable steps and solutions addressing gaps in operations, member services, and financial management

  • Organizational Buy-In: Widespread ownership and commitment across teams, grounded in transparent and inclusive planning

  • Blueprint for Impact: A visually compelling and functional plan serving as both a strategic roadmap and a powerful communication tool for funders, partners, and community stakeholders

With a bold path forward, HMI is now equipped to lead with vision and resilience - expanding its reach, deepening its impact, and elevating mental health equity for LGBTQIA+ youth nationwide.

Outcome