Youth Solutions Partners with University of Michigan School on Data Project

Youth Solutions (YS) has announced a new partnership with the University of Michigan’s School of Information (UMSI), launching a year-long student-led project through the school’s Engaged Learning Office (ELO). The collaboration aims to enhance data management and analysis capabilities across Youth Solutions programs and services, primarily for its YS Foundations service.

The partnership began at UMSI’s Data Dive event in February 2025, where Youth Solutions presented a challenge related to organizing and analyzing its survey data.

“The challenge for us is finding a way to centralize our survey data,” says Gretchen Panicucci, Senior Manager of School-based Services at Youth Solutions. YS Foundations works with Michigan school districts to design and implement career development programs. Part of that process includes surveying students, staff, and family members at various stages in order to evaluate progress and effectiveness. As the volume of information being collected has increased with growth, the team has recognized its need for a system and process for organizing, analyzing, and visualizing data.

The Data Dive event opened an opportunity for Youth Solutions to apply for— and ultimately secure— a partnership with the UMSI in a year-long capstone project. A team of five UMSI students will work with the non-profit in two phases: the first semester will focus on scoping the project and assessing organizational needs, while the second semester will implement a centralized data system. The final deliverables include a unified database, along with a dashboard template for streamlined reporting and analysis.

“This partnership is a game-changer for our organization,” said Panicucci. “By centralizing our data and improving our reporting tools, we’ll be able to make more informed decisions and better demonstrate our impact to stakeholders across Michigan.”

Formally established in 2017, UMSI’s Engaged Learning Office (ELO) works with a wide range of external partners and clients to bring together and expand upon existing programs and initiatives.

“We have a strong history of programs engaging with civic organizations and non-profits, and partner with many organizations in those sectors,” says Lori Donovan, Associate Director for External Engagement. The office works closely with faculty to determine the types of projects and industries that would best suit the needs of students and learning objectives of the course.

The project is a win for students at UMSI as well, providing them with valuable hands-on experience to real-world problems. These meaningful experiences often lead to positive employment outcomes, according to Donovan.

“Students, especially those without extensive professional experience, often draw on examples of group project work, client communication, and other essential skills during job interviews.”

Youth Solutions is excited to showcase the impact of this partnership and remains committed to using data-driven insights to create meaningful opportunities and lasting change for youth.