I've built programs while the plane was already in the air.
I’m Christine Stewart, Principal of Clearer Path Strategies. I help program leaders build the operations their work depends on, because I spent two decades doing that work myself.
Why I started Clearer Path Strategies
For more than 20 years, I’ve worked at nonprofits that win grant awards. That’s the exciting part. The hard part is what comes next: funders expect results from day one. There’s no on-ramp for building thoughtful systems and processes first. It’s zero to sixty in three seconds.
Much of my work has centered on building the public health workforce, supporting community-based organizations, and bringing partners together around shared goals across DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
When you launch at full speed, the systems get built along the way. Roles stay fuzzy. Procedures live in a few people’s heads. Reporting becomes a monthly scramble. The work still gets done, because dedicated staff make it happen. But it costs them, and eventually it costs the program.
I started Clearer Path Strategies to help organizations close that gap. Not by adding layers of process, but by putting just enough structure in place so the people doing the work can focus on the work.
What shapes my approach
A systems approach
Problems rarely sit in one place. A reporting delay may trace back to intake. A staffing strain may trace back to unclear decisions. I look at how the pieces connect before recommending what to change.
Practical over perfect
Your team is already stretched. I recommend changes sized to your capacity and budget, and focus on the few that will make the biggest difference first.
A health equity lens
When a process breaks, someone usually pays for it: the client who never gets a follow-up call, or the staff member quietly absorbing extra work. I pay attention to who gets lost, and design fixes that work for the people your program serves.
Listening first
The people closest to the work know where it gets stuck. I start by listening to them, and I treat what they share with care.
Experience
20+ years in public health program management, capacity building, and workforce development
13+ years designing and managing grant-funded programs across DC, Maryland, and Virginia
Federally funded technical assistance connected to SAMHSA and HRSA programs
Multi-stakeholder initiatives bringing public health and community partners together
Consulting engagement with the Rodham Institute at Georgetown University
Education and credentials
MPH in Health Policy, George Washington University
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Facilitation training, Interaction Associates
I’m based in the DC region.
Let’s talk about your program.
If your program has become harder to run than it should be, I’d like to hear about it. A 30-minute conversation is a good place to start.