Sarah McCue Horwitz1, Michael S Hurlburt2, Jeremy D Goldhaber-Fiebert3, Lawrence A Palinkas4, Jennifer Rolls-Reutz5, Jinjin Zhang6, Emily Fisher7, John Landsverk8. 1. Department of Pediatrics and Stanford Health Policy, 117 Encina Commons, Stanford, CA, USA 94305, s-arah.horwitz@stanford.edu. 2. School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 90089, hurlburt@usc.edu. 3. Department of Medicine and Stanford Health Policy, 117 Encina Commons, Stanford, CA, USA, 94305, jeremygf@stanford.edu. 4. School of Social Work, MRF339, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 90089, palinkas@usc.edu. 5. Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, 3022 Children's Way, MC 5033, San Diego, CA, USA, 92123, jrolls@casrc.org. 6. Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, 3022 Children's Way, MC 5033, San Diego, CA, USA, 92123, jzhang@casrc.org. 7. Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, 3022 Children's Way, MC 5033, San Diego, CA, USA, 92123, efisher@casrc.org. 8. Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, 3022 Children's Way, MC 5033, San Diego, CA, USA, 92123, jlandsverk@casrc.org.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the extent to which child welfare agencies adopt new practices and to determine the barriers to and facilitators of adoption of new practices. METHODS: Data came from telephone interviews with the directors of the 92 public child welfare agencies that constituted the probability sample for the first National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being (NSCAWI). In a semi-structured 40 minute interview administered by a trained Research Associate, agency directors were asked about agency demographics, knowledge of evidence-based practices, use of technical assistance and actual use of evidence-based practices.. Of the 92 agencies, 83 or 90% agreed to be interviewed. RESULTS: Agencies reported that the majority of staff had a BA degree (53.45%) and that they either paid for (52.6%) or provided (80.7%) continuing education. Although agencies routinely collect standardized child outcomes (90%) they much less frequently collect measures of child functioning (30.9%). Almost all agencies (94%) had started a new program or practice but only 24.8% were evidence-based and strategies used to explore new programs or practices usually involved local or state contracts. Factors that were associated with program success included internal support for the innovation (27.3%), and an existing evidence base (23.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Directors of child welfare agencies frequently institute new programs or practices but they are not often evidence-based. Because virtually all agencies provide some continuing education adding discussions of evidence-based programs/practices may spur adaption. Reliance on local and state colleagues to explore new programs and practices suggests that developing well informed social networks may be a way to increase the spread of evidence0based practices.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the extent to which child welfare agencies adopt new practices and to determine the barriers to and facilitators of adoption of new practices. METHODS: Data came from telephone interviews with the directors of the 92 public child welfare agencies that constituted the probability sample for the first National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being (NSCAWI). In a semi-structured 40 minute interview administered by a trained Research Associate, agency directors were asked about agency demographics, knowledge of evidence-based practices, use of technical assistance and actual use of evidence-based practices.. Of the 92 agencies, 83 or 90% agreed to be interviewed. RESULTS: Agencies reported that the majority of staff had a BA degree (53.45%) and that they either paid for (52.6%) or provided (80.7%) continuing education. Although agencies routinely collect standardized child outcomes (90%) they much less frequently collect measures of child functioning (30.9%). Almost all agencies (94%) had started a new program or practice but only 24.8% were evidence-based and strategies used to explore new programs or practices usually involved local or state contracts. Factors that were associated with program success included internal support for the innovation (27.3%), and an existing evidence base (23.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Directors of child welfare agencies frequently institute new programs or practices but they are not often evidence-based. Because virtually all agencies provide some continuing education adding discussions of evidence-based programs/practices may spur adaption. Reliance on local and state colleagues to explore new programs and practices suggests that developing well informed social networks may be a way to increase the spread of evidence0based practices.
Entities:
Keywords:
Evidence-based practice; child welfare; community networks
Authors: Sonja K Schoenwald; Jason E Chapman; Kelly Kelleher; Kimberly Eaton Hoagwood; John Landsverk; Jack Stevens; Charles Glisson; Jennifer Rolls-Reutz Journal: Adm Policy Ment Health Date: 2007-11-14
Authors: Lawrence A Palinkas; Ian W Holloway; Eric Rice; Dahlia Fuentes; Qiaobing Wu; Patricia Chamberlain Journal: Implement Sci Date: 2011-09-29 Impact factor: 7.327
Authors: Aaron R Lyon; Eric J Bruns; Kristy Ludwig; Ann Vander Stoep; Michael D Pullmann; Shannon Dorsey; John Eaton; Ethan Hendrix; Elizabeth McCauley Journal: School Ment Health Date: 2015-07-30
Authors: Mary Jo Stahlschmidt; Melissa Jonson-Reid; Laura Pons; John Constantino; Patricia L Kohl; Brett Drake; Wendy Auslander Journal: Eval Program Plann Date: 2017-10-05
Authors: Lawrence A Palinkas; Mee Young Um; Chung Hyeon Jeong; Ka Ho Brian Chor; Serene Olin; Sarah M Horwitz; Kimberly E Hoagwood Journal: Health Res Policy Syst Date: 2017-03-29
Authors: Karissa M Fenwick; Lawrence A Palinkas; Michael S Hurlburt; Rebecca D Lengnick-Hall; Sarah M Horwitz; Kimberly E Hoagwood Journal: Adm Policy Ment Health Date: 2020-09