Using Implementation Science to Strengthen the Child Welfare Workforce

Posted on September 14, 2018

The QIC-WD is using implementation science to strengthen the child welfare workforce in eight child welfare agencies across the U.S. According to a synthesis of the literature, implementation can be defined as a specified set of activities designed to put into practice and activity or program of known dimensions. The QIC-WD is using the implementation science framework developed by NIRN and the guide created by the Permanency Innovations Initiative to support our sites through the stages of implementation: Exploration, Installation, Initial Implementation, and Full Implementation as described below.

1.Identify the problem we want to solve and what outcome(s) we want to target. 2.Identify the population we intend to target 3.Conduct root cause analysis to identify potential causes 4.Identify barriers or facilitators to addressing the problem 5.Devel

The QIC-WD knows that high quality implementation of a selected intervention is essential to the site’s work and the research we are conducting. We have a dedicated team of Implementation Specialists who work in partnership with our Site Implementation Managers to thoughtfully plan for and implement an intervention in a real-world child welfare agency setting. As of September 2018, one QIC-WD site (Virginia) is currently implementing the first part of their intervention. The remaining sites are finishing the exploration phase and will move into the Installation Phase this fall.