An implementation framework answers the questions of what needs to be done, how to establish what needs to be done in practice, who will do the work to accomplish positive outcomes and where will effective interventions and implementation thrive. The adoption of the NIRN framework counters passive approaches for sharing knowledge or depending on basic training programs.
Implementation support builds local ownership that is not reliant on external partners.
Child and Family Well-Being considers applications from a variety of public and private agencies willing to use an implementation framework to adopt and sustain evidence-based programs. Individual nonprofits, provider associations, county and state public agencies are typical applicants.
In 2016, Child and Family Well-Being began funding efforts to create statewide intermediary agencies. Intermediaries are centers or partnerships that support state, regional or local agencies’ efforts to design, adopt, scale and sustain evidence-based programs. Typically, intermediary functions include:
- Partnership engagement and communications to ensure that the right partners are at the table;
- Proactive and responsive implementation supports to ensure that systems are in place, such as an outcomes monitoring method;
- Research, evaluation and data linking to ensure continuous improvement;
- Workforce development that ensures practitioners competently and confidently deliver the program; and
- Policy and finance that focuses on legislative and administrative environments to ensure those environments support and sustain the adoption of evidence-based programs.
Currently, Child and Family Well-Being is working with Prevent Child Abuse NC, Children’s Trust of SC and the Impact Center at the Frank Porter Graham Institute, part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to build their capacity, either individually or in partnership, to serve as intermediaries.
