In this edition to close out the year, we're pleased to share key outcomes and findings from CEI's recent work – alongside new resources, opportunities, and more!
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New findings: Evidence-backed intervention in Victoria sees nearly 20% drop in children entering care
Evaluation of the Family Preservation and Reunification Response ('the Response'), a statewide family services reform led by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) in the Australian state of Victoria, has found the program resulted in an 18% reduction in children entering care.
The Response includes a suite of evidence-informed practices developed and implemented by CEI and our partners – the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency, the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, and DFFH.
“We are incredibly heartened by these results, which directly link the diversion of 229 children from care to the efforts of the Response,” says Dr Melinda Polimeni, CEI Director.
More than half of Response families (53%) showed improvements in family functioning, and 46% improved in parenting efficacy.
READ more (2 mins)
Positive outcomes from youth mentoring in innovative UK study
A ground-breaking, multi-site trial supported by CEI and funded by Youth Endowment Fund suggests that youth mentoring delivered by community agencies in locally relevant ways can lead to a range of improved outcomes for young people at risk of involvement in youth violence.
The randomised controlled trial of youth mentoring, leveraging a shared practice model, found significant positive impacts relating to self-confidence – including leadership and communication – and problem-solving and decision-making skills. The results also strongly and clearly support the feasibility and effectiveness of a multi-site evaluation approach.
The study was delivered by 17 youth work agencies across England and Wales, and was undertaken by CEI in partnership with YMCA George Williams College and Bryson Purdon Social Research.
READ more (3 min)
Access the report
Improving take-up of funded early education in England
Take-up rates for England’s 15-hour, universal early education entitlement offer vary widely – from less than 50% to more than 90% of eligible families in different Local Authorities (LAs).
A new study investigating differences in take-up found barriers driven by policy design, policy delivery, and by family beliefs and preferences. “These range from confusion about what families are entitled to and difficulties navigating application processes, to restrictions on how early education providers offer and structure funded places, as well as additional charges levied by providers,” explains CEI Associate Director Jane Lewis.
However, the research team also found that positive action from LAs plays a vital role in driving take-up, despite variation in demographics and other local factors. The report highlights what LAs can do that makes a difference.
Funded by the Nuffield Foundation, the study was undertaken by CEI alongside partners including early years expert Ivana La Valle, the Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities at University College London, and Coram Family and Childcare.
READ more (3 mins)
Access the report
Building support for people of all abilities in Singapore through public education
Public education has a key role to play in building community support and allyship for people living with disability, CEI and Asia Insight found in a multi-year study for Singapore’s focal agency for disability and inclusion, SG Enable.
“Among those who had engaged with SG Enable’s public education activities, 9 in 10 said they now felt more confident in their ability to interact and provide assistance or support to persons with disability,” says CEI Associate Director Dr Grace Chng.
READ more (2 min)
Policy shift: Expansion of funding for kinship care, alongside evidence-informed guidance for the sector
Recent budget announcements in the UK featured a £44 million investment in a pilot of financial allowances for kinship carers.
This is welcome news, and was a recommendation in a recent systematic evidence review compiled by CEI and our partners Aron Shlonsky at Monash University and Marc Winokur at Colorado State University. This review underpinned development of the UK’s first national Practice Guide on Kinship Care, advising local authorities how best to support kinship care families.
Commissioned by Foundations (the national What Works Centre for Children and Families), the evidence review shows kinship families have unmet needs, but outcomes can be improved with certain programs to support these carers and children.
READ more (2 min)
Access the evidence review and practice guide
CHILD Conference: Bridging research, policy and practice in early childhood
The role of evidence-based approaches in shaping the lives of young children will take centre stage at the CHILD Conference 2025 in Singapore.
From 26 to 28 February, the conference will provide a platform for early childhood researchers, practitioners, educators, leaders and policymakers to engage with international speakers, gain new insights in workshops, and exchange ideas and experiences locally and globally.
The conference is hosted by the Centre for Holistic Initiatives for Learning and Development (CHILD) at the National University of Singapore, in which CEI is a partner.
Bringing together an impressive list of international keynote speakers, the conference has global reach, with a special focus on Singapore and Southeast Asia.
READ more about the event
Watch free EIS Virtual expert webinars – on scaling and strategy
"Scaling what works to improve childhood outcomes"
Insights from program implementation experts Joe Elias (currently Senior Director of Program Management for Sesame Workshop, USA) and Jimmy McLauchlan (Chief Development Officer at MMS, and Program Lead for ENGAGE, New Zealand), in dialogue with Dr Robyn Mildon, CEO of CEI.
"From evidence to strategy: Using what we learn to influence what we do"
Insights from Dr Suneeta Krishnan, Deputy Director India Country Office, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in dialogue with Dr Robyn Mildon, CEO of CEI.
Planning for the next Evidence and Implementation Summit is now underway. Sign up to stay in touch, and be part of global conversations!
Opportunities
European Implementation Event 2025 – Abstract submissions close 12 January
Abstract submissions are open for the European Implementation Event, 4 to 6 June 2025 in Newcastle, UK. Co-hosted by the European Implementation Collaborative (EIC), the UK Implementation Society and King's College London, the event incorporates the UK/Ireland Implementation Science Research Conference. Find out more
Master of Science in Behavioural and Implementation Sciences in Health (MScBIS) – Applications for 2025 intake open 9 December
Offered by the National University of Singapore's Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, this full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years) postgraduate coursework degree is taught by leading specialists at the forefront of research and practice, and senior policy makers and leaders in healthcare. The course builds in-depth knowledge and expertise in behavioural and implementation sciences for healthcare settings, with a rigorous focus on cross-disciplinary theoretical, empirical and applied fundamentals. Find out more
CEI publications and knowledge sharing
- Article: "Scaling what works: If only it were that simple"
CEI experts authored this article for global magazine Governance Matters, unpacking the nuances of scaling up effective policy innovations. The authors explain what constitutes good scaling, cite common pitfalls on the path to scale, and ask: "How can governments nurture an ecosystem for scale-up?" - Implementation Research Compendium
This world-first research case compendium highlights the role implementation science can play in delivering better outcomes for children. CEI worked with UNICEF and Norway’s Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research to bring together nine real-world case studies from Africa, the Caribbean, Asia and Europe. - Feasibility of an impact evaluation for detached youth work
The Youth Endowment Fund commissioned CEI and our partners YMCA George Williams College and Bryson Purdon Social Research to investigate whether, and how, it is feasible to evaluate the impact of detached youth work – a form of practice in which youth workers interact with young people in public spaces. The team found that evaluation is feasible and have identified how it might be done with rigour and in a way that reflects detached youth work’s aims and values. - Evaluation of the NSW Social and Affordable Housing Fund
The Social and Affordable Housing Fund is a decade-long whole-of-government program providing more and better homes and more holistic tenant support in New South Wales (NSW, Australia). The evaluation was led by the Melbourne Institute, and involved CEI, the Cultural and Indigenous Research Centre Australia (CIRCA), RMIT University and Monash University. - Youth participatory research: A review of reviews and practice guidance
A set of evidence-based recommendations developed by CEI for Youth Futures Foundation, drawing on 18 systematic reviews and 15 practice guidance documents and toolkits. The focus is on promoting the voices of young people marginalised through systemic inequalities. - Implementation-minded policy making
How can policy work can be more mindful of what is required for effective implementation? Wales Centre for Public Policy commissioned CEI to undertake a synthesis of the latest evidence on how to bridge the policy-implementation gap.
Find out more about our current work HERE
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