High quality implementation is increasingly recognised as central to improving outcomes for children, families and communities experiencing disadvantage and vulnerability. To support improved capacity of service agencies to undertake high quality implementation, the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) engaged CEI to develop a suite of planning and evaluation resources, published by the Expert Panel project, that aim to support organisations in the implementation of their programs.
A plain language, user friendly implementation guide was initially produced, that describes and supports activities that enhance the uptake of evidence in daily practice and includes responses to:
- Why it's important for service providers to actively plan for, monitor and continually improve service delivery
- What high-quality implementation looks like, including providing an overview of best practices in program implementation, adaptation and fidelity and
- How service providers can plan for, monitor and continually improve service delivery.
Production was informed by the best available implementation science research evidence and in consultation with the Families and Children Expert Panel. 'Implementation in Action: A Guide to Implementing Evidence-Informed Programs and Practices,' is now used to support service providers across Australia to build knowledge and skills around how to effectively implement, adapt or scale-up programs, monitor program implementation, and understand how ongoing program monitoring can support service delivery improvements.
CEI have recently collaborated with AIFS again to produce two videos based on and intended to support the guide. The first video - ‘Key concepts in implementation,' explains the theory that underpins implementation science. The second video, ‘Implementation in Action' provides practical tools and checklists for undertaking program implementation using practical examples familiar to practitioners and program managers who work to deliver programs for families and children.