Implementation

Because of the variety in proven interventions, states and communities have leeway to find programs that suit local values, opportunities and budgets. The key is to select strategies that have documented effectiveness, assure that they are implemented well and recognize the critical importance of a strong commitment to continuous program improvement.

• Match expectations with sufficient resources.  Be clear about the goals, purpose and target audience for specific programs.  Provide sufficient resources to ensure fidelity to the evidence-based model or modify expectations to accommodate variances.

• Identifying barriers.  Effective policy development requires the identification of factors that may impede effective implementation.
  
  
• Make provisions for broad-based input.  When involvement will increase the likelihood that the needs of children and families are being met by the policy, engage community stakeholders (children and youth, parents, schools, providers, and local farmers and retailers) in implementation.
  
  
• Support local capacity and communication. Provide technical assistance, monitoring and oversight to local programs and agencies.  Create opportunities for local-to-local communication, best practices sharing and local input on state policy decisions.
  
  
• Support ongoing evaluation and continuous program improvement.

States like Mississippi and Colorado have created offices of dropout prevention within the state department of education. Among the responsibilities, these offices are typically charged with administering prevention resources, targeting and supporting local districts as they implement dropout prevention strategies and sharing district-level best practices statewide. In Mississippi, all school districts have developed local dropout prevention teams consisting of district administration, schools staff, local businesses and community partners and other stakeholders. These local teams work in partnership with the state Office of Dropout Prevention efforts and mirror the state Dropout Prevention Taskforce approach.

The Massachusetts Pathways to Success by 21 (P21) initiative was jointly developed by the state Departments of Workforce Development, Elementary and Secondary Education and Health and Human Services to align youth services throughout the state, particularly for those deemed most “at-risk.” The state actively encourages local collaboration by offering grants for cross-system partnerships at the local level to create plans for coordinated youth services.