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 available evidence-based models 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 (providers, parents, youth and courts) 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.

Making provisions for broad-based input is an important step to ensuring successful policy implementation.  In Maine young people involved in the state’s youth leadership board were the impetus for the development of the state child welfare agency’s first permanency policy. The policy was also largely written and researched by a young person formerly in foster care.