Implementation Science and the Roll-out of the Head Start Program Performance Standards Region V Head Start Program Performance Standards Plenary Sarah M. Semlak, Ph.D. Director of Coordination and Collaboration
Session Objectives At the end of this presentation, you should be able to: Review a stage-based approach to achieving HSPPS Identify key strategies for implementing practices that align with HSPSS Continue to discuss strategies that can be used to move the work forward
Science to Service Gap: Implementation Research and Evidence of Best Practices = Quality Child and Family Services 1. What is adopted is not used with fidelity 2. What is used with fidelity is not sustained 3. What is used with fidelity is not used to scale
Strategies that are often used to put practices in place Dissemination of information Training Passing laws/ mandates/ regulations Providing funding/ incentives Organization change/ reorganization = Use of Practices / Innovations As Intended! Return on Investment: 5-15%
What Does It Take to Put the Head Start Program Performance Standards into Practice?
Active Implementation: Focus on Child Outcomes What Does It Take to Put the Head Start Performance Standards into Practice?
What does it take? Four key ingredients for active implementation It Takes Time It Takes a Village It Takes Support It Takes Communication
It takes time!
Let s think about the HSPPS through a Case Study
Program Level Planning Gathering Information Community Assessment Summaries of Ongoing Monitoring PIR Data Results of Federal Monitoring Self- Assessment Information Summary of Child Data Interpreting the Data: Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Patterns, Underlying Causes, Priorities Program Improvement Plan Goals, Outcomes, Action Steps, Timelines, Resources Training and Technical Assistance Plan Strengthening Your Program OTHER PLANS Other Data Sources
Levels of Quality Starting Point Implementing Practices Related to Performance Standards Progressing Beyond the Performance Standards Demonstrating Practices that Support High Quality Services to Children and Families Innovating High Quality Practices are Systemic, Integrated and Comprehensive
What HSPPS are related to this issue? 1302.17 Suspension and expulsion. 1302.45 Child mental health and social and emotional well-being. (3) Before a program determines whether a temporary suspension is necessary, a program must engage with a mental health consultant, collaborate with the parents, and utilize appropriate community resources such as behavior coaches, psychologists, other appropriate specialists, or other resources as needed, to determine no other reasonable option is appropriate. (a) Wellness promotion. To support a program-wide culture that promotes children s mental health, social and emotional well-being, and overall health, a program must: (1) Provide supports for effective classroom management and positive learning environments; supportive teacher practices; and, strategies for supporting children with challenging behaviors and other social, emotional, and mental health concerns; (2) Secure mental health consultation services on a schedule of sufficient and consistent frequency to ensure a mental health consultant is available to partner with staff and families in a timely and effective manner; (3) Obtain parental consent for mental health consultation services at enrollment; and, (4) Build community partnerships to facilitate access to additional mental health resources and services, as needed. (b) Mental health consultants. A program must ensure mental health consultants assist: (1) The program to implement strategies to identify and support children with mental health and social and emotional concerns; United States. (2016). Head Start Program performance standards and other regulations. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Head Start Bureau
Defining the WHAT: How can this program move forward to support staff and parents while also keeping children safe?
Active Implementation Stages Exploration Installation Initial Implementation Full Implementation Assess need; Examine fit and feasibility Assure resources; Develop supports Initiate practice; use data to improve supports Practice is consistent; positive outcomes
Exploration Assess need Examine fit and feasibility Develop communication protocols Identify infrastructure elements Form team or repurpose team
Case Study, in summary Exploration Program identifies team members from a range of positions Leadership invites staff and meetings begin on regular basis Team reviews data related to identifying opportunities to support positive behaviors
No Implementation Team Implementation Team From Letting It Happen To Making It Happen Sources: Fixsen, Blase, Timbers, & Wolf, 2001 Balas & Boren, 2000 Green & Seifert, 2005 Saldana & Chamberlain, 2012 14% 17 Years Improvement in Outcomes 80% 3 Years
Who should the program select for the Implementation Team? How might you discuss the selection of Implementation Team members with a program?
Implementation Science, and the HSPPS Stop & Reflect
Installation Assure resources Assess gaps Initiate feedback loops Develop infrastructure to support practice and organizational change
Case Study, continued Installation Team meets regularly during this planning period, and creates an action plan. Team identifies and installs competency and organizational supports (e.g., training and coaching plan, checklists and procedures for gathering data to examine fidelity) Team develops communication plan to inform caregivers, parents, and staff about the new practice and supports in place to ensure its implementation
Implementation Science, and the HSPPS Stop & Reflect
Initial Implementation Initiate new practice Use data for continuous improvement Strengthen the infrastructure to support practice and organizational change
Levels of Quality Starting Point Implementing Practices Related to Performance Standards Progressing Beyond the Performance Standards Demonstrating Practices that Support High Quality Services to Children and Families Innovating High Quality Practices are Systemic, Integrated and Comprehensive
Case Study, continued Initial Implementation Team meets every week during the first few months and brings together multiple sources of data (e.g. checklists, observations, notes from supervision meetings) Team identifies areas to focus on to further build skill development related to individualizing the practice to meet unique needs of children and families Team identifies the need to further strengthen communication efforts
What questions should the Implementation Team ask when reviewing the data?
Implementation Science, and the HSPPS Stop & Reflect
Full Implementation Use data for ongoing assessment of practice Assess fidelity and outcomes Maintain skillful practice Produce more efficient and effective infrastructure
Case Study Full Implementation Staff are able to implement practice consistently in a variety of situations with children and families Team meets monthly to discuss practice implementation Fidelity to the practice is fairly consistent Staff feel supported in promoting positive behaviors with children and communicating with caregivers In-house training and coaching capacity have been developed
Implementation Science, Part I Wrap Up & Closing
Next Steps Visit the AI Hub for resources to support your next steps. http://implementation.fpg.unc.edu/
Citation and Copyright This document is based on the work of the National Implementation Research Network (NIRN). 2013-2016 Allison Metz, Leah Bartley, Jonathan Green, Laura Louison, Sandy Naoom, Barbara Sims, Caryn Ward, and Wendy Morgan This content is licensed under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs. You are free to share, copy, distribute and transmit the work under the following conditions: Attribution You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work); Noncommercial You may not use this work for commercial purposes; No Derivative Works You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work. Any of the above conditions can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder. email: nirn@unc.edu web: http://nirn.fpg.unc.edu The mission of the National Implementation Research Network (NIRN) is to contribute to the best practices and science of implementation, organization change, and system reinvention to improve outcomes across the spectrum of human services.