IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v119y2020ics0190740920320703.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Fidelity and influencing factors in the Systemic Practice Model of children's social care in Finland

Author

Listed:
  • Isokuortti, Nanne
  • Aaltio, Elina

Abstract

Given that multiple countries have recently adopted social work practice models in children’s services, it is striking that only a few studies have systematically analysed both the level of fidelity and potential implementation barriers and facilitators. The aim of this study is to provide an in-depth analysis of how and why the Reclaiming Social Work (RSW) model works in different settings. The study context was the implementation in Finland of an adaptation of the model, the Systemic Practice Model (SPM). This mixed-methods study evaluates 1) fidelity to the SPM and 2) the possible influencing factors. The results reveal high variability in the extent of fidelity in 23 implementation sites, and even among individual teams within the same site. A lack of clarity concerning systemic social work practice, insufficient training, and inadequate resources and leadership hindered the implementation, whereas coaching and positive experiences of the SPM were facilitating factors. In particular, the involvement of a clinician qualified in systemic family therapy was crucial in embedding the new approach. The relationship between the level of fidelity and the influencing factors worked both ways (e.g., low coverage was associated with a decrease in participant responsiveness, and vice versa). Given the complexity of children’s social care as an implementation environment, careful preparation and ongoing support are crucial in the implementation of practice models.

Suggested Citation

  • Isokuortti, Nanne & Aaltio, Elina, 2020. "Fidelity and influencing factors in the Systemic Practice Model of children's social care in Finland," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:119:y:2020:i:c:s0190740920320703
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105647
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740920320703
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105647?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bostock, Lisa & Patrizo, Louis & Godfrey, Tessa & Forrester, Donald, 2019. "What is the impact of supervision on direct practice with families?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 1-1.
    2. Barbee, Anita P. & Christensen, Dana & Antle, Becky & Wandersman, Abraham & Cahn, Katharine, 2011. "Successful adoption and implementation of a comprehensive casework practice model in a public child welfare agency: Application of the Getting to Outcomes (GTO) model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(5), pages 622-633, May.
    3. Crea, Thomas M. & Usher, Charles L. & Wildfire, Judith B., 2009. "Implementation fidelity of Team Decisionmaking," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 119-124, January.
    4. Pipkin, Simon & Sterrett, Emma M. & Antle, Becky & Christensen, Dana N., 2013. "Washington State's adoption of a child welfare practice model: An illustration of the Getting To Outcomes implementation framework," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 1923-1932.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Aaltio, Elina, 2023. "Evaluating the effectiveness of the systemic practice model of children’s social care – A pilot study on child- and family-level outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Blome, Wendy Whiting & Steib, Sue D., 2014. "The organizational structure of child welfare: Staff are working hard, but it is hardly working," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 181-188.
    2. Packard, Thomas, 2017. "Tactics for successful organizational change in a youth and family services agency," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 129-138.
    3. Lawrence, Catherine & Claiborne, Nancy & Zeitlin, Wendy & Auerbach, Charles, 2016. "Finish what you start: A study of Design Team change initiatives' impact on agency climate," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 40-46.
    4. McCrae, Julie S. & Scannapieco, Maria & Leake, Robin & Potter, Cathryn C. & Menefee, David, 2014. "Who's on board? Child welfare worker reports of buy-in and readiness for organizational change," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 28-35.
    5. Bearman, Sarah Kate & Garland, Ann F. & Schoenwald, Sonja K., 2014. "From practice to evidence in child welfare: Model specification and fidelity measurement of Team Decisionmaking," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 153-159.
    6. Kaye, Sarah & Osteen, Philip J., 2011. "Developing and validating measures for child welfare agencies to self-monitor fidelity to a child safety intervention," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2146-2151.
    7. Albers, Bianca & Mildon, Robyn & Lyon, Aaron R. & Shlonsky, Aron, 2017. "Implementation frameworks in child, youth and family services – Results from a scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 101-116.
    8. Crea, Thomas M. & Barth, Richard P. & Chintapalli, Laura K. & Buchanan, Rachel L., 2009. "The implementation and expansion of SAFE: Frontline responses and the transfer of technology to practice," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(8), pages 903-910, August.
    9. Salveron, Mary & Bromfield, Leah & Kirika, Clara & Simmons, Jane & Murphy, Terry & Turnell, Andrew, 2015. "‘Changing the way we do child protection’: The implementation of Signs of Safety® within the Western Australia Department for Child Protection and Family Support," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 126-139.
    10. Chambers, Ruth M. & Crutchfield, Rashida M. & Goddu Harper, Stephanie G. & Fatemi, Maryam & Rodriguez, Angel Y., 2018. "Family reunification in child welfare practice: A pilot study of parent and staff experiences," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 221-231.
    11. Aaltio, Elina, 2023. "Evaluating the effectiveness of the systemic practice model of children’s social care – A pilot study on child- and family-level outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    12. Chad McDonald & Kristine A. Campbell & Cole Benson & Matthew J. Davis & Caren J. Frost, 2021. "Workforce Development and Multiagency Collaborations: A Presentation of Two Case Studies in Child Welfare," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-18, September.
    13. Bostock, Lisa & Patrizio, Louis & Godfrey, Tessa & Forrester, Donald, 2022. "Why does systemic supervision support practitioners’ practice more effectively with children and families?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    14. Lietz, Cynthia A., 2011. "Theoretical adherence to family centered practice: Are strengths-based principles illustrated in families' descriptions of child welfare services?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 888-893, June.
    15. Snyder, Elizabeth H. & Lawrence, C. Nicole & Dodge, Kenneth A., 2012. "The impact of system of care support in adherence to wraparound principles in Child and Family Teams in child welfare in North Carolina," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 639-647.
    16. Ahn, Haksoon & Keyser, Daniel & Hayward-Everson, R. Anna, 2016. "A multi-level analysis of individual and agency effects on implementation of family-centered practice in child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 11-18.
    17. Crea, Thomas M. & Crampton, David S., 2011. "The context of program implementation and evaluation: A pilot study of interorganizational differences to improve child welfare reform efforts," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2273-2281.
    18. McDonald, Chad & West, Kristen & Benson, Cole & Brittain, Charmaine, 2022. "A national review of child welfare competency models," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    19. Akin, Becci A. & Strolin-Goltzman, Jessica & Collins-Camargo, Crystal, 2017. "Successes and challenges in developing trauma-informed child welfare systems: A real-world case study of exploration and initial implementation," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 42-52.
    20. Pipkin, Simon & Sterrett, Emma M. & Antle, Becky & Christensen, Dana N., 2013. "Washington State's adoption of a child welfare practice model: An illustration of the Getting To Outcomes implementation framework," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 1923-1932.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:119:y:2020:i:c:s0190740920320703. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.