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Successes and challenges in developing trauma-informed child welfare systems: A real-world case study of exploration and initial implementation

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  • Akin, Becci A.
  • Strolin-Goltzman, Jessica
  • Collins-Camargo, Crystal

Abstract

Trauma and behavioral health problems among children in foster care are significant and prevalent, affecting their well-being and permanency. Despite the wide scope and magnitude of social and emotional problems among youth in out-of-home care, few child welfare systems have an integrated service response into their routine procedures and practices. This paper describes three federally-funded statewide demonstration sites, which represent northeast, south, and Midwest regions of the U.S., and that aimed to implement trauma and evidence-informed initiatives. Applying implementation science frameworks, we share our experiences with three key stages of implementation: exploration, installation, and initial implementation. During the exploration stage, each state engaged community stakeholders in a comprehensive data mining process to define the needs of children in care and relevant gaps in the evidence-informed service array. To respond to trauma and behavioral health needs of children, these states' initiatives established implementation plans for screening, functional assessment, data-driven case planning, ongoing progress monitoring, and service array reconfiguration. Each state's distinct installation and initial implementation experiences are described as well their shared successes and challenges. While vast differences existed within the administrative and policy context of these three states, the study demonstrates both unique and common experiences of successes and setbacks. Across the exploration, installation, and initial implementation, these analyses revealed six themes of common successes to include collaboration, building consensus, conducting trainings, teaming, optimizing opportunity, and establishing data systems. Additionally, nine themes of common challenges were workforce, turf, client voice, data sharing, coaching and support for fidelity, time, competing priorities, momentum, and policies and leadership. Implications for practice, policy, and future research are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:82:y:2017:i:c:p:42-52
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.09.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hickey, Grainne & McGilloway, Sinead & O'Brien, Morgan & Leckey, Yvonne & Devlin, Maurice & Donnelly, Michael, 2018. "Strengthening stakeholder buy-in and engagement for successful exploration and installation: A case study of the development of an area-wide, evidence-based prevention and early intervention strategy," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 185-195.
    2. Heather Morris & Melissa Savaglio & Nick Halfpenny & Renee O’Donnell & Alesia Pileggi & Andrea Dunbar & Robyn Miller & Helen Skouteris, 2021. "MacKillop Family Services’ Family Preservation and Reunification Response for Vulnerable Families—Protocol for an Effectiveness-Implementation Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Winters, Andrew M. & Collins-Camargo, Crystal & Antle, Becky F. & Verbist, A. Nathan, 2020. "Implementation of system-wide change in child welfare and behavioral health: The role of capacity, collaboration, and readiness for change," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    4. Linton, Julie M. & Kennedy, Elizabeth & Shapiro, Alan & Griffin, Marsha, 2018. "Unaccompanied children seeking safe haven: Providing care and supporting well-being of a vulnerable population," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 122-132.

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