Hickey, Grainne and McGilloway, Sinéad and O'Brien, Morgan and Leckey, Yvonne and Devlin, Maurice and 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, 91.
pp. 185-195.
ISSN 0190-7409
Abstract
Background: The implementation of evidence-based programmes (EBPs) designed to improve outcomes for
children and young people and prevent disadvantage is an increasingly important international policy imperative. However, the integration of EBPs into existing service settings and systems is a complex and multifaceted undertaking.
Methods: A process evaluation was conducted to appraise the design and development of a large-scale, areabased, prevention and early intervention initiative. This initiative, called Youngballymun, consisted of five
service strategies comprising a range of EBPs (e.g. the Incredible Years Programme, Highscope) targeted at
children and young people and their families (from birth to 20 years). The initiative was designed to promote the
development, adoption and implementation of EBPs within routine children and youth services in a disadvantaged urban area in the Republic of Ireland. The analytical approach involved the systematic analysis and
triangulation of data obtained from relevant documentation (e.g. programme manuals, meeting minutes), as well
as a series of one-to-one interviews (n = 27) and six group discussions with key stakeholders (n = 29).
Results: Adopting aspects of an implementation stages framework (Fixsen, Naoom, Blase, & Friedman, 2005), we
examined the key implementation stages of exploration and installation. Data gathering and needs assessment
and strategic organisational development played an important role in implementation. However, resistance to
innovation amongst local service providers emerged as a major challenge to implementation. Factors identified
as crucial to overcoming this challenge and promoting stakeholder buy-in for innovation included: encouraging
and supporting stakeholder engagement; and adopting a flexible approach to implementation planning.
Conclusion: Generating buy-in amongst stakeholders is central to ensuring a fit between innovative programmes
and practices and the systems in which they are to be embedded. Some key lessons, such as the need for the
active involvement of community-based service providers in the planning process at the earliest stages of implementation, are identified. The kinds of implementation strategies that may be used to address challenges to
practice change and innovation, particularly stakeholder responsiveness to, and perceived compatibility of,
EBPs, are discussed.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Keywords: |
Implementation;
Implementation stages;
Intervention appropriateness;
Implementation strategies;
Stakeholder buy-in;
Evidence-based programmes; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Social Sciences > Applied Social Studies |
| Item ID: |
13070 |
| Identification Number: |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.06.008 |
| Depositing User: |
Dr. Sinéad McGilloway
|
| Date Deposited: |
18 Jun 2020 15:28 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
Children and Youth Services Review |
| Publisher: |
Elsevier |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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