Implementation Science

The implementation of a positive support strategy within an organization changes over time. These stages are a natural part of implementing positive support practices over a long-term period of time. The exploration stage occurs when a team has not yet started training and technical assistance and is still assessing the readiness of an organization. The installation stage involves the active selection of a new practice and the steps taken to prepare for implementation. The initial implementation stage reflects the early steps taken to introduce a new effort and often involves a learning curve as organizations adjust and integrate new changes into daily work. Full implementation is achieved when over half of an organization’s staff members who are changing their practices do so with a high level of success.

Dean Fixsen and his colleagues (2009) identified core components that are commonly associated with successful implementation of a positive support. These core components are referred to as implementation drivers. The three major drivers: competency, organization, and leadership, are used to outline the essential components as they relate to positive supports.

• Competency Drivers: Activities, mechanisms, and resources needed to improve knowledge and skills
• Performance Assessment: Assess whether practices are implemented well
• Selection: Individuals are selected who are the best fit for different roles (awareness presentations, coaches, expertise with specific practice, trainer)
• Training Coaching: Assist teams in establishing a training infrastructure needed to implement a positive support
• Organizational Drivers: Assist teams in establishing a training infrastructure needed to implement a positive support
• Systems Interventions: Establishing interagency partnerships, changes in funding, policies, leadership
• Facilitative Administration: Problem solving as implementation of training occurs, elimination of barriers, allocation of funding
• Data-based Decision Making: Data are reviewed with all stakeholders to guide problem solving
• Leadership Drivers: Adapting to challenges that emerge when transforming systems and creating change
• Technical Leadership: Traditional strategies for leading and monitoring implementation, ensuring accountability and celebrating successes
• Adaptive Leadership: Identifying conflicts in values and beliefs, establishing opportunities for group learning and alignment of group culture