Journal article
Identifying enablers and barriers to the implementation of Functional family Therapy-Child Welfare (FFT-CW®) into the routine delivery of child protection services in New South Wales, Australia
Children and Youth Services Review, Vol.149, pp.1-20
2023
Abstract
Background: Functional Family Therapy - Child Welfare (FFT-CW (R)) aims to reduce the risk of child maltreatment and out-of-home care entry for vulnerable children.
Objective: To identify enablers and barriers to implementing FFT-CW (R) into the routine delivery of child protection services from policy and service provider perspectives.
Participants/setting: Eighteen program and policy experts, and 54 service providers, involved in the delivery of FFT-CW (R) across 6 districts in New South Wales, Australia.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews with policy and program experts, and four discussion groups with service providers using nominal group technique (NGT). Interview data were thematically analyzed to identify enablers and barriers. An adapted Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) scoring system was used to quantify themes, with scores of -2 assigned for barriers, 0 for neutral, and 2 for enablers. NGT was used to generate and rank enablers and barriers of program implementation with service providers.
Results: The semi-structured interviews generated 16 themes, from which three enablers and four barriers were identified using CFIR scoring. The NGT discussions generated nine enablers and eight barriers. Key enablers common to both interviews and NGTs were FFT-CW's therapeutic and empowering approach, model purveyor training and support, and the supervision and feedback provided to service providers. Key barriers included referral difficulties, staff burnout, turnover and training logistical challenges, and problems with data collection and the safety impacts of outcome measures on participants.
Conclusions: Sustained uptake of FFT-CW (R) is likely feasible and evaluating its effectiveness within the routine delivery of NSW child protection services is warranted.
Details
- Title
- Identifying enablers and barriers to the implementation of Functional family Therapy-Child Welfare (FFT-CW®) into the routine delivery of child protection services in New South Wales, Australia
- Authors
- George Economidis (Corresponding Author) - UNSW SydneySara Farnbach (Author) - UNSW SydneyKathleen Falster (Author) - UNSW SydneyAnne-Marie Eades (Author) - Curtin UniversityAnthony Shakeshaft - UNSW Sydney
- Publication details
- Children and Youth Services Review, Vol.149, pp.1-20
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Date published
- 2023
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106927
- ISSN
- 1873-7765
- Copyright note
- © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Data Availability
- Data will be made available on request.
- Grant note
- The evaluation of the FFT-CW® program in New South Wales, Australia (2018–2020) was funded via a competitive tender process (FACS.17.266) by the NSW Government Department of Family and Community Services (now Department of Communities and Justice). The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care under the Drug and Alcohol Program.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Psychology
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991242163802621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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