State of the science on implementation research in early child development and future directions. Issue 1 (23rd May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aboud, Frances E.; Yousafzai, Aisha K.; Nores, Milagros
• Other Names: Yousafzai Aisha K. guestEditor.; Aboud Frances E. guestEditor.; Nores Milagros guestEditor.; Britto Pia R. guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Volume 1419:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 264
• Page End: 271
• Publication Date: 2018-05-23
• Subjects: recommendations -- ECD -- nurturing care -- reporting guidelines -- implementation measures; Medical sciences -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Science -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13722
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0077-8923

Abstract

Abstract: We summarize the state of the field of implementation research and practice for early child development and propose recommendations. First, conclusions are drawn regarding what is generally known about the implementation of early childhood development programs, based on papers and discussions leading to a published series on the topic. Second, recommendations for short‐term activities emphasize the use of newly published guidelines for reporting data collection methods and results for implementation processes; knowledge of the guidelines and a menu of measures allows for planning ahead. Additional recommendations include careful documentation of early‐stage implementation, such as adapting a program to a different context and assessing feasibility, as well as the process of sustaining and scaling up a program. Using existing implementation information by building on and improving past programs and translating them into policy are recommended. Longer term goals are to identify implementation characteristics of effective programs and determinants of these characteristics.