Understanding practice principles and service delivery: The implementation of a community-based family support program

Abstract

Historically, many social work researchers and practitioners have called to reform the child welfare system in this country. Family support programs represent one of the promising initiatives in the child welfare reform movement. Using a qualitative methodology, this study explores the implementation of a family support program in a collaborative network of over 60 agencies in the southern portion of a large, urban county in the Western United States. Focus groups of family support staff and administrators discuss their understanding of important family support principles and how they are translated into service delivery. While discussing barriers to the implementation of the family support program, the focus group participants reaffirmed their enthusiasm for the family support program. The findings highlight the need for strong advocacy by child welfare agencies to gain a long-term commitment to fund family support, as well as the need for further research in the incorporation of family support practice principles as they impact program outcomes.