Implementation Tools
Feel free to use or adapt these tools. Please note that all of the tools were not created by the QIC-AG. Some of the tools were created by other organizations and either used by the QIC-AG as is or were adapted to better meet the needs of our project. The original creators have been cited on each document. If you utilize these tools in the original form or an adapted version please give credit to the original creator(s).
A critical component of successful implementation is determining who is going to do the work associated with implementation. The development of the site’s governance/teaming structure is not a one-time activity. In fact, it will occur over time, evolving to meet the changing needs of an initiative.
The following tools were used to help with the development of a governance/teaming structure:
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| Teaming Structure | This teaming structure document is what you need when structuring an effective team! |
| Teaming Charter | This teaming charter document is what you need when structuring an effective team charter! |
The first stage of implementation is referred to as “Identify and Explore”. This stage helps to set the tone for the rest of the implementation process by ensuring that an intervention is chosen that meets the needs of a deliberately identified population. The purpose of this stage is to:
- Identify and understand the problem
- Develop a theory of change
- Research solutions
- Select an intervention to apply and improve, replicate and adapt, compare and learn, or develop and test.
The following tools were used to facilitate this stage of implementation:
Once an intervention has been identified it is important to give thoughtful and careful consideration to the “what, how, and who” of offering the intervention. During implementation planning, the site must explore and document: What is being implemented; How the system will be readied to support the intervention; and Who is going to do the work (see Governance/Teaming Structure)
The following tools were used to facilitate implementation Planning:
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| Initial Design and Implementation Plan | serves as a tool to strategically plan for successful implementation of the initiative and to ensure that the initiative has intervention validity and implementation integrity. The result of the implementation plan is a document that guides the implementation of the evaluable intervention, supports the use of an intervention to address an identified problem, and outlines the steps that need to be taken to ensure that the intervention is delivered to clients in the way that it was intended. |
| Logic Model – Word Document Logic Model – PowerPoint |
a graphical depiction of the relationship between program inputs, implementation supports, program outputs, short term outcome, and long term outcomes as well as factors such as external conditions and end values. |
| Work and Communication Plan | organizes and captures the activities that must be completed during all phases of implementation as well as to accomplish tasks that support sustainability, dissemination, and communication |
| Communication Planning Guide | provides instructions for completing the Communication Plan |
| Directions for Work Plan | provides instructions for completing the Work Plan |
Initial implementation is marked by the first clients receiving the intervention. It is a time to make sure that your implementation supports are facilitating the delivery of the intervention and that the intervention is being delivered as it is intended.
The following tools were used to support initial implementation:
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| Implementation Support Assessment | helps the team determine whether the implementation supports facilitate the delivery of the intervention in the manner that was anticipated or needed. |
| Usability Testing and Tracking Form | provides a structure for delineating the questions that must be answered to ensure the intervention is being delivered as intended, what metrics will be used to answer the questions, what was learned from examining the metrics, what changes were made as a result of the what was learned, and the results of the changes that were made. |
Focus on sustainability activities is critical to ensuring the institutionalization of an intervention, program, or way of thinking about providing services to families. Although this can be challenging, it is important to consider how the work of a project can be sustained from the outset of program development. Sustainability should not be thought of asan activity that waits until results are in and allocated dollars are running out, but rather as an on-going process that begins with or is done in concert with discussions around planning for implementation. The critical elements of sustainability planning are engaging partners, garnering resources and financing, aligning policy, and tracking impact to ensure positive outcomes are being achieved. Conversation about sustainability increases the opportunity to collaborate with critical partners and sharing ownership, information, and investment in sustainability.
The following materials from the Center for the Study of Social Policy were used to facilitate work related to sustainability:
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| The Action Planning Workbook for Sustainability | used to put the Framework for Sustainability into practice. Focuses on developing goals and tasks to advance critical elements of sustainability such as common vision, collaboration, resources, policy, and financing. |
Dissemination is defined as the act of spreading information widely. When conducting a research project, it is important to deliberately plan dissemination activities over the life of the project. Waiting until the end of a project to consider dissemination often means that important information related to process and progress will get lost along the way and limits opportunities to influence thinking. The spreading of information can be best accomplished when a clear set of dissemination goals are established at the onset of the project and are accompanied by a purposeful set of activities designed to support those goals over time.
The following tools were used to help support dissemination planning and tracking:
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| QIC-AG Site Dissemination Plan Reference Guide | provides an overview of the critical elements of dissemination that should be considered when developing a dissemination plan |
| Site Dissemination Plan Template | provides a framework for developing a dissemination plan |
| Site Dissemination Tracking Form | provides a structure for capturing critical elements of dissemination activities at the time of occurrence. Can be used to support evaluation activities |
Partnering with the “right” sites is a challenge for any organization that engages partner sites to accomplish project goals. When selecting partner sites, it is important to ensure that the potential partner site is aligned with the goals of the project and that the site fully understands the expectations of participation. Both the grantee and the partner site should be making well informed decisions about participation. Making the decision about partnerships can be facilitated through the use of a structured decision making process that includes formal assessment tools and standardized educational materials.
The following materials were used to guide and facilitate the site selection process.
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| QIC-AG Assessment Framework | delineates a three phase assessment process to guide the site selection process. The assessment process has three phases: pre assessment; initial assessment; and full assessment. Each assessment phase is focused on answering a specific question or identifying a specific outcome related to the following categories: Organizational Demographics, Population, Data Capacity, Continuum of Services/Interventions, Organizational and Evaluation Readiness, and Sustainability. As the assessment progresses through the phases, the information in each category will increase in scope and depth. |
| Assessment Tools
Pre-Assessment Template |
used to assess sites and tribal communities during the pre and initial assessment phases of site selection |
| Site Expectations
|
document that clearly delineates the expectations of the sites to ensure thoughtful decision making about committing to the project for state/county and tribal communities |
When money must be allocated to partner sites it is critical to have standardized cost planning and reporting procedures and tools. When used appropriately, these tools can assist with budget management, federal reporting, and should inform any cost evaluation that is being conducted.
The following templates were used to guide cost planning:
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| Cost Planning Template | provides directions and structure for developing an installation and implementation budget |
| Cost Planning Narrative | provides direction and structure for developing a cost planning narrative |
When an agency is partnering with other entities to fulfill the purpose of a project, it is important to have proper contracts in place to govern the terms of the relationship.
The following contracts were developed:
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| Memorandum of Agreement | contract where goals, objectives and outcomes of the project are defined and clear expectations regarding obligations and responsibilities are delineated |
| Data Use Agreement | contract between the evaluators and the sites that delineates how data will be shared, used, and stored |
