Practitioner perspectives of implementing check & connect.
While there is a growing reserve of evidence-based practices (EBPs) available to practitioners, much can be learned about how to implement EBPs in real-world settings. Evidence of the effects of a widely disseminated student engagement intervention, Check & Connect (C&C), is emerging yet little is known about the implementation of C&C in community-based settings. The purpose of the authors in this study was to examine practitioner attitudes and perspectives related to the C&C intervention and implementation to gain an understanding of core implementation components that facilitated or impeded implementation. A researcher-developed survey instrument was used to assess practitioner attitudes related to the C&C model and implementation among 14 school-based practitioners working in a dropout prevention program. Findings indicate that practitioners were highly positive about the C&C intervention and in their attitudes about implementing EBPs. Benefits of C&C identified by practitioners included increased relationship building with students, tracking students on a consistent and timely basis, and addressing attendance issues as a main focus of treatment. The most common implementation challenges were time constraints, paperwork, and targeting absentee students. These findings contribute to the emerging literature on C&C and the implementation of EBPs in schools and community-based settings.
a Department of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psychology , Texas State University , San Marcos , Texas , USA.
Elizabeth Kjellstrand
EK
Hartwig
Brandy R
BR
Maynard
D000293:Adolescent; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000068217:Social Workers / Q000523:psychology*; D013332:Student Dropouts
Evidence-based practice; dropout prevention; implementation