This case study describes the scaling of Birth and Beyond (B&B), a parenting education and support intervention designed to reduce child maltreatment, by the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Sacramento (CAPC) and its partners. A countywide collaborative network of partners (called the Collaborative) developed B&B in 1998 to address child abuse and neglect in Sacramento County. The Collaborative consists of CAPC, which supports the administration and operations of B&B, and six partner organizations that implement B&B at nine local Family Resource Centers (FRCs) throughout Sacramento County.
 
Goals:
The case study provides insights into how CAPC is scaling B&B, as well as the factors that appear to facilitate and hinder scaling.
 
Research Questions:
The research questions are:
  • How did selected grantees define and operationalize scaling?
  • How did selected grantees scale evidence-based interventions?
Findings:
The case study found the following:
  • Funding availability facilitated or drove different types of scaling.
  • As the developer of the intervention, the Collaborative had considerable flexibility to adapt the intervention.
  • Structured resources aided scaling, and the scaling experience helped the Collaborative strengthen those resources.
  • External and internal evaluation influenced scaling.
  • The grantee faced constraints in conducting evaluation and continuous quality improvement.
  • Leader-led initiatives that were communicated through a structure that garnered input and support from frontline personnel facilitated scaling.
  • Recruiting and retaining frontline personnel from the communities in which they serve facilitated scaling.
For more information, download the case study.
 
Scaling Evidence-Based Models (SEBM) Project
The Office of Research and Evaluation (ORE) initiated the Scaling Evidence-Based Models project to support the scaling of effective interventions. This case study is part of ORE’s Scaling Evidence-Based Models project, which includes additional resources that contribute to the study and application of scaling effective interventions. Below are additional scaling resources:

Full report

Full Report

Further information

Program/Intervention
Scaling Birth & Beyond, Best Practice Dissemination
Implementing Organization
CNCS Office of Research and Evaluation Commissioned Report
Intermediary(s)

Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC)

Age(s) Studied
0-5 (Early childhood)
6-12 (Childhood)
Focus Population(s)/Community(s)
Schools
Rural
Suburban
Urban
Outcome Category
School readiness
K-12 success
Improving AmeriCorps
Study Type(s)
Case Study or Descriptive
Researcher/Evaluator
Mathematica
Published Year
2020
Study Site Location (State)
California