September 3, 2015

Initiative Inventory

The Initiative Inventory is an Exploration Stage activity that is used to guide a discussion of past and current initiatives in a state, regional entity, district, or school. This review process can provide valuable information as to why some programs or strategies were successful, and others were not.

Conducting an Initiative Inventory, before starting “something new,” is essential. The Implementation Team reviews what already exists, how existing resources are being used, and if the new program fits with existing programs. Team members consider the number of initiatives currently being supported, identifies populations benefiting from those initiatives, sufficiency of funding and resources, and reviews data demonstrating effectiveness and outcomes of the program. This process helps the team to get a picture of the current implementation landscape, and to identify themes that appear across initiatives that may support or sabotage effective implementation. The Initiative Inventory can be used to guide the Implementation Team through this exploration.

This process can also be facilitated by an Implementation Specialist to guide the Initiative Inventory discussion. The specialist leads a team through a guided conversation and inquiry process to learn which initiatives the organization is attempting to use. Probing questions unveil if systems are aligned to create enabling contexts for administrators and teachers to make full use of identified programs and practices. A skilled note taker captures the discussion.
 

Get Started

Taking the time to explore what to do, how to do it, and who will do it saves time and money and improves the chances of successfully implementing new programs. Access the District Initiative Inventory here:

• District Initiative Inventory
• Activity 4.2: "Exploring" with the Initiative Inventory

Get Better

The ImpleMap process incorporates a guided discussion to understand how programs are implemented and supported in an organization. Dean Fixsen, one of the founders of the National Implementation Research Network, demonstrates how to lead such a facilitated inquiry process. Take a few minutes to scan Exploring the Implementation Landscape and then view the ImpleMap Segment 1 vignette. Next, complete the ImpleMap Activity.
•    ImpleMap: Exploring the Implementation Landscape
•    ImpleMap Segment 1 (video running time 9 min.)
•    ImpleMap Activity
 

Read More

Fixsen, D. L., Blase, K. A., Timbers, G. D., & Wolf, M. M. (2001). In search of program implementation: 792 replications of the Teaching-Family Model. In G. A. Bernfeld, D. P. Farrington & A. W. Leschied (Eds.), Offender rehabilitation in practice: Implementing and evaluating effective programs (pp. 149-166). London: Wiley.

Slavin, R. E., Holmes, G., Madden, N. A., Chamberlain, A., Cheung, A., & Borman, G. D. (2010). Effects of a data-driven district-level reform model.Center for Research and Reform in Education, 2010.