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Promising practice criteria

The following criteria will be used by the independent peer review panel to assess the promising practices submtted to the Promising Practice Profile. For each criteria, we have offered hints to help you complete the submission form.

Within the former SFCS, a promising practice is one that results in positive outcomes for children, families and communities.

Criterion 1: The practice is effective

For a practice to demonstrate effectiveness, there should be evidence of positive results or outcomes. Consider, also, how the practice relates to the National Agenda for Early Childhood priority areas:

• family and children's services working effectively as a team;
• supporting families and parents;
• early learning and car;
• healthy young families; and
• child friendly communities.

Does your practice produce positive results in any of the key priority areas?

Promising Practice Profile proposal suggestions:

This criterion is asking the question, “does the practice work as intended?”

The evidence that is required to demonstrate the effectiveness of a practice will vary considerably according to its design, size and complexity. For many projects, an evaluation component has been incorporated in the project. Evaluation material can be used to support claims of effective practice.

For smaller projects, evaluation “data” may not be available. However, evidence can be obtained through a variety of means, including: stakeholder/client interviews; feedback forms; or communication with other (non-client) stakeholders who have observed change (such as teachers at the child’s kindergarten or school). An increase in requests for the program or participation in the program is another indicator of success.

Please include any available evidence attesting to the effectiveness of the practice.

Questions to consider:

• What evidence do I have to show that the practice or some component of the practice worked (i.e. that we achieved the desired outcomes)?
• With whom did the practice work?
• Under what circumstances or in what situations did it work? Was it universal or specific to one group? Were varying results achieved in different contexts?

As well as being effective, a Promising Practice could also demonstrate any of the following criteria. If you choose to demonstrate these criteria, please draw on this information to assist your proposal.

Criterion 2: The practice draws on the existing evidence base

When demonstrating this criterion, the practice should draw on the evidence base about what works to improve outcomes for children, families and communities. The evidence must show that the practice will deliver positive results in at least some situations and contexts.

Promising Practice Profile proposal suggestions:

The proposal should clearly describe the existing evidence that was used to justify the particular intervention. This evidence would typically be presented in the format of a short literature review. If the program has run previously, the results from earlier evaluations of the program are also considered evidence. Research findings/evaluations that are linked to the evidence base are considered stronger evidence, although it is common to use a combination of sources.

For some projects this information is likely to have been included in the funding application.

Questions to consider:

• What is the evidence (best practice model/literature/expert opinion/ practice evidence or empirical research) that was used to justify the practice?
  • Note: If best practice model was used, identify country of origin and explain how the evidence-based model was further developed. If the program has been modified for use in Australia or with specific target group, describe how and why.
• What is the link between the evidence base and our project logic?

Criterion 3: The practice contributes to the existing evidence base

When demonstrating this criterion, the practice should contribute to our knowledge of “what works” in the areas of early childhood, early intervention and community development. Consider, in particular, how the practice relates to the National Agenda for Early Childhood priority areas.

The contribution might be confirmation of existing evidence about the effectiveness of early childhood, early intervention and community development programs and policy. Alternatively, it might be a broadening of the evidence base through a description of the way in which the practice can be adopted or enhanced in new contexts. The contribution could also be an explanation of the barriers to effectiveness, or the unintended outcomes of the practice.

Promising Practice Profile proposal suggestions:

The proposal should clearly explain what new knowledge has been gained and how this relates to (supports/ contradicts/adds to) the existing evidence base. The knowledge does not have to relate to successes, but can include ways in which barriers were overcome or where the practice was of limited use.

Questions to consider:

• What have we learned from this practice/project that would be useful knowledge for other practitioners?
• What were the expected results? Were the results different to what was expected? How?
• How does the new knowledge relate to the accepted evidence base?
• Did we need to modify our program to get it to work?

Criterion 4: The practice is replicable

When demonstrating this criterion, the practice should be able to be replicated in some other situations and contexts.

Promising Practice Profile proposal suggestions:

The proposal should describe how the practice, or elements of the practice, may be replicable. It may be replicable across the community, or used selectively with particular families/communities. This may be demonstrated through various means ranging from a short description of how the project is run, to the production of a program manual.

Questions to consider:

• Is there potential for this practice to be replicated in other contexts, or by other organisations? If so, where and with whom?
• What elements of the project/practice make it replicable?

Criterion 5: The practice is innovative

When demonstrating this criterion, the practice may be considered promising if it uses a new approach that improves upon, or changes, existing practice. This may involve varying an existing program to adapt it for a specific community or client base.

Promising Practice Profile proposal suggestions:

A description of how the practice was innovative and why this practice was effective is necessary.

Questions to consider:

• What was new or different about our project?
• Did it use elements of another innovative project or was this the first time such an innovation was used?
• Why was the change or innovation considered to be positive?
• How could such innovation be applied in other contexts?

Criterion 6: The practice is sustainable

A practice is sustainable when it has the capacity to continue in some form after the initial program has finished. Sustainability can be understood both in relation to processes and content. Sustainable processes are ways of working and organising that are inclusive, participatory, flexible, persistent and adaptable. The project might achieve outcomes that are community owned, adequately resourced, and demonstrate a respect for diverse cultural values (see Sustainability of community practice with early years projects).

For the practice to be sustainable it must be able to continue with reduced funding or funding from other sources. A practice that is meaningful and relevant to the community in which it takes place, is more likely to be able to be sustained over a longer period.

Promising Practice Profile proposal suggestions:

Some documentation is required that shows that the community has become involved or interested in the practice/program beyond the initial program delivery. This ownership may take the form of adapting the practices in other ways or contexts, or by organising to obtain other sources of funding. This may be documented through media reports, letters of thanks/commendation, through efforts within the community to continue the program once this round of former SFCS funding is complete, or through successful expansion of the program.

Questions to consider:

• What elements of the project/practice make it able to be continued into the future?
• How might this be achieved?
• Is there any evidence for the practice's sustainability?

References

From: http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/families/progserv/pages/early_childhood_initiatives.aspx

Orr, Liz (2004). Sustainability of community practice with early years projects. (Stronger Families Learning Exchange Bulletin No.6), Melbourne: Communities and Families Clearinghouse Australia, Australian Institute of Family Studies, 14-15.

Promising Practices Network on Children, Families and Communities
From: www.promisingpractices.net

Social Policy Research Centre and Australian Institute of Family Studies (2005). Stronger Families and Communities Strategy:  National Evaluation Framework.  Report prepared for the Department of Family and Community Services,  UNSW, Sydney.

Spencer, L., Ritchie, J., Lewis, J. & Dillon, L. (2003).  Quality in Qualitative Evaluation:  A framework for assessing research evidence. Government Chief Social Researcher’s Office, London: Cabinet Office.

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