Adaptations in the Context of COVID-19: Application of an Implementation Science FRAMEwork

Abstract

Invest in Kids (IIK) is a Denver, Colorado, USA-based intermediary organization that works to bridge the research-to-practice gap for programs that support Colorado's youngest children and their families. IIK supports evidence-based programs (EBPs) including three universal, prevention programs from The Incredible Years® (IY)-Dinosaur School (a classroom curriculum), Teacher Classroom Management (teacher professional development training), and Parent Program (parent training). IIK employs staff (the IIK-IY Team) to deliver implementation supports such as training, coaching, and managing implementation teams with professionals at schools and community agencies who deliver IY programs throughout Colorado. The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges and opportunities for practitioners using EBPs, and for the IIK-IY Team. The Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Expanded, known as the FRAME (Stirman et al., 2019), was identified as a useful tool for documenting information about COVID-19-related adaptations to local sites' delivery of the programs, IIK's implementation supports, and IIK's annual statewide evaluation of IY. This case study includes an in-depth description of the various adaptations made by the IIK-IY Team, highlighting specific examples that demonstrate how the FRAME can be used to support adaptations for numerous sites in a geographic region or state. This case study provides important lessons about what successful IY delivery and implementation supports looked like in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including a description of IY fidelity and program outcomes. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43477-022-00048-1.