Facilitators, barriers, and enablers of social workers’ utilization of an evidence-based parenting program: An exploratory mixed-method study

Abstract

Social workers play a vital role in both the child welfare systems and the dissemination of evidence-based parenting programs aimed at reducing child maltreatment rates at scale. However, notable knowledge gap remains on factors influencing social workers’ program delivery. Using the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program as an example, the present study aims to investigate the facilitators (what aided the implementation), barriers (what hindered the implementation), and enablers (what changes would help implementation) of social workers’ implementation of an evidence-based parenting program. An international sample of 301 social workers trained in Triple P between 2012 and 2020 from six countries were included (i.e., U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Denmark). A mixed-method approach was used which combined item-level regression analyses with quantitative and thematic analysis with qualitative data. Organizational/team/peer support and program resources were identified as strong themes in both quantitative and qualitative analyses. Engaging disadvantaged parents and online delivery were identified as a significant challenge for social workers in qualitative analysis. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the factors influencing social workers’ implementation of parenting programs. Implications of the present findings were discussed.