Improving large-scale implementations by applying research and data analysis: A case study on First 5 LA's implementation of PCIT in Los Angeles County

This paper presents the case of First 5 LA's 5-year countywide implementation of the Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) program. Enthusiasts of PCIT point to it as a high-quality parenting program with the potential to positively influence child behavior, reduce recidivism into the child welfare system, and increase caregiver's confidence and self-esteem. In September 2012, First 5 LA, an independent County agency in Los Angeles that advocates on behalf of parents with young children, began a $20 million countywide implementation of PCIT. The collaborative effort between First 5 LA, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, and the University of California, Davis demonstrates the role that research and data analysis can play in improving large-scale implementations. The authors of this paper were contracted to conduct an evaluation of the implementation of the countywide PCIT program, and preliminary outcomes were analyzed after the first round of data collection in early 2015. This paper will discuss this case and provide examples of how research and data analysis were used effectively to make key improvements to the design and implementation of the program. The paper will then discuss bureaucratic challenges and constraints with the collaborative use of research and data. The paper will conclude with some recommendations on how research and data can effectively be used to influence policy implementation in large-scale implementations involving collaboration among multiple organizations.