Communities of Practice Support Implementation of Power to Kids in Residential Care: The EMBED Model

ABSTRACT Children and young people in residential care continue to experience significant harmful sexual behaviour, dating violence and child sexual exploitation. Power to Kids is a programme developed in Australia to prevent and respond to these forms of abuse for this cohort. The aim of the study was to explore how a Communities of Practice initiative could further support the implementation of the Power to Kids programme in the residential care practice of a community service organisation. Qualitative data were collected through feedback loops ( n = 12) with residential carers and senior staff and focus groups ( n = 4). Quantitative data were collected through two surveys ( n = 89) and ( n = 46). The data revealed inductively the EMBED model: E xecutive commitment to Communities of Practice, M embers of Communities of Practice engage with content, B ecoming part of everyday practice, E nhanced knowledge of sexual health and safety and D ecline in going missing and better relationships. Findings suggest that a Community of Practice approach to implementing Power to Kids is promising in embedding the sexual health and safety programme.