Social Work Service Providers’ Experiences with the Evidence-based Model Family Check-up

Abstract Evidence-based practice (EBP) has received increasing attention and been more widely implemented since the 1990’s. The aim of EBP is to strengthen professional expertise and improve practices for the benefit of service users by integrating research evidence with client characteristics and contextual factors. Despite these ambitions, EBP has been criticized for potentially constraining professional autonomy, discretion, and the use of proven experience. While much of the existing research on EBP models has focused on their effectiveness for specific target populations, fewer studies have examined professionals’ experiences of working within an evidence-based framework. The present study focused on evidence-based parent support aimed at reducing youth externalizing behavior and explored providers’ experiences with Family Check-Up (FCU), an evidence-based parenting support model. Focus group interviews were conducted with FCU-trained providers ( n = 18) working in family support services in Canada, the Netherlands and the United States. A thematic analysis indicated that the FCU was initially perceived as an extensive model to adopt; however, working with and developing trust in the model yielded positive professional and personal outcomes. The model’s evidence base was described as providing a sense of security and support in the professional role. Participants experienced FCU as a strengths-based and empowering approach that promotes provider responsiveness, while also fostering reflection among both providers and clients. Overall, the positive impact of FCU contributed to an increased sense of meaning in providers’ work, highlighting the importance of continuously reconceptualizing EBP in human service organizations.