1. The Washington Innovation Cluster
Lessons Learned and Resources from 5 Years of
Program Level Innovation
Jason Gortney
Children’s Home Society of Washington
Beth Larsen
Childhaven
Melissa Rivard
Center on the Developing Child
at Harvard University

2. Overview
Introduction to the Center on the Developing Child and FOI – Melissa
Brief history of the WA Innovation Cluster – Jason
Accomplishments and emerging promising practices - Beth
Overview of some FOI interventions and how to find out more - Jason
Some insights and lessons learned about innovating in the early childhood/human services context – Jason and Beth
Available Resources and Tools – Melissa and Jason
Questions and discussion

3. Our Mission Our Work To drive science-based innovation
that achieves breakthrough outcomes
for children facing adversity
Our Work
The Center’s work focuses on two objectives:
Building an R&D platform that leverages science to catalyze the design, testing, and scaling of new intervention strategies
Transforming the policy, practice, and research landscape to support and drive change

4. Three Interconnected Strategies

5. A Testing and Learning Network
Learning With Love
Play for Success
Mindfulness in Parenting
Washington
Georgia
Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan (WOOP)
Brain Games
Brazil
Mexico
Filming Interactions to Nurture Development (FIND)
Very Cool Dads
AND MORE!

6. Potential On-Ramps to FOI
Scale Existing FOI Interventions
Apply IDEAS Impact Framework to Existing Promising Program(s)
As a cluster or individually
Create a New Science-Based Intervention

7. Frontiers of Innovation Approach
…includes a set of guiding principles and the Translational Science Model of program development and evaluation comprised of three key components that support these principles.
Guiding Principles
Components

8. Washington Innovation Cluster Implementation Partners
Innovating Systems WA
DEL
U. of Maryland
Hope for Future
Children’s Home Society
Child
haven
UC Berkeley
Intervention
Strategies
Attention Bias Modification Training
Play for Success
Motivational
Boost for Parenting
Skills
SEACAP
mindfulness program
EF Games
home visiting & classroom
Attachment Vitamins
FIND
Oregon Social Learning Center UC
San Francisco
&
Washington
State U.
ESD
112
Centralia
BSK
Navos
Colville
Tribes
Implementation Partners
Whitman College ?
U. of Washington ? ? 8

10. Frontiers of Innovation Portfolio

11. Toolbox

12. Science-alignment Tool
TOTAL NUMBER OF RESPONSES INDICATING ALIGNMENT

13. FOI Innovation Pipeline Transition to Scalability
Scan & screen promising ideas
Sharpen & improve plans
Fit modular strategies into existing systems
Increase impact
Transition to Scalability
Scaling
Sourcing
Incubation
Engage with leading scientists
Achieve proof of concept
Test in new contexts
Increase reach of tested interventions
Next steps:
Developing an experience and identifying partners for the TTS Phase
Refining criteria for entering and exiting the TTS phase
Learning more about what precision, segmentation, and rapid-cycle testing look like in this phase
Figuring out how to work from both policy-down and practice-up

14. Visit Our Website:

15. Science-Based Innovation Workshop: IDEAS Impact Framework 15

16. Lessons Learned Plan for frequent communication and build trust
Establish safety to learn from failures and successes
Start small
Seek stakeholder input first and continue throughout process (human-centered design)
Match evaluation plan to developmental stage – don’t start with RTC
Pay attention to feasibility
Map out fast cycles ahead of time with early check points
Seek clarity in theory of change, evaluation plan

17. For more information www.wafoi.org
Q & A
For more information