Narrative Approaches to Organizational Development: A Case Study of Implementation of Collaborative Helping

Area of Science:

• Social Work and Public Health
• Organizational Psychology
• Implementation Science

Background:

• Community agencies increasingly adopt family-centered service delivery models.
• These models emphasize strength-based, culturally responsive, and accountable family partnerships.
• Organizational change is crucial for sustaining these approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail a collaborative consultation process for initiating and sustaining organizational change toward family-centered practice.
• To present a three-component approach integrating narrative theory, organizational development, and implementation science.
• To offer a replicable model for agencies seeking to institutionalize family-centered values.

Main Methods:

• Utilized appreciative inquiry focus groups to identify existing best practices.
• Provided clinical training and ongoing coaching for practice leaders.
• Implemented leadership coaching and organizational consultation for structural change.

Main Results:

• The three-component approach facilitates the elicitation of best practices.
• Clinical training and coaching build concrete practice frameworks.
• Leadership coaching and consultation support the institutionalization of family-centered practice.

Conclusions:

• A collaborative consultation process can effectively drive organizational change towards family-centered service delivery.
• The described approach, while illustrated with Collaborative Helping, is adaptable to various family-centered frameworks.
• Sustained implementation requires a multi-component strategy addressing practice, leadership, and organizational structure.