Collaboration experiences in multi-sectoral networks for vulnerable youth: A multiple case study

Objectives: The AIDES initiative is a social innovation that aims to improve collaboration between professionals and organisations concerned with the well-being and safety of children with complex needs who are neglected or... [ view full abstract ]

Objectives: The AIDES initiative is a social innovation that aims to improve collaboration between professionals and organisations concerned with the well-being and safety of children with complex needs who are neglected or are at risk of being neglected. The intervention practice was implemented in the province of Québec (Canada) and was modelled on the British Common Assessment Framework. This paper focuses on the collaboration experiences of six local health and social services networks implementing AIDES.
Method: The method was based on a multiple cross-case study in which six local health and social services networks implementing AIDES constituted the cases. Focus groups were conducted with members of each of the six networks at two times: at the beginning of the AIDES implementation in their regions (n=44 participants) and 14-20 months later (n=40 participants). The groups were composed of members of organisations from school, daycare, community, and health and social services milieus. In both focus groups, participants shared their views on their current partnership within the AIDES initiative around the following themes: 1) the diversity of partners mobilised within the AIDES initiative, 2) power relations between partners, and 3) co-construction of action. Their comments were transcribed verbatim and then submitted to qualitative content analysis. The cases were then analyzed separately and compared.
Results: Analysis provided in-depth understanding and illustration of differing partnership experiences of AIDES implementation. Areas of convergence and divergence between cases are presented according to the facilitators and barriers to AIDES implementation and their development over time.
Conclusions: The study highlights critical elements to consider in implementing and maintaining significant changes in partnership between organisations providing assistance to vulnerable children and their families. Social innovations that do not consider such elements are likely to compromise the deployment and sustainability of collaborative practices with families.