Building Cross-System Implementation Centers

Summary

This report defines and explores the concept of Centers of Excellence after a learning community of experts tackled key questions: why are COEs established; what are their core functions; what it takes to sustain them; and, how can they be utilized effectively by state and local governments.

Establishing COEs — or cross-system implementation centers — increases the likelihood that child- and family- serving agencies are providing and maintaining quality service while effectively applying public funds.   

Table of Contents

• What Are Centers of Excellence?
• Why Has the Number of COEs Been Growing?
• Why Do States Make the Decision to Establish A COE?
• What Are the Core Functions of A COE?
• What Does It Take to Establish — and Maintain — A COE?
• Conclusion
• References
• Appendix

Key Takeaway

Centers of Excellence help governing bodies implement evidence-based and promising practices

An increased expectation across states and localities specifies that evidence-based and promising practices need to be implemented effectively enough to show improved outcomes for children, youth, young adults and families. As conversations shift away from “why” implement such practices and focus more on “how” to create improvement, COEs are providing the mechanism to bring results.