A team of implementation specialists at the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) is behind a new and growing collection of practical, research-informed resources. The Implementation Capacity for Triple P (ICTP) Implementation Support Practice Action Guide Series, designed by the Impact Center at FPG’s ICTP projects, is intended to serve as a comprehensive set of guides and reference documents for current and future Triple P support partners in the Carolinas. Since they are built on research, practices, and experiences, they can be translated to the implementation of any other program or practice.

FPG's Will Aldridge, PhD, says many will find these resources useful, "Whether you’re a funder, policymaker, or implementation support provider interested in Triple P or simply interested in taking this body of work and applying it to your own implementation activities, you’re going to find something useful. Moreover, we hope you’ll keep coming back to learn more as additional guides are released."

Action Guide 4

Serving as a sort of preamble for the next five action guides, Action Guide 4 provides essential information about the background and development of the Implementation Capacity for Triple P (ICTP) implementation support practice model. The development of the practice model started in 2016 rooted in a model of practice principles and core practice components detailed by Aldridge and colleagues (2023)[AW1]. The action guide starts with a concise overview of implementation science to serve as context through which to understand the practice model. Historical details are shared about the practice model’s development under a process of “theorizing within implementation science,” as advocated by Kislov and colleagues (2019)[AW2]. Finally, two aspirations for future implementation support practice are detailed. Action Guide 4 provides key context information for the ICTP implementation support practice model and a useful case study of practice model development for implementation scientists and implementation support practitioners alike. 
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[AW1] Aldridge, W. A., II, Roppolo, R. H., Brown, J., Bumbarger, B. K., & Boothroyd, R. I. (2023). Mechanisms of change in external implementation support: A conceptual model and case examples to guide research and practice. Implementation Research and Practice, 4. https://doi.org/10.1177/26334895231179761
[AW2] Kislov, R., Pope, C., Martin, G. P., & Wilson, P. M. (2019). Harnessing the power of theorising in implementation science. Implementation Science, 14, 103. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-019-0957-4

Action Guide 5

Action Guide 5 is packed with foundational practice content that will be of high value to anyone engaged in or studying implementation support practice and related activities such as technical assistance, practice facilitation, change agency, or knowledge translation. In this guide, we cover the foundational theories and principles that ground the Implementation Capacity for Triple P (ICTP) implementation support practice model. We cover how and where equity shows up in implementation support practice, including where we have control in our practice work and where we must advocate and influence for changes we cannot make alone. Finally, we cover support topics that traverse our practice work, including how to navigate the tension of change alongside support participants, the importance of working together with a co-facilitator, and several common challenges in implementation support practice. This action guide is particularly helpful if you’re interested in generalizing the ICTP implementation support practice model and applying it to your own implementation activities.

Looking to strengthen your foundation in implementation support practice? Action Guide 5 is packed with essential content for practitioners, researchers, and anyone working in areas like technical assistance, practice facilitation, change agency, or knowledge translation.

Here’s what you’ll discover: 

• Core theories and principles behind the Implementation Capacity for Triple P (ICTP) model
• Practical insights into how equity shows up in implementation support, including where you can act directly and where advocacy is key
• Guidance on navigating real-world challenges, including balancing change and support, co-facilitation, and common practice tensions

This guide goes beyond the basics, helping you better understand the “why” behind your work while building skills to handle the complexities of implementation support practice.

Whether you’re deepening your expertise or adapting the ICTP implementation support practice model to your own work, Action Guide 5 provides a strong, practical foundation.

Action Guide 6

Action Guide 6 is the place to go for essential content related to influencing behavior change at individual and team levels while driving learning and improvement at organizational and system levels. This guide starts with a discussion of intended participants in this type of intensive capacity-building work and determining their readiness to engage. We update and discuss key practice outcomes along with the core practice components and practice activities needed to shape them. Updated theories of change for implementation support are presented, which may be particularly helpful to researchers and others studying various forms of implementation support practice. Finally, we cover ways to contextually tailor implementation support through use of support tiers and the flexible and adaptive combination of core practice components and practice activities to create situational-relevant pathways to influence change. So, whether you’re interested in Triple P or simply taking this body of work and applying it to your own implementation activities, you’re going to find something useful.

Ready to deepen your impact? Action Guide 6 is your go-to resource for understanding how implementation support practice can influence behavior change at the individual and team levels—while driving learning and improvement across organizations and systems.

Here’s what you’ll find inside:

• How to identify who should participate in intensive capacity-building work—and assess their readiness
• Updated practice outcomes, plus the core practice components and activities that shape them
• Refreshed theories of change for implementation support (super helpful for researchers)
• Practical guidance on tailoring support using tiers and flexible combinations of strategies

No matter your role, this guide helps you adapt your approach to fit the context, creating meaningful, situation-specific pathways for change. Whether you’re working within Triple P or applying these insights to your own implementation efforts, Action Guide 6 has something for you.