Abstract for: The Capability Trap and Implementation of Evidence-based Practice in Child Protective Services

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is often heralded as the solution to increasing the quality of services provided by child protection services (CPS) agencies. Yet, little known about how to successfully implement EBP within these agencies. System Dynamics is a method that holds promise for improving our understanding of implementation. In this paper, I apply Repenning and Sterman's Capability Traps model to the context of CPS to (1) determine the model’s applicability to implementation in CPS, (2) gain insights into how capability traps may emerge in implementation in CPS, and (3) demonstrate the value of applying system dynamics to the complex problems often encountered in social work.