Many interventions within the child welfare and protection space rely on mobilization of trained community members to advance protection objectives. While such approaches may help extend community-based services in resource-constrained settings and encourage community-led responses to violence, the factors influencing their long-term sustainability have been somewhat under-examined.
This ex-post study sought to identify the factors associated with sustained implementation of a home visiting project model in nine sites in Mongolia, following the completion of their original funding cycle. The home visiting model uses trained community volunteers as home visitors to develop supportive relationships with vulnerable children and families, assess needs, and connect them to support networks and community services. Using an evidence-based post-program sustainability framework, we examined the role of advanced sustainability planning; sustained motivations, resources, capacity, and linkages; local partner transitions; and contextual factors.
Key findings indicate that home visiting can be sustained in long-term in low- and middle-income countries, but that adequate and timely planning for sustainability is necessary to ensure implementation after initial funding ends. Community-based home visiting programs must consider sustained sources of capacity, motivation, and resources at administrative and provider levels.
