In 2013, South Carolina implemented a multi-year program providing support services for pregnant and parenting teens. Local lead sites were responsible for coordinating service delivery in partnership with other multidisciplinary community-based organizations. We used social network theory and analyses (SNA) to examine changes in partnerships over time. Using two-stage purposeful sampling, we identified three lead sites and their self-reported community partners. We administered two web-based surveys grounded in social network theory that included questions about partnership relationships and organizational characteristics. We calculated selected whole-network measures (size, cohesion, equity, diversity). Following the Year 1 surveys, we reviewed our findings with the lead sites and suggested opportunities to strengthen their respective partnerships. Following the Year 3 surveys, we observed changes across the networks. Survey response rates were 91.5% (43/47) in Year 1 and 68.2% (45/66) in Year 3. By Year 3, the average network size increased from 15.6 to 20.3 organizations. By Year 3, one lead site doubled its measure of network cohesion (connectedness); another lead site doubled in size (capacity). A third lead site, highly dense in Year 1, increased in size but decreased in cohesion by Year 3. Innovative use of SNA findings can help community partnerships identify gaps in capacity or services and organizations needed to fulfill program aims. SNA findings can also improve partnership function by identifying opportunities to improve connectedness or reduce redundancies in program work. The ability of lead sites to strategically reconfigure partnerships can be important to program success and sustainability.

Objectives The South Carolina Pregnancy Assistance Fund (SCPAF) funded four counties to increase the amount, quality, and awareness of services for young parents; increase educational attainment among expectant and parenting youth; reduce the number of repeat teen pregnancies among youth; and improve parenting skills. The purpose of this paper is twofold: (1) to describe our application of the Ripple Effect Mapping (REM) technique as an innovative evaluation strategy to gather perspectives from SCPAF stakeholders and (2) to share key findings generated by participants in REM sessions on the perceived success of local SCPAF community collaboratives. Methods REM, an innovative evaluation strategy, was used to gather perspectives from SCPAF stakeholders. Five REM sessions were conducted with 52 participants. REM sessions included partner interviews and collective development of visual maps to illustrate stakeholder perspectives of program successes. Visual maps, as well as transcripts of discussions, were analyzed using an inductive approach. Results Stakeholders reported that the connections to resources, supports, and services provided through SCPAF had the potential to alter the life trajectories of expectant and parenting teens (EPT). Stakeholders also described that SCPAF fostered growth in collaboration among partners and reduced duplication of services in funded communities Conclusions for Practice This paper describes how an innovative evaluation strategy was used to provide a space for stakeholders to dialogue, synthesize their experiences, and construct a collective narrative of key program successes. This paper also illustrates how such approaches can be applied to complex community initiatives.

This article describes an evaluation of a home visiting workforce in South Carolina, US. Using multiple surveys, the workforce was examined to determine its demographic characteristics, job satisfaction and confidence in core competencies. Overall, the home visitors were well-educated and experienced, but most were relatively new to their current agencies. Around 22% were less than satisfied with their work, with the greatest areas of dissatisfaction being pay, working conditions and opportunity for promotion. The home visitors felt well-trained in interpersonal skills but least confident in skills relating to positive parenting, developmental delays and dealing with caregiver depression. Understanding key characteristics of a workforce can inform strategic efforts towards workforce planning, support and training.

During the global COVID-19 pandemic, home visiting programmes became increasingly important. The purpose of this study was to investigate levels of support provided to individual home visitors in South Carolina, US, by their lead implementing agencies, using a telephone survey. The results showed that two thirds of sites reported difficulties during the pandemic, and site leads had to be creative in providing support to their staff. It is concluded that strong, functional home visiting programmes can play a crucial role in assuring the wellbeing of vulnerable families. Therefore, levels of support for home visitors are vital, especially during a public health crisis.

Maternal and child health home visiting programmes demonstrate positive outcomes, yet retention of families in services can be difficult. This study examined caregiver satisfaction with home visiting programmes in South Carolina, USA, including an assessment of facilitators and barriers of satisfaction and overall engagement in services. A non-random, purposive sampling strategy was used to recruit caregivers enrolled in home visiting in South Carolina for study participation. Caregivers rated their satisfaction with home visiting highly and valued their programmes' educational components. Barriers to satisfaction and engagement included logistical factors such as difficulty scheduling appointments. Home visiting programmes should ensure their workforce development and accessibility practices are aligned to meet families' needs to promote retention in services.