Given the pervasive nature of child abuse and neglect, multilevel public health approaches are necessary. Implementation science can help in understanding the most effective ways to build infrastructure and support delivery of such approaches. In this theoretical paper, we describe the implementation of the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P), an evidence-based population-level parenting program in South Carolina. While implementation science has informed how to move population-level efforts to scale, we discuss challenges that persist in practice, such as when there is a need for multiple stakeholders to understand, support, and apply implementation best practices in a systematic and consistent way. To address this challenge, we introduce the role of a Community Capacity Coach, who lives in the local community and works towards the implementation of Triple P. The Coach is responsible for bridging gaps between the local community and statewide support systems. We detail the ways in which the Coach's role aligns with key intermediary functions, and how the Coach is embedded within the larger Triple P statewide support system. We then discuss the assessment of the Coach's impact; and conclude with future directions and next steps for this role within Triple P South Carolina. K E Y W O R D S capacity building, child abuse and neglect, evaluation, evidence-based programs, implementation science, population health, prevention | 1143Yet challenges remain in the application of implementation science in practice, particularly given the vast number of models and strategies available in the literature. Triple P South Carolina begins to address this through the use of a simplified theory of change model to help community leaders and other partners understand the key elements and activities that need to be developed to ensure strong implementation. Moreover, through an innovative Community Capacity Coaching model, Triple P South Carolina aims to tackle two key issues: translation and communication across multiple state system levels and the typically slow pace of developing community system capacities for programs scale-up.Community Capacity Coaching is an innovative approach within implementation science to improve population health efforts. Community Capacity Coaches address current gaps by understanding implementation science literature, applying models and strategies to multiple state system levels, and ensuring resources are devoted to building implementation infrastructure. Community Capacity Coaching is currently being used within populationlevel efforts in South Carolina to prevent child abuse and neglect. Evaluation efforts will capture coaching activities and outcomes over 3 years using data from two Community Capacity Coaches. Future research and evaluation are needed not only to capture the full benefits of community capacity coaching but also to identify additional innovations within implementation science to support public health approaches to prevent child abuse and neglect and other social issues.
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