Our Research

CEBEI research questions are:

•    What works?
•    For whom does it work?
•    How and why does it work?

CEBEI research focuses on implementation science, the study of methods and strategies that enable research findings uptake in practice. Implementation science examines what works, for whom and under what circumstances, as well as how effective interventions can be scaled up.

CEBEI grew from a project started in 1995 by Professor Judy Hutchings, with colleagues from the NHS and Bangor university. Its aim was to develop and promote interventions for children displaying behavioural challenges and to establish an evidence base of programmes that delivered successful outcomes. Professor Hutchings pioneering approach in advocating both the importance of early intervention through parenting support and the need for an evidence base for parenting interventions is now widely adopted across the world. 

Factors combining to reduce the adoption of evidence-based interventions include the time it takes to routinely evidence a programme across different populations, a lack of appropriately skilled facilitators and funding constraints. CEBEI has worked to address some of these limiting factors by undertaking research to support efficacy for existing programmes, or programme adaptations. The team has also sought to promote the development and use of low-cost programmes that can be used across the globe, working with the World Health Organisation to develop, evaluate and train practitioners in the Parenting for Lifelong Health programmes.

These programmes include the KiVa school based anti-bullying programme, the caring families parenting programme, books together, a book sharing programme and the one-to-one enhancing parenting skills programme, for families with high challenge children.