About Implementation Science
We are an intermediary organization. That means we don’t just support the implementation of one or two evidence-based practices, but instead we support a range of practices by building organizational capacity. We focus on helping organizations keep the intervention going over time, through challenges like funding cuts and staff turnover. We don’t just train clinicians. We provide technical assistance at the systems level by helping advocate, interact with the community, think about long-term funding and payment models, and create supportive work flows and infrastructure. What to learn more about intermediary organizations? Check out these articles:
- Franks, R. P., & Bory, C. T. (2015). Who supports the successful implementation and sustainability of evidence‐based practices? Defining and understanding the roles of intermediary and purveyor organizations. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 2015(149), 41-56. https://doi.org/10.1002/cad.20112
- Franks, R. P., & Bory, C. T. (2017). Strategies for developing intermediary organizations: Considerations for practice. Families in Society, 98(1), 27-34. https://doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.2017.6
- Lang, J. M., Franks, R. P., Epstein, C., Stover, C., & Oliver, J. A. (2015). Statewide dissemination of an evidence-based practice using Breakthrough Series Collaboratives. Children and Youth Services Review, 55, 201-209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.06.005
- Nadeem, E., Olin, S. S., Hill, L. C., Hoagwood, K. E., & Horwitz, S. M. (2013). Understanding the components of quality improvement collaboratives: A systematic literature review. The Milbank Quarterly, 91(2), 354-394. https://doi.org/10.1111/milq.12016
Our strategies are informed by the following research and ways of thinking:
These Active Implementation Frameworks help us design the key features of many of our implementation support activities, including:
- How to select evidence-based practices
- The phases of an implementation timeline
- Activities that identify and address factors that help or create barriers to implementation
- Inclusion of multiple sites and multidisciplinary teams
- Use of data-informed decision making
The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Science:
- This way of thinking helps to identify barriers and facilitators to implementing a new program.
The EPIS Framework
- EPIS stands for four phases of implementation: Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment. When we start a new implementation project, we tailor our support to different needs in each phase of implementation.
The Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) framework
- This resource compiles implementation strategies from across the literature. A summary of ERIC strategies can be found here and an explanation of the approach can be found here
Want to learn more about how we developed our Learning Collaborative activities? Check out these papers:
Lang, J. M., Franks, R. P., Epstein, C., Stover, C., & Oliver, J. A. (2015). Statewide dissemination of an evidence-based practice using Breakthrough Series Collaboratives. Children and Youth Services Review, 55, 201-209.
Nadeem, E., Olin, S. S., Hill, L. C., Hoagwood, K. E., & Horwitz, S. M. (2013). Understanding the components of quality improvement collaboratives: A systematic literature review. The Milbank Quarterly, 91(2), 354-394.
