Policy-makers and other stakeholders want to use evidence-based
practices that really work to produce the
intended outcomes. However, the term ”evidenced-based
practice” has become somewhat of a rubber-stamp. For many, the
question is “Why do they not get the outcome intended with
evidenced-based programs?”
The Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative, a joint project of
The Pew Charitable Trusts and the John D. and Catherine T.
MacArthur Foundation, published an issue brief
“Implementation Oversight for Evidence-Based Programs.” In
this brief, they found that implementation is a key component to
the success of evidenced-based practices.
Many agencies fail to follow the programs with fidelity causing
an opposite effect than intended. The programs need to properly
asses their population through risk assessment and determine
which program produce desired outcomes in similar settings.
In addition, training, technical assistance along with monitoring
and system development needs to be inclusive in the overall
implementation of evidenced-based practices. The use of
evidenced-based practices is not sufficient to receive the proper
outcome, fidelity and monitoring of the program is equally
important.
