Fidelity in the Field: Developing Infrastructure and Fine-tuning Measurement

Mazzucchelli and Sanders (2010) provide a thoughtful, detailed, and complex description of how to encourage flexible fidelity to one well-established, evidence-based treatment, the Triple P- Positive Parenting Program. As the authors highlight, many of the "lessons learned" from this wealth of treatment, research, and implementation experience were developed over decades and can be applied to other evidence based treatments. Underlying many of the recommendations provided by Mazzucchelli and Sanders (2010) is a well-refined infrastructure to support implementation and the need to refine the measurement of fidelity in the field. This commentary will discuss each of those topics. It seems that we have many lessons to learn and hurdles to clear in this emerging area of science, which will be hastened by pioneers like Mazzucchelli and Sanders.