Supporting implementation: the role of community development teams to build infrastructure

Area of Science:

• Implementation Science
• Public Health Practice
• Program Management

Background:

• Effective implementation strategies are crucial for translating evidence-based practices into real-world settings.
• Existing methods often lack sufficient support for consumers, such as counties, in practice implementation.
• The need for interactive, solution-focused approaches in implementation science is evident.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate the Community Development Teams (CDT) approach as an interactive strategy for implementation.
• To compare the effectiveness of the CDT approach against standard individualized implementation methods.
• To assess the impact of interactive implementation on the successful and sustainable adoption of Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC).

Main Methods:

• A randomized implementation trial was conducted to compare the CDT approach with standard methods.
• The study involved counties implementing Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC).
• The Stages of Implementation Completion measure was used to assess progress throughout the implementation process.

Main Results:

• The Community Development Teams (CDT) approach, an interactive strategy, was developed to aid counties in implementation.
• The CDT approach facilitates peer networks for problem-solving and resource sharing.
• The study hypothesizes that interactive methods like CDT are more effective than individualized methods for successful MTFC program implementation.

Conclusions:

• Interactive implementation methods, such as the Community Development Teams (CDT) approach, show potential for enhancing program success.
• The CDT approach aligns with principles of the Interactive Systems Framework (ISF) for Dissemination and Implementation.
• Further research is needed to fully understand the benefits of interactive implementation across various stages, from engagement to competency.