Site-level evidence-based practice accreditation: A qualitative exploration using institutional theory.

Area of Science:

• Human Services Research
• Organizational Accreditation Studies

Background:

• Accreditation is increasingly used in human services to validate service quality and legitimacy.
• Evidence-based practices like SafeCare aim to prevent and reduce child maltreatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore perspectives on the site-level accreditation process for SafeCare.
• To understand the benefits, burdens, and impacts of accreditation in human services.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study using two waves of data.
• Involved trainers, leaders, and program developers in the SafeCare accreditation rollout.
• Framed analysis using institutional theory.

Main Results:

• Findings highlight challenges specific to the human service environment.
• Identified issues include resource scarcity and organizational interdependence.
• Cost and bureaucratic processes were significant factors impacting accreditation.

Conclusions:

• Accreditation implementation in human services requires careful consideration of the operational context.
• Addressing resource limitations and bureaucratic inefficiencies is crucial for successful accreditation of evidence-based practices.