The Challenges of Implementing an Evidence-Based Practice to Meet Consumer and Family Needs in a Managed Behavioral Health Care Environment

Abstract

SUMMARY This report describes a case study of how a managed behavioral health care organization used a community-centered model of planning to adopt and implement an evidence-based practice (EBP). The case study involved consensus building and decision-making processes to: (1) develop an implementation plan for adapting the EBP model, including a feasibility assessment to identify existing and needed organizational resources; (2) orient and train clinicians and key community stakeholders; (3) pilot test the EBP; (4) establish an ongoing evaluation plan to monitor fidelity to the model and track outcomes; and (5) develop a plan to sustain the practice. Using a community-centered planning process to bring evidence-based interventions into a managed, behavioral health care environment is time intensive but it promotes the critical steps necessary for sustainability of the EBP. The community-centered planning process allowed for systematic input from a wide rage of stakeholders, addressed the potential barriers to implementation, and allowed for the adaptation of the model within the realities of the current system. This approach to organizational change decreased resistance from staff and increased services to families in the organization.