KEY ISSUES RELATED TO EBP IMPLEMENTATION IDENTIFIED

AT INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

ON DECEMBER 19, 2002

Attending:

Rick Birkel, NAMI Bill Emmet, NASMHPD

Ruth Hughes, IAPSRS Andy Hyman, NASMHPD

Charles Ray, NCCBH Noel Mazade, NRI

Oscar Morgan, NMHA Vijay Ganju, NRI

Mike English, SAMHSA Catherine Huynh, NTAC

Issues

• Broad-based support for EBP initiatives exists. Now there needs to be a better delineation of specific roles and responsibilities for individual organizations to move this initiative forward.

• For both promoters and users of EBPs, the “payoffs” of EBP implementation must be spelled out more clearly so that EBPs can be embedded in policies.

• A key role of an inter-organizational group is to facilitate EBP implementation at critical “pressure points”. More specifically, the role of such a group is to:

• Make EBPs more “user friendly”

• Work with payers so that EBPs are a covered service

• Promote the development of needed infrastructure

§ The potential of an inter-organizational group is to promote credibility and “buy in”, and build a coalition for change and to speak with a “common voice”.

§ There is a need to develop a strengths-based rather than a deficiency approach to EBP implementation. A critical component of this approach is to address issues of infrastructure.

§ Use technologies such as distance-learning to promote and support EBP implementation.

§ There is a need for a consensus project (such as the project coordinated by NASMHPD on criminal justice) with multiple funding sources and multi-organizational commitment.

§ Mechanisms for technical assistance are needed to address:

• Information related to EBPs

• The definition and meaning of EBPs

• Coordination among various TA centers

• “Model” replication and continued learning

§ An inter-organizational initiative at the national level could serve as an “inter-structure” to help define what is really happening and where we should be going.

§ It is critical to develop a research/evaluation agenda to address “promising” practices and the knowledge base being lost through lack of federal support.

§ Coordination with primary care on EBPs is increasingly important.

§ An inter-organizational group could be involved in tracking and oversight of the EBP initiative. The primary role of consumers and family members in such tracking and oversight is critical.