title: How organizational factors contribute to innovations in service delivery.
abstract: Twelve staff members from three community centers providing services to people with mental retardation were interviewed about the implementation of a new approach to service delivery that utilized Essential Lifestyle Planning. Findings indicate that although the innovation proposed and the technical assistance provided were quite similar, the outcomes varied greatly across the three sites. By highlighting the importance of organizational factors, such as timing and agency supports, these findings provide direction for future training and technical assistance activities of those who promote change in service-delivery philosophy and methods.
authors.affiliation: Texas University Affiliated Program for Developmental Disabilities, University of Texas at Austin 78712, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dumas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Houser
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004495:Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013781:Texas