Learning from communities: overcoming difficulties in dissemination of prevention and promotion efforts.
The model of prevention science advocated by the Institute of Medicine (P. J. Mrazek & R. J. Haggerty, 1994) has not lead to widespread adoption of prevention and promotion programs for four reasons. The model of dissemination of programs to communities fails to consider community and organizational capacity to implement programs, ignores the need for congruence in values between programs and host sites, displays a pro-innovation bias that undervalues indigenous practices, and assumes a simplistic model of how community organizations adopt innovations. To address these faults, researchers should locate, study, and help disseminate successful indigenous programs that fit community capacity and values. In addition, they should build on theoretical models of how locally developed programs work to make existing programs and polices more effective.
Miller
Robin L
RL
Michigan State University, Department of Psychology, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. mill1493@msu.edu
Shinn
Marybeth
M
D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003657:Decision Making; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D011050:Policy Making; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D011593:Psychology, Social; D012945:Social Values; D014481:United States