title: Long-term sustainability of evidence-based practices in community mental health agencies.
abstract: This study examined rates of sustainability, defined as program continuation, and factors associated with sustainability 6 years after full implementation of five evidence-based practices in 49 sites in the National Implementing Evidence-Based Practices Project. Based on interviews with agency leaders and state leaders, 47 % of sites sustained the practice for 6 years, 16 % restarted the practice after a period of discontinuation, and 37 % discontinued the practice permanently. Agency leaders from discontinuing sites identified inadequate financial support, lack of prioritization, and workforce issues as barriers to continuation. Adequate financing, ongoing supervision, and monitoring of fidelity and outcome may promote long-term sustainability.
authors.affiliation: Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Rivermill Commercial Center, Suite B4-1, 85 Mechanic Street, Lebanon, NH, 03766, USA, gary.bond@dartmouth.edu.
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Drake
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: McHugo
authors.forename: Alison E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Amanda M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015397:Program Evaluation