title: Development and testing of an implementation strategy for a complex housing intervention: protocol for a mixed methods study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is currently a lack of scientifically designed and tested implementation strategies. Such strategies are particularly important for highly complex interventions that require coordination between multiple parts to be successful. This paper presents a protocol for the development and testing of an implementation strategy for a complex intervention known as the Housing First model (HFM). Housing First is an evidence-based practice for chronically homeless individuals demonstrated to significantly improve a number of outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Drawing on practices demonstrated to be useful in implementation and e-learning theory, our team is currently adapting a face-to-face implementation strategy so that it can be delivered over a distance. Research activities will be divided between Chicago and Central Indiana, two areas with significantly different barriers to HFM implementation. Ten housing providers (five from Chicago and five from Indiana) will be recruited to conduct an alpha test of each of four e-learning modules as they are developed. Providers will be requested to keep a detailed log of their experience completing the modules and participate in one of two focus groups. After refining the modules based on alpha test results, we will test the strategy among a sample of four housing organizations (two from Chicago and two from Indiana). We will collect and analyze both qualitative and quantitative data from administration and staff. Measures of interest include causal factors affecting implementation, training outcomes, and implementation outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This project is an important first step in the development of an evidence-based implementation strategy to increase scalability and impact of the HFM. The project also has strong potential to increase limited scientific knowledge regarding implementation strategies in general.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Indiana University, Richard M, Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 714 N, Senate Ave, Indianapolis 46202, IN, USA. dpwatson@iu.edu.
authors.forename: Dennis P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Jeani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ahonen
authors.forename: Huiping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Macey
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Valery
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shuman
authors.forename: Randi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tolliver
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation