title: Contracting and Procurement for Evidence-Based Interventions in Public-Sector Human Services: A Case Study.
abstract: Sustainment of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) in human services depends on the inner context of community-based organizations (CBOs) that provide services and the outer context of their broader environment. Increasingly, public officials are experimenting with contracting models from for-profit industries to procure human services. In this case study, we conducted qualitative interviews with key government and CBO stakeholders to examine implementation of the Best Value-Performance Information Procurement System to contract for EBIs in a child welfare system. Findings suggest that stakeholder relationships may be compromised when procurement disregards local knowledge, communication, collaboration, and other factors supporting EBIs and public health initiatives.
authors.affiliation: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Behavioral Health Research Center of the Southwest, 612 Encino Place, NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87102, USA. cwillging@pire.org.
authors.forename: Cathleen E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Willging
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Dr. (0812), La Jolla, CA, 92093-0812, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Aarons
authors.affiliation: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Behavioral Health Research Center of the Southwest, 612 Encino Place, NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87102, USA.
authors.forename: Elise M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Trott
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Dr. (0812), La Jolla, CA, 92093-0812, USA.
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Dr. (0812), La Jolla, CA, 92093-0812, USA.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Finn
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA, 92182-4611, USA.
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ehrhart
authors.affiliation: Section of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 940 NE 13th Street, Nicholson Tower Suite 4900, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
authors.forename: Debra B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Hecht
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D000068216:Child Protective Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002669:Child Welfare; D003284:Contract Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006792:House Calls; D006801:Humans; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D011634:Public Health; D036301:Qualitative Research; D062505:Value-Based Purchasing
keywords: Child welfare; Evidence-based intervention; Home visitation; Performance-based contracting; Sustainment