The Effect of a Change Agent on Use of Evidence-Based Mental Health Practices.
Children's service systems are faced with a critical need to disseminate evidence-based mental health interventions. Despite the proliferation of comprehensive implementation models, little is known about the key active processes in effective implementation strategies. This proof of concept study focused on the effect of change agent interactions as conceptualized by Rogers' diffusion of innovation theory on providers' (N = 57) use of a behavioral intervention in a child welfare agency. An experimental design compared use for providers randomized to training as usual or training as usual supplemented by change agent interactions after the training. Results indicate that the enhanced condition increased use of the intervention, supporting the positive effect of change agent interactions on use of new practices. Change agent types of interaction may be a key active process in implementation strategies following training.
Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1040 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL, 60607-7134, USA. sonyal@uic.edu.
Sonya J
SJ
Leathers
Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1040 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL, 60607-7134, USA.|School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Jill E
JE
Spielfogel
Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1040 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL, 60607-7134, USA.|Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Joan
J
Blakey
Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1040 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL, 60607-7134, USA.|Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Errick
E
Christian
Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Marc S
MS
Atkins
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019090:Case Management; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D000075082:Proof of Concept Study; D011613:Psychotherapy
Child welfare; Children’s mental health services; Evidence-based practice; Implementation science