Readiness Assessment: Ready for Evidence-Based Practices?

The success of evidence-based practice (ebp) implementation in behavioral health requires careful thought and planning. Readiness is a significant factor in the success or failure to implement an ebp. Thus it is important to measure not only an organization's but a practitioner's readiness to implement ebps. Wayne State University Project CARE has developed a Readiness Assessment process and tools. A readiness assessment was conducted on 416 mental health practitioners from 17 Detroit area community mental health agencies. Two survey tools were used as part of the readiness assessment process: Urgency to Change Diagnostic (Cohen,2005)and the Evidence- Based Practices Attitude Scale (Aarons, 2004). Additionally, 68 individuals (administrators, supervisors and clinicians) participated in face-to-face interviews and the qualitative data is integrated with the survey data. Attitudes towards ebps were found to be generally positive. Approximately 35% of the participants scored 60 or higher indicating they are “ready” to begin implementing ebp. Further, 24% scored slightly under that cutoff which may be indicate they are in the process of becoming “ready”; the remaining 41% will need additional education and training to prepare for ebp implementation. In addition, differences in the total score were found among the position within organization variable with administrators and managers/supervisors scoring significantly higher than frontline clinicians. The results from these surveys and interviews have guided Project CARE as they work with each provider organization in implementing ebps. Most administrators believed the readiness assessment helped them shape their implementation strategies and subsequent action planning.