Shifting evidence-based adolescent suicide prevention programs into practice: A state-based strategy

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) developed a national and state-level strategy for the social work profession to facilitate effective research to practice activities to enhance social work practice and improve mental health services for adolescent girls at increasing risk for suicide. A web-based toolkit was designed that incorporated information and resources on both evidence-based interventions targeting adolescent girls who are at high risk for suicide, and evidence-based dissemination and organizational change strategies for moving research to practice. The vehicle for advancing evidence-based practice adoption was through the development of state research to practice teams. The teams consisted of state –level stakeholders who are in a position to advocate and facilitate the shift to evidence-based policy and practice initiatives. The toolkit was then pilot-tested and refined through the training of state-based research to practice teams convened by NASW chapters in Georgia and Nevada.