Sustainability of Two EBPs in Public Mental Health Settings

One of the most critical gaps in mental health services research is between the implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) and what is known about the sustainability of these practices once implemented. This area is further complicated by a lack of data that allows researchers to identify characteristics of organizational practices associated with successful sustainability of EBPs. Discovering what organizational factors affect sustainability of EBPs will support the uptake of these interventions at the local, regional and state levels within public mental health systems. This statewide study used a mixed method approach to uncover the organizational factors that drive sustainability and those that create barriers to sustainability. The State had completed two years of grant funding to support all of its regions in implementing EBPs with fidelity. Two of these practices, Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment (IDDT) and Family Psychoeducation (FPE) were adopted in all regions of the State. The two EBPs target adult consumers. The grant funding supported training clinicians to deliver the EBPs, establishing Evidence-Based Practices Leaderships Teams and a certification process to support ongoing fidelity to the practices in each region. The study examined state- and regional-level organizational factors that are hypothesized to influence successful implementation outcomes and sustainability practices. The study participants were administrators, administrative team members, clinicians, consumers who serve on advisory committees and work teams, and other relevant personnel involved in the implementation of EBPs and sustainability efforts at the State, region and local community mental health centers.