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The Service to Science Approach

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The goal of the STS Initiative is to assist local practitioners and researchers in applying more rigorous evaluation and research methodologies to their work. Achieving this goal will allow programs to increase their ability to make claims about an intervention’s effectiveness. Ultimately, then, the STS process should increase options for state- and community-based organizations seeking to identify and select evidence-based programs and practices that address critical substance abuse or mental health needs through the application of CSAP’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF).

In order to meet this goal, the STS Initiative has developed the following approach to delivering technical assistance services: First, STS staff members consult with Single State Agency representatives who nominate innovative programs for participation. Programs are then asked to submit applications. Successful applicants are assigned to a team of TA providers who provide an initial on-site consultation. Consultation sessions last at least four hours and are devoted to identifying key areas of program need and answering questions about the current status of program evaluation plans. Following the initial on-site consultation, participating programs receive up to five days (or 40 hours) of follow-up TA. Each program completes a follow-up consultation plan during the on-site consultation to guide follow-up efforts.

Prior to consultation, programs receive key background information via electronic and hard copy modalities, on topics including logic model development, evaluation planning and implementation, and rating criteria for SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP), as well as case studies of programs that have chosen to pursue NREPP status.

Our methods for providing training and technical assistance are informed by theory, research, and extensive experience. Guiding theoretical underpinnings include the Concerns-Based Adoption Model (Hall & Loucks, 1977), the Transtheoretical Model of Change (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983; Prochaska, DiClemente, & Norcross, 1992; Prochaska & Velicer, 1997), research on adopter types (Schlecty, 1993) and diffusion of innovation (Rogers, 1995). Key elements of our work include the following:

• Collaborative relationships between TA providers, practitioners, and researchers at the local level.
  
• Assessment of local practitioners and researchers readiness to evaluate with greater rigor.
  
• Tailored and relevant evaluation assistance that meets local programs where they are.

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