Toward an Evidence-Based System for Innovation Support for Implementing Innovations with Quality: Tools, Training, Technical Assistance, and Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement

• Published in: American journal of community psychology Vol. 50; no. 3-4; pp. 445 - 459
• Main Authors: Wandersman, Abraham, Chien, Victoria H., Katz, Jason
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.12.2012; Blackwell Science Ltd
• Subjects: Behavioral Science and Psychology; Capacity building; Clinical Psychology; Community and Environmental Psychology; Community organizations; Delivery Systems; Evidence Based Practice; Evidence-Based Practice - methods; Health Psychology; Health services; Human service organizations; Humans; Implementation; Innovations; Interactive systems framework; Logic; Models, Organizational; Organizational Innovation; Original Paper; Personality and Social Psychology; Program Development - methods; Program Evaluation - methods; Psychology; Public Health; Quality Assurance, Health Care - methods; Quality assurance/quality improvement; Quality Improvement; Quality of Health Care; Quality standards; Researcher subject relations; Social psychology; Social Support; Support networks; Technical Assistance; Technology; Technology policy; Training; United States > US; Training; Technical assistance; Quality assurance/quality improvement; Capacity building; Implementation; Interactive systems framework
• ISSN: 0091-0562; 1573-2770; 1573-2770
• DOI: 10.1007/s10464-012-9509-7

An individual or organization that sets out to implement an innovation (e.g., a new technology, program, or policy) generally requires support. In the Interactive Systems Framework for Dissemination and Implementation, a Support System should work with Delivery Systems (national, state and/or local entities such as health and human service organizations, community-based organizations, schools) to enhance their capacity for quality implementation of innovations. The literature on the Support ystem has been under-researched and under-developed. This article begins to conceptualize theory, research, and action for an evidence-based system for innovation support (EBSIS). EBSIS describes key priorities for strengthening the science and practice of support. The major goal of EBSIS is to enhance the research and practice of support in order to build capacity in the Delivery System for implementing innovations with quality, and thereby, help the Delivery System achieve outcomes. EBSIS is guided by a logic model that includes four key support components: tools, training, technical assistance, and quality assurance/quality improvement . EBSIS uses the Getting To Outcomes approach to accountability to aid the identification and synthesis of concepts, tools, and evidence for support. We conclude with some discussion of the current status of EBSIS and possible next steps, including the development of collaborative researcher-practitioner-funder-consumer partnerships to accelerate accumulation of knowledge on the Support System.