Chapter VII: Elements of an Effective Mental Health System
Policy Statement 35: Evidence-Based Practices
Recommendation d: Employ effective mechanisms to disseminate research findings and promote promising practices and evidence-based practices to practitioners in the field.
Researchers and policymakers have noted the unfortunate truth that practice in the field too frequently fails to reflect what is known about the most effective practices available. This wide gap between what is known and what is in fact done results in lost lives, failed systems, and wasted resources.
Policymakers should ensure that practitioners employ effective mechanisms for knowledge dissemination of findings regarding promising practices and evidence-based practices in the systems they oversee. These mechanisms might include conferences, professional journals, academic partnerships, and regular in-service training opportunities. Contracts should include bonuses or other incentives for the use of evidence-based practices as well as for training and other dissemination practices.
Example: Ohio Department of Mental Health; Illinois Office of Mental Health
Some state public mental health systems are accepting the challenge and taking steps to bridge the gap between research and practice. For example, the Ohio Department of Mental Health has established "coordinating centers of excellence" responsible for disseminating evidence-based or promising practices across the state. Eight of these centers are planned with the hope that they can promote local initiative and raise statewide quality measures. In Illinois, funding from the state Office of Mental Health has helped to establish the Illinois Staff Training Institute for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at the University of Chicago.