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Contracting and Procurement for Evidence-Based Interventions in Public-Sector Human Services: A Case Study

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Abstract

Sustainment of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) in human services depends on the inner context of community-based organizations (CBOs) that provide services and the outer context of their broader environment. Increasingly, public officials are experimenting with contracting models from for-profit industries to procure human services. In this case study, we conducted qualitative interviews with key government and CBO stakeholders to examine implementation of the Best Value-Performance Information Procurement System to contract for EBIs in a child welfare system. Findings suggest that stakeholder relationships may be compromised when procurement disregards local knowledge, communication, collaboration, and other factors supporting EBIs and public health initiatives.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH092950 and R01MH072961). We thank Laura Garrison for her contributions to this research. We dedicate this article to the memory of Dr. Mark Chaffin, our beloved colleague.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Behavioral Health Research Center of the Southwest, 612 Encino Place, NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87102, USA

    Cathleen E. Willging & Elise M. Trott

  2. Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Dr. (0812), La Jolla, CA, 92093-0812, USA

    Gregory A. Aarons, Amy E. Green & Natalie Finn

  3. Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA, 92182-4611, USA

    Mark G. Ehrhart

  4. Section of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 940 NE 13th Street, Nicholson Tower Suite 4900, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA

    Debra B. Hecht

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  1. Cathleen E. Willging
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  2. Gregory A. Aarons
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  3. Elise M. Trott
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  4. Amy E. Green
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Correspondence to Cathleen E. Willging.

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Willging, C.E., Aarons, G.A., Trott, E.M. et al. Contracting and Procurement for Evidence-Based Interventions in Public-Sector Human Services: A Case Study. Adm Policy Ment Health 43, 675–692 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-015-0681-6

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