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From Theory to Practice: One Agency’s Experience with Implementing an Evidence-Based Model

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Abstract

As evidence-based practice is becoming integrated into children’s mental health services as a means of improving outcomes for children and youth with severe behavioral and emotional problems, therapeutic foster care (TFC; a specialized treatment approach for such youth) is one of few community-based programs considered to be evidence-based. “Together Facing the Challenge” (TFTC) which was tested in a randomized trial of TFC has been identified as an evidence-based model. We describe the experiences reported by one of the agencies that participated in our study and how they have incorporated TFTC into their on-going practice. We highlight key implementation strategies, challenges faced, and lessons learned as the agency moved forward towards full implementation of TFTC.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (MH057448).

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Correspondence to Maureen Murray.

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Murray, M., Culver, T., Farmer, E. et al. From Theory to Practice: One Agency’s Experience with Implementing an Evidence-Based Model. J Child Fam Stud 23, 844–853 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-013-9738-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-013-9738-x

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