A Model for Sustaining Evidence-Based Practices in a Statewide System

Over the past 20 years, efforts have been made to broadly disseminate evidence-based practices (EBPs). However, the public health impact of EBPs has yet to be realized and most EBPs are not sustained. Few structured models exist for disseminating and sustaining EBPs across large systems. This article describes the EBP Dissemination and Support Center (DSC) model and how it was used to sustain trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) across Connecticut. More than 600 clinicians at 35 agencies have been trained and nearly all agencies have sustained TF-CBT for up to 9 years. More than 6,200 children have received TF-CBT and have shown improvements in outcomes and quality indicators. Recommendations are made for using or adapting the DSC model.