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A Road Map to Implementing Evidence-Based Programs

Page 9 of 24

Street sign with 'The use of effective interventions without implementation strategies is like serum without a syringe; the cure is available but the delivery system is not.' - Fixsen, Blase, Duda, Naoom, & Van Dyke, 2010

Since the stages are connected, issues addressed (or not addressed) in one stage can affect another stage. Moreover, changes in your organization or community may require you to revisit a stage and address activities again to maintain the program.

Select "Next" to continue.

Successfully implementing a program that fits your organization's needs is a process - not a single event - that occurs in multiple stages of planning, purposeful action, and evaluating.

It is not enough to simply select a proven evidence-based program and assume success will automatically follow. Good implementation strategies are essential.

The National Implementation Research Network (NIRN)  reviewed more than 2,000 articles on the implementation of programs and identified five main stages of successful implementation (Fixsen, Naoom, Blase, Friedman, & Wallace, 2005), which are all interrelated:

  • Exploration
  • Installation
  • Initial Implementation
  • Full Implementation
  • Program Sustainability