A multi-level examination of how the organizational context relates to readiness to implement prevention and evidence-based programming in community settings

Abstract

Prior theoretical and empirical research suggests that multiple aspects of an organization’s context are likely related to a number of factors, from their interest and ability to adopt new programming, to client outcomes. A limited amount of the prior research has taken a more community-wide perspective by examining factors that associate with community readiness for change, leaving how these findings generalize to community organizations that conduct prevention or positive youth development programs unknown. Thus for the current study, we examined how the organizational context of the Cooperative Extension System (CES) associates with current attitudes and practices regarding prevention and evidence-based programming. Attitudes and practices have been found in the empirical literature to be key indicators of an organization’s readiness to adopt prevention and evidence-based programming. Based on multi-level mixed models, results indicate that organizational management practices distinct from program delivery may affect an organization’s readiness to adopt and implement new prevention and evidence-based youth programs, thereby limiting the potential public health impact of evidence-based programs. Openness to change, openness of leadership, and communication were the strongest predictors identified within this study. An organization’s morale was also found to be a strong predictor of an organization’s readiness. The findings of the current study are discussed in terms of implications for prevention and intervention.

Understanding school staff members’ enforcement of school tobacco policies to achieve tobacco-free school: a realist review

“…In addition to written policies, the senior management’s role in outlining the school values and policies and directing the enforcement is emphasized [12, 25, 29, 30, 33, 34]. For instance, the senior management’s commitment to STPs may affect the staff members’ perception of the policy’s importance [12, 25, 29, 30, 33, 34] and further promote the staff’s responsibility for enforcement [11, 22, 31, 35]. Conversely, STP enforcement is perceived of as challenging when the senior management is not engaged [25, 29].…”

Mixed Picture of Readiness for Adoption of Evidence‐Based Prevention Programs in Communities: Exploratory Surveys of State Program Delivery Systems

“…It is especially important to conduct further research on readiness measures and strategies for readiness enhancements in existing dissemination systems like Extension, DOE, and DPH, in order to better realize their EBP dissemination potential. Further research using the data sets from the present study entails a more in-depth evaluation of organization management practices (Chilenski et al 2015) and of differential levels of readiness among Extensionbased educators in different program areas (Perkins et al 2014); they represent steps in addressing the limited research to date.…”

Smoke-free-school-hours at vocational education and training schools in Denmark: attitudes among managers and teaching staff – a national cross-sectional study

“…The questionnaire was piloted within the target group (management and teaching staff in VET schools) and in a reference group consisting of people with knowledge and expertise on the Danish VET school system and/or health promotion surveys in general. The content of the questionnaire was based on inputs from the reference group as well as the Danish and International literature on implementation capacity and health promotion in schools in general [37–39].…”