The Large-Scale Implementation of Evidence-Informed Practice Into a Specialized MSW Curriculum

ABSTRACT

Social work is embracing scientific inquiry as a guiding principle; however, scientific advancement has often outpaced modifications in the academic arena necessitating reenvisioning the curriculum. This article describes how a large western School of Social Work addressed the need to create a practice curriculum rooted in empirical evidence by adopting the evidence-based clinical decision-making intervention Managing and Adapting Practice. This evidence-informed framework includes components to guide the delivery, supervision, consultation, and quality management of children’s mental health services. The implementation included more than 1 year of planning, training of faculty members, and dissemination of the intervention to 250 students. This large-scale implementation was the first known of its kind. Processes, anticipated and unanticipated issues, and lessons learned are discussed.

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Notes on contributors

Ferol E. Mennen

Ferol E. Mennen, PhD, LCSW, MSW, is Associate Professor, and Julie Cedarbaum, PhD, MSW, MPH, is Associate Professor, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, USC-Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Bruce F. Chorpita, PhD, is Professor, Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles. Kimberley Becker, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia. Omar Lopez, MSW, EdD, is Clinical Associate Professor, Field Education, and Michal Sela-Amit, PhD, MSW, is Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, USC-Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.