Integrating Implementation Science and Evidence-Based Practice Into Academic and Field Curricula

ABSTRACT

We present content, structure, and process adjustments that integrate implementation science and evidence-based practice in academic and field curricula. Content and assignments are based upon frameworks identified by the National Implementation Research Network (NIRN) and examine promising, evidence-informed or evidence-based practices. Field curricula structure and process adjustments include site rotations, a field instructor academy, a weekly cohort seminar that integrates academic and field learning, and semester-end focus groups. A weekly field portfolio summarizes student learning and requires student selection of relevant evidence-informed literature for discussion with the field instructor. We conclude with results from a systematic qualitative review of field portfolios that identified content and process patterns of student learning.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the U.S. Children’s Bureau, National Child Welfare Workforce Institute University Partnership Grant.

Notes on contributors

Rosalyn M. Bertram

Rosalyn M. Bertram is a Professor and Co-Director of the Child and Family Evidence Based Practice Consortium. She serves as Principal Investigator of the UMKC NCWWI University Partnership Grant. Soo-Whan Choi is her Graduate Research Assistant and a Counseling Psychology Doctoral Candidate. Megan Elsen is Program Implementation Manager at Cornerstones of Care.