Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice: The Work of the Steering Team for the Child Welfare Research and Evaluation Translational Framework Workgroup

Abstract

This article describes the framework developed by the Child Welfare Research and Evaluation Translational Framework Workgroup that was sponsored by the U.S. Children's Bureau for building evidence and bringing evidence-supported interventions to scale. The framework delineates five phases of implementation and evaluation: 1) identify and explore problem definitions and strength of evidence for promising interventions; 2) develop and test innovative interventions when evidence is suggestive; 3) compare and learn about alternative treatments where evidence is equivocal; 4) replicate and adapt better treatments when summary evidence is strong; and 5) apply and improve continuously the quality and integrity of evidence-based practice.

KEYWORDS:

• evidence-based practices
• research methodology
• leadership
• administration and supervision

NOTE

Notes

1. The commentary was prepared by Brian Deakins and Melinda Baldwin of the U.S. Children's Bureau.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mark F. Testa

Mark F. Testa, PhD, is the Sandra Reeves Spears and John B. Turner Distinguished Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC.

Diane DePanfilis

Diane DePanfilis, PhD, is a Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, MD.

Ruth Huebner

Ruth Huebner, PhD, is a Consultant for the National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement, Cutler Institute for Health and Social Policy at the University of Southern Maine in Portland, ME.

Renda Dionne

Renda Dionne, PhD, is a Consultant for Indian Child and Family Services in Temecula, CA.

Brian Deakins

Brian Deakins, MSW, is a Child Welfare Specialist in the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families in Washington, DC.

Melinda Baldwin

Melinda Baldwin, MSW, LCSW, is a Child Welfare Staff Development Specialist in the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families in Washington, DC.