User testing to drive the iterative development of a strategy to improve implementation of evidence-based practices in school mental health.

Research has produced a steady stream of evidence-based practices (EBP) that can promote youth behavioral health, but widespread implementation is often poor. To narrow the "science to practice gap," an implementation strategy was developed to enhance school-based mental health providers' intentions to implement EBP. The current study adopted a user-testing approach to inform the iterative development of this implementation strategy, which consisted of strategic education, social influence techniques, and motivational interviewing.

Understanding the Organizational Implementation Context of Schools: A Qualitative Study of School District Administrators, Principals, and Teachers.

Key features of the school environment can have a significant impact on teachers' effective use of evidence-based practices (EBP), yet implementation-specific organizational constructs have rarely been studied in the education sector. This study examined three aspects of the organizational implementation context (implementation leadership, climate, and citizenship behavior), which have been conceptualized and validated in other service settings. Focus groups with central office administrators, principals, and teachers were conducted to understand the applicability and conceptual boundaries of these organizational constructs in schools.