Evidence-based interventions

This resource is intended to help you identify and access samples of community and school-based policies, programs, and practices for reducing of risky youth behavior and or promoting healthy behaviors. It is separated into 4 sections:

• Obtaining Samples of Interventions at the PIC Library
• Defining “Evidence-Based”
• Sources for Identifying Interventions
• List of Resources on Choosing and Implementing Interventions

Obtaining Samples of Interventions at the PIC Library

The PIC Library has established a special collection known as the Evidence Based Intervention Collection (EBIC). The EBIC consists of nearly 50 community and school-based interventions that have been recognized as effective in meeting risk behavior reduction outcomes.  Each intervention is available for loan from the PIC.

Click here to see the available interventions.

Click on the title of the intervention to see the full catalog record.

Each catalog record includes:

• information about agencies that have endorsed or reviewed the programs
• links to the site or document where they are endorsed. 
• a link to the intervention summary on the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) (where it is usually possible to get information on ordering, training, and implementation costs)

Visit the PIC Library homepage or catalog and click on the links to the Evidence-Based Intervention Collection.

Defining "Evidence-Based"

Per the National Registry of Evidence-based Prevention Practices (NREPP) Web site:

In the health care field, evidence-based practice (or practices), also called EBP or EBPs, generally refers to approaches to prevention or treatment that are validated by some form of documented scientific evidence. What counts as "evidence" varies...Evidence-based practice stands in contrast to approaches that are based on tradition, convention, belief, or anecdotal evidence.

One concern is that too much emphasis on EBPs may in some cases restrict practitioners from exercising their own judgment to provide the best care for individuals. For this reason many organizations have adopted definitions of evidence-based practice that emphasize balancing the "scientific" with the "practical."

Sources for Identifying Interventions

Several criteria exist for determining what constitutes "evidence-based" for an intervention. If you are seeking funding, the funder will often have their own criteria or accepted defintition.

As an example. the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has defined evidence-based for its Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF SIG) program. The program, policy or practice must meet at least one of these 3 criteria:

1. Included in Federal registries of evidence-based interventions.
2. Reported (with positive effects on the primary targeted outcome) in peer-reviewed journals.
3. Documented effectiveness supported by other sources of information and the consensus judgment of informed experts (e.g. theses, white paper, research reports, etc.)

Criteria 1: In Federal Registries

There are several available registries.  Several use a predetermined criteria or some other formalized rating process to assess the effectiveness of the reviewed interventions.

• FindYouthInfo.gov Program Tool
• Guide to Clinical Preventive Services (AHRQ)
• OJJDP Model Programs Guide
• NREPP: National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices
• A list of other registries may be found at SAMHSA’S website at: http://www.samhsa.gov/ebpWebguide/appendixB.asp

Additionally, there are several documents that are widely recognized as reliable sources for identifying effective interventions.  It must be noted however that some have not been updated since their original publication date.

• DOE’s U.S. Department of Education’s Exemplary and Promising Safe, Disciplined and Drug-Free Schools Programs, 2001
• Center for Studies in Violence Prevention’ s : Blueprints for Violence Prevention
• NIDA’s "Red Book" : Preventing Drug Use among Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide for Parents, Educators, and Community Leaders, Second Edition, 2003
• SAMHSA’s Communities That Care (CTC): Communities That Care Prevention Strategies Guide, 2004
• Surgeon General's Report on Youth Violence, 2001

Criteria 2. Reported in Peer Reviewed Journals

PIC provides access to several licensed databases (for library card hilders) that allow you to limit your searches by peer-reviewed journals.  Check out our databases at http://preventioncolroado.org/databases/

You may also want to review information on critically reading and evaluating research.  The following article provides a nice overview:

• Luaer, P. (2006). What Health Educators Need To Know About Education Research, RMC Health Educator 7(1).

Criteria 3 Other Supporting Documents.

SAMHSA lays out specific guidelines for this last category of sources on p. 18-19 of Identifying and Selecting Evidence-Based Interventions : Revised Guidance Document for the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant Program. (2009)

List of Resources on Choosing and Implementing Interventions

• Building a Successful Prevention Program – Western CAPT
• Conflict Resolution Education: A Guide to Implementing Programs in Schools, Youth Serving Organizations, and Community and Juvenile Justice Settings - NCJRS
• Choosing Evidence-Based Approaches (Programs, Policies, Practices) Toolkit – OMNI
• Community Tool Box - University of KansasHealth Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT) – CDC DASH
• FAQs on Program Design, Implementation, and Adaptation - Northeast CAPT
• Finding the Balance: Program Fidelity and Adaptation in Substance Abuse Prevention: A State-of-the-Art Review – CSAP
• Getting to Outcomes 2004: Promoting Accountability Through Methods and Tools for Planning, Implementation and Evaluation - RAND
• Identifying Prevention Priorities and Strategies for Success - DOE·       Implementing Research-Based Prevention Programs in Schools - DOE
• National Implementation Research Network
• Kallestad, J. & Olweus, D. (2002). Predicting Teachers’ and Schools’ Implementation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program: A Multilevel Study. Prevention & Treatment, Volume 6(1).
• Program Planning and Implementation – National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence
• SAMHSA Prevention Platform
• Sustaining Community-based Initiatives – Kellogg Foundation

Last Updated : August 11, 2010