Welcome to the Dissemination & Implementation Core
The Dissemination & Implementation (D&I) Core of CTBH has three primary missions. The first is to spread the word about the Center, its affiliates, and the multitude of innovative activities in which the Center and its affiliates are involved. The second mission is to disseminate accessible information to our audiences about the potential of technology-based education, support, assessment, prevention, and intervention tools, particularly as they apply to substance use and co-occurring disorders. An important aspect of this goal is to highlight the evidence-base for the fast-growing pool of technology-delivered programs, and identify fertile grounds for further research. The final mission of the D&I Core is to identify barriers to adoption, dissemination and implementation of technology-based interventions in different systems of care, and generate potential solutions to optimize sustainability of technology-based tools in a variety of health care systems.
We have made excellent progress in each of these mission domains. The team recently launched the CTBH website, which highlights the tremendous group of people that the Center brings together, the myriad of innovative projects underway, and the exciting activities that the Center has initiated, with which affiliates and Advisory Boards are involved. Of particular note is a summary and video of the each of the stellar presentations in the CTBH Seminar Series, as well as a list of upcoming presentations.
One feature of the website, Technology in Action, includes interactive tools to address the second and third mission items related to use of technology-based programs and sustainable implementation. A Program Review tool contains summaries of the evidence-base and target audiences of selected existing technology-delivered behavioral health interventions, particularly those targeting substance use disorders. To address implementation barriers, the team is working with Center advisors to develop an online survey to assess organizational readiness to adopt technology-based behavioral health interventions in federally-qualified health centers (FQHCs), and community-based mental health and substance use treatment centers. Results will be reviewed by CTBH staff in concert with the D&I Advisory Board to develop “RoadMap” guidelines for sustainable implementation of technology-based programming with these systems of care. Future RoadMaps will address other systems of care.
Finally, the D&I Core has initiated two Working Groups related to sustainable implementation: 1) Translation of Science to Practice and 2) Legal, Regulatory and Ethical Issues. Comprised of CTBH leadership and D&I Advisory Board members, these Working Groups are charged with identifying the most cutting-edge and pressing issues related to successful implementation of technology-based behavioral health tools. Each of the activities of the D&I Core is powered by the goal to harness the potential of technology to increase access to evidence-supported care for those in need.
Sarah Lord, PhD
Director, Dissemination & Implementation Core