BUSSW Receives $400,000 Grant to Study Evidence-Based Substance Abuse Treatment Practices

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has awarded the School of Social Work $400,000 for a three-year study on factors associated with adopting evidence-based substance abuse treatment practices in community organizations funded through federal program efforts. Professor Lena Lundgren is the Principal Investigator and Professor Maryann Amodeo is Co-Investigator.

The School’s Center for Addictions Research and Services will conduct a national study of 500 community-based organizations (CBOs) funded between 2003 and 2007 by Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), examining factors that facilitated and/or impeded the implementation of their proposed evidence-based treatments (EBTs). CSAT is the major federal funder of substance abuse treatment in the U.S.

Dr. Lundgren comments, "Recent CSAT funding requirements mandate that CBOs applying for treatment services grants implement EBT approaches. Yet there is often a disconnect between the real world of CBO treatment and the EBTs promoted by the federal government. Our study will help to determine these disconnects so that improvements can be made."

Quantitative and qualitative research methods will be used to explore the relationship between organizational and staff factors and the capacity to implement proposed EBTs. The data collection phase will include two steps: (1) phone interviews with the director and two front-line staff of the grantee organizations, and (2) a web-based survey with the same individuals. The study will use Lehman, Greener, & Simpson’s (2002) measurements of organizational readiness of change (TCU ORC-S, TCU ORC-D) as well as control for other confounding organizational and program staff factors not included in the TCU scores.

The overall aim of the study is to identify results that will be used to improve federal and state substance abuse policies promoting the use of EBTs among CBO treatment providers. Given the extensive attention and funding that the federal government is directing to the development and implementation of EBTs, data is needed on the extent to which funded programs with the mandate to implement such practices are actually doing so, and the factors influencing implementation. Specific policy recommendations will be developed in the areas of (1) organizational readiness for change and EBT implementation efficacy; (2) training utilization and needs and EBT implementation efficacy; and (3) staff attributes and EBT implementation efficacy.

For more information on this study, please contact Professor Lundgren at llundgre@bu.edu