Lecture Co-Sponsored with the Child Study Center
The numbers of evidence-based prevention (EBP) programs have been growing exponentially. Yet, there is relatively low uptake of these programs by providers and consumers. The challenges of replicating, adapting, adopting, and diffusing EBP are well documented. Rather than tweak the edges of our existing scientific strategies, we need Disruptive Innovations in how we design, diffuse, and encourage adoption of EBP science. Our current norms require a 20-year locked-step, linear process to validate efficacious practices and programs. Disruptive Innovations are “good enough” solutions that meet the needs of most consumers. Prevention may be more broadly accessible to more communities in less time and at lower cost if we identify the standardized functions, common principles, and practice elements across EBP programs for multiple outcomes. The next generation of EBP needs to create and brand experiences and programs that inspire, engage, and structure changes for families’ daily routines of eating, drinking, exercising, relaxing, and sleeping. Formats for delivering EBP must be diversified (Internet, phone, in-person, group, martial arts, dancing), creating direct distribution platforms to consumers (e.g., Family Wellness Centers, minute mental health clinics, cable health channels) while supporting EBP programs for various problems and ages. Continuous quality improvement would become the norm for EBP. New research agendas may emerge (e.g., identifying the science of delivery formats) and far more attention would be focused on building platforms through which to globally scale EBP programs.
