Starting with a “Usable” Intervention

Is this you?

• It’s hard to implement something with only a general sense of what it is.
• I get what the program is . . . but what would doing that program look like here?
• What specific pieces of this evidence-based program actually make it work?

What is this?

When a program, policy, or practice is “evidence-based,” we presume “it” works without always having a clearly defined sense of what “it” is that needs to be in place to get to intended outcomes. When a program, policy, or practice is actually “usable,” we know more than just the “gist” of what it is.  Being “usable” means we have a clearly defined sense of what about it is necessary for change and what it looks like when it is, in fact, in place, as intended, so we can do it consistently and repeatedly to get the outcomes we want. 

Why is this Important?

Implementation – supporting the use of something – relies on having a clearly defined “it.” Otherwise, people do not benefit from effective interventions that they do not actually receive. When “it” (a program, policy, or practice) is “usable,” we have the operational clues to select providers who bring backgrounds and expertise aligned with “it,” to train and coach for behaviors that are essential for “it,” and to gather information and data about “it” that can help us understand and improve “it” in practice. Without having clearly defined components and behaviors of an intervention, we may never actually get to ensuring what needs to be in place for “it” to work.