Barriers and Facilitators to Adopting a Systematic, Proactive, Evidence-Informed Technical Assistance System

This article describes (a) key elements of a high-quality technical assistance (TA) system; (b) the operationalization of a high-quality TA system (Getting To Outcomes-Technical Assistance; GTO-TA) being implemented in a training and TA center (TTAC) interested in transforming its support services t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Evaluation & the health professions 2024-12, Vol.47 (4), p.353-368
Main Authors: Lamont, Andrea E., Watson, Amber, Cook, Brittany S., Romero, Andrew, Schalter, Kellen, Nellis, Abigail, Clark, Kristina, Domlyn, Ariel, Wandersman, Abraham
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Best practice
Evidence
Evidence-Based Practice - organization & administration
Health disparities
Humans
Innovations
Organizational Innovation
Support services
Technical assistance
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Summary:This article describes (a) key elements of a high-quality technical assistance (TA) system; (b) the operationalization of a high-quality TA system (Getting To Outcomes-Technical Assistance; GTO-TA) being implemented in a training and TA center (TTAC) interested in transforming its support services to include an evidence-informed approach to TA; and (c) key lessons learned in successfully transitioning from “TA-as-usual” to an evidence-informed TA system. GTO-TA is one operationalization of a systematic, proactive, evidence-informed approach to TA. GTO-TA includes best practices and core elements for a comprehensive TA system; it aims to increase the readiness (reduce barriers and increase facilitators) of an organization to deliver an innovation (program, policy, practice, and process new to an organization) with quality. We describe the collaboration between the Wandersman Center and the Geographic Health Equity Alliance team to co-design and implement the GTO-TA system. Data from surveys, interviews, and consensus conversations led to important lessons learned, which are applicable to other TTACs seeking to develop a more proactive and systematic approach to TA. Lessons include: changing internal operations to facilitate TA providers making necessary changes in providing TA and understanding the relative advantage perceptions about a new TA system that influence adoption and must be considered.
ISSN:0163-2787
1552-3918
1552-3918
DOI:10.1177/01632787241293756