Evidence-Based Practice Tools

The overall level of evidence available to support the effectiveness of a specific strategy should be considered when designing implementation procedures. The fidelity necessary to achieve desired results must also be considered.

Fidelity refers to the rigor of implementation required in order to assure effectiveness. The most evidence-based approaches were developed and evaluated in highly controlled settings. Strict implementation protocols were followed to assure integrity of implementation. Consequently, the results achieved cannot be expected to be reproduced unless similar diligence is used in the local implementation.

Failing to follow the implementation protocols of evidence-based approaches places the eventual outcome of the approach in jeopardy. Unfortunately, many approaches that are highlighted as evidence-based do not provide sufficient training and technical support to assure fidelity in implementation. When implementing approaches that have less definitive evidence of effectiveness, it will be particularly important to engage in evaluation.

In general, fidelity of implementation is the most significant implementation issue with approaches that have well-documented evidence of effectiveness. Early and ongoing evaluation is the most significant implementation issue with approaches with less evidence of effectiveness.

Evidence-Based Program Database

The Evidence-Based Program Database is a compilation of quality government, academic, and non-profit lists of evidence-based programs that appear on the World Wide Web and/or in print form. While these existing resources are of excellent quality, they have not been available in a centralized, user-friendly searchable database. Further, the content of all of these lists changes annually, making it very difficult for practitioners to remain knowledgeable of available evidence-based programs and select from them wisely. The programs in this database have all been shown to be effective at changing youth behaviors.

Please note that this Database includes programs only. There are numerous evidence based practices and policies that are effective in promoting positive youth behavior.

Search the Evidence-Based Program Database

It is critically important to consider both evidence and feasibility in selecting an evidence-based program. While many of the programs listed in the Evidence-Based Programs Searchable Database have high levels of evidence, they may not be feasiblefor local implementation. Click on the following links to learn more about systematically assessing the evidence and feasibility of a program, and balancing both when making programmatic decisions:

Downloadable Support Documents

Definition of Evidence

This database contains information on evidence-based programs recommended by:

  • research-oriented government agencies
  • non-profit agencies
  • independent publications

These entities have evaluated evidence supporting each program’s claims of effectiveness, and have then made recommendations for (or against) the use of the program based on their findings.

Most of these entities consider the highest level of evidence to be effectiveness data emerging from experimental studies utilizing random assignment. Most of the programs that appear in this database have also published evaluation evidence in peer-reviewed professional journal articles.

The results of most entities’ evaluations are represented in a number of lists that appear on the World Wide Web. These entities rated a program as either a:

  • Model Program - the program meets the satisfactory standards of their specific criteria as an effective program, or a
  • Promising Program - the program shows characteristics of a model program without having proven itself through documented research and replication.

Only those programs with high levels of evidence of effectiveness (as defined above) are listed in the database.

Most of these entities list numerous Promising Programs that do not have evaluation research demonstrating the highest levels of evidence of effectiveness. A cost of utilizing these stringent criteria for inclusion is that some effective programs may not appear on the database. However, it is also true that these criteria will eliminate all programs from the database that do not have compelling evidence of effectiveness. Future revisions on the database will begin to create criteria for including programs with compelling non-experimental evaluation data.

It is hoped that the database will assist you in establishing the evidence-base for programs in your district, community or county.

Please note that the Center for Learning Excellence is not endorsing any given program that appears, but simply gathering and presenting existing public information in a more usable fashion.

When available, this list of programs includes:

  • Program’s primary contact person - often the program creator
  • Telephone numbers
  • Email addresses
  • Website addresses
  • Program’s research institution or school affiliation
  • Observed program effects
  • Treatment population
  • Web links to entities recommending programs
  • Article citations supporting program effects

In addition to program outcomes, these effects are listed for the effectively treated population (i.e., for whom the program has worked). This information was gathered from abstracts and/or summaries supplied by the National Registry of Effective Practices, the original published findings of a particular program, or from a program’s Web site.

It should also be noted that not all of these findings have been replicated by independent, outside research. Additionally, there is very little follow-up information to determine how long a program’s effect lasts in a treated population. For example, an intervention or prevention program designed to keep middle-school aged children from smoking may keep them from smoking for one year, but the effect may wear off by the time they graduate from high school.