Moving from science to service: transposing and sustaining the Early Risers prevention program in a community service system.

Abstract

This paper summarizes an effort to transpose and sustain the evidence-based Early Risers "Skills for Success" conduct problems prevention program in a real world community service system. The Early Risers program had previously been implemented by a local agency within the context of research-based operations. In the current initiative, responsibility for funding and operating the program was transferred from program developers to a local community agency and county service system. There is a description of how the local community partnership adopted the program and real world program evaluation data pertaining to costs and implementation of the program over 2 years (N = 168 children) is presented. It is demonstrated that the local community system provided ongoing funding and that the agency implemented the program with acceptable exposure and participation. Editors' Strategic Implications: The authors carefully assess multiple elements of fidelity and share important lessons regarding community-based implementation, obstacles, and collaboration. The article should be of interest to anyone considering a replication of the evidence-based Early Risers program and also to a broader audience of researchers and practitioners involved in translational research.