Does Organizational Culture Affect Employee\u27s Readiness to Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices?

The emergent trend toward the use of evidence-based practices in children’s mental health services has been gaining recognition (Barwick et al., 2005). The motivation for implementing evidence-based practices is to build quality and accountability in the delivery of mental health services. Children with emotional and behavioral disorders should be able to rely on receiving services that can accommodate their personal needs based on the best scientific evidence available. Most children who receive evidence-based treatment display significant progress and do so much more quickly than children that receive other non evidence-based treatment or no treatment at all. The importance of implementing evidence-based practice contains three important components that need to be considered. The three points focus on knowledge transfer, organizational change, and the science of implementation (Barwick et al., 2005). Knowledge transfer looks at the importance of active strategies, collaboration, leadership, and the power of sharing knowledge face-toface. Organizational change studies readiness for change, planning and strategizing at all levels, and giving all stakeholders a voice and opportunity to help in the change process. Lastly, the science of implementation examines effective planning, includes all stakeholders, address barriers, and assess the important motivators, resources, and change factors (Barwick et al., 2005). Fernbrook Family Center served as the representative of an agency that provides children’s mental health services. It is crucial for agencies who deliver mental health services to children to keep up with the best evidence-based practices and treatment available in order to provide the highest quality service that clients expect. The survey results will help Fernbrook build upon areas of strength and focus on areas of concern in order to deliver the most comprehensive evidence-based treatment available