Hold On to That Great Idea! If You Want to Implement Evidence-Informed Initiatives in Your Agency, Make Sure They Stick!

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2:15 pm - 3:45 pm

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Without the use of implementation science in criminal justice, agencies fall short of success. Many administrators have followed a “top down” and “train and pray” approach when implementing new initiatives and procedures. Unfortunately, this approach utilizes force, which, in turn, often leads to resistance from staff and a lack of buy-in throughout the agency. Overwhelming amounts of research point to what really works when it comes to implementing new initiatives. Even so, many jurisdictions are still struggling with how to match implementation science with emerging criminological science. This interactive workshop will explore how the lessons of implementation science helped Oregon to successfully undertake a “bottom-up, top supported” strategy in implementing a new approach to case management. Participants will see how Oregon used local “champions” supplemented by support systems to produce a significant culture shift in the area of case management. Participants will also be given an opportunity to assess the capacity of their own agencies to change and the methodology needed to achieve desired changes.