Why Accreditation?

Implementation science informs us that even fully implemented sites using an evidence-based program need to be sustained and improved on an on-going basis. Sophisticated, independent peer-review accreditation processes can achieve this quality assurance and continuous quality improvement imperative for sites. The accreditation expertise of Proven Quality Practices can help programs without fidelity review processes establish this crucial layer of support for socially significant outcomes.

Our analysis of evidence-based behavioral health programs suggests that many evidence-based programs rated by organizations like the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse (CEBC) have little to no on-going fidelity review processes in place following initial training or implementation. It is highly unlikely for a program to be able to maintain fidelity, and evidence-based outcomes, without on-going review and support. Proven Quality Practices Accreditation seeks to rectify this widespread issue.

We strongly believe that sophisticated peer review processes are of tremendous value and crucial importance to the field of evidence-based program models. Not only does independent peer review promote a rigorous validity of fidelity that evidence-based practices should require, but also, the peer review process provides value directly to both peer reviewers and organizations under peer review, where sharing of best practice knowledge can occur and have an immediate, significant impact on services.

The few evidence-based programs in health & human services which do have on-going fidelity processes are often reliant on an on-going relationship with the initial implementation team. Focusing resources on maintaining fidelity at current sites lessens the capacity of the implementation team to focus on the crucial work of evidence-based practice dissemination—developing new sites. Proven Quality Practices Accreditation can eliminate this inefficient cap on dissemination resources.

Proven Quality Practices Accreditation was founded to help solve several problems in the dissemination of evidence-based program models in health & human services—namely, the large gap between the promulgation of evidence-based program models and their actual use in the field. Our exploratory research and analysis found many obstacles to evidence-based practice implementation which accreditation can overcome. Learn more by accessing our position paper with the following form.