Using Technology to Bridge Research and Practice

Background: We live in an era of limited resources to support development of community coalitions that adopt and implement evidence-based strategies. A significant gap exists between research and practice and the substance abuse prevention field is challenged to identify wide-reaching dissemination methods that address cost, location and time constraints. CADCA’s National Coalition Institute utilizes web-based technologies to address these challenges and promote a community based participatory research framework.

Program background:  Community coalitions are common and important vehicles for addressing substance abuse prevention at the local level. They work with community sector partners to implement comprehensive plans comprised of evidence-based interventions (programs, policies and practices). While coalitions are eager to learn about, adopt and implement research-based strategies, they consistently cite barriers to accessing training and technical assistance. WEBINARS: The CADCA Institute routinely partners with researchers and experts in the coalition field to conduct online trainings. Regularly scheduled webinars translate and disseminate key research findings to coalitions, eliminating the burden of travel costs. This allows coalitions to connect with researchers and experts and engage in meaningful discussion around implementation of evidence-based strategies. SOCIAL NETWORKING: Connected Communities, a peer-to-peer network for coalition leaders and members, provides an additional venue to address the need for cost-effective research dissemination and networking. Broadly, Connected Communities aims to improve and increase multi-directional communication with coalitions to better understand their training, technical assistance, research to practice and other needs.

Evaluation Methods and Results: CADCA’s Institute keeps a pulse on the needs of the coalition field by routinely collecting feedback through face-to-face and online training evaluations and satisfaction surveys, membership surveys and focus group discussions with its Coalition Advisory Committee, community members, federal, state and local partners. CADCA also continually evaluates Connected Communities. Baseline data tracking community activity were collected using Google Web Analytics and follow-up surveys to evaluate usefulness of the technology, perceived change in knowledge resources and level of engagement.

Conclusions: The CADCA Institute utilizes information from training evaluations to consistently improve its efforts to assist coalitions in the adoption and implementation of evidence-based strategies. CADCA Institute webinars are in high demand and reach large numbers of individuals. Evaluations reveal that webinar participants are satisfied with the information provided through distance learning. For example, 91 percent of participants stated that a 2009 webinar met their current and future work needs. Connected Communities (connectedcommunities.ning.com) was made available to coalitions at planned intervals throughout 2009 and the network has grown to more than 1,240 members. More important than the size of the network is engagement of its participants. Google Analytics between April 15, 2009 (when analytics were incorporated) and April 15, 2010.show that individuals who visit Connected Communities spend significant time browsing (average of 4 minutes and 29 seconds) and view numerous pages (almost 6 pages per visit). Overall, the community members are quite active.

Implications for research and/or practice: CADCA’s Institute uses technologies such as webinars and its peer-to-peer social network to effectively reach and engage community coalitions. These tools enhance the Institute’s face-to-face training program, allow interaction with a broader audience and help promote a community-based participatory research framework.