Translating Science into Practice Using University-State Government Partnerships: The EPIS Model

For more than two decades, the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center (PRC) at Penn State University has partnered with state governmental agencies in Pennsylvania to promote the adoption and successful implementation of evidence based prevention programs by schools and community organizations. This translational arm of the PRC, known as EPIS (Evidence based Prevention and Intervention Support) provides implementation and evaluation support to prevention stakeholders throughout Pennsylvania. The EPIS collaboration involves prevention scientists and implementation specialists from the PRC, as well as agency personnel from multiple Pennsylvania state agencies. This partnership began by supporting the implementation of 10 evidence based interventions (EBIs) from the Blueprints for Violence Prevention program registry and has evolved in response to state partners' requests that EPIS provide support broadly and equitably across Pennsylvania. Here we present the current EPIS tiered model of implementation support. This approach begins with light touch support designed for a broad reach to the prevention and intervention workforce and becomes increasingly intensive at higher tiers. Data show widespread reach of TA activities across Pennsylvania's prevention workforce, including over 1,200 online learners from diverse sectors, thousands of group training attendees, and tens of thousands of youths served through EBI delivery. Metrics indicate sustained growth in engagement, high participant satisfaction, improvements in program fidelity and participant program completion rates, and improvements in youth behavioral outcomes over more than a decade of partnership activity. Challenges identified and lessons learned are discussed, leading to five best practice recommendations to continue building prevention infrastructure.