Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Examining the Highs and Lows of the Collaborative Relationship Between Technical Assistance Providers and Prevention Implementers

  • Published:
Prevention Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The PROSPER model uses a three-tiered community partnership, university researcher, and Cooperative Extension-based technical assistance system to support the delivery of evidence-based interventions in communities. This study examines the trajectory and predictors of the collaborative relationship between technical assistance providers and community teams across the three phases of organization, implementation, and sustainability. Members of 14 PROmoting School-university-community Partnerships to Enhance Resilience (PROSPER) community teams and directors of local agencies rated communities’ levels of readiness and adolescent substance use norms. Technical assistance providers rated their collaborative relationship with their teams at 14 occasions across 4.5 years. Results from mixed models show that levels of collaboration were stable until the sustainability phase, when they increased significantly. Team differences in change were significant during the implementation phase. Community readiness predicted levels of the collaborative relationship over time: high community readiness was associated with a high level of collaboration during organization, but a decline in collaboration during implementation. These results provide a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between technical assistance provision and community prevention teams and lead to recommendations to improve dissemination models to achieve a greater public health impact.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • August, G. J., Bloomquist, M. L., Lee, S. S., Realmuto, G. M., & Hektner, J. M. (2006). Can evidence-based prevention programs be sustained in community practice settings? The Early Risers’ advanced-stage effectiveness trial. Prevention Science, 7, 151–165. doi:10.1007/s11121-005-0024-z.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Becker, K. D., Bradshaw, C. P., Domitrovich, C., & Ialongo, N. S. (2013). Coaching teachers to improve implementation of the Good Behavior Game. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 40(6), 482–493. doi:10.1007/s10488-013-0482-8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, L. D., Feinberg, M. E., & Greenberg, M. T. (2010). Determinants of community coalition ability to support evidence-based programs. Prevention Science, 11, 287–297. doi:10.1007/s11121-010-0173-6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Butterfoss, F. D., & Kegler, M. C. (2002). Toward a comprehensive understanding of community coalitions: Moving from practice to theory. In R. DiClemente, R. Crosby, & M. Kegler (Eds.), Emerging theories in health promotion practice and research (pp. 157–193). Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer.

  • Butterfoss, F. D., Goodman, R. M., & Wandersman, A. (1996). Community coalitions for prevention and health promotion: Factors predicting satisfaction, participation, and planning. Health Education Quarterly, 23, 65–79.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cheadle, A., Cromp, D., Krieger, J. W., Chan, N., McNees, M., Ross-Viles, S., et al. (2016). Promoting policy, systems, and environment change to prevent chronic disease: Lessons learned from the King County Communities Putting Prevention to Work Initiative. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 22, 348–359. doi:10.1097/phh.0000000000000313.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chilenski, S. M., Greenberg, M. T., & Feinberg, M. E. (2007). Community readiness as a multidimensional construct. Journal of Community Psychology, 35, 347–365. doi:10.1002/jcop.20152.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Chilenski, S., Ang, P., Greenberg, M., Feinberg, M., & Spoth, R. (2014). The impact of a prevention delivery system on perceived social capital: The PROSPER project. Prevention Science, 15, 125–137. doi:10.1007/s11121-012-0347-5.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Chilenski, S. M., Perkins, D. F., Olson, J., Hoffman, L., Feinberg, M. E., Greenberg, M., et al. (2016). The power of a collaborative relationship between technical assistance providers and community prevention teams: A correlational and longitudinal study. Evaluation and Program Planning, 54, 19–29. doi:10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2015.10.002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chinman, M., Hunter, S. B., Ebener, P., Paddock, S. M., Stillman, L., Imm, P., & Wandersman, A. (2008). The getting to outcomes demonstration and evaluation: An illustration of the prevention support system. American Journal of Community Psychology, 41, 206–224. doi:10.1007/s10464-008-9163-2.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, N. M., Lachance, L., Doctor, L. J., Gilmore, L., Kelly, C., Krieger, J., et al. (2014). Policy and system change and community coalitions: Outcomes from allies against asthma. Health Education & Behavior, 41, 528–538. doi:10.1177/1090198114547507.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Domitrovich, C., Pas, E., Bradshaw, C., Becker, K., Keperling, J., Embry, D., & Ialongo, N. (2015). Individual and school organizational factors that influence implementation of the PAX Good Behavior Game Intervention. Prevention Science, 1–11. doi:10.1007/s11121-015-0557-8.

  • Durlak, J., & DuPre, E. (2008). Implementation matters: A review of research on the influence of implementation on program outcomes and the factors affecting implementation. American Journal of Community Psychology, 41, 327–350. doi:10.1007/s10464-008-9165-0.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Feinberg, M. E., Greenberg, M. T., & Osgood, D. W. (2004). Readiness, functioning, and perceived effectiveness in community prevention coalitions: A study of communities that care. American Journal of Community Psychology, 33, 163–176.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Feinberg, M. E., Chilenski, S. M., Greenberg, M. T., Spoth, R. L., & Redmond, C. (2007). Community and team member factors that influence the operations phase of local prevention teams: The PROSPER project. Prevention Science, 8, 214–226. doi:10.1007/s11121-007-0069-2.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Feinberg, M. E., Ridenour, T. A., & Greenberg, M. T. (2008). The longitudinal effect of technical assistance dosage on the functioning of Communities That Care prevention boards in Pennsylvania. Journal of Primary Prevention, 29, 145–165.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fixsen, D. L., Naoom, S. F., Blase, K. A., Friedman, R. M., & Wallace, F. (2005). Implementation research: A synthesis of the literature. Tampa, FL: University of South Florida, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, The National Implementation Research Network.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forman, S., Olin, S., Hoagwood, K., Crowe, M., & Saka, N. (2009). Evidence-based interventions in schools: Developers’ views of implementation barriers and facilitators. School Mental Health, 1, 26–36. doi:10.1007/s12310-008-9002-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glasgow, R. E., Lichtenstein, E., & Marcus, A. C. (2003). Why don't we see more translation of health promotion research to practice? Rethinking the efficacy-to-effectiveness transition. American Journal of Public Health, 93, 1261–1267. doi:10.2105/ajph.93.8.1261.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, M. T., Feinberg, M. E., Meyer-Chilenski, S., Spoth, R. L., & Redmond, C. (2007). Community and team member factors that influence the early phase functioning of community prevention teams: The PROSPER project. Journal of Primary Prevention, 28, 485–504. doi:10.1007/s10935-007-0116-6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, J., Oesterle, S., Brown, E. C., Abbott, R. D., & Catalano, R. F. (2014). Youth problem behaviors 8 years after implementing the communities that care prevention system: A community-randomized trial. JAMA Pediatrics, 168, 122–129. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.4009.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, L. (2015). Longitudinal analysis: modeling within-person fluctuation and change. New York: Taylor & Francis.

  • Johnson, S. R., Pas, E. T., & Bradshaw, C. P. (2016). Understanding and measuring coach-teacher alliance: A glimpse inside the ‘Black Box’. Prevention Science, 17(4), 439–449. doi:10.1007/s11121-016-0633-8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, J., & Wandersman, A. (2016). Technical assistance to enhance prevention capacity: A research synthesis of the evidence base. Prevention Science, 17, 417–428. doi:10.1007/s11121-016-0636-5.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, J. A., Somlai, A. M., DiFranceisco, W. J., Otto-Salaj, L. L., McAuliffe, T. L., Hackl, K. L., et al. (2000). Bridging the gap between the science and service of HIV prevention: Transferring effective research-based HIV prevention interventions to community AIDS service providers. American Journal of Public Health, 90, 1082–1088.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kilburg, R. R. (1996). Toward a conceptual understanding and definition of executive coaching. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 48, 134–144. doi:10.1037/1061-4087.48.2.134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le, L. T., Anthony, B. J., Bronheim, S. M., Holland, C. M., & Perry, D. F. (2016). A technical assistance model for guiding service and systems change. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 43, 380–395. doi:10.1007/s11414-014-9439-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Livet, M., & Wandersman, A. (2005). Organizational functioning: Facilitating effective interventions and increasing the odds of programming success. In D. M. Fetterman & A. Wandersman (Eds.), Empowerment evaluation principles in practice (Vol. viii, pp. 123–154). NY, US: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mincemoyer, C. C., Perkins, D. F., & Santiago, A. (2008). Exploring the effectiveness of learning communities as a source of technical assistance and professional development among Extension educators. The Forum for Family and Consumer Issues, 13.

  • Mitchell, R. E., Stone-Wiggins, B., Stevenson, J. F., & Florin, P. (2004). Cultivating capacity: Outcomes of a statewide support system for prevention coalitions. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, 27, 67-67-87. doi:10.1300/J005v27n02_05.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Center for Education Statistics. (2003). Common core of data., 2003, 2005 from http://www.nces.ed.gov/surveys/sdds/c2000.asp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spoth, R., Greenberg, M., Bierman, K., & Redmond, C. (2004). PROSPER community-university partnership model for public education systems: Capacity-building for evidence-based, competence-building prevention. Prevention Science, 5, 31–39. doi:10.1023/B:PREV.0000013979.52796.8b.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spoth, R., Redmond, C., Shin, C., Greenberg, M., Feinberg, M., & Schainker, L. (2014). PROSPER community-university partnership delivery system effects on substance misuse through 6 1/2 years past baseline from a cluster randomized controlled intervention trial. Preventive Medicine, 69, 36–36. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.07.011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • US Census. (2000). United States Census Bureau: Census 2000 Gateway. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html

  • Wehby, J. H., Maggin, D. M., Moore Partin, T. C., & Robertson, R. (2012). The impact of working alliance, social validity, and teacher burnout on implementation fidelity of the Good Behavior Game. School Mental Health, 4, 22–33. doi:10.1007/s12310-011-9067-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Welsh, J. A., Chilenski, S. M., Johnson, L., Greenberg, M. T., & Spoth, R. L. (2016). Pathways to sustainability: 8-year follow-up from the PROSPER project. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 37, 263–286. doi:10.1007/s10935-016-0421-z.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wolff, T. (2001). A practitioner’s guide to successful coalitions. American Journal of Community Psychology, 29, 173–191.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Prevention Research Center, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Sarah M. Chilenski, Janet Welsh & Mark E. Feinberg

  2. The Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Sarah M. Chilenski, Janet Welsh & Daniel F. Perkins

  3. Bastyr University, Kenmore, WA, USA

    Jonathan Olson

  4. Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA

    Lesa Hoffman

  5. The Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Daniel F. Perkins

Authors
  1. Sarah M. Chilenski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Janet Welsh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jonathan Olson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lesa Hoffman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Daniel F. Perkins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Mark E. Feinberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarah M. Chilenski.

Ethics declarations

Funding

Work on this paper was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA013709) and co-funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (AA14702) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (DP002279).

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

Human participant research was approved by both universities’ Institutional Review Boards. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all research participants included in the study.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Figure 1

(DOCX 38 kb)

Table 1

(DOCX 17 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chilenski, S.M., Welsh, J., Olson, J. et al. Examining the Highs and Lows of the Collaborative Relationship Between Technical Assistance Providers and Prevention Implementers. Prev Sci 19, 250–259 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-017-0812-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-017-0812-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation